1.4 Utility Participation in SPS Related RD&D While the participation of the electric utilities in the SPS research, design and development (RD&D) program may be desirable, utility activities in this area are likely to be very limited during the next five years. EPRI's budget for all solar energy research during this time period is only 2% of EPRI's total budget. The total research EPRI budget for the next five years is roughly $1 billion, including an allowance for inflation. Of this, only $20 million (approximately $4 million/year) has been allocated for all forms of solar energy research, including solar heating and cooling. Unless EPRI's priorities shift significantly, the funding available from this source to support SPS related R&D will probably be small. Even if EPRI supported SPS-related RD&D at the same rate as all other solar energy projects combined, its contribution between now and 1995 would probably be less than 1% of the required total of $44 billion. If all of EPRI's resources were devoted to the SPS, EPRI could only contribute roughly 10% of the $44 billion required. The probability of attracting substantial participation by individual utilities in SPS related research is also small; utility research priorities are primarily near-term and investment in the SPS is unlikely to be a high priority item. 1.5 Utility Liabilities Associated with the SPS Whoever owns the SPS - the electric utilities, a private or semi- private corporation or a government agency, this owner could be liable for all the adverse effects that could results from SPS related activities; the cost of these liabilities would presumably be added to the cost of SPS generated electrical energy via the cost of insurance. At present, too little is known about the potential adverse effects either to:
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTU5NjU0Mg==