Readers React: Koch brothers vs. the solar industry

Re “The right takes aim at the solar industry,” April 20

The vast sums of money used by the Koch brothers and their ilk originated from average Americans fueling their vehicles and powering their homes.

Billions of dollars are sucked out of our economy by those who want us to keep using carbon-based energy. The use of oil, coal and natural gas has massive external costs that are not paid by the end user. This is the reason government regulators are trying to level the playing field by providing reasonable incentives for solar energy.

States that fight these regulations will end up sending billions of dollars from their residents to these industries, reducing the cash available for other needs. They will continue polluting their environment and sickening their populace, costing themselves even more.

Sunshine is free, and once you’ve made the capital expenditure to install your solar system, you get free energy for the rest of your life.

Paul Scott

Santa Monica

Surprisingly, the one word that never appeared in the article was the ever-recurring, variable-length phenomenon known as “night.” This is the period when solar cells refuse to provide electrical energy to power the appliances that operate after the sun goes down.

For total power company independence, solar users could purchase, say, two battery units from Tesla Motors for several grand each and install them in their garages. Or they could purchase and install a fossil-fueled generator to bridge the night-time gap.

Or not.

Let’s hope the power company stays in business.

Gordon Osborne

Woodland Hills

So there you have it: No pretense of ideological differences or the illusion of offering a superior plan for the betterment of the country and society as a whole. No, it’s just plain old naked influence-peddling through huge cash donations to pandering politicians, aimed solely at denying progress and keeping the shortsighted moneymaking status quo.

It’s not about competitiveness and progress, it’s about selfishness and short-term greed.

I often wonder what people of inherited wealth like Charles and David Koch tell their children and grandchildren when they ask why we are losing our competitive edge and spiraling into a polluted and resource-ravaged world.

Bob Hoffman

Long Beach

The Koch brothers and anti-tax activist Grover Norquist argue that Arizonans who have invested in solar energy should pay the grid owners $50 to $100 a month, far more than the state-allowed $5 a month.

The Koch brothers and Norquist have obviously benefited greatly from a country and government that provides the world’s most sophisticated and expensive military and defense organizations, an education system that is still the envy of the world, and infrastructure that keeps things moving and working.

Why can’t they understand the logic of their own argument when it comes to paying taxes on investment income?

John Eaglesham

Long Beach

ALSO:

Read before you vote

Not all lies are created equal

Guidance that parents can use