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77 Comments
- AFelsinger, on 04/09/2009, -0/+27It's great that they're solar instead of just plugging into the coal-based grid.
- tiresias2, on 04/09/2009, -0/+21About time Chicago... goes to show it doesn't all have to happen on the West Coast!
- marklad2020, on 04/09/2009, -0/+20Genuine forward thinking for a change. great!
- zacharytelschow, on 04/09/2009, -3/+14As always with "green" energy stories, no mention of one very important thing: $$$$$$$$$
- novenator, on 04/09/2009, -2/+12Let this be the spark that lights the fire for things like this across the nation
- geekwithsoul, on 04/09/2009, -0/+8Iowa with gay marriage, Illinois with solar plug-in stations -- what's next, surfing in Indiana?
- johnwiz, on 04/09/2009, -0/+7They should spread these all over the city and change all the taxis to electric cars. Clean air, happy customers, lower cab fares.
- Hetman, on 04/09/2009, -1/+8The windy city is called the windy city because there politicians are full of hot air. Some New York Time Journalist coined the phrase a long time ago. But it does happen to be kind of windy here also.
- AmaDaden, on 04/09/2009, -2/+8FTA: "The Solar Plug-In Stations will be used daily by the City of Chicago Department of Fleet Management to power the city’s electric cars."
Sounds like the city is saving it self $$$$$$$$$ in the long run by charging it's own cars with solar power. - DankBuddz, on 04/09/2009, -0/+6Gee, I don't know, maybe because using a wind turbine in the middle of a congested ***** intersection would be a dumb idea?
- EVFuture, on 04/09/2009, -0/+510% is better than none. It's more of a paradigm shift that's needed. It's going to be a multi-trillion dollar investment to get the infrastructure for clean energy in place. This is a beginning. Gotta start somewhere.
- Hetman, on 04/09/2009, -0/+5Yea the city is. I am pretty sure it is a well known fact. The only roads they are fixing pot holes in and making look nice are on the IOC tour. But to be fair every city does it that wants to be part of the olympics. Do you really think the IOC saw every part of Beijing?
- athinnes, on 10/01/2009, -0/+4It's all about getting the Olympics.
- DankBuddz, on 04/09/2009, -0/+4Dear Zach,
I spent 5 years studying environmental issues and ecological economics at more than one school. Nothing you say to me will come anywhere close to making any sense at all. Come back and talk to me after you get a full analysis of budget and cost from the developer.
"If you honestly think this will save money you are an utter fool. If "green" energy technologies were cheaper than their fossil fuel equivalents, everyone (and I mean everyone) would use the green option instead"
If you could even begin to understand the historical battle between green energy and oil/coal giants, you wouldn't have posted this comment. Really, you don't become educated from reading online news stories and making baseless, uneducated, unaware claims. - cplusplus, on 04/09/2009, -1/+4The article mentions these popped up on an IOC tour. Is that the International Olympic Committee?
Perhaps Chitown is greenwashing. - xamox, on 04/09/2009, -2/+5Go! Go! Power Rangers! You mighty morphing power rangers.
- yerdaddy, on 04/09/2009, -0/+3I don't think Chicago's elecric fleet plugin station has a hell of a lot to do with corrupt politics, but on the other hand, it would be a little bit cool if it was so viable that the crooks start doing it before the energy establishment allows the "straight" organizations to move forward.
- ltworek, on 04/09/2009, -0/+3That kinda funny because northwest Indiana is one of the best places to surf Lake Michigan.
- jerryjamesstone, on 04/09/2009, -0/+3Um, it has one photo and it's of the same thing - different angle.
- Hetman, on 04/09/2009, -0/+3To be fair Daley does get some things done. But yea they could fix the city streets, and the CTA could also use an over haul. Those are both going to take 100s of millions of dollars to fix though.
- flammablewater, on 04/09/2009, -0/+3Thanks Hannity
- DankBuddz, on 04/09/2009, -0/+3Oh my god, think of the children.
- mrvalue, on 04/09/2009, -0/+3You don't seem to understand how progress and innovation work. Don't you think that if we could produce the highly cost efficient, beneficial systems that are theorized about, that we would? Unfortunately we can't get to those systems without first developing these. This is a good start, and yes, it is progress.
- DankBuddz, on 04/09/2009, -0/+3@FelixDryLock
"The assumption that costs will be made up in energy saved makes many assumptions about the technology they are using, and implementation thereof. What is the cost to maintain the system? How long do the batteries last before replacement? How long will the solar panels last? These and many other questions make the money issue anything but black and white."
