Comments on: First Solar Buys Ausra Solar Project; PG&E Power Purchase Deal Is Off

By: Josh Stern

Josh Stern — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 17:50:42 +0000

Anco has a great point. Solar PV should be environmentally friendly, and there are plenty of other technologies out there that do not contain hazardous materials (e.g. regular silicon-based PV). I have serious concerns about the levels of toxic materials being thrown into the environment by First Solar. I have read their “plans,” and they state that they have a recycling program but no details are given. Furthermore, it doesn’t address what happens if there’s a fire or other disaster. This is inadequate, and the CEC should not approve the permit for any CdTe technology without very careful review of how to clean up the site later.

By: First Solar Signs on PG&E for 300MW of Desert Sunlight Project

First Solar Signs on PG&E for 300MW of Desert Sunlight Project — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:51:31 +0000

[...] focus to different markets. Last year, two startups that had deals with PG&E (Optisolar and Ausra) ended up selling off planned projects to First Solar. Ausra was sold to French nuclear giant [...]

By: Areva to Buy Solar Thermal Startup Ausra

Areva to Buy Solar Thermal Startup Ausra — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:15:19 +0000

[...] have taken a ton of financing, which, in a hard economy, would have proven to be a difficult route. Proof of that came at the end of last year when Ausra announced that it will sell its Carrizo Energy Solar Farm project, a proposed 177MW [...]

By: Anco Blazev

Anco Blazev — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:59:32 +0000

Soon San Luis Obispo County residents will have 727 MW CdTe solar panels installed on their own Carrizo plains. This is 11.2 million panels, containing approx. 155,000 lbs. toxic, carcinogenic heavy metal Cadmium, evenly spread over 7,000 acres on top of San Andreas fault line, awaiting a major natural disaster to convert the area into the largest toxic dump in US history.

San Luis Obispo county official have the obligation to take a close--very close--look at this "green" technology, loaded with deadly Cadmium chemicals, in order to prevent a major disaster from happening.

Please look at the flimsy, frame-less panel design. Talk to thin film specialists about the mechanical degradation and serious chemical decomposition the Cadmium thin films will undergo during their 25-30 year exposure to the elements. Ask them to estimate the potentially deadly outgassing levels in and around these mega-fields with time.

Ask independent specialists (not the self-proclaimed ones, defending Big Business interests) to estimate the potential damage during and after a major earthquake, flood or fire, with the panels shattering and contaminating air, soil and water.

Please act now. It is the responsible thing to do! Rushing into it might bring another Asbestos-like disaster to the unsuspecting San Luis Obispo county residents.

By: First Solar Buys Ausra Solar Project; PG&E Power Purchase Deal Is Off « NeXtUp Innovation

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:45:52 +0000

[...] Solar Buys Ausra Solar Project; PG&E Power Purchase Deal Is Off By nextupinnovation Ausra said it is selling its Carrizo Energy Solar Farm project, a proposed 177MW project still under.... Sale of the project, which is in San Luis Obispo, Calif., represents part of a major strategy [...]

By: Proper Installation of Wind Turbines is Very Important – Always Rely on Professionals | Iowa Solar Installation

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:38:42 +0000