Solar

While I certainly welcome lower-cost solar panels, and would most certainly include solar power when I own my off-grid homestead, I am deeply concerned about the tens of thousands, and soon to be hundreds of thousands of acres of land being developed for industrial solar farms across the state. Information both on solar farms and smaller, more appropriate uses of solar technology.

Massive Solar Farm Planned For Selkirk.

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Massive Solar Farm Planned For Selkirk.

The 2002 750 MW Bethlehem Energy Center which replaced the 1952 Albany Stream Station in Glenmont sits on 83 acres of previously industrial land along the river.

A clean burning natural gas and fuel oil plant, it operates 24-7. It produces 94% less SO2, 90% less NOx and 36% less CO2 compared to Albany Steam Station.

http://www.powermag.com/bethlehem-energy-center-glenmont-new-york/?printmode=1

In contrast, this industrial solar project will be placed on 42-acres farm land and generate a theoretical 8 MW peak when its particularly sunny out. Most of the time it will produce much less then 8 MW peak output.

Assuming solar worked 24-7, they would need nearly 4,000 acres of land to produce as much nameplate power as the Bethlehem Energy Center produces.

Large solar farms are a taxpayer-funded scam. While roof-top solar helps offset energy use, and is quite desirable source of clean renewable energy, large solar farms should be disallowed and prohibited by law as just another form of sprawl.

That Fancy New Solar Bike Path In Amsterdam Is Utter Bullshit

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That Fancy New Solar Bike Path In Amsterdam Is Utter Bullshit

Solar power makes a lot of sense on roof tops -- it helps shade and cool buildings, and puts the solar cells in a better angle for unobstructed sun. Solar roadways, in contrast, have all the disadvantages.

Solar panels are very sensitive to shade and angle to the sun -- in my personal experience with my solar panel. To say nothing of heat. I can't understand why anybody would have proposed the solar roadway idea in the first place. It just doesn't make much sense.