The preponderance of plans

Experts discuss mechanisms to protect consumers’ interests regarding energy
prices
AMMAN (Petra) - Industrialists and energy experts on Saturday examined
means to arrive at appropriate energy prices as well as mechanisms to protect
consumers’ interests. During a workshop organised by the Jordan Consumer
Protection Society in cooperation with the Jordan Cement Factories Company, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Khalid Shraideh highlighted the need to make use of alternative and renewable sources of energy. Due to pressures exerted on this sector, the ministry plans to set up an energy fund to extend subsidies and soft loans to energy projects and studies, the minister indicated. The fund will finance energy projects and studies to improve energy production in all fields, Shraideh said. Discussions also focused on the effects the rise of energy prices have had on cement prices. Jordan Times, 26 August 07

So the government realizes the need for 'alternative energy' ie solar, only when it hurts the pocket … so I suppose twenty years late is better than never at all. We just don't seem to get beyond the talk/study/plan stage though….. Note in the above "Due to pressures exerted on this sector, the ministry plans to set up an energy fund to extend subsidies and soft loans to energy projects and studies".

Operative word here is "plans to" …. Why the need for more 'studies' … the technology is there, the citizens are crying out for it, so why not just set up a government subsidized industry to provide cost effective, mass produced, solar panels for the public?? Can't be that hard to do when we can build bridges, roads, overpasses and underpasses, towers and gated compounds at break neck speed. Why the fear of a few solar panels??

This 'drive' should have started years ago as we have the infrastructure such as the Royal Scientific Society, not to mention the various science departments at the various Universities, and the governmental Natural Resources Authority. Repeat: Natural – Resources – Authority, the entity that thinks only in terms of oil, copper mining, shale oil mining and nuclear energy … the most costly and destructive of all energy resources. Am I missing something here??

Winter is coming … another year of miserable cold for those who cannot afford to go solar on offer from the private sector; and the boilers and kerosene heaters work less and less throughout the long winter months.

If there is one thing Jordan has in abundance it is lots of sun … it also has the technology and the manpower, so where is the political will? Pity the government cannot see this; must be blinded by the light …. J