Comments on: Will ‘maquila-solar’ zone form just outside CA state line?

By: Bill - San Jose

Bill - San Jose — Sun, 14 Jul 2013 21:40:11 +0000

One of the big stumbling blocks to solar (nevermind the insane cost compared to conventional power) is the desert turtle.

The desert turtle people need to ask themselves how they can defy solar farms when the real tragedy occurred decades ago in regards to the desert turtle:

Gov. Brown Aqueduct (named after the first criminal governor we had in this state, not his offspring).

Get off the cross. We need the wood.

We have perfect good power plants closing due to being ocean or delta cooled or because they are pet/coke fed steam powered plants. I dare anyone to compare the cost per KW and the environmental impact that doesn’t exist.

By: Knowledgeable about transmission

Knowledgeable about transmission — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 20:28:56 +0000

The LADWP tranmission grid is not a closed system. It is interconnected to multiple utilities in the Western US. The LADWP is a partial owner and the operator of two very long direct current transmission lines. Because of the long distance, they are direct current lines. A similar length alternating current line would have excessive losses. Southern California Edison (SCE), an investor owned utility is the largest joint owner of the largest direct current line.

By: Wayne Lusvardi

Wayne Lusvardi — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 18:41:25 +0000

NO MAGUILA-SOLAR ZONE HERE –

READ BELOW – APPARENTLY CALIFORNIA HAS SUCCESSFULLY BLOCKED OUT OF STATE SOLAR FOR NOW

ENN Pulls Plug on Nevada Solar Project
ENN Mojave Energy has canceled a 720-MW solar generation plant and thin-film manufacturing facility near Laughlin, Nev., because it couldn’t find buyers for the power.

By: Wayne Lusvardi

Wayne Lusvardi — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 15:52:55 +0000

There may be future lawsuits to open up the California market to solar from other states or Mexico. But that would mean forcing municipal power companies like LADWP to open up their direct current closed grid system. To do that solar companies would have to build costly transformer substations to convert electrical current to direct current. But then LADWP might say they don’t have capacity in their lines to handle competitive solar other than their own monopoly solar.

This presents a dilemma for those who advocate free markets. If you want a free and open energy market the only way to do that in California is by allowing solar (or wind) power from other states to compete in California. But solar (and wind) even from states that have no environmental laws is much more expensive than conventional energy. So the message seems to be: you might be able to have an open energy market in Southern California but only for already over-priced solar power. Whooopee!!

By: Maquila Solar Is the Wave of the Future

Maquila Solar Is the Wave of the Future — Thu, 11 Jul 2013 01:11:26 +0000

Build the solar plants in Mexico and maybe developers won’t have to deal with California Unions for Reliable Energy hiring law firms to block the construction until unions are guaranteed all the work.

But keep in mind how the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 569 in San Diego opposed Sempra’s application in 2011 for a permit from the Department of Energy (DOE) for the Energia Sierra Juarez Gen-Tie Project that would connect the ESJ Wind Farms in Baja California to the Southwest Power Link Transmission Line.

By: Rex the Wonderdog!

Rex the Wonderdog! — Wed, 10 Jul 2013 21:35:47 +0000

We need more teddy, for laughter……

By: Steele, Ted, When only the very best will do!

Steele, Ted, When only the very best will do! — Wed, 10 Jul 2013 20:24:42 +0000

We need more solar.