So much for a Nissan Leaf!

[Loren49]

Have a look. Every country with "green" energy also have the highest electrical rates. Don't you get that?
In Canada the cost of disposal is already paid for and invested waiting for the day it needs to be used.
Storing waste in a deep geological depository is not particularly expensive. it's just a mine shaft into impermeable rock.
Want something to really worry about? How about disposal and storage of something toxic like lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, various organic chemicals and dioxins. Those was what sicken, cripple and kill people.

Global electricity price comparison

For comparison:

1 litre of gasoline/petrol contains 33 megajoules
1 US gallons of gasoline contains 120 megajoules
65 standard alkaline AA batteries contain 1 megajoule

Country/Territory US cents/kWh US cents/megajoule Date Source
Solomon Islands 88 to 99 [73]
United States Virgin Islands 50.8 to 54.8 Mar 31, 2013 [83]
Turks and Caicos Islands 48.99 Oct 24, 2013
Tonga 47 Jun 1, 2011 [6]
Jamaica 44.7 Dec 4, 2013 [41][42]
Niue 44.3 [46]
Denmark 40.38 Nov 1, 2011 [10][11]
American Samoa 38.3 to 40.4 10.64 to 11.22 [6]
Tuvalu 36.55 [46]
Germany 36.25 May 1, 2013 [10]
Philippines 36.13 Dec 6, 2013 [67]
Cook Islands 34.6 to 50.2 [6]
Kiribati 32.7 [46]
Western Samoa 30.5 to 34.7 [6]
Australia 30.817 kW/h plus 91.755 cents per day service fee 6.11 to 11.06 Aug 23, 2012 [8][9]
Marshall Islands 29.2 to 36.5 [6]
Belgium 29.08 8.08 Nov 1, 2011 [10][11]
Netherlands 28.89 Nov 1, 2011 [10][11]
Italy 28.39 Nov 1, 2011 [10][11]
Ireland 28.36 Nov 1, 2011 [10][11]
Sweden 27.10 Nov 1, 2011 [10]
Guyana 26.80 Apr 1, 2012 [31]
New Caledonia 26.2 to 62.7 [6]
Portugal 25.25 Nov 1, 2011 [10][11]
Switzerland 25.00 Jan 6, 2014 [32]
Tahiti 25 to 33.1 [6]
Hungary 23.44 Nov 1, 2011 [10][11]
Chile 23.11 Jan 1, 2011 [22][23]
Palau 22.83 [46]
Spain 22.73 Jul 1, 2012 [72]
Singapore 20.88 Oct 1, 2013 [71]
Finland 20.65 Nov 1, 2011 [10][11]
United Kingdom 20.0 Nov 30, 2012 [10][11]
Vanuatu 20 to 52 [6]
Japan 20 to 24 Dec 31, 2009 [43][44]
Papua New Guinea 19.6 to 38.8 [6]
France 19.39 Nov 1, 2011 [10][11]
Mexico 19.28** Aug 22, 2012 [58][59]
Lithuania 19.27 Jan 1, 2013 [54][55]
New Zealand 19.15 Apr 19, 2012
