California's San Bernardino County restricts construction of solar, wind farms • Hacker News Board

Re: California's San Bernardino County restricts construction of solar, wind farms

#11

Post by stcredzero » Fri, Mar 01, 2019, 4:16 AM UTC

philipov wrote: post #9

zzleeper wrote: post #7

Wow.. when I thought NIMBYism in California couldn't get any worst. From here: https://www.sbsun.com/2019/02/28/san-bernardino-county-board... " some residents say the prohibition will protect communities from potential health hazards caused by blowing dust, which increases when pristine desert land is disturbed by construction. They also sited the protection of scenic views, carbon sequestration from desert vegetati…

"sited the protection of scenic views..." that would have made a good pun, if it weren't instead the copy-editors just not catching the mistake.

Thank you. Bugged the heck out of me!

Re: California's San Bernardino County restricts construction of solar, wind farms

#12

Post by killion » Fri, Mar 01, 2019, 4:17 AM UTC

It took me a while to find out why locals were saying solar farms cause dust storms. The locals claim solar farms destabilize the soil. Dust isn’t in the interest of the energy producer because it lowers efficiency so my assumption is that they would do everything to limit dust.

I guess I’m surprised that the LA Times would publish a claim like that without comment or caveat.

Re: California's San Bernardino County restricts construction of solar, wind farms

#13

Post by charliebrownau » Fri, Mar 01, 2019, 4:18 AM UTC

Comifornia is heading to total collapse thou left infection

This is an example , why NEVER to vote for the Dems/LEFT

Re: California's San Bernardino County restricts construction of solar, wind farms

#14

Post by JohnJamesRambo » Fri, Mar 01, 2019, 4:20 AM UTC

zzleeper wrote: post #7

Wow.. when I thought NIMBYism in California couldn't get any worst. From here: https://www.sbsun.com/2019/02/28/san-bernardino-county-board... " some residents say the prohibition will protect communities from potential health hazards caused by blowing dust, which increases when pristine desert land is disturbed by construction. They also sited the protection of scenic views, carbon sequestration from desert vegetati…

They’ve ramped it up to NIMC.

Re: California's San Bernardino County restricts construction of solar, wind farms

#15

Post by remarkEon » Fri, Mar 01, 2019, 4:20 AM UTC

What's the useful life of modern solar panels? Will these solar farms have to be decommissioned or retrofit in the future, and will we have to deal with a bunch of toxic material disposal say 30 years from now? I guess it certainly seems like a no-brainer to build these things in deserts with consistent sunlight, but I'm just curious if there are externalities we're not thinking of yet because we haven't had to.

Re: California's San Bernardino County restricts construction of solar, wind farms

#16

Post by olliej » Fri, Mar 01, 2019, 4:22 AM UTC

a012 wrote: post #3

_9vpl wrote: post #2

(Deleted)

And everything could cause cancer.

The amount of fuss over “may cause cancer” is excessive.

On the other hand RadiThor existed so clearly the other extreme also existed :)

Re: California's San Bernardino County restricts construction of solar, wind farms

#17

Post by Janeman544 » Fri, Mar 01, 2019, 4:23 AM UTC

remarkEon wrote: post #15

What's the useful life of modern solar panels? Will these solar farms have to be decommissioned or retrofit in the future, and will we have to deal with a bunch of toxic material disposal say 30 years from now? I guess it certainly seems like a no-brainer to build these things in deserts with consistent sunlight, but I'm just curious if there are externalities we're not thinking of yet because we haven't had to.

They are pretty much useless without government funding and subsidies.

Re: California's San Bernardino County restricts construction of solar, wind farms

#18

Post by User23 » Fri, Mar 01, 2019, 4:23 AM UTC

Wind power is routinely deployed in an environmentally irresponsible way. https://www.audubon.org/conservation/audubons-position-wind-...

Re: California's San Bernardino County restricts construction of solar, wind farms

#19

Post by toomanybeersies » Fri, Mar 01, 2019, 4:23 AM UTC

remarkEon wrote: post #15

What's the useful life of modern solar panels? Will these solar farms have to be decommissioned or retrofit in the future, and will we have to deal with a bunch of toxic material disposal say 30 years from now? I guess it certainly seems like a no-brainer to build these things in deserts with consistent sunlight, but I'm just curious if there are externalities we're not thinking of yet because we haven't had to.

When projects like these are planned, they consider the entire lifecycle of the project, including end of life.

Re: California's San Bernardino County restricts construction of solar, wind farms

#20

Post by burfog » Fri, Mar 01, 2019, 4:23 AM UTC

jayd16 wrote: post #8

>[...] solar projects proposed along or near the highway would ruin the pristine desert landscapes [...] Ironic.

It makes sense if the locals benefit from tourists driving down those roads to observe the scenery. A place without roads may be even more pristine, but it also might as well not exist because normal people can't go there.