All of these issues are all worked out before development even begins, just like most other projects. Just because its "green" doesn't make it a mysterious project where nobody knows the hidden costs "Oh, my!".
@zacharytelschow
"Similarly: Imagine you could buy a car that got 200 miles per gallon but the car would cost you $1 million. You'd never recoup the money of your initial investment. Same thing applies here."
No, it doesn't "apply there". you're a kid in your in front of a computer thinking he knows more about the implementation of these kinds of projects than the people who actually work within the actual development of these projects. Nothing like this would ever even go out to bid without a study to see how much money would be saved when implementing a project like this.
If you want detailed analysis, call the developers, don't go off of a journalist who can hardly spell anyone's name right in the first place. - flammablewater, on 04/09/2009, -1/+4more like *****
- zacharytelschow, on 04/09/2009, -0/+2"This will save money!"
"How much?"
[crickets]
And yes, a rough abstract of project costs and benefits would be included in any reasonably decent article about any project. - EVFuture, on 04/09/2009, -0/+2Why not go to Carbon Day's website or Coulomb Technologies' or call them and find out for yourself? It's not the reporters' responsibility to give you a detailed business plan!
- zacharytelschow, on 04/09/2009, -0/+2How is assuming a more expensive technology is more expensive an "irrational assumption?"
"I want a Porsche, not a Ford."
"That'll be more expensive."
"That's a rash and irrational assumption." - AmaDaden, on 04/09/2009, -0/+2"If "green" energy technologies were cheaper than their fossil fuel equivalents, everyone (and I mean everyone) would use the green option instead."
You would be surprised. The big starting cost is difficult to get past because they need to lay out all or most of it the same year the green work would be done. On the other hand if they don't make the change right now they can spend that money on other things that will have effects that will be seen instantly. It's an issue of limited resources for most people not lack of effect.
Having said that I think that zacharytelschow brings up a good point. Currently pulling power off the grid in the middle of a city is cheaper then using solar panels. This is due to how cheap grid power is and how expensive solar panels are. They would be better off just having a normal outlet there. Now having said THAT, I don't think that will be the case for ever. Solar panels are getting cheaper and more effective every year. I think that in time ports like this will be in such high demand that cities that don't start installing them now might have trouble catching up in a few years. And cities that install them with out solar panels to begin with will find them self with a huge power bill once these become heavily used. - athinnes, on 10/01/2009, -2/+4Please provide a source on how this solar energy production is more expensive than the city charging the vehicles by traditional power hookups. Provide a source or shut the ***** up. The fact is, you do not know how much these stations cost or how much it will save the city in the long run.
Your delusional beliefs do not classify as a source. - york2600, on 04/09/2009, -0/+2What article ever comes with a budget analysis. Articles about the US budget don't come with a budget analysis
- DankBuddz, on 04/09/2009, -1/+3No, its a war on a school of science that has been around for 60 years you bigoted self righteous dumbass.
Try learning something sometime, its awesome.
SIENSE ROOOLZZ!!!!
YEHAWW - DankBuddz, on 04/09/2009, -0/+2Sorry, but there is absolutely no logic in Zach's argument.
There is a plethora of variables he's leaving out. Like typical douchebag conservative thinking, he posts a link and that's his argument. ***** pathetic.
Zach man, you should have been around during development, you could have told them it would have been a big waste of money, maybe hey would have listened to you. Its obvious your research on budgeting and the costs of solar power are absolutely sound!
LOL!
A Fox News watching douchebag questioning logic? That's ***** hilarious. - flammablewater, on 04/09/2009, -0/+2Multi-race proms in Mississippi. http://festival.sundance.org/2009/film_events/film ...
- yerdaddy, on 04/09/2009, -0/+2It will be greenwashing all the way up until the point where the equipment is paid off and it keeps charging the fleet.
- zacharytelschow, on 04/09/2009, -2/+3Average US electricity cost: 8.1 cents per kw hour
Range of typical solar electricity generation cost: 20-30 cents per hw hour.
http://www.solarbuzz.com/statsCosts.htm
I don't need to know how much the stations cost to know that taxpayers can't afford this bullsh*t just like I don't need to know the exact cost of a new Porsche to know I can't afford one. How much is solar power right now? Too much.
