Bush orders a Freeze on all solar projects

tripp · 06-29-2008, 04:22 PM

The projects that are being proposed are almost certainly CSP, not PV. CSP is considerably cheaper than PV, is currently more efficient, and provides the ability to produce dispatchable power (via thermal storage in molten salts). Unfortunately, it doesn't scale down well at all (yet anyways). There's nothing wrong with PV, it makes a lot of sense, esp at the individual level, but CSP offers a very good option to utilities to offset carbon emissions. Particularly if these plants are backed-up with NG we could get rid of a LOT of coal fired plants. We can't have our cake and eat it too. Of course there will be environmental impacts, but CSP impacts will be substantially less than BAU energy extraction and production impacts.

FL_Prius_Driver · 06-30-2008, 06:55 PM

The issue is the government decided to stop doing their job because it got busy. It's identical to a person going to get a permit to install a solar panel on their roof and getting told to come back in two years since the part time guy filing the permit is overworked. This is a common problem with bad leadership.

The issue at hand is not environmental protection. That is already required by law. If their are too many plants, or some of them are not enviornmentally sound, then REJECT the permit so the company can fix the problem or determine that it needs to be abandoned. Stopping work is not putting the environment first.

Godiva · 06-30-2008, 08:22 PM

I agree.

This isn't an environmental issue, it's a bureaucratic issue. And the bureaucrats don't want the plants.

Froley1 · 06-30-2008, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Godiva

.
(If *I* were President you'd see the White House green so fast. They do have a modest garden. But they're be PV, solar hot water, aggressive recycling and composting, buying local, expanding that garden with menus seasonally based, and government cars would all be hybrids. I'd do the same thing to Camp David (stupid name). That's just to start.)

As I remember Jimmy Carter did green the white house based on 1976 technology and Ronald Regan ripped everything out...
story of our lives
Froley

Godiva · 07-01-2008, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Froley1

As I remember Jimmy Carter did green the white house based on 1976 technology and Ronald Regan ripped everything out...
story of our lives
Froley

Yep.

But I'd go a lot farther than Carter did. And as it was happening I'd remind people of Carter's foresight and Reagan's short-sightedness.

06-29-2008, 04:22 PM	#11
tripp Which it's a 'ybrid, ain't it? Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 4,323 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 6	Re: Bush orders a Freeze on all solar projects The projects that are being proposed are almost certainly CSP, not PV. CSP is considerably cheaper than PV, is currently more efficient, and provides the ability to produce dispatchable power (via thermal storage in molten salts). Unfortunately, it doesn't scale down well at all (yet anyways). There's nothing wrong with PV, it makes a lot of sense, esp at the individual level, but CSP offers a very good option to utilities to offset carbon emissions. Particularly if these plants are backed-up with NG we could get rid of a LOT of coal fired plants. We can't have our cake and eat it too. Of course there will be environmental impacts, but CSP impacts will be substantially less than BAU energy extraction and production impacts. __________________ Cheers, Tripp 2005 Silver Pkg 3, OEM Block Heater, Coastal Tech EV mod, BT Tech Chassis Stiffener, hell damned infernal reverse beep disabled Boulder Real Estate Howay the Toon! "Sometimes when you aim for the stars, you hit the moon." -- Ian Holloway

06-30-2008, 06:55 PM	#12
FL_Prius_Driver Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Tampa Bay Posts: 1,845 My Car: 2001 Prius Model: Package: N/A Thanks: 4 Thanked 17 Times in 16 Posts Friends: 2	Re: Bush orders a Freeze on all solar projects The issue is the government decided to stop doing their job because it got busy. It's identical to a person going to get a permit to install a solar panel on their roof and getting told to come back in two years since the part time guy filing the permit is overworked. This is a common problem with bad leadership. The issue at hand is not environmental protection. That is already required by law. If their are too many plants, or some of them are not enviornmentally sound, then REJECT the permit so the company can fix the problem or determine that it needs to be abandoned. Stopping work is not putting the environment first.

06-30-2008, 08:22 PM	#13
Godiva AmeriKan Citizen Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 10,342 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 7	Re: Bush orders a Freeze on all solar projects I agree. This isn't an environmental issue, it's a bureaucratic issue. And the bureaucrats don't want the plants.

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