I understand that [the East Orlando Sun] is trying to spread happy news, but I felt that I need to educate you on solar power using electric solar panels and shine the "real" light on solar.
"Accepting" solar panels is not economically justifiable or sustainable. We are paying for half of the costs for this solar project via "stimulus money". Otherwise it wouldn't be constructed. OUC is paying a premium for the electric, that's why their avoiding the actual dollar figures. Sunshine laws requires them to tell you, if you ask for it. This is strictly a public relations/political project.
Solar energy via electric panels cost five times more than a nuclear plant when you compare dollar per kilowatt.
Unless there is a battery backup, solar is not producing electric at "any given time", only when the sun is out. Solar electric is only available on average 20 percent in a day in Central Florida, ask (Bob) Reedy (Florida Solar Energy Center’s solar division director). The solar plant does not have battery backup, if it did it would cost 10 times more than a conventional nuclear plant. A typical coal/gas/nuclear plant is available approximately 95 percent of the time. Think of that when you turn your lights on at night.
The 6 megawatts of power that this plant will produce is actually DC power, once they convert it to AC and send it down power lines it will lose 15-18 percent of its efficiency. Electric solar panels lose 2 percent a year in their efficiency. After 20 years, this would mean they are losing 40 percent of the rated 6 megawatts. I don't think you will find a 20 year old solar project that is still running.
The only permanent jobs are for minimum wage landscapers to kill the grass that will be growing around all the gravel and cleaning the pollen off of the panels. Most panels are made outside of this country. Lightning strikes have been an issue with a smaller solar project on the corner of University Boulevard and Econlochatchee Trail at a substation by Progress Energy, which was abandoned years ago.
If the news media will do their homework, maybe 80 percent of the public can be more informed. I am a registered professional engineer and I hope [the Sun] investigates what I just commented on. If you specifically ask the right questions, the Solar Energy Center would give you the same answers. I think solar has its place in remote areas of the world and in applications that keep batteries trickled charged, but I think there is a misconception in the general public that will hurt our country's economy.
-Jim Czarniecki
East Orlando resident