A growing number of municipalities across the United States are dictating minimum percentages for solar generated energy in residential and commercial buildings. Proponents of mandates, which infringe on private property rights, insist that solar must replace hydrocarbon energy sources like natural gas. Ostensibly, diminished individual liberty is justified by the greater good of economic savings and reduced environmental impacts. Stick these claims “where the sun don’t shine”. Solar energy is not a “magic bullet” substitute for natural gas and should not be forced on American families and businesses.
Current solar technology has practical constraints. Buildings have limited roof space for installation of south-facing panels. And what happens when the neighbors’ trees are taller than your building? Solar advocates’ solution to such problems is forcing building owners to invest in offsite solar power facilities. They don’t mention that it takes about 10 acres of solar panels to produce an average of 1 megawatt of electricity, which can power about 750 U.S. households when the sun is high in the sky.
For comparison, a single natural gas well can easily provide the fuel to generate more than 5 megawatts around the clock. In most cases, solar systems are impractical without backup and supplemental electricity sources. That means natural gas demand will increase proportionally to expanded solar power capacity.
(Excerpt) Read more at postindependent.com ...
