Posted on 03/16/2014 7:48:16 AM PDT by Libloather
**SNIP**
In 2011, BrightSource had several other proposed projects on the table in the California desert. All of them would be much larger than Ivanpah, with more intense solar flux. Environmental activists started asking tough questions during hearings on these projects. For example, what would happen to birds, bats and insects that fly into that flux?
An answer came in late 2013 at Ivanpah. Mortalities from solar flux had been noted since testing began in March of last year. In October, a startling number of dead migrating birds on the site led federal wildlife biologists to a sad conclusion. The bright solar flux likely attracts insects, which attract small birds, which attract raptors: an entire food chain drawn into a zone of lethal solar flux. This ecological trap’s effect on migrating birds was especially troubling. Birds migrating from the Arctic to Central America pass through the Mojave: Ivanpah could conceivably depress bird populations across half a continent.
(Excerpt) Read more at earthisland.org ...
Gosh, what a surprise! When you concentrate large areas of sunlight, birds fly through it. Some one needs a federal grant to study this.
Unlike conventional pressurized water reactors (PWR's) that use uranium fuel rods, LFTR's use commonly-found thorium-232 dissolved in molten fluoride salts, essentially a liquid nuclear fuel. And it's far safer to operate and the nuclear waste generated is very small in amount with a radioactive half-life of under 300 years. Small wonder why there is now serious research into LFTR technology, since once perfected, we have a fuel source that could potentially last for tens of thousands of years (not only is thorium-232 common on Earth, but there may be huge deposits on the Moon, too).
So much so, the wackos can't turn a blind eye to this one.
............well, LOL, I’m reminded here of the old saying “the enemy of my enemy is my friend”. Knowing as I do that BIG SOLAR is a con mans orgasm, I am always opposed even to the discussion. But, for a moment I thought The Sierra nuts were going to oppose this boondoggle gift of trillions to the Dems to reward their corrupt and felonious hangers on. That would make me queasy having these Sierra loons on my side.
But, alas, no problem, the Sierra criminals, when push came to shove, sold their souls to the higher bidder and supported this boondoggle because no doubt they were cut a billion or two back to sit down and shut up!
I think AMERICA is just TOO BIG to effectively manage its corruptors anymore. The corruptors like Gore and Sierra and the Dems and MSM are just too powerful and effective at manipulating the LIV’s and putting corrupt criminals in house and senate seats (led by Boehner and Reid).
I think the ultimate solution that eventually will be forced upon us by CIRCUMSTANCES is to break up into many small parts unified only on DEFENSE. Like Detroit, just bulldoze DC except for Arlington Cemetery and the museums.
The reason libs fail has a lot to do with their belief that the way things have been done is absolutely wrong and they have this need to reinvent the wheel. If they poured the same effort and money into improving the way things are done (producing power or many other things) at some point changes would indeed happen, but not the drastic sometimes bizarre overnight changes they seem to come up with as solutions.
Of course the other thing libs have learned along the way is if you throw large sums of money into things most don’t understand it makes it much easier to siphon of part/most/all of the money into various pockets.
Looks like the huggers are fluxed again.
I’ll bet this one has a Tech named Fantastic, too.
IMHO, I don't think that those are reflections from the hills behind, but are instead a distortion event from the heated air at the center point as seen in two dimensions. It probably is like a semi-halo around the focus from the solar orientation.
I'll bet everyone of the Greenies have a Theoretical Degree in Physics.
That's what it looks like, but it's actually the mirrors focused near the collector, in an "off" state, where they can quickly be angled into the collector for the "on" state.
You're seeing the distant hills through a donut of superheated air and dust edge on.
LOL
Halo. That was the word I should have used.
“I’m looking forward to the day when each home can install and use a device to generate its own electrical power that provides all the energy a family would need, without relying on a “grid.””
That day is now! Just install a big ass generator and fill er up with diesel!
-I think that apparent reflection is a photo illusion---the "glow" when you drive by it appears to be right around the tower--it's a strange phenomenon to look at from the highway and doesn't appear to be on the hillside---
Is this reflectivity why it’s so damn cold?
I don't think that reflection is a over-shoot that misses the tower, its more likely dust caught in the "beam" that is reflecting light.
I recommend searching for Ivanpah on google maps. Its over three equare miles of solar panels...the scale of this boggles the mind.
How anyone could think this is more environmentally friendly than a standard power plant is beyond me. I can’t even fathom tbe energy required to make all those panels.
That is not true. There are millions of acres of fallow land where large scale solar can be installed and where the sun shines just as brightly. But it is not free BLM land.
The best solution however is to pass feed in tariffs that allow homeowners to be paid for the extra electricity they feed into the system. That is not presently allowed. Why?
Why should the utility company and companies like Bright Source be the only ones to profit off electricity generation. I won’t even ask for a government subsidy to install my solar system.
Your comments are wildly uniformed. They don’t oppose it all.
Turn liberals into batteries like on Matrix.
That ability exists but is expensive.
Natural gas powered generators would do nicely
ditto nuclear packages
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