AP: Solar power outshining Colorado's gas industry

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ilsDBjcry8X9Y7jwN5RoaBXZtP2AD9B891OO0

Solar power outshining Colorado's gas industry

By DINA CAPPIELLO

DURANGO, Colo. — The sun had just crested the distant ridge of the Rocky Mountains, but already it was producing enough power for the electric meter on the side of the Smiley Building to spin backward.

For the Shaw brothers, who converted the downtown arts building and community center into a miniature solar power plant two years ago, each reverse rotation subtracts from their monthly electric bill. It also means the building at that moment is producing more electricity from the sun than it needs.

…

As La Plata County in southwestern Colorado looks to shift to cleaner sources of energy, solar is becoming the power source of choice even though it still produces only a small fraction of the region's electricity. It's being nudged along by tax credits and rebates, a growing concern about the gases heating up the planet, and the region's plentiful sunshine.

The natural gas industry, which produces more gas here than nearly every other county in Colorado, has been relegated to the shadows.

…

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Just the first exampleof this..I am sure there will be many ;more...

and this will result in more jobs and relieve dependency on foreign oil states.

It seems there is no down side...except for Big Oil...and frankly I do not give a damn about them.

[glitch]

3. Not just big oil -- the pro nuke people are very resentful of any positive attention to solar too.

Wait for it... ;)

[BrklynLiberal]

4. Sad..since with solar and wind power there is no worry about what to do with the waste.

[tabatha]

2. Excellent.

And take that naysayers.

[NNadir]

5. What is this, some kind of hallucination?

Solar electricity is a joke in Colorado, just like everywhere else. In fact the entire renewable industry (save hydroelectricity - who gives a fuck if the spectacular Glen Canyon is filled with silt?) is a joke.

In 2007 the entire state of Colorado produced 2 thousand megawatt hours of electricity.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/solar.renewables/page/state_profiles/colorado.html

Natural gas produced 15,014 Megawatt-hours of energy in 2007, up by 3,095 thousand MWh from 2006.

Coal produced 50,980 thousand Megawatt hours, up by 2,769 thousand MWh over 2006.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/solar.renewables/page/state_profiles/rspt04co.xls

All of these happy horseshit wishful thinking "solar is wonderful" posts are delusional, but this one with it's oblivious claim that 2 > 15,014 is one of the worst ever.

Solar energy is a failure in Colorado; it hasn't made a fucking shred of difference. This is true of the entire planet as a whole.

No matter how many times one recites the Hail Mary, the blessed virgin will not shower a million dollars on you, grow your hair back, or cure your cancer.

No matter how many times we have dumb "solar shines" posts, solar energy will not produce significant energy and will simply serve to produce more and more and more and more wishful thinking and denial.

[AnOhioan]

6. and no matter how many times you piss and moan

You won't change a thing. But then, actually contributing to the discussion is not your forte, is it?

[jpak]

8. What a stupid post

:rofl:

[pleah]

7. K&R