The RoanokeSlant

This file is a US personal journal of commentary of examples of the Roanoke Times and Liberal Media Slant...... lbhagen@aol.com

Thursday, March 15, 2018

'Exclusive Solar Power' For Facebook Georgia Data Center -- Really?

Roanoke Times, 3-6-2018, Pg 8: Facebook to build data center near Atlanta Georgia; to be ‘powered exclusively with renewable energy.’

Facebook “Likes” Solar to Power new Datacenter in Georgia

https://solarreviews.com/news/facebook-likes-solar-power-datacenter-georgia-030818/

“Facebook chose to power its new $750 million Newton Data Center in Georgia with 100 percent renewable energy from solar power that will be developed by the Walton Electric Membership Corporation (EMC). The datacenter is expected to consume 150 megawatts of power, which is equal to 20 percent of the utility’s current load.

The size of the solar project or projects that will power the datacenter was not disclosed. But EMC said it will install hundreds of acres of solar panels and connect them to the grid under a power supply agreement with Facebook”

It is a good thing to utilize ‘renewable’ energy as a compliment, supplement and or alternative to nuclear and fossil fuel utility facilities, however, these decisions must be based on energy availability and reliability and on sound business economics.

It would also be appropriate to explain to The Public the True Reality of what is being done since it influences Public Opinion which in turn influences energy policy.

We wouldn’t want to mislead or fool the public in any way – would

we?

“Solar Powered Exclusively” in this case is very misleading and not a valid statement and totally hides the who is paying for what?

As George told Jerry: it’s not a lie if you believe it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vn_PSJsl0LQ

The plan is to produce enough solar-panel ‘excess’ electricity during ‘good sunny daylight hours (9 to 5)' to account for the 5-PM to 9-AM sun black-out and for those not so sunny days. Solar-panel black-out is more than 60% of the time in the US middle-east coast.

The ‘excess’ electricity is to be sent into the grid for billable credits, at a rate favorable to whom?

During no solar cell electric generation, Facebook is then dependent upon the Utility Grid to supply their electrical requirements with 24-7 100% availability and 100% redundant backup; at what price?

Does this sound like a “100% renewable energy” situation to you? Me neither!

Those ‘excess’ solar-panel electrons have been used and their replacement will be whatever the Utility has available during the solar-panel black-out time periods.

The Electric Utility and its Grid must always be ready with a 100% redundant backup capability powered by what? Clearly not renewables! And who is paying the majority of the cost of providing that 100% redundant backup and Grid; and what is the Utility charging Facebook for this backup electricity?

Let us economically exploit our renewable energy capabilities, but while doing so let us be honest and transparent with the Reality and Facts.

A customer view of the EU’s renewable leader – Germany:

The run-away expansion of wind turbines and solar panels has made

German prices the highest in Europe (33-cents per kWh)

https://www.reuters.com/article/germany-electricity-retail/german-household-power-prices-at-record-high-verivox-idUSL8N1MZ30X

Virginia AEP cost is 11.7-cents per kWh – one-third of Germany’s 33-cents.

https://www.appalachianpower.com/info/news/rates/virginia/

To put salt in the energy price wound, Germany is now completing a contract with Putin’s Russia to buy fossil fuels via a new pipeline, thereby increasing Germany’s energy dependence on Russia and continuing its industry generation of man-made CO2. How does that fit into the Paris Accord Mr. Obama?

http://www.dw.com/en/us-poland-oppose-undersea-pipeline-from-russia-to-germany/a-42334940

Wonder how many anti-pipeline folks will show up to stop Putin’s Pipeline?

A Realistic View Of Solar Energy In Virginia

http://roanokeslant.blogspot.com/2018/02/a-realistic-view-of-solar-energy-in.html

Solar Energy And Solar Panel Tariffs

http://roanokeslant.blogspot.com/2018/01/solar-energy-and-solar-panel-tariffs.html

posted by Lars Hagen # 3:34 PM

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