Comments on: New U.S. Navy Solar Power Plant at China Lake Saves $13 Million a Year

By: Will Poundstone

Will Poundstone — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 20:27:00 +0000

so that’s how the military will compensate for budget cuts

By: Lilia Rhodes

Lilia Rhodes — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 01:53:00 +0000

This is really cool. Conservation of energy matters even in bases. Thanks for sharing this information.

By: Zachary Shahan

Zachary Shahan — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 01:26:00 +0000

Yes, believe me, these are things i think about nearly every day. Referring to:

” If other countries are doing it, why aren’t we in this country?”

“I guess this country is run by the rich and they want to keep everything that is profitable just to themselves.”

By: Bob_Wallace

Bob_Wallace — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 19:36:00 +0000

Well, we need those batteries scaled up to utility sized. They seem to be working well at the prototype level, but ‘not counting chickens’ and all that….

By: James Sanchez

James Sanchez — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 19:00:00 +0000

With the advent of liquid metal batteries, this should be the norm instead of fossil fuel burning.
We can harness the sun and store the power for the times that the sun is not shining.
What is the rest of the US waiting for?
Let’s start training coal miners and frac drillers for these jobs and power the planet in such a way that there will be a planet to leave to our childrens children.

By: Ronald Brak

Ronald Brak — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 05:32:00 +0000

Given the incredibly low borrowing costs of the US government at the moment I would have thought it would have made more sense to simply purchase the panels outright.

By: Matthew Todd Peffly

Matthew Todd Peffly — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 14:49:00 +0000

Not enough data included to say one way or the other. Doesn’t say what the current peak rate China Lake base pays for electricity, or the expected total MWh/year, or the rate for the power from the panels. All you can do is assume the rate is less than they are paying now; or it wouldn’t have been installed). Lets say they are off by up to a factor of 10, not likely. Would still be a savings of $1.3-$130 million a year.

By: Matthew Todd Peffly

Matthew Todd Peffly — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 14:45:00 +0000

By “best way”, I was being nice. With the current state of Congress/Senate this is likely the only way.

By: Mr. Johnson

Mr. Johnson — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 12:39:00 +0000

There is a problem with this model. And let me say that it is great that the Navy gets lower cost electricity without any upfront costs. Its great that SunPower is creating jobs, local tax revenue and all that. And America needs to be energy independent. But what about us middle class people. How do we get ahead, how can we make money as well. Other countries give Feed in Tariffs to their citizens so they can make money like this as well. Utility scale is great, but regular people should have access to opportunities also. If other countries are doing it, why aren’t we in this country? I am referring to Germany, and now Japan. I guess this country is run by the rich and they want to keep everything that is profitable just to themselves.

By: Keith

Keith — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 12:30:00 +0000

No upfront costs, imagine if we had more venture capitalists building for our Military heros? If we had 3 or 4 more companies building for this one base they could eliminate almost 100% of the bases need for more expensive dirty energy. It would be a win win situation. Tax payers would save huge, the base would save tons of money, the SunPower would make huge profits, people would be employed installing these installations, there would be local tax revenue! Win win win!

By: Matthew

Matthew — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 12:26:00 +0000

What an awesome way for our Country to accomplish Energy Independence! No upfront costs, 13.8 Megawatts of clean energy built in under a year! That can’t be accomplished with dirty energy, it takes 6 to 8 years to build a coal or natural gas fired power plant. Furthermore, in under a year that utility scale solar power plant was built, and now it is virtually free to operate! They don’t have to buy coal to power it, or natural gas, it will just run for how long, without almost any need to put additional moneies into it, relative to what dirty energy plants need. Truly Amazing!

By: roger

roger — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 04:38:00 +0000

btw…your energy/$ savings don’t add up. fyi

unless you can show me the calculation

By: Matthew Todd Peffly

Matthew Todd Peffly — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 01:58:00 +0000

This is likely the best way for military based to get converted. NO up front and saving on the bills. Maybe the O admin can sign and 14-20MW for China lake, and 100-200MW for other western based before the year end. They have until Jan 16 win or lose. If they win the number could be a lot higher.