Hi Daniel,



"He who has the Gold makes the rules."



Neither Germany or the EU owe Greece anything.



In fact, it's Greece that owes, and owes, and owes.



OK fine. Through mismanagement and other variables (none of which are Germany's fault or the EU's fault) Greek got itself in a bad position.



The imposed austerity (by he and she who has the Gold) seems to have enforced some fiscal discipline on Greece with some early, tepid results.



Greece is showing a tiny budget surplus (Congratulations!) and apparently, is beginning to crack down on the 50% of Greek citizens who haven't bothered to file their tax returns for years (in some cases going on decades) nor pay their taxes. And is now positioned to service and paydown its debt.



Lowering energy costs always stimulates an economy (whether by dropping taxation of fuels, or by lower market pricing) and this is a lever that Greece's lenders can use to enforce continued fiscal discipline.



If Greece really cooperates with the EU and Germany, then a massive joint effort might be in order to benefit all parties:



1. Lowered energy costs always stimulate an economy.

2. Utility scale wind and solar power plants lower per kWh energy prices (now that both are at price parity with conventional power generation).

3. There are plenty of sunny and plenty of windy areas in Greece (far from touristy areas)

4. Greece's neighbours are energy-starved for reasonably priced energy.

5. Land is cheap along Greece's borders with Turkey, Bulgaria, Macedonia and Albania.

6. Selling energy from Greek power plants to neighbouring countries will assist the Greek economy. Cash energy exports will assist the balance of trade, for one example.



Ergo, the obvious thing to do is form a joint venture energy project that is designed to generate energy near the Greek borders, and sell it at a profit to Greece's neighbours.



If Greece supplies the land and necessary infrastructure, while Germany supplies the solar and wind power plants, and the rest of the EU finances the deal -- then Greece gets 50% of the profits of any Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) and Germany and the EU split the other 50% -- and all three own 1/3rd of the joint venture.



Such a plan would add stability and cold, hard cash to the Greek economy (which should be used to repay lenders, to paydown historic debt and to finance services to citizens)



And think of all the Greek jobs that would be created by such an audacious plan!



(Jobs = improved social fabric, more tax revenue for government, lower unemployment insurance payments/welfare payments and increased consumer spending)



If the Greek government suddenly had an extra billion euros coming in per month (energy sales) it might just solve a lot of problems for everyone.



The question is: Will Greece's new leadership cooperate with EU and German (He and she who has the Gold) requirements -- and thereby, find such a joint venture approved in short order -- or will Greece's new leadership be antagonistic towards the EU and Germany?



If Greece plays this out logically, if enough customers are found for exported Greek (renewable) energy, and enough 1GW power plants are then built, one generation from now, Greece might find that it is the country with the Gold, and able to make the rules!



Best regards, JBS

http://jbsnews.com/2015/02/08/creating-jobs-via-renewable-energy-adoption/