Viewpoint: Alternative energy is here to stay

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solarOne trend that has been evident during the brief history of this publication is energy.

 That is again the case this week as two large solar installations went online. One is in Milford. The site will be used to power municipal electric systems in the state. At that same time, the Delaware Municipal Electric Corp. buys all electricity from a Pennsylvania wind farm. Coming next is a solar array for Delaware Electric Cooperative based in Greenwood.

 The other installation that went online is at the IKEA distribution center in Perryville, Md., 21 miles west of Newark. A week earlier, a smaller installation was announced at the Ultrachem site in New Castle.

 Driving the development of solar are incentives and mandates for utilities to buy more energy from alternative sources. That has proved to be controversial, since solar and Bloom fuel cells remain more expensive than natural gas and utility rate payers end up footing the bill. Wind power, according to some accounts, is becoming competitive with every source other than coal-fired plants with few environmental controls. On the minus side, large solar projects can negatively affect the value of credits that businesses and homeowners use to reduce the costs of operating their own solar systems and moving excess power to the grid.

 The combination of such incentives is driving up the costs of electric power and putting Delaware and other states at a disadvantage when it comes to attracting and retaining businesses, critics claim. At the same time, the cost of solar cells has dropped sharply and breakthroughs that would bring greater efficiencies seem possible in coming years.

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 It is also worth noting that the corporate world has decided that alternative energy is here to stay. Companies operate in a global market that for the most part, is not questioning climate change. It is simply better business to use solar and wind than stubbornly hold out and wait for more evidence.

 IKEA, based in Sweden, owns its own solar systems and is investing $1.8 billion in the next few years. This comes from a company known for its strong financial performance and an ability to hold down costs.

 Similar strategies are at place at other companies and regardless of how critics feel, solar and alternative energy sources are entrenched and likely to become more competitive.

 Cecil County expansion

 You may have noticed a number of stories in recent editions from Cecil County, Md.

 After working for a couple of decades for a company that had been based in the county, I had some understanding of the economy of our neighbor to the west. In recent months, it has become clear that business news often does not travel across the line and sharing those stories would be good for the business community. – Doug Rainey

 

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