I've provided a source. Now you shut the f*ck up. - pinchduck, on 04/10/2009, -0/+1That depends. Will the politicians say "We're at 10%, and hope to be at 20% by next year, it will take more R&D and investment" or will they say "Look! Solar! Vote for Me!". This is Chicago we're talking about, EV. They don't have the best interests of their constituents at heart at all. They serve the machine and stay elected. The little solar gas pump will be window dressing and nothing more. To that end, enemies of Solar could very well point at it and say "What a boondoggle", and be correct. In other words, it may forestall your electric vehicle future instead of encouraging it. Politics has a funny way of screwing up everything it touches.
- Shwaavay, on 04/09/2009, -2/+3There's no source in the article either... so you are both arguing without any facts.
- FelixDrylock, on 04/09/2009, -1/+2@mishabear
Everyone keeps saying "high starting costs, but money saved in the long run." However, the fact remains, that has yet to be seen. Zach's point was that without an actual detailed analysis of costs, we can't know that for sure. The assumption that costs will be made up in energy saved makes many assumptions about the technology they are using, and implementation thereof. What is the cost to maintain the system? How long do the batteries last before replacement? How long will the solar panels last? These and many other questions make the money issue anything but black and white. - gehlm, on 04/09/2009, -0/+1"Dumb Looks Still Free"
Amount of solar cell space you need for your car - 167 sq.m.
Space needed for your home and car, on average - 216 sq. m. on average.
http://ajacksonian.blogspot.com/2008/08/solar-ener ... - flammablewater, on 04/09/2009, -0/+1I laughed at this and I have no idea why. Time to go watch that fantastic movie.
- xamox, on 04/09/2009, -4/+5*sarcasm*
Shut up, this is obama's war on climate change and you'll drink the koolaid if you like it or not. - PutSCIENCEfirst, on 04/10/2009, -0/+1What the hell are you talking about!
For the record people, (not that the rest of you need to hear this) solar power does come from the sky. - EVFuture, on 04/09/2009, -0/+1Bingo. Once we get the olympics, we'll get the billions of $ necessary to build a really effective renewable energy infrastructure and Electric Vehicle charging infrastructure.
This is all about PR and starting to get people thinking about building infrastructure. - PutSCIENCEfirst, on 04/10/2009, -1/+2@Flux & gehlm
Educate yourself with Germany and its success with solar.
People always say we could never get 2% or 5% or 10% renewables. They've been saying it for decades.
Germany (a cloudy country) has set a goal of 20% in 15 years and they've already surpassed it in less than 10 years. IT WORKS!
There's all kinds of naysayers but they're all bought and paid for.
It of course should be in part the environment we are looking out for but that is just a part of the problem:
-oil supplies are NOT in the USA's favor
-peak oil (world wide) is a real dilemma
-the countries that do control the oil (mid east) can strong arm our Gov. because of our dependence on oil
We need change in the right direction:
-EVERY roof should have solar panels on them
-roads and parking lots need to be looked more closely at using them for solar also
-deserts, and mountains are great spots, after they are full lets cover the moon and reflect it back
We maintain oil usage- we're done for in 25-50 yrs.
We use just one ten thousandth (all the world needs) of the sunlight that hits the earth and we can continue to progress towards a brighter future (pun intended). - athinnes, on 10/01/2009, -0/+1Are you a ***** retard? You proved nothing!
"This precise calculation will depend on the location of the solar installation and the local electricity tariff rates (see section below regarding the latter).Then in order to determine what proportion of total energy solar will provide, one has to take in to account the size of the solar energy system and the energy demand of the customer. "
Nice try, but you still have proved nothing. And I find it so funny you censor *****. You spit so much *****, but you have to censor *****. Get your priorities straight *****.
And Sbwaavy, I am not making claims. What have I said that needs to be cited? I am calling out zach on his claims. Do you want me to cite my source where it says people need to provide sources for their claims????
Felix, try reading Zach's "logic" before you talk. You might learn something. And if you really felt this way, why would you stay on Digg? Do you like this treatment? Get a life. - inactive, on 04/10/2009, -0/+1IMHO: The next "Killer App" will be some form of energy storage device like a super-capacitor or super-battery.
We need to be able to store and retrieve an order of magnitude more charge in less physical volume than we can now. - athinnes, on 10/01/2009, -0/+1Well you constantly babble without articulation or reason, so I think it is fair.
- lolmax, on 04/09/2009, -0/+1there is already surfing here in Sheboygan, Wisconsin..
- EVFuture, on 04/09/2009, -0/+1Where do you get the $100,00 from? It was more likely only $20,000. Don't forget there's a 50% tax credit for solar powered projects. There's a TON of tax credits for all things renewable energy. Electric Vehicles have up to a $7500 tax credit.
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