Thoughts on mega wind and solar projects

[Phil Timmons]

I'd say to make the structure sturdy enough to take the hit without major damage. Those unable to safely navigate parking lots would be educated as to driving safely, or removed from the driving pool. Two birds, one stone.

Not too much more complicated than light poles in the Parking Lot, or columns in a Parking Garage. The add on bonus is some weather protection, lighting mounts and power, and put in Chargers at the same time.

 

[gsganzer]

Not too much more complicated than light poles in the Parking Lot, or columns in a Parking Garage. The add on bonus is some weather protection, lighting mounts and power, and put in Chargers at the same time.

Have you seen the light poles in parking lots? Virtually every one of them has been run into, countless times. Never underestimate the stupidity of people.

 

[paulsharvey]

Who is actually benefitting from these solar farms that are being constructed on old farm land? I've yet to hear one person say "WOW, my electric bill went down X percent thanks to the new solar farm!" Here in NY, electric bills have gone through the roof.

The farmers, or the property owners. These solar farms are either purchasing the land for greater than agriculture prices, or signing very nice, long term leases, at significantly more than cash rent rates for ag. The power company is benefiting, mostly just by the speed/ease of increasing production. The rate payers are benefiting, even if prices dont drop, they dont increase at the same rate they would. The contractors doing the work benefit. Honestly, water quality likely improves. Not anti ag, but ag generally Does have a negative to water quality. Manufacturer benefit. Local motels, camp grounds, and restaurants benefit during construction as workers need to eat/sleep.

The closest thing to a "victim" in this, is people who just dont like looking at what other people do on their own property. Wild life, somewhat, but its not completely all bad, but it does support less than ag or woods, and different animals benefit vs ag. Water quality,.. maybe, its not dirty, actually cleaner then ag, but it also is more run off from impervious surface area. Long term, established Ag businesses (seed, fertilizer, equipment, insurance, processors, ect), do take a hit.

 

[paulsharvey]

On solar and parking lots; it is done, generally linked to EV charging. One of the biggest things, you already have the impervious surface (asphalt), so adding a solar canopy doesnt increase retention requirements at all. Might slightly alter the discharge locations, but total water run off is unchanged.

 

[Oaktree]

Coal mines have to do reclamation now. They didn’t used to. There is plenty of evidence of that in some counties just east of here in Western Illinois. I’m not against coal mining but it has a much worse environmental impact in my opinion.

What exactly is meant by "reclamation"? When you take millions of tons of rock (ie-coal) out of the ground, you're gonna leave a pretty big hole.

Why not put solar panels atop huge corporate centers, Walmarts, schools, big city buildings, airports, etc. and leave the agriculture land in its’ natural state of beauty?

Are solar/wind farms any more disruptive to the land's "natural state of beauty" than a coal mine or an oil field?

 

[Hay Dude]

What exactly is meant by "reclamation"? When you take millions of tons of rock (ie-coal) out of the ground, you're gonna leave a pretty big hole.


Are solar/wind farms any more disruptive to the land's "natural state of beauty" than a coal mine or an oil field?

How many new coal mines are being built compared to how many solar fields are being built?
Even an octogenarian would know all the construction is in solar, not coal lol
So let the cities put the solar panels in the cities, where all the energy is wasted on giant corporations and their big virtue projects and leaving skyscraper lights on all night.
Leave the countryside alone so we can continue to charge citiots to come out and pick a pumpkin or some apples lol

 

[fatjay]

I don't like them. Tree's are hte tallest thing I want to see on my landscape view.

 

[dodge man]

There are areas east of here, Fulton County Illinois in particular where no reclamation was done. You just end up with random mounds of dirt where the overburden was removed and piled up, the ground is ruined. There is another area where recent mining was done. The overburden was removed then put back. As the mine progresses and closes you end up with a final cut with a big long hole, they are allowed to leave this.

In Illinois they are going back a remediating some of these areas that weren’t originally reclaimed but it’s a slow process, not enough money to do it all.

 

[edgarrian]

Why not put solar panels atop huge corporate centers, Walmarts, schools, big city buildings, airports, etc. and leave the agriculture land in its’ natural state of beauty?

Do people in fly-over country have to pay the price and make the sacrifice for every squirrely faculty lounge professor’s fantasies?

Fire risk is why. Im not sure its insurable anymore.

Not long ago a few warehouses burned down b/c of improperly installed solar panels. So thats why its not done. The clean tech community won't admit it

 

[edgarrian]

There are areas east of here, Fulton County Illinois in particular where no reclamation was done. You just end up with random mounds of dirt where the overburden was removed and piled up, the ground is ruined. There is another area where recent mining was done. The overburden was removed then put back. As the mine progresses and closes you end up with a final cut with a big long hole, they are allowed to leave this.

In Illinois they are going back a remediating some of these areas that weren’t originally reclaimed but it’s a slow process, not enough money to do it all.

Im surprised Illinois allows that to happen.

I think there is more to it than we will ever know. Two sides of every story and i suspect this is full oh half truths and finger pointing.