Argentina (Concordia) 19.13* 5.31 Jun 14, 2013
Romania 18.40 Jun 26, 2013 [30]
Latvia 18.25 Jun 1, 2012 [52][53]
Colombia (Bogota) 18.05 Jun 1, 2013 [24][25]
Israel 18* Jun 1, 2013 [40]
Croatia 17.55 Jul 1, 2008 [26]
Uruguay 17.07 to 26.48 Feb 11, 2014 [84]
Bulgaria 16.33 4.54 Jul 1, 2012 [14]
Brazil 16.20 4.5 Jan 1, 2011 [15]
Norway 15.9 Jul 25, 2013
Cambodia 15.63 to 21.00 in Phnom Penh 4.34 to 5.83 Feb 28, 2014 [16][17]
Hong Kong
(Kln.) 12.66 to 23.47 Jan 1, 2013 [34]
Turkey 12.57 18.63 Feb 4, 2014 [78]
Hong Kong
(HK Is.) 12.04 to 24.05 Jan 1, 2013 [33]
Fiji 12 to 14.2 [6]
Laos 11.95 for >150kWh, 4.86 for 26-150 kWh, 4.08 for 0-25 kWh Feb 28, 2014 [50][51]
Canada, Ontario 11.17 2010 [18]
Moldova 11.11 Apr 1, 2011 [60]
Perú 10.44 2007 [65][66]
Iceland 9 to 10 Jun 1, 2012 [38][39]
Indonesia 8.75 Feb 1, 2013 [36][37]
United States 8 to 17 ; 37*** Sep 1, 2012 [81][82]
South Africa 8 to 16***** Nov 5, 2012 [74]
India 8 to 12 Feb 1, 2013 [35]
Paraguay 8 2011 [64]
China 7.5 to 10.7 May 17, 2012 [21]
Nepal 7.2 to 11.2 Jul 16, 2012 [61]
Malaysia 7.09 to 14.76 Apr 1, 2013 [57]
Taiwan 7 to 17 Jun 1, 2012 [76]
Canada, Ontario, Toronto 6.52 to 11.69 depending on time of day plus transmission, delivery, and other charges of about 3.75/kWh 1.81 to 3.25 Feb 9, 2014 [19]
Dubai 6.26 to 10.35 (plus 1.63 fuel surcharge) [27][28]
Vietnam 6.20 to 10.01 2011 [87]
Thailand 6 to 13 July 1, 2013 [77]
Korea (South) 5.50 to 52.2 Jan 14, 2013 [47]
Canada, Quebec 5.41 for the first 30 kWh/day then 7.78 + 40.64/day for subscription fee 2012 [20]
Jordan 5* to 33 Jan 30, 2012 [45]
Uzbekistan 4.95 2011 [85]
Macedonia 4 to 7 Aug 1, 2013 [56]
Serbia 3.93 to 13.48**** Feb 28, 2013 [70]
Surinam 3.90 to 4.84 Nov 20, 2013 [75]
Myanmar 3.6 Feb 28, 2014
Argentina (Buenos Aires) 3.1* 0.86 2006 [2][7]
Venezuela 3.1 at Official exchange rate ( 6.3 Bs/US$) or 0.48 cents at unofficial exchange rate (40 Bs/US$) [86]
Nigeria 2.58 to 16.55 Jul 2, 2013 [62]
Russia 2.4 to 14 Oct 2, 2013 [68]
Pakistan 2.00 to 15.070 May 16, 2012 [63]
Iran 2 to 19 Jul 1, 2011
Bhutan 1.88 to 4.40 0.52 to 1.22 Mar 23, 2012 [12][13]
Ukraine 1.8 to 10.8 2014 [79][80]
Saudi Arabia 1.3 for the first 2,000 kWh/month then to 6.9 Oct 28, 2000 [69]
Kuwait 1 Jun 1, 1966 [48][49]
Egypt 0.7 for the first 50 kWh/Month to 9.6 [29]

