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<\/a>\nSen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) and Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.) wrote for\nThe Hill 5 March 2012,\n<\/a>\nSen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) and Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.) wrote for\nThe Hill 5 March 2012,\n\nREFRESH Act: Strengthen rural communities and U.S. energy security<\/a>\n\nReauthorize and reform the popular REAP program to demonstrate\nopportunities for economically viable energy investments and encourage\nloans rather than grants.\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<\/a>\n\nRep. Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.) has long been working with local\nfarmers and USDA<\/a> to help with agriculture and rural jobs.\n
\nThe Indiana Congress members continued:\n
\nReal commitment to rural growth requires that we put money where our\nmouth — or authorization — is. We offer basic mandatory funding\nthat is more than paid for through cutting waste.\n\nRenewable energy production creates jobs. Rural communities see\npotential for real economic growth in the emerging biofuel sector.\nAdvances in technologies and agricultural techniques could offer\neconomic benefits from coast to coast. Using the REFRESH Act as the\nbasis for the next Farm Bill would help galvanize private investment\nin the sector, bringing jobs to a ready economy.\n<\/blockquote>\nIndeed it can.\n
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<\/a>\nObviously I like REAP grants, since\n\nwe got one for Okra Paradise Farms.<\/a>\nThat 25% REAP grant plus an 35% ARRA NREL plus 35% GEFA credits\nwill add up to 90% covered by grants and tax credits,\nwhich is a pretty good deal.\n
\nNow that remaining 10% is still a significant amount;\nlike the price of a small car.\nBut in 7-15 years (how long it will take to pay off this system,\ndepending on how you figure it),\nwhat would\n\n
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<\/a>\nthe value of a car be?\nMuch less than when you bought it.\nMeanwhile, these solar panels will be generating almost as much\npower as they are now, and they will continue to generate for\nat least a decade more, probably much more.\n
\nThe big missing piece is up-front financing.\nLocal banks will do it, but only for collateral.\nBy which they mean real estate.\nNope, they won’t take the solar equipment as collateral,\neven though it would still be operational many years from now.\n
\nLocal banks or credit unions could see this as an opportunity and start accepting solar equipment as collateral.\nBeyond that, with a few changes to Georgia law,\n\n
<\/a>\n\nto deal with the power utility territoriality clause<\/a>,\nand maybe to\n\nban boondoggle charges for more dangerous and less job-producing power sources,<\/a>\nwe could get a\n\ncommodity market in solar power in this state.<\/a>\nYou could put up solar panels like this, or more,\non your house or business roof,\nand sell your excess\npower to somebody in Atlanta with less roof space.\n\n
<\/a>\nThat would produce widely distributed energy,\nreducing need for foreign oil or dirty coal,\nlowering your electric bills,\nmaybe even producing you a profit,\nand generating local jobs right here in south Georgia.\n
\nPrivate investment is ready\n\nto come in for utility-scale solar projects.<\/a>\n