Obamonomics

[punked]

Actually, one example does completely refute your claim that private corporations could not afford to build the dams. Alcan could in the 50s. It really does make a difference why they built it. The fact is they could access the capital they needed. The only one who is wrong is you.

I would need to hear Alcan's side of the story before I take that claim seriously.

There are tens of thousands of Dams in the world you citing one example from a company that only makes 1.6 billion in revenues and which does not provide power to anyone accept themselves is not an example of a large scale Dam project to provide power to people to consume sorry. There are examples but they are almost all extremely small and all needed financial backing from a government of some kind. Like it or not for the largest Dam projects which provide large amounts of power CAN NOT be built but by the largest companies, most of which are already invested in the energy business and would be hurt by cheaper power prices renewables bring. THAT IS THE PROBLEM with your free market approach.

[TimG]

There are tens of thousands of Dams in the world you citing one example from a company

There are many other dams which have been financed privately.

In fact, many the original hydro dams were built by private companies. The government only got into the business because they wanted the control and profit.

Like it or not for the largest Dam projects which provide large amounts of power CAN NOT be built but by the largest companies, most of which are already invested in the energy business and would be hurt by cheaper power prices renewables bring. THAT IS THE PROBLEM with your free market approach.

That is only a problem if there is no competition. If a government opened competition for a suitable site you would find plenty of groups taht would jump at the opportunity.

In fact, wireless spectrum auction in the states which generated 10 billion proves that the private sector can no probles raising cash for a valuable asset if the government chooses to sell it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_2008_wireless_spectrum_auction

Edited July 13, 2010 by TimG

[punked]

There are many other dams which have been financed privately.

In fact, many the original hydro dams were built by private companies. The government only got into the business because they wanted the control and profit.

That is only a problem if there is no competition. If a government opened competition for a suitable site you would find plenty of groups taht would jump at the opportunity.

In fact, wireless spectrum auction in the states which generated 10 billion proves that the private sector can no probles raising cash for a valuable asset if the government chooses to sell it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_2008_wireless_spectrum_auction

That proves nothing. It is a different sector and a different situation entirely.