Problems cast shadows of doubt on $1B Genesis solar project

[wtmusic]

"One of California's showcase solar energy projects, under construction in the desert east of Los Angeles, is being threatened by a deadly outbreak of distemper among kit foxes and the discovery of a prehistoric human settlement on the work site.

The $1-billion Genesis Solar Energy Project has been expedited by state and federal regulatory agencies that are eager to demonstrate that the nation can build solar plants quickly to ease dependence on fossil fuels and curb global warming.

Instead, the project is providing a cautionary example of how the rush to harness solar power in the desert can go wrong — possibly costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars and dealing an embarrassing blow to the Obama administration's solar initiative."

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-solar-foxes-20120211,0,4708180.story

[msongs]

1. $1 billion could put lots of solar panels on individual houses and businesses instead of this scam n

[wtmusic]

2. Good point

and take up no additional space

[One_Life_To_Give]

3. Half?

250MW Installed for $1Billion or $4/watt. A home system was running about $9/watt installed.
Centralized systems have inherent advantages with regard to total cost of power generated.

[Yo_Mama]

4. Yes, and it's not even a PV plant

It's a solar thermal concentrating plant, which means it would be producing electricity after the sun went down. These plants have a longer daily operating span.

There are native efficiencies in large scale solar projects that should not be ignored.

[txlibdem]

6. And don't forget: location, location, location

It doesn't matter if you are talking Solar PV or Concentrating Solar Thermal the best places for it are where they will generate the most energy per square meter. That means the desert, folks and large parts of Colorado and Utah.

It does not mean New Jersey or Delaware or Boise, Idaho. Placing your solar project there ensures that you will pay double if not more for each kiloWatt hour. Look at the maps.

Concentrating Solar Thermal Power resources USA:


Solar PV resources USA:


Or go to this page for the hi-resolution images of same:
http://www.nrel.gov/gis/solar.html

[hunter]

5. I confess, I want this project and others like it to die.

Quickly and painfully as a cautionary tale to anyone who would build monstrosities like this on undeveloped lands.

A contraction of lands occupied by humans is needed, not this kind of crap.

We've trashed far too much of the earth already, it's time to back off.