Environment  Energy
Study: Political instability pulls plug on clean energy ventures
Billie Frenkel
Published: 12.10.12, 07:19
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4 Talkbacks for this article
1. This is too important an issue
Tim ,   Brighton   (10.12.12)
To be a political football As are many other strategic infrastructure requirements such as transport, airports, roads, rail etc We need central planning and approval for the next RO Plant post 2013, Trans N S Israel Railway, North Negev E W Line, Beersheba International Airport, Solar/Hydrogen Plants etc etc And these are all projects with measurable benefits for the economy, jobs etc
2. Is there one thing the government of Israel
jason white ,   afula, israel   (10.12.12)
can do correctly? Perhaps we should fire most civil servants and hire consulting firms and reliable contractors. All we need is to make sure we do not hire the cheapest ones and that they do not employ former Israeli civil servants.
3. Scapegoats
Istvan ,   BUDAPEST HUNGARY   (10.12.12)
for the failure of israeli scientists and technicians. The whole world expect breakthrouhgs in the areas of new energy sources, new technologies new medicines and here is the great nothing. Since decades, sorry to say.
4. "Clean" energy won't reduce those costly electricity bills
Raymond in DC ,   Washington, USA   (10.12.12)
Anyone who thinks a move to "clean" energy will reduce what Lipkin calls those "ever-more costly electricity bill[s]" is kidding himself. Aside from hydro, there isn't a single "green" energy technology that can deliver power at a cost lower than fossil fuels. Germany and Denmark, two "models" touted by green advocates, have some of the highest electricity costs. Solar and wind, due to lower energy density, require tariffs several times the market price of conventional power to be viable. Someone has to pay the difference. To take another example, in one test program, the US Navy is buying biofuels - mandated by the Administration - at roughly TEN TIMES the cost of conventional jet fuel. Maybe one day the technology will be there for market-competitive clean energy, but we're far from that day.
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