No different than Moss Landing fire. Batteries went up in a fire. homeowners are left holding the bag trying to find out if its safe to live in the homes that were in direct contact of the smoke and contaminants.

I thinks its safe to say that every industry gets away with a lot.

check out the railroads. The industry gets away with a lot. The derailments are insane and the frequency that it happens. We only here about the bad ones.

 

[Duds13]

Floating Solar can install cheap and easy -- launch and recover from a shore access point.

Floating on otherwise parked water has a couple of bonus features -- as a floatation bearing surface, they can rotate easily East to West to track the long Summer day, especially in Northern latitudes. And water helps keep things cool. On the other hand -- Winter and Freezing aint so great.

Another appealing feature for Hydro-Dam sites -- water is generally rather calm above the Dam, and if already a generation site -- there is easy Grid Access.

Have looked at some designs for Big Wind on a tanker style mount. To cut loose and let drift / sail / anchor in High Wind areas. Intent was capture / store Hydrogen in the tanker, and recover when full. But not much market for the Hydrogen.

You're really OK with solar panels floating on beautiful lakes and reservoirs?

 

[Duds13]

Obama-backed $2.2B green energy 'boondoggle' leaves taxpayers on the hook

Taxpayers and electricity customers face a costly standoff over the Ivanpah solar plant as California regulators block all efforts to shut it down.

www.foxnews.com

The farmers, or the property owners. These solar farms are either purchasing the land for greater than agriculture prices, or signing very nice, long term leases, at significantly more than cash rent rates for ag. The power company is benefiting, mostly just by the speed/ease of increasing production. The rate payers are benefiting, even if prices dont drop, they dont increase at the same rate they would. The contractors doing the work benefit. Honestly, water quality likely improves. Not anti ag, but ag generally Does have a negative to water quality. Manufacturer benefit. Local motels, camp grounds, and restaurants benefit during construction as workers need to eat/sleep.

The closest thing to a "victim" in this, is people who just dont like looking at what other people do on their own property. Wild life, somewhat, but its not completely all bad, but it does support less than ag or woods, and different animals benefit vs ag. Water quality,.. maybe, its not dirty, actually cleaner then ag, but it also is more run off from impervious surface area. Long term, established Ag businesses (seed, fertilizer, equipment, insurance, processors, ect), do take a hit.

 

[jyoutz]

Why not put solar panels atop huge corporate centers, Walmarts, schools, big city buildings, airports, etc. and leave the agriculture land in its’ natural state of beauty?

Do people in fly-over country have to pay the price and make the sacrifice for every squirrely faculty lounge professor’s fantasies?

I agree with that idea completely. However, landowners are leasing their land for these facilities and that’s their right. But I do wish they wouldn’t lease their open lands for these purposes; there’s enough industrial and urban rooftops to suit this purpose. In one city in my state, Walmart has installed solar panels that double as shade carports throughout their entire parking lot. Our local airport has done the same on the economy parking lots. Win/win.

 

[jyoutz]

What exactly is meant by "reclamation"? When you take millions of tons of rock (ie-coal) out of the ground, you're gonna leave a pretty big hole.


Are solar/wind farms any more disruptive to the land's "natural state of beauty" than a coal mine or an oil field?

Or a coal generating plant. Those are truly ugly monstrosities.

 

[jyoutz]

Fire risk is why. Im not sure its insurable anymore.

Not long ago a few warehouses burned down b/c of improperly installed solar panels. So thats why its not done. The clean tech community won't admit it

Actually it is being done, just not to the extent it should be.

 

[dodge man]

Im surprised Illinois allows that to happen.

I think there is more to it than we will ever know. Two sides of every story and i suspect this is full oh half truths and finger pointing.

No different than Moss Landing fire. Batteries went up in a fire. homeowners are left holding the bag trying to find out if its safe to live in the homes that were in direct contact of the smoke and contaminants.

I thinks its safe to say that every industry gets away with a lot.

check out the railroads. The industry gets away with a lot. The derailments are insane and the frequency that it happens. We only here about the bad ones.

I’m not sure Illinois let them get away with anything. That’s just the way things were done. I’m not sure how old these areas are that were stripped mine and not reclaimed but possibly going on a hundred years ago.

 

[Phil Timmons]

Have you seen the light poles in parking lots? Virtually every one of them has been run into, countless times. Never underestimate the stupidity of people.

The concrete just smiles.

 

[Phil Timmons]

You're really OK with solar panels floating on beautiful lakes and reservoirs?

No one said anything about that.

But if you need some self-generated drama, you are welcome to it.

 

[Phil Timmons]

Fire risk is why. Im not sure its insurable anymore.

Not long ago a few warehouses burned down b/c of improperly installed solar panels. So thats why its not done. The clean tech community won't admit it

ummm. no.

In the US it is artificially more expensive to put Solar PV on a roof, because the National Electric Code was bought off to support a few equipment suppliers. If you would like some knowledge of the topic, look up "Rapid Shutdown."

Otherwise, please continue spreading make-believe and FUD.

 

[Duds13]

No one said anything about that.

But if you need some self-generated drama, you are welcome to it.

Self-Generated drama because I asked for clarification on a statement. Um ok...