Another Solar Power Boondoggle

[longknife]

Not just a case of killing untold number of birds and being a total eyesore on the California landscape, it appears the Ivanpah solar power monster doesn't do the job and uses to much natural gas that it exceeds the state's limits. And let's not even discuss the $1.6 BILLION in federal loans that won't be repaid.

Between costs, lack of productivity and fried feathered friends, the Ivanpah plant and others like it have proven to be neither eco-friendly nor economically friendly. The private sector — and private money — should lead the way on energy with processes such as fracking that are continually becoming safer and more cost-efficient for consumers. Government shouldn’t be in the business of massively subsidizing green energy, and regulators shouldn’t exist to prop up a failing industry either.

And this indicates they're thinking of shutting it down. Read more @ EDITORIAL: Solar flame-out at Ivanpah

 

[leftwinger]

So it kills birds and costs 6 times more than Natural Gas. What not to like?

 

[Mr. H.]

It doesn't matter. As long as it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it makes no difference that it's NOT a duck.

It took more hydrocarbon input just to build this monstrosity than the facility will save in hydrocarbons consumption over its lifetime.

That's the fucking world we live in today.

 

[OnePercenter]

Which is why I'm a proponent of roof top solar. Of course in Nevada, Republicans say it's only for the rich.

 

[anotherlife]

Okay, so choose. Do you want big government money to tell you which insider contractor delivers the technology of your future, or do you want a cartel of big corporations to keep what you already have but charge you double for it? Hehehe.

 

[elektra]

Which is why I'm a proponent of roof top solar. Of course in Nevada, Republicans say it's only for the rich.

Roof Top solar, another subsidy for Tesla, great idea.

 

[elektra]

Okay, so choose. Do you want big government money to tell you which insider contractor delivers the technology of your future, or do you want a cartel of big corporations to keep what you already have but charge you double for it? Hehehe.

Your premise is flawed, on many levels.

1. Solar is old technology that failed
2. Wind is old technology that failed
3. Geothermal is another failed technology that is old
4. Hydro-power is another failed old technology

Old Technology is not the technology of the future.

5. Solar costs us 10 times of what we have now
6. Wind costs us 10 times of what we have now
7. Geothermal costs us 10 times of what we have now

I want the government to quit picking the winners and losers and allow the technologies that are proven to succeed.

 

[waltky]

Solar energy projects get $25M in grants to play with...

Feds Offer $25 Million in Grants for Solar Energy Projects; Solar Has Increased ‘23-Fold’ Under Obama
May 3, 2016 – The U.S. Department of Energy announced on Monday that $25 million in grant funding is available for solar power projects through the “Enabling Extreme Real-Time Grid Integration of Solar Energy (ENERGISE) effort. The money will be awarded to software developers, solar companies and utilities to “accelerate the integration of solar energy into the grid.”

“Since President Obama took office, the amount of solar power installed in the U.S. has increased 23-fold—from 1.2 gigawatts in 2008 to an estimated 27.4 gigawatts in 2015, with one million systems now in operation,” the announcement said. DOE acknowledged the challenge of “balancing” solar with “traditional utility generation,” but said this funding “will help support companies working to meet that challenge,” although the way in which this will be done is not explained.

“Our ongoing grid modernization work will help accelerate the widespread adoption of the clean energy resources that will define our low-carbon future,” Lynn Orr, Energy Department under secretary for science and energy, said in a statement. “This funding will help that mission by supporting industry partners working to integrate, store, and deploy solar energy throughout our electric grid. “In doing so, we hope to drive down costs and encourage even more American homeowners and businesses to install solar systems,” Orr said.

The funding announcement is part of the Obama administration’s ongoing effort to promote solar energy while at the same time putting more regulations in place for other traditional energy resources, despite the federal Energy Information Administration statistics that show only 10 percent of energy was generated by renewable sources like solar in the U.S. in 2014, while petroleum (35 percent), natural gas (28 percent) and coal (18 percent) supply the most energy in the United States. “The SunShot Initiative, which is managed by DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), will oversee the projects associated with this funding opportunity,” the announcement said, noting that SunShot is a collaborative national effort launched in 2011 that “aggressively drives innovation to make solar energy cost competitive – without subsidies – with traditional energy sources before the end of the decade.”

The funding description stated that SunShot “expects to make between 10 and 15 awards ranging between $500,000 and $4,000,000” for near-term projects and “between $500,000 and $2,000,000” for long–term challenge projects. The Grid Modernization Initiative (GMI), announced in March 2015, represents “a comprehensive effort to help shape the future of our nation’s grid and solve the challenges of integrating conventional and renewable sources with energy storage and smart buildings, while ensuring that the grid is resilient and secure to withstand growing cybersecurity and climate challenges.”

Feds Offer $25 Million in Grants for Solar Energy Projects; Solar Has Increased ‘23-Fold’ Under Obama

 

[OnePercenter]

Solar energy projects get $25M in grants to play with...

Feds Offer $25 Million in Grants for Solar Energy Projects; Solar Has Increased ‘23-Fold’ Under Obama
May 3, 2016 – The U.S. Department of Energy announced on Monday that $25 million in grant funding is available for solar power projects through the “Enabling Extreme Real-Time Grid Integration of Solar Energy (ENERGISE) effort. The money will be awarded to software developers, solar companies and utilities to “accelerate the integration of solar energy into the grid.”

