Federal solar policies yield neither heat nor light

Journal Article · Mon Feb 06 00:00:00 EST 1978 · Energy User News; (United States)

OSTI ID:6762250

Silverstein, M

Thirty years of Federal energy policies and bureaucracy are criticized for their limited success in promoting nuclear energy and their present involvement in solar technology. Mr. Silverstein feels that poor judgment was shown in pursuit of large-scale solar demonstrations between 1973 and 1976 when Federal agencies ignored existing solar companies and awarded contracts to the large corporations. A fetish for crash research programs, he also feels, led to the creation of the Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI), which concentrates on wasteful high-technology projects rather than building on what has already been developed in the field. He cites ''even more destructive'' policies adopted by the Housing and Urban Development Agency (HUD), which attacked many solar suppliers without sufficient evidence and then developed a solar-water-heater grant program that effectively distorted the market. The author feels that the solar technology market is sufficiently viable and that government participation is more appropriate in the form of tax credits and guaranteed loans.

• Research Organization: Energy Marketing Associates, Watertown, MA
• OSTI ID: 6762250
• Journal Information: Energy User News; (United States), Vol. 3:6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
14 SOLAR ENERGY
ENERGY POLICY
SOLAR ENERGY
COMMERCIALIZATION
DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS
ECONOMIC POLICY
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
HOUSES
MARKET
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SOLAR WATER HEATING
TAXES
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
TECHNOLOGY UTILIZATION
BUILDINGS
ENERGY
ENERGY SOURCES
HEATING
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
SOLAR HEATING
299001* - Energy Planning & Policy- Solar- (1989-)
293000 - Energy Planning & Policy- Policy
Legislation
& Regulation
140400 - Solar Energy- Environmental Aspects