Solar energy is in no way perfect. In fact there are many pros and cons of solar power that you absolutely must consider before determining whether or not it is right for you. But at the same time, there are some real benefits that no one dares to talks about. It may be controversial but it makes perfect sense why even the government may not want you to get too comfortable with the idea of using renewable energy.
In the United States, just as in any other country, energy is one of the most regulated commodities there is. And rightfully so considering the government takes its cut of all energy use by imposing an energy tax. Sure, one can argue that it is the energy companies that are being taxed but how do you think these companies are able to survive? They survive by passing the tax on to you, the consumer.
Just to give you a perspective on how lucrative of a business this is for the government, consider this. The United States alone consumes 20.8 million barrels of petroleum and 3 million tons of coal every single day. Yes, I said every single day. So just imagine how much money the government is making off all the energy each one of us is using each day.
You might also be interested in the fact that the president’s 2010 budget has included a major energy tax hike which the president is counting on to help fund the government bailout and stimulus spending from 2009. This energy tax program is scheduled to run through the year 2050 and many experts estimate it could cost Americans many trillions of dollars.
Keeping this in mind, consider these pros and cons of solar power and why the government might not want you to use alternative energy as much as you might think.
Pro #1: Solar Power Cannot Be Regulated
When considering all of the pros and cons of solar power, this one in particular might be the most important one to consider for your future. As I have already said, with the new energy tax the cost of energy is about to drastically increase and will continue to do so for the next 40 years.
This is why one of the biggest pros of solar power is that it is impossible for the government to regulate, thus impossible for the government to tax. They will never be able to regulate solar power because you get solar energy directly from the sun instead of from a power plant where the government is able to measure exactly how much power you use.
And for those of you waiting for solar farms to start popping up, you can expect this energy to be taxed no different than oil and coal.
Pro #2: Solar Power Is Free
Also when weighing the pros and cons of solar power you have to consider the fact that solar power is free. Yes, there is a cost associated with a solar power system which is required in order to collect the solar power but that is only a one time cost. The solar power itself is free. And as the price of energy continues to rise, the price of solar energy never will. In fact, the more expensive energy gets, the more money you will save with solar power.
Pro #3: Solar Power Is Unlimited
I am sure you have heard about the current energy crisis and how if we continue to use oil at the same and increasing rate we currently are then we will eventually run out. At some point, we will not be able to produce as much oil as we consume. Although this will not happen overnight, you can expect the price of energy to increase as energy consumption continues to rise and we get closer and closer to running out of oil.
To continue reading the rest of the pros and cons of solar power… see Pros and Cons of Solar Power (part 2: 5 things you must consider)
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