Taiwan's got the right idea-->reduce reliance on foreign-sourced energy products and develop your own. Taiwan Power Co., the island's biggest electricity generator, plans to spend millions installing solar panels domestically, which would reduce the country's dependence on energy imports. The project is still pending approval by the Ministry of Economic Affairs. If approved, the project will increase the state-run utility's capacity by 10 megawatts, or 71 times, by 2011. Taiwan imports 98 percent of its energy needs (sound familiar). Taipower's development director Yu Shang-hsiun said, "We hope to start the trend. Boosting the use of alternative energy is a long term policy." The government is paying as much as half of the cost of installing solar power systems...not to mention, they own 97 percent of Taiwan Power Co.
I definitely think that self-reliance is a good thing...whether as an individual or as a country. I know that there has been a lot of talk lately about the United States developing more capacity to generate and provide our own energy sources. I believe that we can all make a contribution and effect a change in our own realm of influence. How does this relate to real estate? Well, on a micro-level, if we were more self-sustaining (for example, creating and using our own energy to power our homes), we could soften the blow on the current global energy crisis. Anyway, I don't want to go down this road too far...but I think Taiwan has a good idea building solar panels to create a domestic pool of energy sources. Any creative ideas on how we could do the same in the US? Please comment.
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