Good News and Bad News
The GOOD NEWS comes from
Nakusp with a 50kw microhydro plant on the city water intake system. See that article here
This will power over 30 or more average homes for a century or possibly
two.
From the Nakusp Operations Manager: “The plant is rated at 50 kw but can exceed that slightly. The plant is
basically maintenance free.”
Slocan City is now pursuing a microhydro power plant to replace their lost tax base from the sawmill shutdown, they certainly can't afford solar power now.
see the article here:
http://www.nelsonstar.com/news/299247071.html
Slocan City is now pursuing a microhydro power plant to replace their lost tax base from the sawmill shutdown, they certainly can't afford solar power now.
see the article here:
http://www.nelsonstar.com/news/299247071.html
The BAD NEWS
comes from Nelson, our Hydro Manager wants to put in a 50kw solar garden. This has a life expectancy of 20-25 years and
might power 3 or 4 homes. Works little better
than 10% of the time and very little power in the weak winter sun when we
consume the most power and buy the most from Fortis.
The project will be $400,000 or $25,000/yr for 20 years and
we can buy the power it makes from Fortis for $1400/yr. our own dam makes power for 2c/kWh that would only cost about $700 a year.
Preliminary info suggests one can opt in for 1 kw of solar
panels for $4000, this will only raise $192,000. The mayor tells me those who opt in will pay
for this, I want to ensure that is true for the entire life of this boondoggle.
Will you opt in? It
will require at least $6000 not $4000 to ensure those who opt in pay, borrowed that
is $400/yr for 20 years, they will see a
return of $60/yr and less and less as solar panels age until they end up in the
landfill as toxic waste in 20-25 years.
Since Mr. Love came to Nelson he has almost doubled our
power bills since 2010.
In 2010 I paid $10 basic and 6c/kwh, he now has it
approaching $15 basic and closing in on 10c/kwh. It took decades before to go up that much.
I await the business case from Mr. Love. He stated they have identified 5 potential
microhydro sites for Nelson at the budget meeting, why is he wasting a nickel
on solar?!
Nakusp installed microhydro on their city water intake for $150,000 it will power 30 to 40 homes night and day for a century, on cold long dark winter nights when its needed the most, and last forever almost.
Nelson's solar garden will when new power the equivalent of maybe 4 homes, only makes power when the sun shines and most of it in summer, weak winter sun has no power and very little daylight hours anyway.
Add up all the dribs and drabs of solar power because it doesn't work unless the sun is out the $400,000 solar garden will only power 3-4 average homes for a year and only last 20-25 years for $100,000 per home, just to feel "green". These types of decisions will double my power again very soon.
Thank you Mr. Love of Nelson hydro, our highest paid person in the city.
Nelson's solar garden will when new power the equivalent of maybe 4 homes, only makes power when the sun shines and most of it in summer, weak winter sun has no power and very little daylight hours anyway.
Add up all the dribs and drabs of solar power because it doesn't work unless the sun is out the $400,000 solar garden will only power 3-4 average homes for a year and only last 20-25 years for $100,000 per home, just to feel "green". These types of decisions will double my power again very soon.
Thank you Mr. Love of Nelson hydro, our highest paid person in the city.
Google “german solar failure” or “Ontario
solar failure” please get informed.