A price that truly covers the cost of production results in less waste. The hidden and future costs are paid or will be paid, they just don't show up on the current electric bill.

How Much Nuclear Waste Does Your State Hold? (DUK, EXC, GE, SO)
How Much Nuclear Waste Does Your State Hold?
By Maxx Chatsko | More Articles
July 27, 2013 | Comments (29)

One of the biggest critiques of nuclear energy is that it produces radioactive waste in the form of used nuclear fuel, or UNF. While the amounts are relatively small -- just 20 metric tons per power plant annually -- they remain radioactive for periods of time that are difficult for humans to comprehend. The waste adds up across the 100 nuclear reactors currently in operation across the United States. At last count, the country's atomic fleet had produced approximately 69,720 metric tons of UNF over the past four decades.

What is the real cost of safely storing or hanling of this material. This cost is not showing up on the current electric bill.

Who pays the cost of particle pollution that causes many breathing/asthma problems, etc.

Many other countries also pay a higher gas price. It discourages waste and addresses hidden costs.

Pay now or pay later.

Loren

 

[dirt ditch]

Removed

 

[houstonscott]

Why would the worlds leader in oil, gas, and refined fuels (USA) go electric. Oh, that lead is increasing fast and looks like right now reserves are somewhere between 4000-6000 years. For a hoax perpetrated by those who would like to replace private oil with big government green energy they are set to profit from personally. (Gore/Obama)? Crazy HS

 

[Tollster]

Why would the worlds leader in wood, and coal (USA) go with oil. Oh, that lead is increasing fast and looks like right now those renewable resources could last for eternity. For a hoax perpetrated by those who would like to replace those resources with big oil, they are set to profit from personally. (Robber Barons/Rockefeller?)

There I fixed it, to reflect the same line told 100 years or so ago. (but continues today only with a bigger bandwagon)

 

[DarkBlack]

Why would the worlds leader in oil, gas, and refined fuels (USA) go electric. Oh, that lead is increasing fast and looks like right now reserves are somewhere between 4000-6000 years. For a hoax perpetrated by those who would like to replace private oil with big government green energy they are set to profit from personally. (Gore/Obama)? Crazy HS

There are many ( some poster's here ) who think we should follow Europe's lead. Europe is doing what they are doing, because they have hardly any natural resources. It's their dire limitation that prompts them to look to whatever they can for energy. We have a great country with land and resources.

 

[DarkBlack]

The U.S. Department of Energy estimates the country has an offshore wind capacity of 4 million megawatts. That’s four times the generating capacity of all U.S. electric power plants.

So your made up claim is that covering 20% of 1/4 of Lake Erie (1/16) with wind generators will do what to the earth's climate? (replaces all US electrical production)

Loren

You're making things up again! Your numbers are wrong and there is nothing I have said that could result in anyone with any sense of honesty to imply that I push for 100% wind.

Loren

See, that's what happens when you copy and paste out both sides of your mouth to different posters, in a lame attempt to have a definitive answer for everyone's intelligent counterview.

 

[sseelhoff]

There are many ( some poster's here ) who think we should follow Europe's lead. Europe is doing what they are doing, because they have hardly any natural resources. It's their dire limitation that prompts them to look to whatever they can for energy. We have a great country with land and resources.

Not sure that anyone is saying replace all with wind or solar. Like a good financial plan, an energy plan should be based on a balanced portfolio. Solar and wind have their place in the structure, as do natural gas, coal, and nuke. Each have their own benefits and drawbacks. Solar works well on a micro level, and would could reduce (not eliminate) the need for coal or gas by supplementing supply/reducing the draw during peak hours. Likewise, electric cars are not going to replace the entire U.S. fleet, but certainly have a place for those living in or near urban centers.

PEV and Wind are expensive for the homeowner now on a per KW hour basis. But who else remembers $1,500 VHS machines and $1,000 microwaves of the late 70s and early 80s? Those items are now ubiquitous. As the technology develops, demand increases and production costs drop due to scale, they will likely become more prevalent. The cost of PEV is already shifting downward at the same time the cost of grid delivered electricity is starting to increase. Motley Fool, among other financial analysts seem to think we are about at the tipping point.

 

[houstonscott]

To the dismay of the greens the biggest interest in solar and wind are coming from those prepping to have control of their own energy, anticipating big progressive government armed with a smart grid wanting to control your usage. Wind and solar offer individual power independence from government controls. The motive to go solar is no longer the fabricated green agenda. Sales now are driven by preppers and those leaving the grid and urban big government dependent living. HS

 

[ultrarunner]

I think you are right for the most part...

Most, not all, of those I know did the solar installs to have a little more control of their situation...

Plus, around here, electricity gets pricey and during heat waves load shedding is a real possibility.

Prices are down, electricity costs up and the sun does shine a lot in California...

I'm just waiting for a special home brew energy tax to pop up...

 

[Tollster]

To the dismay of the greens the biggest interest in solar and wind are coming from those prepping to have control of their own energy, anticipating big progressive government armed with a smart grid wanting to control your usage. Wind and solar offer individual power independence from government controls. The motive to go solar is no longer the fabricated green agenda. Sales now are driven by preppers and those leaving the grid and urban big government dependent living. HS

It never was about greenies in the first place, but somehow, those looking to control there future energy cost, are lumped in as being so...