EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is a response to various letters written to manninglive.com and The Manning Times from residents opposed to the county’s allowance of a FILOT for a solar farm.One of those letters, by Dan Geddings, can be read at this link.
One kilowatt hour crossing state lines isn’t the point. Duke credits the property owner the contracted value of that kilowatt hour as soon as it enters the grid.
Electrons are dispersed grid-wide instantaneously and immediately. Speed of light, even.
If they get used locally, great. If not, it means nothing.
The land owner and the utility are both profiting, which is great. To local homeowners who are connected to the grid – a kilowatt hour is a kilowatt hour is a kilowatt hour. All the time.
Duke increases you rates; not local solar farms. Ever.
The panels will never “leach” anything into the ground, either.
Warranty is 25 years. The useable life is 40- and 50-plus years. They don’t really just “die” out there.
Also, I’m not sure of any solar farms which are fully commissioned in the state of North Carolina that are “sitting, not being used.”
Just because they don’t move doesn’t mean they aren’t on. If a panel is in the sun, then it’s making power.
There’s an “off switch” for the panel, but you can cut the current at the mandatory “CD Disconnect.”
Not eye sores, y’all! Does God’s “natural design” allow for us to grade it out as we fit and lay roads acros it? What about artificially damming our rivers? Maybe.
I doubt he’s going to mind this clean energy advancement, though, unless God wants us to burn coal. Maybe you, sir, can tell me what he thinks.
The future (got kids?) of reliable and secure power grids, which will always need maintenance no matter the power source, is localized energy grids.
Duke knows this and is also planning for it on electric grids and creating their own solar arrays!
Look at the two nuclear reactors that Duke just put a complete stop to on their own and after their own due diligance. And this is not even referring to the Summer Plant which was owned by SCE&G and Santee Cooper Electric.
I mean the Lee Plant and the one in Florida, too.
Both halted to pivot to solar.
These massive companies don’t go solar to make you or liberals feel good.
Think about that. They do it because it works and it’s less expensive now and in the future. Scale this idea down to your own household.
Get out from the “rent” you pay to your utility and own your own power like you own your own home.
PATRICK WYLIE
Accelerate Solar Vice-President of Sales
Charlotte, North Carolina
