As the push for renewable energy continues (see previous posts on Senate Bill 3 and Daren?s Spotlight for a refresher), the energy companies will scramble to figure out ways to comply. The Charlotte Observer reports today that Duke Energy is trying to work out a partnership with BMW Manufacturing Co. in South Carolina. They are discussing building a solar energy plant at the car plant to develop renewable energy from solar power and to ?possibly? share costs. Our concern with renewable energy (and all things associated with global warming) is the cost benefit of such plans. In other words, what will it cost?
?Duke would help finance the BMW project and use any excess power to feed the power grid, Rogers (Duke?s CEO) said. He wants to repeat the partnership throughout the region with other companies and to find potential hosts for other solar sites, such as building owners. A practical question looming is how much to charge.?
This discussion of a partnership grew out of BMW?s current focus on using renewable energy sources. Apparently they pipe methane from a nearby landfill where the gas is a byproduct of decaying garbage to provide 63% of its electricity needs. I?m guessing that it takes a considerable amount of electricity to make cars so 63% would be a considerable amount of electricity gleamed from methane as a renewable energy source.
Why aren?t North Carolina companies looking into piping methane from landfills into their manufacturing facilities? Because in the closing hours of the last session the General Assembly virtually outlawed landfills in North Carolina. See Session Law 2007-550 (SB 1492).
So, here?s where we are. Lawmakers said part of our electricity must come from renewable energy. Utilities are considering partnering with private companies but no one knows how much that might cost the ratepayer. Methane gas from landfills is successfully being used by companies in other states to meet the renewable energy requirement. Lawmakers put so many restrictions on landfills, they are virtually outlawed in North Carolina, so that?s not an option here. Again, a government mandate with untold restrictions and no one knows what it will cost. And once again the taxpayers are left in the dark.
