Comments on: Black Rock Solar Has a Banner Week

By: Craig (Bear)

Craig (Bear) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:08:27 +0000

Solar is not very cost-effective right now because the technology costs so much compared to the energy output. But the technology is improving. Hopefully in a few years we’ll see improvements that make it very affordable. There have already been some recently, and I trust there are people working on even more.

Another thing to consider is the environmental cost. For every kW of solar or wind, we are burning less coal and creating less nuclear waste. I hope that the inefficient spending does not have to continue like this, but I also hope we can hold on long enough to invent efficient, cost-effective and ecologically sound systems to keep our planet powered after the fossil fuel age is done.

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By: Droidle

Droidle — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:30:10 +0000

Yes guys, I’m going to have to agree with the others, it’s time to find a more cost effective way to save money. We are innovators. So innovate. Perhaps it’s time to shift our resources into free energy… Solar is so 1973… It’s obviously not getting any more cost effective.

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By: Juanita Masblanco

Juanita Masblanco — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 06:43:23 +0000

$1M in solar panels will never pay for itself, ever. It’s something the state of NV can ill afford right now, if ever. As usual, taxpayers are stuck with the bill. (Memories of Solandra.)

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By: Tom Price

Tom Price — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:11:04 +0000

Erik-
The project was completely paid for with rebates from NV Energy, so the cost to the college was zero. Put another way, every penny they save can go to better serve students.

The system is “net metered” which means energy isn’t stored. Instead, as it’s made it goes out into the grid to be used, and spins the meter backwards. Then, at night, when there’s use it spins forward. The net difference between use and production is how much the school pays for, and since it’s still connected to the grid, everything works exactly the same.

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By: Erik Schorr

Erik Schorr — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 23:54:41 +0000

What was the cost to the college for the larger of these two projects, and how much was funded with grants? Having $1M in solar panels installed to save $23K/year means it pays for itself in 35 years, which is well beyond the equipment’s life expectancy. Seems I’m missing something.

I’m also curious how much excess power from this system gets stored locally for cloudy/dark times and how much gets fed back into the grid.

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