I'd like to clarify some facts misspoken during the rhetoric of Hal.

The levelized cost of energy (LCOE) (click here) calculator provides a simple calculator for both utility-scale and distributed generation (DG) renewable energy technologies that compares the combination of capital costs, operations and maintenance (O&M), performance, and fuel costs.

The Electric Power Monthly is a more than interesting document of which I sincerely doubt Hal has looked at.

This is the profile of Kentucky's 5th District as per "Roll Call" which has been in print from 1955.

The rural 5th, (click here) which takes in eastern Kentucky's hardscrabble coal country, has struggled with poverty, undereducation and a lack of economic diversity. The district has the nation's highest percentage of white residents (96 percent) and its second-lowest median household income.

Did I mention Hal is the US Representative of Kentucky's 5th District. This is still another district in the USA that does not vote according to it's best interests, but, then under education would serve that purpose would it not? Lack of economic diversity adds to the desperation of citizens to keep what does exist. Now, to me, cronyism is a huge problem that has manifested in stagnant economic growth and victimization of the citizens and Kentucky's 5th is one of the best examples of that.

Stated by Hal:

"Cost of USA electricity is cheap and wants to keep it that way so jobs stay in the USA Cheap electricity is what makes the USA a good place for manufacturing."

Electric Power Monthly (click here)

Data for January 2014 
Release Date: March 21, 2014
Next Release: April 21, 2014 

"US Cents per kWh"

In the USA - 8 to 17 and then 37 in Hawaii

This is the average price of electricity in Kentucky. It tracks at the lower end of the spectrum in the USA.






But, Hal wasn't talking about the USA so much as a global attraction.

We know China and India are among the nations that have outsourced jobs from the USA. The primary driver cited by most companies is the labor costs.

Electricity in Beijing (click here) costs 0.48 yuan per kwh (.08 US), while the average price Guangdong Province is the highest at up to 0.638 yuan per kwh (.10 US). Shenzhen charges 0.68 yuan per kwh (0.11 US). 

In India it is estimated in February 2013 the cost is 8 to 12 cents US.

It is very safe to say, Hal is lying. There is no way these costs in electricity in the USA is a determining factor in attracting companies to the USA. Certainly, the example of the stagnant economy of Kentucky's Fifth District is testament to that reality.