FINANCIAL ANALYSIS OF SOLAR ENERGY APPLICATIONS WITH ENDOGENOUS SYSTEM SIZING

This paper is concerned with analysis of economic feasibility of solar energy systems. Methodology for estimating energy output from different sized systems is briefly presented, and this is used to determine technical coefficients for a mixed integer model which optimizes the size of the solar heating unit for a particular use. An empirical example of hot water heating on a Georgia dairy is presented. Cost curves are provided for the dairy example to illustrate the effect of sizing on the economic feasibility of solar heating and to elucidate the structure of the optimal sizing decision.Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

LANDOWNERS PERCEPTIONS OF CROP DAMAGE FROM WHITE-TAILED DEER IN SOUTH CAROLINA

Survey respondents reported a definite increase in the population of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in South Carolina. Almost 73% of the producers from a random sample indicated that deer populations have increased over the five year period preceding 1991. With a higher deer population, crop damage from deer became more prevalent, and 72% of the producers indicated having some level of damage. The producers in the sample had mixed feelings about the damage their crops received with 70% indicating that the damage was either negligible or was tolerable in exchange for having deer around. In South Carolina the increasing deer population and problem with crop damage is regional in nature, with certain regions of the state being affected more than others. About one-third of the agricultural producers in South Carolina reflected an attitude that they were substantially negatively affected by deer damage to crops

FINANCIAL ANALYSIS OF SOLAR ENERGY APPLICATIONS WITH ENDOGENOUS SYSTEM SIZING

This paper is concerned with analysis of economic feasibility of solar energy systems. Methodology for estimating energy output from different sized systems is briefly presented, and this is used to determine technical coefficients for a mixed integer model which optimizes the size of the solar heating unit for a particular use. An empirical example of hot water heating on a Georgia dairy is presented. Cost curves are provided for the dairy example to illustrate the effect of sizing on the economic feasibility of solar heating and to elucidate the structure of the optimal sizing decision

Disparity between Hunters' Willingness to Pay and Willingness to Accept Compensation: An Empirical Example

Willingness-to-pay (WTP) and willingness-to-accept (WTA) compensation models were estimated for hunters using a portion of the Clarks Hill wildlife Management Area during 1989-1990. Hunters' WTA values ranged from 2.8 to 8 times more than WTP. Income and wealth effects as well as property rights clearly contributed to this disparity in WTP and WTA compensation for the right to hunt in the wildlife Management Area. Responding hunters spent an average of $750 for hunting related activities or about five percent of their disposable income

RECREATIONAL BOATING AND THE CONGESTION FACTOR: SOME NEW EMPIRICAL' RESULTS

This paper presents a model for measuring the effects of waterway congestion on willingness to travel, as a proxy for willingness to pay. The data originated from a survey of registered boatowners in Georgia conducted during the summer of 1980. The empirical results suggest that, over the range of the data, congestion does not negatively influence willingness to travel with boat-in-tow and infact has a positive, large and significant effect

DISTRIBUTIONAL CONSEQUENCES OF CONSOLIDATED COMMUNITY SERVICE PROVISION

Cost pirimization decision criteria used to evaluate alternative community service delivery systems often ignore distributional incidence of public good provision and quality of service. Using public choice theory, relationships among transaction costs, political unit size, service quality and interest group conflict are examined for a case study

ANALYSIS OF ECONOMIC EMERGENCY LOAN ALLOCATIONS AND CREDIT MARKET EXPANSION

The Economic Emergency (EE) loan program, administered by the FmHA, was created by Congress in 1978. The primary purpose of the program was to provide credit to farmers who were unable to obtain credit from normal lenders due to economic stress. Over six billion dollars of EE loans were extended nationally during fiscal years 1978 through 1981. This paper examines the allocation of EE loans at the state level and the expansionary effect of the program on farm credit markets. Empirical evidence is provided that EE funds were allocated to states consistently with the general criteria cited in the development of the EE program and that the EE program expanded farm credit markets rather than displacing loans from other sources