Japan opens solar energy parks

[bananas]

Source: AFP

Japan opened several solar energy parks on Sunday as a new law came into force requiring companies to purchase renewable energy at a fixed price in a push for alternatives to nuclear power.

The openings come on the same day engineers began refiring an atomic reactor, despite growing public protests in the aftermath of meltdowns at Fukushima, ending nearly two months in which Japan was nuclear-free.

A new solar centre opened in Kyoto in western Japan, while various municipalities also started up installations able to provide energy for hundreds of thousands of households.

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The government estimates the power provided by renewable energy this year in Japan will attain 2,500 megawatts, the equivalent of two medium-sized nuclear reactors.

Read more: http://www.france24.com/en/20120701-japan-opens-solar-energy-parks

[xxqqqzme]

1. So the US is going to be

the last industrialized country to adopt renewable energy cuz we LOVE mainlining all that fossil dope.

[freshwest]

2. Depends on your area. In mine, we designate investment to renewables and all newer government ..

Structures, meaning more than just newer buildings, are low energy with solar panels. We use wind, solar, hydro and other sources, but conservation is the biggest thing. Many people have solar panels on their homes that feed power to the grid and cut their electric cost drastically. We conserve on water not because it doesn't rain but for the environment and the expectation of climate change. We also invest in public transportation of all kinds, alternatives to gas guzzling vehicles, car sharing, etc. I know not all parts of the country are willing to pay the taxes for these things or the residents live many miles away from work or drive through conditions that still need diesel or gas cars. Also that we have a lot of people willing to live in denser neighborhoods than many areas consider a good quality of life. I also know of rural areas where people are off the grid on individual as well as large scale operations for ranches and farms. They are doing everything they can to reduce their fossil fuel consumption. So don't give up, we're still working on it. We can get this done, somehow, and Obama has done what he could - there are a lot of things being done.

[xxqqqzme]

3. More and more people, here in SoCal

are adding solar panels because there is incentive, from the state, to do it.

Our float in this years 4th of July parade is being pulled by a zero emission hydrogen fuel cell truck. The company has just ordered 100 of these trucks, which are being made in Long Beach.
Our contact w/ the company said, 96.5% of the truck is American made! This company primary transports from the Port of LA.

I think the US needs regional power concentration because there are renewable strengths in each region of the country. But as long as coal, oil, gas & nuclear corps continue line politician's pockets and receive government welfare, we will never have a national policy.

[Overseas]

4. K&R. Yes please!