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American solar farms

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Re: American solar farms

#71

Post by Xss3 »

LUmBULtERA wrote: post #52
dzonga wrote: post #45

the sad thing about this data is how politicized clean energy has become. the blue states have a lot of energy solar - while the red ones are sparse. the red ones get a lot of sun while the blue ones don't.

I don't disagree about it being politicized, but if you look at the states with the highest amounts of renewable generation, your second sentence is not supported. There is a LOT of wind energy in Republican-led states in places where wind makes sense.

Their first sentence could be called into question by that, not the second. The second specifies solar.

Re: American solar farms

#73

Post by bongodongobob »

Geezus_42 wrote: post #37
patall wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The only problem that I kind of understand are the huge fences surrounding the farms. Because copper thefts are a big problem for them, it is quite common to have 3m high fences all around, which is obviously more gated community like than a monoculture field. And of course, it depends on how the farm is run. Solar farms can be ecological heaven if managed properly, unless growing weeds are just killed of with round-…

How is that fence any different than the 3m high fence the deer breeder down the road has?

Deer breeding isn't liberal wokeness. Only the good ol boys do that, so it's ok.

Re: American solar farms

#74

Post by bluGill »

criley2 wrote: post #51
UltraSane wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The federal government doesn't have to approve solar farms built on private land. Solar is far from dead in the US and there is tons of private land solar farms can and will be built on.

Most the best land for solar farms in the west half of the US is controlled by the federal government. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1f/Ma... For example, there basically will not be large scale solar in Nevada, Utah, Arizona, etc under this administration. You know, some of the highest value spots.

Nevada, Utah and Arizona are all low population states with little power demand. While power can be shipped that needs power lines and other complexity. There is a lot of solar potential there, but the lack of demand means they are not highest value.

Re: American solar farms

#75

Post by davedx »

chasd00 wrote: post #50
dzonga wrote: post #45

the sad thing about this data is how politicized clean energy has become. the blue states have a lot of energy solar - while the red ones are sparse. the red ones get a lot of sun while the blue ones don't.

Texas is about as red as it gets and leads the nation in renewable energy including solar. Red or blue, if the gov can setup a situation where renewable energy is profitable then nature will take its course. https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/texas-tops-us-states...

Renewable energy is profitable

Re: American solar farms

#76

Post by trimethylpurine »

physicles wrote: post #43
trimethylpurine wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seeing them feels dystopian. I actually don't think that opinion is so fringe. There were lots of environmental protesters when the solar farm near us went up. The valley was rich in low shrubs and wildlife, and even some forest was leveled. A multi billion dollar energy company destroyed it to pick up their share of the free government funding while powering less than 2% of homes. Sure, it's better than a gas refine…

What do you propose instead?

I didn't. It looks like GP changed their comment. I was answering the question of what people don't like about living next to a solar farm.

Re: American solar farms

#77

Post by LUmBULtERA »

Xss3 wrote: post #71
LUmBULtERA wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't disagree about it being politicized, but if you look at the states with the highest amounts of renewable generation, your second sentence is not supported. There is a LOT of wind energy in Republican-led states in places where wind makes sense.

Their first sentence could be called into question by that, not the second. The second specifies solar.

Oh, that's fair point, except solar isn't relatively sparse in a lot of Republican led states too. Texas, Florida, North Carolina all have a relatively decent amount of solar, and Arizona does too which is... mixed?

Re: American solar farms

#78

Post by dzonga »

chasd00 wrote: post #50
dzonga wrote: post #45

the sad thing about this data is how politicized clean energy has become. the blue states have a lot of energy solar - while the red ones are sparse. the red ones get a lot of sun while the blue ones don't.

Texas is about as red as it gets and leads the nation in renewable energy including solar. Red or blue, if the gov can setup a situation where renewable energy is profitable then nature will take its course. https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/texas-tops-us-states...

I lived in texas before & the first time I saw massive wind farms alongside oil pumps was in texas.

wind turbines are wonderful things to look at. but yeah some of those were constructed in the years there was a "blue" admin n I guess market forces took over too.

Re: American solar farms

#79

Post by FrustratedMonky »

mantas wrote: post #60
FrustratedMonky wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What is the argument against it? I've never heard any logical reasons beyond hating the Left. It's like hating bikers, why? The same people that have pickup trucks and swerve to intimidate bikers, seem to hate solar energy. But why?

Technically I could see some reasons. Grids need serious upgrades to support personal solar properly. Which is €€€ and, if end-customers would have to foot the bill themselves, very few people would install solar at home. On top of that, at least in my whereabouts solar is receives a fuckton of subsidies. In the long run lower energy prices will pay back those subsidies for the society, but for now I could see why so…

Isn't US made equipment facing the headwinds of the US being anti-solar. It seems more like the US shot itself in the foot by letting the Chinese get the lead on this technology. And by subsidizing, and maybe regulating buying US, we could support our domestic industry.

Seems like all over the place we are giving up and letting China win the technology race. Robots, cars, solar, all the future tech is in trouble.

I don't know why anybody is against clean air. It makes no sense.

Re: American solar farms

#80

Post by FrustratedMonky »

bluGill wrote: post #70
FrustratedMonky wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The articles about Solar cost reaching parity with Fossil. Is that before or after taxes?

Taxes are far too complex to figure that our. In the case of other there are a lot of different players and most do things other than oil and so it isn't possible to figure out what tax/subsidy is from oil.

Was wondering if anybody just took raw manufacturing/operating costs, and energy output, and compared. Removing all taxes and subsidies from the equation. If we are going to say Solar is now cheaper, I'd think it would have to be without subsidies.
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