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JDPriestly

(57,936 posts)

18. Hard to imagine elsewhere in the US, but the clouds rarely cover the sun

Tue Jul 31, 2012, 02:41 PM

Jul 2012

in desert areas of the Southwest. It happens, but not that often. And when it happens people can do what we do on cold days -- use gas or oil or coal or some other conventional source of energy. The idea is to save the environment, not to end all use of carbon energy.

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NREL Study: Solar Power could provide 100 Times the Amount of Current U.S. Electricity Needs! [View all] kpete Jul 2012 OP

Yeah, but how are the energy moguls gonna make money? Scuba Jul 2012 #1

Yes, because making those rich people richer is the MOST IMPORTANT THING IN THE WORLD. nt valerief Jul 2012 #31

I have only one concern about solar Marrah_G Jul 2012 #2

If you google home energy storage you'll see that Solar City has a lithium ion system available now. truthisfreedom Jul 2012 #8

Nice- thank you :) Marrah_G Jul 2012 #26

It can also be stored as compressed air, water pumped to a height, in a heated or chilled solution.. DCKit Jul 2012 #11

How about just pushing it into the "grid"? xtraxritical Jul 2012 #14

With so many distributed options, you don't have to "push" anything onto the grid. DCKit Aug 2012 #38

I had no idea there were so many options! Marrah_G Jul 2012 #27

I haven't read other responses but if I may weigh in jonthebru Jul 2012 #13

Hard to imagine elsewhere in the US, but the clouds rarely cover the sun JDPriestly Jul 2012 #18

I agree- we need to get the heck away from fossil fuels Marrah_G Jul 2012 #28

These estimates are from a good source. JDPriestly Jul 2012 #17

I would love to see wind, solar and water as the primary means of power someday soon Marrah_G Jul 2012 #29

Use excess solar power to run giant outdoor fans during the day 4th law of robotics Aug 2012 #41

Problems with this report. happyslug Jul 2012 #3

every party's got to have a pooper leftyohiolib Jul 2012 #6

A carbon tax could and should help pay for the cost. n/t Uncle Joe Jul 2012 #12

China and Germany are gradually moving toward solar. JDPriestly Jul 2012 #20

The purpose of my comment was to put this report in prespective happyslug Jul 2012 #24

We will be undergoing a major restructuring of our society over the next few decades regardless of Uncle Joe Aug 2012 #45

Cost? The Doctor. Jul 2012 #4

The report clearly states costs were NOT considered. happyslug Jul 2012 #5

What did it "cost" to build railroad lines across the US? JDPriestly Jul 2012 #22

$20Trillion in round numbers One_Life_To_Give Aug 2012 #42

Hey, solar could be used to subsidize the oil companies and everyone would be happy. nt Kablooie Jul 2012 #7

The biggest problem with solar... JohnnyRingo Jul 2012 #9

Quck! Here comes Rmoney to make sure we "level the playing field" by cutting any support/credits for AllyCat Jul 2012 #10

Yes, but will solar powered cars make loud "vroom" noises? primavera Jul 2012 #15

I would point out many of the "vroomiest" cars are not "Amurikan." nt Codeine Jul 2012 #34

Second problem, electricy generation is only 16% of the energy used in the US. happyslug Jul 2012 #16

The day of the electric car will come sooner than you think. JDPriestly Jul 2012 #23

The electric car will come, but most people will replace they gas jobs with a bicycle happyslug Jul 2012 #35

Interesting ideas, of course, bicycles are not practical for many people over 65. JDPriestly Aug 2012 #37

As to Streetcars, I use to live on the last Streetcar line in Pittsburgh. happyslug Aug 2012 #39

Very interesting. I live in an area that was first developed as a suburb in the period JDPriestly Aug 2012 #44

A mere $120Trillion installed One_Life_To_Give Aug 2012 #43

Stop Building Coal Plants. Stop Licensing Nuke Plants and Go Renewable triplepoint Jul 2012 #19

Too bad it's about 30 years too late to make a difference NickB79 Jul 2012 #21

DID YOU KNOW???? DreamSmoker Jul 2012 #25

Sunpower rks306 Jul 2012 #30

This is awesome news. Dont call me Shirley Jul 2012 #32

Renewables are not a small portion of our power supply at almost 12% Sirveri Jul 2012 #33

12% of 14% is still is only 1.68% happyslug Aug 2012 #40

awesome we can stop the fracking now right? limpyhobbler Jul 2012 #36