Solar power may not
be around the corner
If you are among those who
have been anxiously awaiting
the commercial availability
of solar energy, not only for
the satisfaction of conserving
scarce fossil fuels, but also
for the exhilaration of
“pulling the plug” on your
local utility, you may be in for
a disappointment. Public
utilities, both electric and
gas, are showing increasing
interest in solar energy and
may eventually be billing
you for solar BTU’s landing
on your roof.
The Electric Power
Research Institute has found
that approximately 100
electric utilities are involved
in solar heating and cooling
projects. The American Gas
Association is a particularly
enthusiastic booster of the
benefits of solar involvement
for gas utilities. Among the
advantages cited are 15-20
percent rates of return on
equity by 1980; an aura of
glamour imparted to other
wise moribund gas utility
stocks on Wall Street; and,
public relations benefits with
school children, employees,
and “environmental influence
groups.” Indeed, the gas
industry has characterized
itself as “a national resource
now under-utilized for the
application of thermal solar
energy.”
Conceivably, utilities could
be involved with solar
equipment installed on their
customers’ premises in
various ways. They might
own, install, and operate solar
equipment directly, or
through a subsidiary, and
receive compensation through
monthly bills. Alternatively,
utilities might operate and
maintain solar equipment
purchased by their
customers, and similarly
receover their costs through
the familiar billing process.
From a public policy
standpoint, several
arguments could support
some such arrangements.
Consumer acceptance and
rapid commercialization of
solar energy equipment might
be enhanced by utilities
paying the up-front costs,
providing quality assurances,
and maintaining the equip
ment. Utilities possess the
technical capabilities to in
tegrate diverse supply and
storage facilities to minimize
the cost of energy throughout
the system.
But Isn’t Smaller
Beautiful?
Advocates of small-scale
“appropriate technology” are
concerned that utility in
volvement with solar
facilities would represent a
further extension of the
monopolistic practces that
are so prevalent in other
sectors of the energy
economy. A state-granted
exclusive solar franchise
could be of major concern to
environmentalists because
the utility’s power to design
combined rates for solar and
supplemental energy could
have an anti-conservation
result without aggressive
state regulation. Electric
utilities especially concern
environmentalists because of
their continuing inclination
toward high-cost power plant
construction. Manipulation of
the type of solar equipment
offered and the rates charged
for its use could result.
Last December the Federal
Trade Coh.mission held a
symposium on the com
petitive aspects of the solar
energy industry. Regulatory
and anti-trust experts
generally downplayed the
possbility tha utility in
volvement with solar energy
would be anti-competitive. In
fact, several panelists en
dorsed ar live participation of
the electric and gas utilities in
th’ .;ar market.
Price Is Critical
i recently completed study
uy the Office of Technology
Assessment, a research arm
of the U.S. Congress, found
that aside from ownership,
the critical issue confronting
the integration of solar
equipment and utility systems
is the price of energy flowing
between the two. The costs of
back-up power and the sale of
surplus power generated by
solar equipment will greatly
affect the economic feasibility
of solar equipment and its
resulting acceptance by
consumers. Questions
surrounding the hardware
and the physical in
terconnections are not in
surmountable, but a rate
design that fairly reflects the
costs and benefits accruing to
utilities from customers using
solar equpment is essential.
Would you believe they cycled in ...
From California?
It •
SO YOU THINK YOU’RE ATHLETIC? - Did you pedal in from
California? They did. (Photo by David Swanson.)
V^LL, YOU KNOW, once this year we had to publish a picture
of St. Andrews favorite bird. (Photo by David Swanson.)
BY DAVID SWANSON
The St. Andrews communitv
was charmed last Tuesday
with the visit of an English
couple who at the age of 67 and
62 have accomplished the
envy of many a 18-22 year old
college student; they have
bicycled across the Unitert
States.
Bert and Quemie Bames
delighted the fancy of many
students and faculty as they
escorted and shown around
the college, the first American
college they have visited.
They said they were favorably
impressed with the friendly
and open atmosphere, the
well-equipped facilities, the
easy access, and the
hospitality and warm
reception they received.
The couple arrived in Los
Angeles from England on
March 4th and have been
biking ever since. This ex
perience has not been the first
however. They are both well
conditioned bikers and have
accomplish a 3000 mile
journey around the coast of
Great Britain and in Norway.
Bert Barnes, in his younger
days, used to race and tour
professionally.
Queenie commented in her
bubby English accent that her
husband encouraged her to
take up biking when they were
married 40 years ago. They
have not been hindred by the
fact that they do not own a car.
“We are used to biking
everywhere,” Bert said.
The trip across the states
has been fortuned without any
mishaps except for a series of
thriteen flat tires in Texas.
“We thought we would never
get through Texas,” Bert said.
Their bikes are custom and
handmade by the same family
that builds the bikes for the
Tour-de-France. They carry
all their camping and cooking
gear and one extra set of
“visiting” clothes. “We
manage very well, but it helps
we are so compatible,”
Queerie said.
They will leave with New
York as their final destination
before they fly back home to
England by June 2nd.
Ensemble gives final performance
of season
Under the direction of Lee
R. Kesselman, the St. An
drews Chamber Singers will
perform their final concert of
the year Friday at 8 p.m. in
the liberal arts auditorium on
the St. Andrews Presbyterian
College campus. The public is
invited.
The Chamber Singers’
repertoire ranges from the
14th century to 20th century
compositions. One piece, “A
Resurrection,” set by
Kesselman to words by Ron
Bayes, St Andrews writer-in-
residence, involves movement
dramatizing the cyclical
pattern of life and death.-
The 17-voice ensemble
specializing in a capella vocal
literature has toured ex
tensively this year in North
Carolina as well as northern
Virginia, Washington, D.C.
and Maryland.
Previous performances
have taken place in Charlotte,
Gastonia, Greensboro, High
Point, Durham and Laurel
Hill. The Chamber Singers
performed at Pfeiffer College,
and in December their talents
eam^ them a spot in a
special Christmas series on
the Jim Bums Show over
Wilmington’s WECT Channel
6. Height of the season was
achieved during the spring
tour in the Washington area,
where the singers performed
in churches and schools.
Kesselman shares a unique
joint professorship with his
wife, soprano Emily
Ellsworth. In addition to his
position as director of choral
organizations, Kesselman
teaches piano, vocal and piano
pedagogy, and conducting. He
is a graduate of Macalester
CoUege, Minnesota, and holds
a Master of Music degree
from the University of
Southern California.
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