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I heard today that covering 3% of Arizona's desert with solar panels (and upgrading the grid architecture for distribution) would cover our needs. Not sure how accurate that is but it's food for thought.



Back in the mid-90's I visited a solar power plant (ie mirrors) in the high desert of CA, over by Edwards AFB. I think the solar collectors took up about 60 acres and produced a "whopping" 30 MW, if there were no clouds. The solution used to absorb the heat was a toxic goo. Biggest problem they used to have however, was the damn jackrabbits. They would try to drink the water in the cooling tower basin, fall in and drown. Maintenance guys would have to regularly clean out rabbit bones from the cooling water side of the steam turbine condensers.

They could also tell when a cloud was in the area just by the drop in output.

I seriously doubt 3% of the AZ desert would support the electrical needs of the entire US. Plus, what would heppen to the local ecology if all that radiant heat is absorbed by solar collectors? The environmentalists will have a fit.

Nuclear is part of the solution. Yes, they are expensive upfront, but can operate safely for a long time. Don't take what's going on in Japan as proof that nuclear power is inherently unsafe.

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