Tag Archives: Solar Power

More than half of jobs in UK solar industry lost in wake of subsidy cuts | Environment | The Guardian

Posted on by

Change in government’s energy policy blamed for job losses just as solar power eclipses coal in electricity generation

Terry Macalister Energy editor:  The solar power industry says it has seen the loss of more than half its 35,000 jobs due to recent changes in government energy policy, just at a time when solar power has eclipsed coal as a major generator of Britain’s electricity.

Experts believe ministers had cut subsidies too far and too fast, praising the “seismic”, record-breaking growth of solar in recent years.

This month the Solar Cloth Company became the latest to be put into administration, following the liquidation and 170 job losses at Solarlec two weeks ago.

Source: More than half of jobs in UK solar industry lost in wake of subsidy cuts | Environment | The Guardian

Save

The week to June 4 in nuclear and climate news « Antinuclear

Posted on by

GR:  Production of solar energy certainly produces wastes.  Storage batteries last only seven years and solar panels last only 20-30 years.  Our mountains of trash will continue to grow with renewable energy,  BUT, solar-energy trash is cheaper to manage than nuclear trash, and it doesn’t stay deadly to all life for thousands of years.

Politicians love nuclear energy.  They receive support from the nuclear industry and its investors, and they can pretend they are offering a sensible alternative to fossil fuels.  Do not be tricked!  Taking the construction costs and the waste problems into account, rooftop solar energy is far cleaner and cheaper than nuclear energy, and it avoids corporate power over politicians and people.

Christina MacPherson:  “SOUTH AUSTRALIA again. You might all be getting sick of hearing about South Australia’s nuclear woes. But, spare a thought for the indigenous people of South Australia! They’ve been through all this before – and now again – the nuclear lobby planning to radioactively trash their homeland! And a thought for the decent, aware people of South Australia, who also fight to prevent their State, and their country being radioactively trashed.

“It’s Submission Time Yet Again. Submissions about nuclear waste dumping will be received up until 1st July by the new JOINT COMMITTEE ON FINDINGS OF THE NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE ROYAL COMMISSION , Parliament of South Australia. Great timing, just the day before the federal election – so they hope that nobody will notice. Except perhaps again for all those nuclear companies, who have already sent in their secret submissions to South Australia’s shonky Nuclear Fuel Chain Royal Commission.”  Source: The week to June 4 in nuclear and climate news « Antinuclear

Save

Save

Arizona Public Service attempts to weaken net metering – again: pv-magazine

Posted on by

GR:  The Arizona Corporation Commissions accepts public comments on pending cases.  The comment must refer to the docket number.  I do not know the number.   If you find it, put it in a comment and I will be happy to help publicize the opportunity to give opinions.

Here’s another interesting bit about APS in PV Magazine by Christian Roselund:  “Arizona Public Service (APS) was the first major U.S. utility to successfully impose discriminatory charges on its customers who install solar under net metering in 2013. Since that time dozens of utilities around the United States have attempted to do the same, under allegations that PV system owners are shifting the costs to other customers.

“The utility temporarily held off on efforts last fall to introduce further charges for PV system owners, but has not given up. Today APS filed to impose charges and reduce compensation for PV system owners under net metering, as part of a larger rate filing. This filing begins a process under which state regulators will consider the proposal, which is expected to take around a year.”  Source:  Arizona Public Service attempts to weaken net metering – again: pv-magazine

Save

Arizona Public Service seeks to raise costs for solar customers | azdailysun.com

Posted on by

GR:  The justification for raising costs for solar customers is without merit.  The idea from the start has been to encourage the switch to solar.

BOB CHRISTIE Associated Press:  The most contentious parts of the proposal are likely to be the new “demand charges” and the ending of “net metering” for solar customers.

Net metering pays homeowners with rooftop solar full retail rates for excess power sent back to the grid. APS is proposing to pay only wholesale market rates for that power, a rate that will dramatically cut the amount of credits solar customers receive. APS and other utilities have been pushing for the changes in recent years, arguing that they unfairly benefit solar customers while shifting costs of maintaining the grid to non-solar customers.  Source: APS seeks 8 percent rate boost, solar changes | Local | azdailysun.com

Save

Save

Electric aircraft Sun Flyer – Business Insider

Posted on by

A small Denver, Colorado, manufacturer has rolled out the first prototype of a new all-electric aircraft, suggesting that the same revolution currently sweeping through the auto industry may soon become airborne.  Source: Electric aircraft Sun Flyer – Business Insider

Time to Switch to Solar Power

Posted on by

Solar Energy Can Replace Fossil Fuels Very Quickly

SunCollecting and storing solar power is not a new concept.  In the 1960’s, more than 50,000 solar water heaters were sold in Florida alone.  When I bought this house 18 years ago, it had a 20-year old heated-water solar power collection and storage system. Unfortunately, heated-water systems are not too efficient and they need lots of maintenance.

My main objection to solar power collection projects has been the loss of habitat shaded by the collectors and bulldozed for transmission routes.  In the video below, Elon Musk points out that the total land area needed to collect enough power to replace fossil fuel in the U.S. is quite small.  Moreover, most of it can be from rooftops requiring no further land loss. Okay, if that’s true, I’m sold.

With improved photovoltaic cells and batteries, solar power becomes a practical replacement for fossil fuel generation. This zeros out CO2 production and let’s us turn our attention to other critical issues:  population, invasive species, toxic pollution (e.g., pesticides and plastic) and land lost to construction, farming, and harvest (logging and grazing).  The video is Musk’s simple presentation of how the sun’s power can replace fossil fuels now.

Here’s the link to reserve your Powerwall.  The site includes the information needed to add up your power needs.  I expect that Solar City and other installers will soon add estimated costs for power inversion, solar panels, and wiring to their websites.

https://youtu.be/yKORsrlN-2k