New Information On Ivanpah Solar Plant -- More Birds Are Dying -- Re: LVA QOD 2/19/14

Hi Group,

On the KCAL TV 4PM News in Los Angeles yesterday, Wednesday, April 9, 2014 the anchors said that there was a new report about more harm being done to birds due to the high heat (around 800 Degrees Fahrenheit) coming from the Ivanpah Solar Plant. And so I looked around online for more information about this and then found a link to a new article from The Press-Enterprise Newspaper about more problems happening at the Ivanpah Solar Plant with birds and insects dying from not only the light itself, but also from the very high heat that radiates from it. Here is a link which also includes photos of the birds (and some with the feathers burned):

https://www.pe.com/local-news/topics/topics-environment-headlines/20140408-solar-ivanpah-project-described-as-deadly-trap-for-wildlife.ece.

So it says among other things that the Solar Plant radiates heat of about 800 Degrees (yes, Eight Hundred Degrees) which has killed not only the insects, but at least some of the birds that have come after them!

RecVPPlayer

I'm not an expert but I believe that plant uses an older form of technology that transfers solar energy into heat...and then into electricity. I believe the newer technology transfers solar energy directly into electricity...and so you dont get the heat. The new panels also are more efficient...meaning you get more electricity than the old method.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the plant switch to the new panels. Lets hope so for the birds' sake!

The Ivanpah plant was just built and was finished a few months ago! It is state of the art. That is how new it is.

There is no easy "switch to newer panels". If they wanted to convert the plant into a photovoltaic one, which you seem to be saying, all the old panels would need to be removed and replaced with photovoltaic ones. The whole layout of the plant is based on facing the panels so they REFLECT the sun to a single point, which is not how photovoltaic panels would be placed.

This is probably more costly than building a new plant from scratch.

Our wind mills in our state are killing many birds and some fear may be the reason for the declining bee population. I thought wind mills, what a great idea at first but the cost and eye-sore that they are, I am no longer sure? The view acoss our lake was awesome, now the wind mill lights all blink at once, and it looks tacky, if they just stayed on all the time it would be much better.

I could not agree more. A neighboring town put up 49 wind turbines last year and are adding another 49 this year. It has ruined the landscape over our rolling hills. These wind generators are 20 miles away and I hope that someone does not get the "bright" idea of bringing them any closer to our town.

I recently stayed the weekend in Primm NV to avoid high LV weekend hotel costs. We got a deal on a Primm room and nicely asked for a good view. I was with a girl and the check in lady hooked us up with an end room with a killer view of the interstate and world's largest solar plant. Really cool view. The wind surfers entered harms way in the solar desert next to the solar farm. Very cool to watch but surprisingly second fiddle to watching the constant stream of Cali cars coming down the hill like ants. Hint: buy your beer before you arrive as the Primm area has set prices on beer at all outlets. I checked .....it's clear collusion!

Could you explain this sentence? I don't understand it.

If anyone is coming to LV from Southern California, probably the closest area to buy beer where there would be not as bad prices as out in the boondocks probably is Barstow. I don't know but beer prices in Baker probably aren't that good (but I don't know that for sure).

RecVPPlayer