US town rejects solar panels amid fears | Alternative Energy | Forums

This is a topic of interest for me.

First - having lived with solar electricity for over 30 years now, its still amazing to me that people can't/won't see how this technology can work for them directly! Roof top solar is such a potential reality and I feel cost effective too. When one considers that 'pay back' is NEVER calculated for such 'unquestionables' as plumbing or electrical wiring - WHY would one do that for equipment that would supply one's electricity DIRECTLY (instead of perpetual payments for same)?

Second - solar farms have been tried and generally ONLY occur due to SUBSIDIZED up front costs - either direct grants OR accelerated 'write offs' that pencil out against taxes that a corporation would have to pay instead. In California PG&E had a huge array in a remote area. Not only was transfer of power an additional cost, what happened was that the panels got COOKED by the heat of that area (constant sun exposure in desert) and turned the blue crystals brown in a few short years. PG&E didn't care, it had gotten its 'pay back', sold the panels cheap and was able to 'declare' that it tried and solar 'failed' (for them).

But those who did use PV panels learned that HEAT is a factor in performance. (electronics operate best in cooler temps.) It why we did NOT mount our panels on our south facing roof area - heat increases from roof in summer and less easy access for maintenance.

Another factor regarding 'foot print' (for coverage sq/ft.) is that instead of increasing panels, decrease use! A standard refrigerator may require several panels just for it to operate. A more efficient refrigerator requires less panels. Multiply that by all the appliances in a house and actual panels needed decreases significantly.

People fear what they don't 'know'. Plus technology has complicated life to where no one really can nor ever does maintain the basic items used in daily life. I worked on my first cars - taking the engine out of my VW bus - solo! But that is so NOT a reality for any of today's cars. We purposefully chose our Staber washing machine because it is 1) super efficient (water & power) and 2) designed - by repairmen! - to be worked on by anyone with basic mechanical skills. (and we have done that too).

If the townspeople are afraid of less plant growth - nothing stops them from planting more plants! But until/unless they understand the reality of what a 'solar farm' IS, they will never be able to react beyond wearing garlic necklaces and swaying in prayer against this 'evil'. Better to realize that the sun shines on them and how to make use of that instead of relying on a 'service' which will charge them more in the exchange too.