Debunking the Debunker: Epic Derailing of a Climate Change Denier
#4 – Myth: Solar power cannot contribute enough energy to meet the nation’s needs
First of all, electricity generation is not nearly as regional as it once was. Ostensibly, it is so, but in reality the deregulation of the electricity markets has seen the transmission of electricity grow across greater and greater distances (learn more about this here). This has led to reduced grid efficiency, increased blackouts, poor maintenance, sagging lines and the relatively dilapidated national grid we now face in our efforts to interconnect renewable energy with the people who need it.
Secondly, the 100-by-100 mile patch of land example is only meant to give a frame of reference. As our original myth busters pointed out, that area could easily be broken up in “rooftops, parking lots and abandoned industrial sites across the country,” thus putting the bulk of the solar power close to transmission lines—smack dab in the middle of the grid in many cases. Also, the so-called “losses” spoken of are no different than the losses already dealt with from transmitting conventional electricity. The national grid is already in desperate need of retooling, and renewable energy is catalyzing that process. Then, perhaps folks in the Midwest can make it through a winter without losing their power for a week or more.
Posted on August 17th in Solar Information by Dan.
August 18th, 2010 at 9:25 am
I am pro-solar, pro-wind, pro-renewables, pro-energy efficiency, pro-recycling and I am pro-Rush , pro-America . 100% against the enemy fraud King oumgbama, Pelosi, Reid, communism and izlamic supremacy.
I drive a hybrid, a bicycle (when possible) and I am energy efficient to the max. So there ! Another myth busted.
By ignorantly painting the world black and white, you paint yourself into a corner.
BTW, I am not a republican nor a real blind idiot democrat.
August 18th, 2010 at 3:32 pm
We’re not trying to paint the issue B&W at all…just this one example of a single conservative closing his/her eyes to the world. In no way are we saying that all conservatives think or act this way. I am very happy that you’re pro-renewable energy. Despite anyone’s beliefs on climate change, it just makes sense to move toward alternative energy. It cuts down on pollution in the air we all breathe, it reduces our dependency on foreign oil and that finicky group OPEC, takes money that trickles down to extremists in that region away, and is a safer option (no heading miles offshore for drilling or fear of being trapped in a cave with no escape)! Thanks for your input, always appreciated.
August 20th, 2010 at 9:59 am
I posed this comment to the conservative’s blog:
Those pennies you pay per watt of electricity? Those are artificially low. Those prices are kept down by some 70 billion in subsidies to the fossil fuel industries. Most of that money goes to oil, to keep gas prices artificially low (and oil companies profits artificially high).
The subsidies for green energy are minuscule compared to the money this country is hemorrhaging into burning more hydrocarbons. Which is completely unnecessary since we can get all the power we need free from the sun.
August 23rd, 2010 at 3:56 pm
How anyone can proudly state they’re “pro-Rush” is beyond me….
September 6th, 2010 at 9:36 am
This is definitely a sensitive and passionate topic. But for the original article at hand, Taylen’s myth debunkings don’t require global warming to be a reality. They don’t require that we are adding and must offset any percentage of emissions. Preparing against such things is just a nice—nay, _awesome_—side effect of using a cleaner energy.
Forget names, forget political lines, forget any sort of labels. If the end result is power _and_ a cleaner place to live and breathe, even by 1.5% or .75% or 98% or .001%, I’d say we’re doing something right. A lot of somethings.
I posted a longer comment at ol’ no-name’s, but this is the gist of it.
September 6th, 2010 at 1:02 pm
Glad to see the troops rally! Thanks for your help in debunking, fellow solar advocates! Ken, you have an excellent point. The cheap fossil fuels is only because government is footing most of the bill to keep it cheap for everyone. Nim, you nailed the gist of the story. Despite your beliefs on global warming, why not use an energy source that won’t run out until the sun goes out (at which point it won’t matter because it’s taking Earth with it)!