LET THEM EAT CAKE

                                               

                                                             

"Let them eat cake" supposedly spoken by Queen Marie Antoinette upon learning that the peasants had no bread.  

The Eco Save Coordinator stated charities and others less fortunate might be able to participate in the Nelson Community Solar Garden, the city could provide low or no interest loans.   

They might see an annual credit of $20, but their loan repayment to the city would be over $65/yr. ($923/panel plus $100 admin fee and taxes about "$1100/panel at 3.5% for 20 yrs = $66/yr payments to make $25? and they were told they will get their money back?

I have to wonder how long that line up for charities and those less fortunate to participate was, and its not even "green" power, although I think that was the perception.  But then this project has never been anything but deceptive.

Another stunning piece of brilliance from the EcoSave Coordinator ($79,000) contractor at the Oso Negro coffee shop community meeting was her questionairre.

Should the solar panels be placed where everyone can see them or where they make most power?

Choices were -Strongly agree to strongly disagree,   59% stated they should go where they make the most power......the other 41% thought the solar panels should go where everyone can see them.   

My response, "put them on the front of city hall, even though it faces North they are worthless regardless of location".  

The minutes were kept regarding the oral part of the public meeting at the Oso  coffee shop, all negative comments didn't show up in the minutes. 

Who pays for their $25 year contract for the power from a panel?  Nelson hydro customes and themselves as hydro customers paying full retail for this solar power when they should be receiving the income form our own greener cleaner waterpower now spilling down the river.

Why aren't we pursuing our real opportunities like microhydro, clean green, dependable power.

The city has several microhydro projects identified, clean green water power, good for the next hundred years and beyond, like our own hydro dam, why solar panels that might not last 20 years and only work when we are at the beach!(when annual sun power is greatest)

City council visited Nakusp, they installed a 50kW microhydro plant on their city water intake, its clean green power, 24/7/365 for the next century or more, for $150,000,  Power for 40 homes.

Nelson? Solar panels, power for maybe 4 average homes, less than one in winter, good for maybe 20 years for likely in excess of $300,000, and we have microhydro projects identified!   City council visited the Naksup system, how did we end up with solar panels?

The Emperor has NO Clothes!

                                               Mayor and city council           NCSG