Solar Farm project WILL impact Clarion River water quality

[troutbert]

Let's not forget, there's a gigantic collector array in Nevada that's being closed down by DOE after only a few years of operation because the govt says its inefficient, contrary to what the operator and previous DOE post opening studies say. There's currently no remediation planned for the site. And none required by law.

Do you have a link to this story? Was the project constructed by the government or a business?

 

[[WR]]

Do you have a link to this story? Was the project constructed by the government or a business?

I'll have to dig for the article. And the build was a collaboration between private and govt

 

[troutbert]

They can do vegetation management with sheep. There are videos of this on YouTube. But my guess is that is at a small minority of the solar projects and probably will remain that way. It seems really ideal, but sheep take a lot of management. You need fencing, water supply, etc. So, mowing will probably remain the main method.

 

[dudemanspecial]

They pay a company with goats to do all of our steep hillsides at work once a year. They set up a fence and let them go to town for a week, they clear that stuff like a vacuum cleaner.

 

[TimMurphy]

Do you have a link to this story? Was the project constructed by the government or a business?

Dear troutbert,

Here ya go!

11 years after a celebrated opening, massive solar plant faces a bleak future in the Mojave Desert

What was once the largest solar power plant of its type in the world appears headed for closure just 11 years after opening.

apnews.com

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[[WR]]

Do you have a link to this story? Was the project constructed by the government or a business?

Ok, here's some stuff to get you started, to include a YouTube link

And there's also

US quietly cancels 6.2GW Nevada solar project

The Trump administration has cancelled the 6.2GW Esmeralda 7 solar project in Nevada – once touted as one of the largest in the world.

www.pv-tech.org

Which, apparently, I confused with the other story.

I'm following these stories because they indirectly impact my plans for my property in the 178-- zipcode

 

[JG63]

Dear [WR},

Locally, several schools and public complexes have smaller scale solar fields. I've seen the goats doing the weed whacking on a few of them.

It might be a difficult task on 1000 acres, but we all need to start thinking about combining capabilities and talents if we want to move forward. At the same time, we need to understand that the results will not be immediate but gradual.

My roots are in the Anthracite region. The mentality still exists in more than a few places that we should simply mine coal like the 1920's and everything will be wonderful. They leave out the parts that the life of the typical miner was nasty, brutish, and short. In addition, they completely ignore the fact that large scale mining will be virtually all mechanized and no one but a handful of operators will be working at the mines.

Everything needs to be re-thought, and we need to have the wherewithal to make a plan and stick with it. That's a herculean task today.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

Dear Tim,

You nailed it Sir!

Regards,

John Gooderham 🙂

PS: My Grandfather died in a cave in at the Glen Burn mine in Shamokin circa 1943

 

[[WR]]

Just in case some still think solar doesn't work in winter

Confirmed: First snowfall of the year begins covering solar panels — It's producing a strange effect that will grow stronger

The first snowfall of the year is covering solar panels and a strange effect is occuring, making people realize something new about solar panels.

www.ecoticias.com

 

[JG63]

Just in case some still think solar doesn't work in winter

Confirmed: First snowfall of the year begins covering solar panels — It's producing a strange effect that will grow stronger

The first snowfall of the year is covering solar panels and a strange effect is occuring, making people realize something new about solar panels.

www.ecoticias.com

then why do the solar farms always seem to be in a desert type environment ?

 

[dudemanspecial]

then why do the solar farms always seem to be in a desert type environment ?

I would imagine areas of prolonged cold weather are in infrastructure hell. And few and far between these days.

 

[Kms]

I

then why do the solar farms always seem to be in a desert type environment

Probably fewer cloudy days in such locations. Ideal placement seems to be high mountaintops with cold, clear conditions and thinner air.

“On the Tibetan Plateau, nearly 10,000 feet high, solar panels stretch to the horizon and cover an area seven times the size of Manhattan. They soak up sunlight that is much brighter than at sea level because the air is so thin.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/business/china-solar-tibetan-plateau.html

 

[JG63]

I

Probably fewer cloudy days in such locations. Ideal placement seems to be high mountaintops with cold, clear conditions and thinner air.

“On the Tibetan Plateau, nearly 10,000 feet high, solar panels stretch to the horizon and cover an area seven times the size of Manhattan. They soak up sunlight that is much brighter than at sea level because the air is so thin.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/business/china-solar-tibetan-plateau.html

Sounds like the whole solar panel thing needs a refresh after a huge helping of updated R&D

 

[[WR]]

then why do the solar farms always seem to be in a desert type environment ?

The larger commercial ones , yes, because there's usually more intense daylight, its acres and acres of nothing but acres, coupled with the old Sam Kinnison principle of why we don't live there....its sand, nothing grows there, .....(if you think about it, total lie. See Las Vegas, Barstow, Boise, Phoenix, etc )

I mentioned those arrays in Southern and Eastern Union and Snyder counties in a different post in this thread. Big by residential standards but by commercial standards, they're small. But, the numbers are growing. The article I posted today is defending against the myth solar doesn't work in winter climes.

The picture is of one of 20 homes in my neighborhood that have been retrofitted with solar. Kwan, the owner, told me he was surprised he got better charge rates when it got colder. If you think about it, the same applies to those hateful data centers none of us want. The colder circuits are the better they work.

Ive got a good friend who lives just north of Couer D'Alene. His nearest neighbor has been heating and powering his entire property, house, 2 workshops, with solar arrays that he hand built in the late 70's. They generate both hot water and electricity year round, right down to -5, where he has to supplement with wood waste fired boilers that, again, generate both hot water and electricity.

So, yeah, cold climate solar is doable here in the States. It's not a be all end all to power alternatives, but, it's been proven to be doable.

 

[[WR]]

I

Probably fewer cloudy days in such locations. Ideal placement seems to be high mountaintops with cold, clear conditions and thinner air.

“On the Tibetan Plateau, nearly 10,000 feet high, solar panels stretch to the horizon and cover an area seven times the size of Manhattan. They soak up sunlight that is much brighter than at sea level because the air is so thin.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/business/china-solar-tibetan-plateau.html

That's a really good article. Thanks for sharing it.

 

[Broodstock]

(You probably meant fusion... Fission has been and continues to be how heat is generated at commercial nuclear power plants.)

I did. I was waiting for someone to come in and start splitting hairs - I mean atoms. 🙂

 

[troutbert]

Just in case some still think solar doesn't work in winter

Confirmed: First snowfall of the year begins covering solar panels — It's producing a strange effect that will grow stronger

The first snowfall of the year is covering solar panels and a strange effect is occuring, making people realize something new about solar panels.

www.ecoticias.com

"Sweden, too, understands this strange effect since Sweden has unveiled the golden Solar Egg, which at 176°F above the snow, hints at a new solar era for solar surfaces."

That makes no sense. It's too bad they don't get a human to edit their AI slop.

 

[[WR]]

If you have a subscription, and live within 20 miles of Williamsport, this might be of interest

Appraiser testifies that nearby homes’ values may suffer from proposed solar farm in Muncy Creek Township

Fourteen residential homes in Muncy Creek Township could suffer potential “diminution in value” because of the possible creation of a 33-megawatt solar farm. “Diminution in value” describes a lessening in value of something due to damage, regardless of repairs. It was a conclusion in a report...

www.sungazette.com

 

[tomgamber]

then why do the solar farms always seem to be in a desert type environment ?

what else you gonna put there?

 

[JG63]

what else you gonna put there?

Maybe a ski area?

 

[tomgamber]

Maybe a ski area?

That won't require much water. Maybe a golf course while you're at it. Now tell me about data centers again.