Rest assured whatever that number is, we will probably be gone before then. If not, then it will hasten our demise. With the end result being for all intents and purpose that the sun will last forever.

Really, do I need to give you a number?

Again, I have no problem with solar power. I just don’t think this particular project makes a lot of sense.
March 4th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
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I think it’s a good pilot project for something that could be helpful. Hear me out here.

The thing I keep hearing about solar projects is that too much energy is lost in the transmission from the deserty areas where we have a lot of solar radiation to the urban centers where we have a lot of demand. And that there aren’t enough high-volume power lines to carry the power.

So what if we used our highways, which already constitute a grid connecting all our major and minor cities. If we lined the medians and sound baffles with photovoltaics, couldn’t we replenish the portion of wind and solar energy that would be lost in long-distance transmission?

March 4th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
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Now that’s silly talk. The Sun is most certainly not going to last forever. Yes, it’ll be quite efficient as a power source for the next five billion years or so as it gradually increases in magnitude. Then it’ll begin depleting its supply of hydrogen and will begin to swell, swallowing up Mercury and Venus and probably Earth. And then over another billion years or so it’ll outgas a bunch of helium and heavy metals and stuff and turn into a white dwarf, which will last perhaps 10^32 years (a time measurement which will be irrelevant since Earth will no longer exist) though it could last as long as 10^200 years if the Sun decays into a black hole, though it’s quite possible that the Universe will either unravel completely or collapse in a Big Crunch long before that time.

All of which will be shorter than infinity. So your estimation that the sun will last “forever” is clearly bunk. You, sir, owe this forum an apology.

Although I did enjoy the “bang the fist on the desk” theatrics. Made him look…oh, I don’t know…manly? Decisive?…

Okay, whackko. Poor guy. The only control he has is over Cindy. I really think she would have been great on Dancing With the Stars.

http://www.katu.com/news/28432984.html

I don’t think it’s beyond our top scientists in the energy field to make solar power more affordable and efficient. The highway project is a start.

Main Entry: twitterpated
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Definition: confused by affection or infatuation
Etymology: twitter + -pated ‘pertaining to the head’

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We get dragged over hot coals on the rates down here. Also Enron wasn’t that long ago. They shut off our power for fun. I don’t know if Enron affected where you are or not. And hydropower is an excellent source of electricy.
So actually we can agree on that.

As for southern ca. all I’ve seen in the twenty plus years I’ve lived here is foot dragging by politicians. Any time anyone talks about rail projects (up unitl a few years ago) they got laughed out of the discussion.

Every year that money not spent on “just” expanding the freeways is a total waste. Boston’s had a subway since the 1840s. It’s just the mindset I find in SC and in the republican party I find very frustrating.

You can’t just assume the status quo is fine when you know it’s not. Anything that is a step in the right direction is o.k. with me, and the panels along the highway seem fine.

We have constant work on the highways down here, I’ve counted them as wide as 17 lanes across. Right now there adding more lanes a few miles from here. Why not rail, or a subway, or adding solar panels?

The future’s going to come, might as well get out in front of it.

i’d be interested to see just how quickly the 28% of energy savings pays for the solar highway on its own.

i’d imagine it’d be pretty quickly considering the amount of energy used in powering highway lights etc.

i don’t see how something that saves us money in the long run and creates construction jobs in the shortrun and maintenance jobs in the long run could be defined as pork.

Relstively inexpensive electricy? Then I guess you don’t live in Southern Ca. Don’t worry high prices will make it to Portland too.

Not a lot of hydropower in southern California, no.

Again, I have no problem with solar power. I just don’t think this particular project makes a lot of sense.

So, McGrmpy considers renewable energy as pork.

How much energy does his 12 houses use ?

it’s all the fault of president obama and his staff!
they started it!

wheee!

Alejandro, I think it’s fine to invest in something we can actually get a return on. How do you feel about investing in Wall Street?

While solar cells don’t last forever, the sun will. How’s the oil situation working out for you?

Alejandro to Salk, man your wasting your time on that vaccine. Think of all the time and money you’ve put in, you’ll never get a return.

for real? what a completely pompous delusional azzhole…
that’s a no-win if there’s even a response…

watching 1600 now…
yep, time to turn him off.

Remember, this is the land of relatively inexpensive electricity and even though solar power is a great idea, it doesn’t seem to me that the ROI makes any sense.

from the link:

Most polymer, or thin film, solar cells currently have a lifespan of about 25-30 years; over time, their ability to convert sunlight into electricity is degraded by UV light.

A team of researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, has developed a “photon conversion material,” a special coating, … the coating, when applied to the cells, not only boosts the cells’ energy conversion efficiency; it also increases their longevity by sharply reducing the damage caused to the cells.

So people are working on extending the life of solar cells…as we speak.

How long does a tank of Gas last????