> -----Original Message-----
> From: piclist-bounces@mit.edu On Behalf Of Bob Axtell
> Sent: Monday, March 17, 2008 1:03 PM
>
> Nevada has less sunlight than So Arizona. But this size is huge,

Reference please.

A reference I found, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), does not
appear to support that statement. It looks to me like southern Nevada has
more potential solar energy than any other area of the USA. This makes sense
for why the pro-solar organization would choose Nevada for its statement
over Arizona.
Direct Normal Solar Radiation (Two-Axis Tracking Concentrator) annual:
http://www.nrel.gov/gis/images/us_csp_annual_may2004.jpg
Main page
http://www.nrel.gov/gis/solar.html

Frankly since you have provided no references for either of your assertions
it seems you are just making this stuff up out of thin air. Perhaps the
book(s) you saw the information in were just totally wrong. 10,000 sq. mi.
vs. 100 sq. mi. is an extremely significant discrepancy. With no references
to the 100 sq. mi. version I can't consider it even remotely matching
reality. Hand waving away referenced statements and changing the subject
doesn't count when trying to determine the reality of a situation.

Paul Hutch

> compared to what it really takes to do this.
> I think this is dramatically incorrect. But the verbiage is otherwise
> correct; the parabolic trough systems can
> concentrate the sunlight to the working medium almost ideally.
>
> Nevertheless, the problem isn't generating the energy...that's a piece
> of cake, really...the problem is moving the
> electricity to where it is needed, which cannot be done with the grid
> system we have now...and  this fiscal crisis
> will take at least a decade to wash out, so I can't see anything
> happening to fix it in my lifetime...
>
> The advantage of Arizona is that the state is mostly Indian
> reservations, who would appreciate getting the chance
> to lease some of their useless land. Also, the Indian populations are
> all incredibly low- almost nobody lives there-
> even the tree huggers would have a tough time getting wound up over the
> idea, so it would bring welcome jobs...
>
> --Bob Axtell

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