A Clean Energy’s Dirty Little Secret

Started by Solar, June 29, 2017, 05:58:21 AM

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Solar

But... Yes there is a but. This didn't need to happen. The problem started with cheap Chinese cells and amorphous type solar cells, and some really shitty look alike cells, which ar no more than a spray on paint type application.
These types of cells had a 10-year life, while monocrystal/single cut ingots are still producing energy, I know, that's all I bought 30 years ago and they're still producing electricity without a hitch.
Hell, I even have panels from the first solar plant in Carrizo Ca. when the govt sponsored a test using mono crystal.
So in truth, it's the left's push for cheap energy and subsidies to China and the lie over global warming that created this problem.
I warned about this years ago, I'll have to find the article I wrote.

Discarded solar panels are piling up all over the world, and they represent a major threat to the environment.

Clean energy may not be so clean after all. A new study by Environmental Progress (EP) warns that toxic waste from used solar panels now poses a global environmental threat. The Berkeley-based group found that solar panels create 300 times more toxic waste per unit of energy than nuclear-power plants.
Discarded solar panels, which contain dangerous elements such as lead, chromium, and cadmium, are piling up around the world, and there's been little done to mitigate their potential danger to the environment. "We talk a lot about the dangers of nuclear waste, but that waste is carefully monitored, regulated, and disposed of," says Michael Shellenberger, founder of Environmental Progress, a non-profit that advocates for the use of nuclear energy.

"But we had no idea there would be so many panels — an enormous amount — that could cause this much ecological damage." Solar panels are considered a form of toxic, hazardous electronic or "e-waste," and according to EP researchers Jemin Desai and Mark Nelson, scavengers in developing countries like India and China often "burn the e-waste in order to salvage the valuable copper wires for resale. Since this process requires burning off plastic, the resulting smoke contains toxic fumes that are carcinogenic and teratogenic (birth defect-causing) when inhaled."

This is one of the dirty little secrets behind the push for renewable energy. While consumers might view solar panels as harmless little windows made from glass and plastic, the reality is that they are intricately constructed from a variety of materials, making it difficult to disassemble and recycle them.
Japan is already scrambling for ways to reuse its mounting inventory of solar-panel waste, which is expected to exceed 10,000 tons by 2020 and grow by 700,000 to 800,000 tons per year by 2040. Solutions are hard to find, due both to the labor-intensive process of breaking down the panels and to the low price of scrap.


Read more at: http://www.nationalreview.com/article/449026/solar-panel-waste-environmental-threat-clean-energy
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Hoofer

And there's more to come, for instance...

http://dailysignal.com/2017/06/30/energy-department-looks-green-impact-power-grid/
Quote(Rick) Perry said he's had concerns that the federal push behind some forms of energy over others could create danger.

"I've thought the previous administration had its thumb on the scale, really its whole hand on the scale, for certain industries and was willing to put our electric grid in jeopardy for a desired political outcome," Perry said.
....
He further asked for an evaluation of what extent regulation, subsidies, and tax policies "are responsible for forcing the premature retirement of baseload power plants."
....
The memo talked about the need to "debunk" reports from the institute.

This is an unusual strategy to use before the report has even been released, said Nick Loris, a research fellow in energy and environment at The Heritage Foundation.

"It seems premature for screaming and fear mongering when the results haven't even been published," Loris told The Daily Signal. "If the renewable energy industry has confidence in its technology, they shouldn't worry about a government-funded study looking at the grid."

Even a HINT of cutting federal funding, and the greenies go crazy, trying to discredit the report before it's published - or even finished!
- it's all about the money, keep it flowing, at any cost, 'cause their environmentalism is not about the environment, it's about wealth redistribution.
All animals are created equal; Some just take longer to cook.   Survival is keeping an eye on those around you...

Solar

Quote from: Hoofer on June 30, 2017, 04:51:00 PM
"I've thought the previous administration had its thumb on the scale, really its whole hand on the scale, for certain industries and was willing to put our electric grid in jeopardy for a desired political outcome," Perry said.ribution.
Thought?
WTF? Why is it these pols can't seem to find the balls to call a spade a spade?
It was sooo damned obvious to the entire world, the Marxist was trying to destroy America's energy infrastructure!
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Liberals always want to "level the playing field", see a "fair fight", give everyone an "equal chance", or "equal opportunity" for everyone - they say.  What they're really trying to do, is become the Referee of the competition, and "fix" the outcome to a STALEMATE, nobody wins.

Except the liberal can claim they had no part in the competition, everyone's a winner, nobody lost, and they are the best arbitrators - therefore, better and wiser than these fighting factions.  Liberals have risen above the squabbling masses - we should listen to them, because they have no blood on their hands.  (but, they created the scenario, stoked the mindless passions, and merrily sat by while everyone else bled).

