California utility plows ahead with midsize solar

[bananas]

Source: CNET

California utility Pacific Gas & Electric got approval for an initiative that seeks to ramp up solar-power production but sidestep the permitting hurdles of large-scale solar and the expense of rooftop panels.

The California Public Utilities Commission on Thursday approved a five-year program where PG&E will install solar photovoltaic arrays between 1 megawatt and 20 megawatts in size. In all, the installations will have a capacity of 500 megawatts worth of solar, enough to power 150,000 homes, according to PG&E.

The approach is to build midsize solar arrays and locate them near power substations, which means that no new transmissions lines will need to be built. Constructing smaller, distributed units also simplifies the environmental permitting process, another serious hurdle to building power plant-size solar projects.

"Smaller scale projects can avoid many of the pitfalls that have plagued larger renewable projects in California, including permitting and transmission challenges," CPUC president Michael Peevey said in a statement.

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Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20003272-54.html

[defendandprotect]

1. k

[defendandprotect]

2. k

[kristopher]

3. This scale is the sweet spot for the next wave of solar and storage IMO.

K&R

[bertman]

4. Even smaller would be far better, but this is an improvement over megasolar farms linked

to a national grid. The national grid scenario is a terrorist's wet dream.

Make it possible for homeowners, landlords, business owners to install their own solar PV and hot water systems through a grant system of long-term, low-interest/zero interest loans and our national dependence on coal will dwindle. Not to mention that our economy would begin to grow again.

But apparently this is too easy or steps on the toes of the big energy boys who spend the big bucks on campaign donations.

[kristopher]

5. One economic step at a time.

Each of these strategies fit an economic niche, and every time another niche emerges and is built out it is because the previous installations pushed down the prices.

Home rooftop will take a bit more time, but it will get here.

[bertman]

7. The step I'm advocating for could be taken now. It's not being taken because of a lack

of will--not because of cost. There are solar technologies available now that could be implemented immediately if people were able to afford them. They could afford them if the government was willing to spend money to truly stimulate the economy by loaning Americans the money to have the solar installed. But the money is going to other industries whose lobbying clout is greater than that of the solar or "green" industries. Had we not spent trillions on shoring up the corrupt financial industry, we would have the money available to "afford" investing in a solar/geothermal/wind-powered future.

Another part of the problem is entrenched interests--public utilities such as power production via coal and nuclear and even hydro. They want to be able to control these new technologies and turn them into mega-entities rather than relinquishing power to the homeowners and business owners, while they served as facilitators for the distribution on local or regional grids.

We do not have time to let solar and other alternative energy sources evolve until its price their prices are pushed down. We need to act now for the sake of our planet and for our nation.

We didn't need to push the price of jet fighters, tanks, Bradleys, helicopters down before we could sink a Trillion dollars into a war in Iraq and Afghanistan, but we have to wait for the price of alternative energy to go down before we can have a war for energy efficiency and independence. Ironic isn't it? And sad beyond description.

[XemaSab]

6. Instead of putting solar out in the desert

why not put solar panels in the parking lots of every Wal-Mart in the state?