“Since President Obama took office, the amount of solar power installed in the U.S. has increased 23-fold—from 1.2 gigawatts in 2008 to an estimated 27.4 gigawatts in 2015, with one million systems now in operation,” the announcement said. DOE acknowledged the challenge of “balancing” solar with “traditional utility generation,” but said this funding “will help support companies working to meet that challenge,” although the way in which this will be done is not explained.

“Our ongoing grid modernization work will help accelerate the widespread adoption of the clean energy resources that will define our low-carbon future,” Lynn Orr, Energy Department under secretary for science and energy, said in a statement. “This funding will help that mission by supporting industry partners working to integrate, store, and deploy solar energy throughout our electric grid. “In doing so, we hope to drive down costs and encourage even more American homeowners and businesses to install solar systems,” Orr said.

The funding announcement is part of the Obama administration’s ongoing effort to promote solar energy while at the same time putting more regulations in place for other traditional energy resources, despite the federal Energy Information Administration statistics that show only 10 percent of energy was generated by renewable sources like solar in the U.S. in 2014, while petroleum (35 percent), natural gas (28 percent) and coal (18 percent) supply the most energy in the United States. “The SunShot Initiative, which is managed by DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), will oversee the projects associated with this funding opportunity,” the announcement said, noting that SunShot is a collaborative national effort launched in 2011 that “aggressively drives innovation to make solar energy cost competitive – without subsidies – with traditional energy sources before the end of the decade.”

The funding description stated that SunShot “expects to make between 10 and 15 awards ranging between $500,000 and $4,000,000” for near-term projects and “between $500,000 and $2,000,000” for long–term challenge projects. The Grid Modernization Initiative (GMI), announced in March 2015, represents “a comprehensive effort to help shape the future of our nation’s grid and solve the challenges of integrating conventional and renewable sources with energy storage and smart buildings, while ensuring that the grid is resilient and secure to withstand growing cybersecurity and climate challenges.”

Feds Offer $25 Million in Grants for Solar Energy Projects; Solar Has Increased ‘23-Fold’ Under Obama

Good! Finally putting good money for good!

 

[OnePercenter]

Which is why I'm a proponent of roof top solar. Of course in Nevada, Republicans say it's only for the rich.

Roof Top solar, another subsidy for Tesla, great idea.

Roof Top solar, another subsidy for Tesla, great idea.

Just think, if you would have purchased a solar system for your house when China was product dumping, you would have paid very little and reduced your power bill to almost nothing.

 

[elektra]

Which is why I'm a proponent of roof top solar. Of course in Nevada, Republicans say it's only for the rich.

Roof Top solar, another subsidy for Tesla, great idea.

Roof Top solar, another subsidy for Tesla, great idea.

Just think, if you would have purchased a solar system for your house when China was product dumping, you would have paid very little and reduced your power bill to almost nothing.

Just as long as the government dictates such, it is surprising how magical the government is, able to print trillions of dollars that we can force another generation to pay for.

 

[OnePercenter]

Which is why I'm a proponent of roof top solar. Of course in Nevada, Republicans say it's only for the rich.

Roof Top solar, another subsidy for Tesla, great idea.

Roof Top solar, another subsidy for Tesla, great idea.

Just think, if you would have purchased a solar system for your house when China was product dumping, you would have paid very little and reduced your power bill to almost nothing.

Just as long as the government dictates such, it is surprising how magical the government is, able to print trillions of dollars that we can force another generation to pay for.

Just as long as the government dictates such, it is surprising how magical the government is, able to print trillions of dollars that we can force another generation to pay for.

This is how you justify a missed opportunity?

 

[elektra]

Which is why I'm a proponent of roof top solar. Of course in Nevada, Republicans say it's only for the rich.

Roof Top solar, another subsidy for Tesla, great idea.

Roof Top solar, another subsidy for Tesla, great idea.

Just think, if you would have purchased a solar system for your house when China was product dumping, you would have paid very little and reduced your power bill to almost nothing.

Just as long as the government dictates such, it is surprising how magical the government is, able to print trillions of dollars that we can force another generation to pay for.

Just as long as the government dictates such, it is surprising how magical the government is, able to print trillions of dollars that we can force another generation to pay for.

This is how you justify a missed opportunity?

Roof top Solar is not a missed opportunity, it is everything wrong with our government, our media, wall st. and corporations. The government runs up the price of electricity, then prints money to give away solar through corporations they select or like.
Just about every single solar company has gone bankrupt, or is about to, with the only thing keeping them afloat is tax money or money the government is printing. And all this ties into all the other renewable energy sources, that have caused the largest rise in prices for food in our nations history.

A missed opportunity? Pure Bullshit.

 

[tyroneweaver]

Which is why I'm a proponent of roof top solar. Of course in Nevada, Republicans say it's only for the rich.

To do it right is close to 40k. So they have a point

 

[elektra]

Roof top Solar only exists due to subsidies.

Which is why I'm a proponent of roof top solar. Of course in Nevada, Republicans say it's only for the rich.

To do it right is close to 40k. So they have a point

If just 10 million homes install solar, is the cost really 400,000,000,000. That is $400 Billion dollars! Seems that could buy about 40 nuclear power plants, which could literally supply every home in the USA with power.

 

[longknife]

The World’s Largest Solar Plant Just Torched Itself

Safe, reliable energy production. That's what we've been promised. Beside the fact that this plant needs lots and lots of natural gas to keep running, it doesn't produce anywhere what was promised. And, they've destroyed thousands of acres of natural habitat.

Full story @ http://gizmodo.com/the-world-s-largest-solar-plant-just-torched-itself-1777767880

Another version of the story @ Epic Solar Power Fail Gets Even More Epic-er