Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:

G’day, if you like the concept suggested here, please feel free to pass it on to friends and any and all politicians.  We all need energy regardless of political persuasion.

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Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:                                       3 September 2009

California needs more energy as well as a need for more jobs.  Combining these areas with an alternate, renewable energy producer may be of interest

To improve California’s energy position, and provide jobs in the “green” sector, I would like to bring to your attention and that of the California Energy Commission the concept of the Solar Updraft Tower, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_updraft_tower .

“In 1903, Isidoro Cabanyes first proposed the concept of a solar chimney in the magazine “Electrical Energy.”

In 1982 an experimental tower was built in Manzanares, Spain, about 150 km/95 miles south of Madrid.  While intended to only operate for approximately 3 years, it did in fact produce up to 50kW until 1989. http://www.except.nl/consult/SolarUpdraftTower/solar_updraft_research.html

This paper suggests some quite interesting variations on how to develop and use the concept.

Unlike a lot of experimental technology, this one has produced power.  The research data is available for study and advancement.

My suggestion to you is that California make use of this technology to produce power for the state’s energy users.  I’m not unaware that the initial tower[s] will be part experimental, part power producer and part of the energy grid for California.

The capital costs for such projects will most likely be high, though the upkeep and maintenance of the Solar Updraft Towers will be quite low.  My concept for a tax break, and to increase the incentive to build such a project, would be to allow a company to write off the capital expenses in, say 5 years, using accelerated depreciation.  This assumes the Solar Updraft Tower would be built to last & produce power for 40 years.

Where to put the towers?  I would suggest the desert portions of San Bernardino county for a start or jointly with neighboring states.  The project, as I envision it, would consist of a series of towers each larger than the previous: 10 MW, 100 MW, 500 MW, 1 GW & 10 GW.  Each succeeding tower would initiate construction about 3 years after ground is broken for the previous tower.  These new towers would build on and incorporate new technologies and materials as well as adapting to any challenges appearing during construction and operation of the previous towers.

In 25 years since the previous tower was built and operated not only have wind turbines improved, but so have the materials needed to build a Solar Updraft Tower.  They will continue to improve over the coming years.

Thank you for hearing me out.

Yours sincerely,

Now if only some pols would listenn

No sensible decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is, but the world as it will be. -Isaac Asimov, scientist and writer (1920-1992)

My stimulus package

1. A cheque for $5000 to everyone who has filed a tax return in 2008.

2. Raise the personal deduction to $7500, indexed. [Tax cut for the lower & middle class]

3. Remove the Capital Gains tax. [Tax cut for anyone with stocks.]

4. Accelerated depreciation [5 years on a plant designed to last 40.] on the Capital Costs of creating non-fossil fuel energy production assets, e.g., Wind turbines, Photovoltaic cells, Solar Updraft Towers, Hydrothermal plants, etc.

5. 100% deduction for installation of alternate energy producing units in the tax year of installation.

6. 10 cent a gallon or equivalent increase in the Federal tax on petroleum products with the money going to maintenance & repair of existing infrastructure. NO NEW CONSTRUCTION!

7. Federally Funded Student Loans paid off by a 1 or 2% tax on the GROSS income of the student until the loan is paid off.

If you care to do the numbers and tell me how much this would cost, fine. Arguing the merits is a no go as this is only my opinion. If you disagree, then post a note to your own blog.

I am curious as to what this might cost. Yes, I haven’t given banks anything. Since they have screwed up the system so badly, they can go it on their own. For all but some very small percentage, 1%? 2%, my & your savings are covered by the FDIC. You won’t lose your savings.