Quote - If they really want to get folks to become more energy efficient here is what they should do to accomplish it.

set up a program so that a person can take out a loan to purchase either solar or wind equipment at a reasonable rate. Give a 100% tax credit for the principle and interest minus the last years electric utility bill. This would bring the cost for the purchaser inline with their current electric bill.

The only reason I haven't done it already is the cost. I want to be totally self reliant by the time I retire. I grow most of my veggys already, except my beanie weenies. LOL

The govt here in my province will actually pay you 80 cents a kh to use solar but only if you kick it back to the grid. There is also a tax break on the purchase/installation and the solar providers will set up the loans. The 80 cent payback is guarenteed for 15 years and the solar panels and installation for 20. Problem is that you can only get this deal if you send the green energy back into the grid. There are no tax incentives of any type if you just want to make your green energy your own use. Dumb. There are 3 Ikea stores near here that just converted their roofs under this "F.I.T" plan and estimate that they will make over $183,000 this year alone after the cost of installation. That's $183,000 of my tax money going to support a company that doesn't need it IMHO.
 As for self reliance read the handle. I'm retired and live on 14k a year. Barely enough to pay the rent. My living room is full of veggies all year round and my cupboards contain no boxes, bags, or cans. Just one hell of a lot of mason jars. I have a 40ft sq of allotment garden in a nearby city park that I pay $25 per year to rent and have been doing so for years. I own no car and in fact no longer even have a driver's licence. It lapsed a few years back and I didn't have the $63 to re-new it. My 21 sq ft balcony is tarped in with plastic all winter to use as a cold frame. I could go on and on but you get the picture