Posted on 02/20/2014 4:57:12 AM PST by IBD editorial writer
Energy: What do you call an energy source that consumes vast tracks of open land and fries birds that cross its path? If you're the president, you call it "safe," "reliable," "green" and worthy of massive taxpayer subsidies.
That, at least, is the case with the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating Station that covers a vast area of desert outside Las Vegas and, thanks to the generous support of the Obama administration, has officially opened.
The plant points hundreds of thousands of mirrors at three towers to boil turbine-spinning water. But the heat rays aren't very friendly to the area's birds, including falcons, hawks, warblers and sparrows that have shown up dead near the towers.
One of the inconvenient truths that global warming fanatics and renewable energy purists try to ignore is that wind and solar energy are not so environmentally friendly. At least, not if you care about wildlife and land preservation.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.investors.com ...
The part of Maryland where I live Howard county the Dems in charge are letting the builders destroy every bit of forest and open land they can buy at a frightening pace.
Opposing these projects at the county public hearings is futile, they are a formality. Builders spread the $$$ and our taxes go up and up.
To compensate the state imposed a rain tax on us supposedly to clean the bay polluted water that comes from neighborhood rain and snow runoff, whereas with open land it would sink into the ground.
Libs are all about taxes and control first.
Democrats, liberals, progressives, or whatever label they use are really Authoritarians.
How many dead birds does it take to provide “safe”, “re-lie-able”, “green” energy to an astounding 143,000 homes? As many as we need. Unintended consequences? Less birds means more bugs, mice/rodents etc. But hey, at least it’s “green”. And what is amoritization “numb”er on this solar barbecue?
What about the impact of producing the solar panels in the first place?
Without massive government subsidies all “green” energy alternatives would never exist.
None of them, from ethanol in our gasoline to massive wind and solar “farms”. are viable in the marketplace on their own.
Good article, and testimony to the fact that the real power of solar energy would be found in individual households developing their own energy independence.
Instead, we have another example of centralized plants doling out electricity on the grid.
I think we’ll always need a grid, but the grid should be the backup and not the primary.
Do I understand this correctly? If an evil “HUNTER” mistakenly shoots an “endangered bird”, he is to carted away, locked up, and possibly exiled to the South Pole. However, IF an inch long bait fish may be merely threatened, then a billion dollar dam/water power project is halted before construction is even begun.
If a desert mouse is potentially to be harmed an irrigation project in arid California is stopped, while entire species of birds, including the Eagle, the very symbol of the United States, is continually chopped into kitty food by giant windmills that block the very horizon, but that is in a good cause.
Do I have it right? These horrendous side effects are to be of no concern to right minded guardians of the environment. Please tell me I have it wrong. (I don’t think so)
“What about the impact of producing the solar panels in the first place?”
Just wanted to point out that these arent typical photovoltaic cells that directly convert light to electricity. These are just mirrors that bounce the light up on to a tower to boil water. Water turns to steam which drives steam turbines.
Not sure what the effeciency level of this method versus photovoltaic cells is... Regardless as you say the construction and material costs must be factored yet never are. Same as with the batteries in electric vehicles. A lot of strip mining goes in to producing the lead and nickle in those batteries...
Probably higher.
What is sad is that these huge heat sources actually attract birds during periods of cold weather, drawing them them them to their ultimate fiery demise.
Solar and windmills are icons of the envirowackos. They can’t abandon their precious symbols now.
Instead of a hammer and sickle, they cross a windmill and a solar panel.
Birds...we don’t need no steeenkin’ birds!
This Rube Goldberg kludge suffers from the same disadvantage as every “green” energy source, no storage potential.
Fossil fuels have tremendous storage potential. Which is why they will remain the dominate power source for the foreseeable future. Sorry RATs.
How much has China benefited on this project?
just curious.
Greens and manufacturers make a killing
all we’re missing is the Made in China stickers.
What do you call an energy source that consumes vast tracks of open land and fries birds?.
I didn’t hear anything about that in any of his global warming speeches.
The most disgusting part of this solar project near Las Vegas is that the sate of Nevada gave them millions in tax breaks......
and the power is being sold to Burbank, Calif with a 20 year contract.
WE use power here in Nevada, but we won’t get one lick of it.
These are just mirrors that bounce the light up on to a tower to boil water. Water turns to steam which drives steam turbines.”””
There is a severe water shortage in all of Nevada.
Harry Reid just got blocked in his efforts to PIPE water over 450 miles from eastern Nevada & western Utah to the Las Vegas area. Such a project was to cost over a million bucks a mile, and it would have turned about 6 counties in eastern Nevada into another dust bowl.
You’ve got it right but for one thing. A designated creature need not be alive for a human to be charged with the crime against said creature.
Mere hint of the possession of, say an eagle or owl feather is sufficient for any sort game/wildlife warden to enter and search your home without a warrant. With an on the spot arrest and seizure of your property. You can plead that you found the eagle feather in the meadow all you want but to them you harassed, tortured, and or killed the poor creature for profit. Guilty, no other evidence is required and no defense is allowed. Instant felon with all that entails.
In the past on my off trail hikes I’ve frequently come across recent corpses of birds, often under power lines and along creeks and streams tangled in mono filament fishing line. In the distant past I might have picked up feathers or skulls and bones for the kids to take to science class and such. Never again.
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