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They are more expensive than other energy sources.

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All energy sources have considerations of cost, availability, and attainability (which is itself determined by technological and non-technological limits). Solar power is 'free', but the devices to collect it are expensive compared to the power they deliver, thereby making solar power expensive. There are also a limited number of locations where it can be collected. Hydroelectric power is 'free', and the devices to collect it are cheap, but the number of locations at which it can be collected are few in number (most are already being used). Geothermal power is 'free', and collecting it is moderately priced, but there are technological constraints to how well the energy can be collected, and there are few places where it can be collected. Wind power is 'free', and not free. The devices used to collect it are moderately expensive, but wind farms need more traditional power sources (typically fossil fuels) as back-ups, which increases the costs and reduces the efficiency. Like solar, there are also a limited number of places where wind farms are practical. Agri-power or bio-fuels must be grown, and are not 'free'. While converting agricultural products into fuel is rather simple, it is using food for fuel, which creates a competition between feeding people and feeding cars.

== There's a documentary film called "Who Killed the Electric Car?". It's about a company that started selling electric cars, until the US Government, oil companies and other powerful people conspired to put a stop to it. (But I haven't seen it myself.) == The typical middle class US home grid tied solar installation can cost between $25000 and $40000 out of pocket installed. The federal tax credit is limited to a lifetime max of some $2000. Some state and local tax credits are available but not as many as could be out there. The typical home wind turbine runs about $25000 to $35000 installed and you have to get a tower permit to install it which are denied in many suburban settings. There is also no legislation in place to ban home owner associations from having in their bylaws that you can't put up a wind tower or install solar cells on your house if one of your neighbors doesn't like the look of them. - This is of Jan 2009 and hopefully will change. So - it's almost pure cost. Most people in the US do not stay in a home long enough to save the money in utility bills to pay for such a pricy installation. Substantial improvements in solar cell technology will bring these costs down a little over time and hopefully the federal tax credit will be raised to further fill the gap. It is a matter of being able to afford your environmental convictions.

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