Aa
US thermal plant.....
http://news.yahoo.com/huge-us-thermal-plant-opens-industry-grows-192327910.html
You can no longer recreate in the area, but someone can build a giant thermal plant there? Where are the bunny huggers now?
You can no longer recreate in the area, but someone can build a giant thermal plant there? Where are the bunny huggers now?
I respect your excitement over this but I see it as little more than a step in the right direction, kind of like the Electric Car. It has a long way to go before it will even make a dent and become affordable. For now, it takes up to much land and is too expensive, but at least it is a start. From what I’ve read it looks like it is basically a Steam Turban Plant powered by the sun.
“According to U.S. Energy Information Administration data, the cost of building and operating a new solar thermal power plant over its lifetime is greater than generating natural gas, coal or nuclear power. It costs a conventional coal plant $100, on average, to produce a megawatt-hour of power, but that figure is $261 for solar thermal power, according to 2011 estimates. The figures do not account for incentives such as state or federal tax credits that can affect the cost.”
It maybe feasible for a small town in the middle of no where that has 5 square miles of spare land with a population of 140,000 households that can afford to have their utility bill to increase from $250.00 to roughly $650.00.
“The figures do not account for incentives such as state or federal tax credits that can affect the cost.”
I also don’t like the idea of paying for someone’s Bills so they can feel good about the environment.
“According to U.S. Energy Information Administration data, the cost of building and operating a new solar thermal power plant over its lifetime is greater than generating natural gas, coal or nuclear power. It costs a conventional coal plant $100, on average, to produce a megawatt-hour of power, but that figure is $261 for solar thermal power, according to 2011 estimates. The figures do not account for incentives such as state or federal tax credits that can affect the cost.”
It maybe feasible for a small town in the middle of no where that has 5 square miles of spare land with a population of 140,000 households that can afford to have their utility bill to increase from $250.00 to roughly $650.00.
“The figures do not account for incentives such as state or federal tax credits that can affect the cost.”
I also don’t like the idea of paying for someone’s Bills so they can feel good about the environment.
There has been several more Chernobyl and Three Mile Island are the first ones that come to mind.
brice:
Toxic waste? This isn't heavy-metal-type direct production of electricity.
".....hundreds of thousands of mirrors......"
"Using technology known as solar-thermal, nearly 350,000 computer-controlled mirrors roughly the size of a garage door reflect sunlight to boilers atop 459-foot (140-meter) towers. The sun's power is used to heat water in the boilers' tubes and make steam, which drives turbines to create electricity.
While many people are familiar with rooftop solar, or photovoltaic panels, "these are a little bit different. This takes the sun's rays and reflects them onto towers," said NRG spokesman Jeff Holland."
As for environmental impact:
".....Government documents show dozens of dead birds from sparrows to hawks have been found on the site......serious environmental impacts, including fragmenting the tortoise population...."
Go ahead and build one in my backyard.
R Glass:
This tech has been around as long as nuclear without any Fukushima Daichis. It is about as safe as any type of energy generation can be.
I'm sorry about the birds and tortoises but -- greater good.
There's always a larger "carbon footprint" for any newly introduced tech in its infancy, but :
"Ken Johnson, a spokesman for the solar association, said in a statement that solar systems have seen "dramatic price declines" in the last few years."
Toxic waste? This isn't heavy-metal-type direct production of electricity.
".....hundreds of thousands of mirrors......"
"Using technology known as solar-thermal, nearly 350,000 computer-controlled mirrors roughly the size of a garage door reflect sunlight to boilers atop 459-foot (140-meter) towers. The sun's power is used to heat water in the boilers' tubes and make steam, which drives turbines to create electricity.
While many people are familiar with rooftop solar, or photovoltaic panels, "these are a little bit different. This takes the sun's rays and reflects them onto towers," said NRG spokesman Jeff Holland."
As for environmental impact:
".....Government documents show dozens of dead birds from sparrows to hawks have been found on the site......serious environmental impacts, including fragmenting the tortoise population...."
Go ahead and build one in my backyard.
R Glass:
This tech has been around as long as nuclear without any Fukushima Daichis. It is about as safe as any type of energy generation can be.
I'm sorry about the birds and tortoises but -- greater good.
There's always a larger "carbon footprint" for any newly introduced tech in its infancy, but :
"Ken Johnson, a spokesman for the solar association, said in a statement that solar systems have seen "dramatic price declines" in the last few years."
You weren't asking me but yes. Yes we did. "Nothing to see here folks... now go away. This will be good for you. You'll have to vote for us...." wait, that last part was Nancy Pelosi.
Didn’t we hear the same Song and Dance about Nuclear Power Plants?
I think you'd care if it were your back yard. I think you'd also care if you thought about the carbon footprint of this debacle and all of the toxic waste created by these panels..... lots of fossil fuels were used in the creation of this monster.
That doesn't count though... I know.
That doesn't count though... I know.
Boo hoo for the bunnies and recreators. If it's not using fossil fuels I don't even care if the short term costs are higher. If it means my grandchildren can breath easier and not live in a world with an effed up climate, it's about the greater good.
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