Alternative Energy is the same damn thing.   Would any true environmentalist buy a hazardous waste, solar panel?  nope.  They'll buy eco-friendly, energy-saving, carbon-neutral solar panels - and grin ear-to-ear, "See!  I'm better than thou!"  (exclude the very, very few, who have real legitimate energy concerns, the grid is too far away, reliability, etc.)

If you think I'm exaggerating, pick up Home Power Magazine, and look at the articles of people spending tens of thousands of dollars on retrofitting their shacks mansions with solar panels.  The last part of the article seldom says anything about economic payback, but is sure to include we're better than thou the usual "carbon footprint" nonsense.

If they cared even a tiny bit about energy conservation, or a clean environment, they'd be 100% on-the-grid. 
All animals are created equal; Some just take longer to cook.   Survival is keeping an eye on those around you...

Solar

Quote from: Hoofer on July 01, 2017, 05:47:12 AM
Liberals always want to "level the playing field", see a "fair fight", give everyone an "equal chance", or "equal opportunity" for everyone - they say.  What they're really trying to do, is become the Referee of the competition, and "fix" the outcome to a STALEMATE, nobody wins.

Except the liberal can claim they had no part in the competition, everyone's a winner, nobody lost, and they are the best arbitrators - therefore, better and wiser than these fighting factions.  Liberals have risen above the squabbling masses - we should listen to them, because they have no blood on their hands.  (but, they created the scenario, stoked the mindless passions, and merrily sat by while everyone else bled).

Alternative Energy is the same damn thing.   Would any true environmentalist buy a hazardous waste, solar panel?  nope.  They'll buy eco-friendly, energy-saving, carbon-neutral solar panels - and grin ear-to-ear, "See!  I'm better than thou!"  (exclude the very, very few, who have real legitimate energy concerns, the grid is too far away, reliability, etc.)

If you think I'm exaggerating, pick up Home Power Magazine, and look at the articles of people spending tens of thousands of dollars on retrofitting their shacks mansions with solar panels.  The last part of the article seldom says anything about economic payback, but is sure to include we're better than thou the usual "carbon footprint" nonsense.

If they cared even a tiny bit about energy conservation, or a clean environment, they'd be 100% on-the-grid.
Yeah, if the actuallky cared about the environment, they'd be demanding nuclear energy.

This sentence triggered a thought:

Quote"Liberals always want to "level the playing field", see a "fair fight", give everyone an "equal chance"

Next time a lib claims they're for equality, I'm going to bring this up and ask them why they're against the right to own a gun for self-defense, are they not for allowing an elderly person a chance to a fair fight
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Quote from: Solar on July 01, 2017, 07:13:56 AM
Yeah, if the actuallky cared about the environment, they'd be demanding nuclear energy.

This sentence triggered a thought:

Next time a lib claims they're for equality, I'm going to bring this up and ask them why they're against the right to own a gun for self-defense, are they not for allowing an elderly person a chance to a fair fight

"Liberals always want to "level the playing field", see a "fair fight", give everyone an "equal chance" - That's just one of the ways liberals see competition, no matter WHO the players are.  Give Iran nuclear weapons (Barak Obama), give Russia & China, American technology (Bill Clinton), and on and on.   America is evil, because it's unfair we have freedom and an advantage.  There is no good nor evil nations, everyone is morally equal, so equalize the nations and peace will come.  (John Lennon's Imagine is based on this liberal notion).

When I was a Liberal, this idealism was just part of my mindset - "Liberals always want to "level the playing field", see a "fair fight", give everyone an "equal chance".   Make everything and everyone EQUAL, and we'll all get along - they can't find any logical argument to support it...  and why they "rationalize & feel" more than "reason".   

Polluting the pristine environment, for the sake of saving their own backyard - sure, as long as they don't have to look at the mess created for their benefit.
All animals are created equal; Some just take longer to cook.   Survival is keeping an eye on those around you...

Hoofer

All animals are created equal; Some just take longer to cook.   Survival is keeping an eye on those around you...

Solar

Quote from: Hoofer on July 04, 2017, 05:32:49 AM
Guess what just showed up ... a week later?
https://www.weaselzippers.us/346979-solar-panels-generate-300-times-more-toxic-waste-than-nuclear-reactors/#disqus_thread

Looks like CPF is a week ahead of the news Digesters.



:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Yas gotta luv the hypocrisy. Libs are so stupid and gullible, if they had just a tiny bit of critical thinking, they'd have realized immediately that this so called "Green Movement" is by design, a tool to destroy America's energy production.
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