The Nelson Community Solar Garden will Increase GHG's

               The Nelson Community Solar Garden has no benefit to Nelson or the world and any
                                                                 GHG reduction, it will in fact increase GHG's.


For the only city in BC with its own clean green water power dam making the city a profit, Nelson should be the last city to involve itself with solar power.

To understand why solar is a complete waste for Nelson one has to understand how solar works here daily and annually.   These images will help you understand.

                              The Above Graphs show how solar is out of sync with daily demand

        The above graphs show how solar power is out of sync with annual power demand.

           $613                          $211                       $420

See text below for explanation of these $ values

The community solar garden won't make enough power for 4 average homes annually.  From November through February it won't make power for 1/2 an average home annually.

Using the consulting engineers own numbers for the 50 kw community solar garden the real value of the solar power is as follows.    When we buy the most excess power, winter obviously, solar is next to worthless, but as Mr. Love manager of Nelson hydro told me, solar is a credit against the purchase of our excess power.  Last year it was $6.4 Million dollars.   As you can see this $400,000 plus solar garden might appear to earn ($613 + $420) ~$1000 applied against power purchases, but its again another loss.   All of this solar power is the lost income from selling 4 cent wholesale Fortis power for 10 cents.  That would earn us $2582. Again solar is a lose-lose in every way.     In summer when our dam makes all our own power and we have excess for sale, unless we sell all our excess first it is worthless, if we do in fact sell it, BC Hydro buys 90% of our excess power for 0.7 cents per kWh, that would make the solar power worth  $211.  Its unlikely Nelson hydro is selling any power above and beyond its 16MW capability mid day in summer.  Power might be sold during power peaks, morning and evening when solar isn't working.

GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION

There will be NO
GHG reduction with the Nelson Community Solar Garden.   Unless this power is actually used and enters the grid to avoid the burning  non renewable fuels in a conventional power plant using coal or gas, there is no contribution to the world's saving of green house gas from the Nelson Community Solar Garden.

I would Like Mr. Love manager of Nelson hydro to provide the calculations that will show how the Nelson community solar garden does anything to reduce GHG's, I am saying it will only increase GHG's.

Solar panels don't fall out of the sky, many studies say they won't replace the non renewables required to make them in their lifetime.   Solar panels from China, using coal from Fernie, shipped in diesel trains to bunker oil ships onto diesel trains to pollute chinese childrens lives in their coal fired power plants heating diesel mined and transported raw materials to over 3000 degrees melting silica sand  for solar cells and metal ores for frames to make solar panels.   Then return shipped to Nelson where the sun doesn't shine and the power can't be sold, so the city can pretend to be  "green".

I think this project was ill conceived by people who don't know what they are doing and now they can't undo what they have done.

Nelson is supposed to be the envy of all according to the contractor hired to deliver this program. 

Its been advertised as everyone will get a "credit" who buys into the project.

The term "investment" is continually being used!

It was first offered as only $25,000 from Nelson hydro all future funding to come from those opting in, I asked when or how this changed, Mr. Love wouldn't answer me.

So far the hired consultant has been paid $70,000, they bought their own data collection equipment software and installed it when I showed Mr. Love years of solar data for Nelson, he told me he was an engineer and my data was irrelevant.

I asked why the city doesn't put our a request for proposals and hire people with an expertise in the discipline of the project.  Their answer, they are happy with the person they have and its about continuity and they don't have to advertise.  The contract is coming up soon, another $70 or $80,000, but this time there is some truth to continuity,they will be selling the solar panels for the Second community solar garden.   How's the budget coming city councilors?  Is there anyone looking for half a million?  Solar panels for philosphical political reasons are more important?

I asked for the calculations to support the contractors statement the solar garden power will reach parity in 7 years and Return on Investment in 10 or 12 year.   I didn't get an answer.

The project is up to Revision 5 and no longer in a place that is visible to all as intended, how much was the consulting engineers bill, and where was the due diligence that prevented all 5 or more city visible city locations from being secured first?

Some of the responses I have had from city councillors,

"too bad you can't be forward looking"

"thats just your opinion"

"its not that much money"

"everyone else is doing it"

"it doesn't cost anything its paid for by Nelson hydro"

that from a 9 year veteran councilor--very scary

The project was presented to the BC Utilities Commission as only $25,000 from Nelson hydro all future funding to come from those opting in,  I have their response letter from my complaint confirming this.  Now you and I are in for more than half, those buying in get to pay what we will end up paying plus their buy in so they can feel "green"   I say they should pay  what was supposed to be all the costs beyond the wasted $25,000.

Nelson Hydro dam on the right

Pretty soon 200 or more solar panels, although they won't be seen unless you drive on the backroad.

The mayor said our dam was our "golden Goose",  seems like they are shooting it.  Every kW of solar in a Nelson hydro served area, rural or city, is at the expense of  lost income to the city.

The contractors says the solar garden isn't about a pressing need for power its about starting a movement!

How many solar gardens do you want me to pay for?   Hypothetically Nelson could have every house in town with solar panels, the city depends on this profit of selling 2 cent power for 10 cents.   Now we can look forward to paying for the solar garden and coming up with the extra funds to make up for the lost profit of our own hydro power sales.   This mayor and council will be remembered.

I can only show my grandchildren I tried.  My pension went up 1.2% this year, not sure how many more years I can afford Nelson.  I am hoping for better management that makes business decisions, so far this project comes from the highest paid person in the city who appears to be getting $10,000 more every year from city council.

They are now selling solar panels for the second solar garden, buy some, if you feel like I do, let city council know email to the link below, it goes to the mayor and all councilors.

Contact the mayor and city council here

How many solar gardens can we afford?  

There is no GHG reduction.

There is the lost profit from selling Fortis 4 cent power for 10 cents

Even if Nelson were to sell all its 16MW around noon on a hot sunny summer day, the solar would only be worth what BCHydro pays for our excess  0.7cents/kWh.  

There isn't likely a more absurd greenwashing project anywhere.