Larry Dighera wrote:
On Mon, 02 Jun 2008 23:25:03 GMT, wrote in
:


To the extent solar energy is used to power automobiles, I would
expect it to displace gasoline.

You can expect it all you want, but since there is no generally
available such thing in the real world right now, spinning electric
meters backwards won't reduce oil consumption.


I see no reason for idle solar generating facilities located in the
Mojave Desert during any part of the year. However, it appears that
SoCal Edison prefers solar generation occur a little closer to where
its needed:

If you build more capacity than the annual daily average, the facility
will be idle.

What do you do with electricity for which there is no demand?

Electricity in large amounts doesn't store that well. The only thing
that works is to pump water uphill when you have an excess and run
it back downhill through turbines later.

That takes lots of land that is significantly uphill to pull off.

And of course Edison is going to avoid the enourmous expense of
installing and maintaining transmission lines while they suck the
well of subsidies dry if they can.

Wind, geothermal, hydro, and all the conventional sources, I suppose.

The conventional sources are hydro, coal, nuclear, and natural gas
in no particular order.

And once again, electricity has little to nothing to do with oil.

To the extent it can be made to replace petroleum products, I believe
it does.

That extent in today's real world is basically zero.

Wish all you want.


--
Jim Pennino

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