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Solar development absorbing Calif. farmland

AP -- FRESNO, Calif. (AP) -- There's a land rush of sorts going on across the nation's most productive farming region, but these buyers don't want to grow crops. They want to plant solar farms.
With California mandating that 33 percent of electricity be generated from renewables by the end of the decade, there are 227 proposed solar projects in the pipeline statewide. Coupled with wind and other renewables they would generate enough electricity to meet 100 percent of California's power needs on an average summer day, the California Independent System Operator says.
And new applications for projects keep arriving.
Developers are flocking to flat farmland near power transmission lines, but agriculture interests, environmental groups and even the state are concerned that there is no official acc

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Submitted Feb 03, 2013 By: mastermariner

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scorpiogg Sophomore Author Modesto Posts:248 Points:160,100 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 11:09:25 PM Ignore scorpiogg Report Abuse I don't believe
ExplorerWA Champion Author Washington Posts:4,088 Points:799,100 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 10:59:55 PM Ignore ExplorerWA Report Abuse I don't believe it can meet 100 percent of their average summer day.
LetemEatCake Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:5,609 Points:1,206,580 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 10:04:33 PM Ignore LetemEatCake Report Abuse I wonder how many acres are being taken out of production by Oil/Gas production and pipelines?
goldrose1 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:10,946 Points:1,927,005 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 8:31:16 PM Ignore goldrose1 Report Abuse The sun warms the earth no matter. Human beings harness what is natural. Yes, it's hot on the reflectors. Think what that heat would do to the earth otherwise.
JamesCalvin Champion Author Lancaster Posts:3,196 Points:520,755 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 4:57:20 PM Ignore JamesCalvin Report Abuse Absorbing all that energy from the sun sounds like a contribution to global warming to me!
goldrose1 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:10,946 Points:1,927,005 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 4:33:56 PM Ignore goldrose1 Report Abuse No good rules for decision makers.
VomVom Champion Author Calgary Posts:3,857 Points:1,627,080 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 4:26:12 PM Ignore VomVom Report Abuse Everyone wants to get a piece of the solar subsidy action.
Zing20 All-Star Author Fresno Posts:700 Points:173,770 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 2:51:51 PM Ignore Zing20 Report Abuse Yes there are a few solar farms proposed for Fresno County.
el_fr Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:3,347 Points:746,650 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 2:10:02 PM Ignore el_fr Report Abuse Bad news for farms
MadFueler All-Star Author Winston-Salem Posts:933 Points:174,460 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 1:22:15 PM Ignore MadFueler Report Abuse streetcars: "All the roofs just soaking up all that solar energy and then you have to suck up electricity to cool the space below..." Agreed. There is plenty of land already being used that could be put to dual use out there. Rooftops and parking lots could be included with that, along with the land already taken up by transmission lines. In addition, the aqueducts could be covered over to reduce evaporation, and then panels placed on top of them. Highway rights-of-way come to mind, too. Lots of creative solutions like these are available besides taking up agricultural land.
eschroth442 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:1,089 Points:334,695 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 10:17:06 AM Ignore eschroth442 Report Abuse so much for the amber waves of grain, now we have the flat panels of black
Skunk63 Champion Author Phoenix Posts:2,562 Points:560,245 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 9:35:54 AM Ignore Skunk63 Report Abuse Waste of good soil.
Radar1992 Champion Author Florida Posts:1,335 Points:312,115 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 8:32:39 AM Ignore Radar1992 Report Abuse You can't eat electricity.... [Edited by: Radar1992 at 2/3/2013 9:32:49 AM EST]
bar1035 Champion Author Charlotte Posts:9,172 Points:1,300,170 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 8:23:01 AM Ignore bar1035 Report Abuse 200 prime farmland acres now in solar panels in Davidson just north of Charlotte. Solar power and no food. What a plan!
car253 Champion Author Ohio Posts:6,303 Points:1,470,570 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 8:12:12 AM Ignore car253 Report Abuse Kind of like ethanol isn't it.
batloverNM Champion Author Albuquerque Posts:3,938 Points:1,393,365 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 8:03:32 AM Ignore batloverNM Report Abuse Go with clean solar power!!! Most farmland in California is irrigated with much of that water coming from the already over allocated Colorado River.
coughlin Champion Author San Jose Posts:5,195 Points:1,119,815 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 7:57:33 AM Ignore coughlin Report Abuse The is money there.
peabeax55 All-Star Author Atlanta Posts:713 Points:185,515 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 7:53:44 AM Ignore peabeax55 Report Abuse Everyone is jumping like jackrabbits to "obey" mandates. What is the problem with sheeple. Can't anyone say NO.
oilfreak All-Star Author Houston Posts:687 Points:36,885 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 7:46:38 AM Ignore oilfreak Report Abuse More and more crappy leadership screwing up the people of California.
YaBassa Champion Author Michigan Posts:2,440 Points:519,050 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 7:45:55 AM Ignore YaBassa Report Abuse Need to build big solar farms in the desert areas
Evilmaddog Champion Author British Columbia Posts:3,332 Points:959,500 Joined:Aug 2010	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 7:14:29 AM Ignore Evilmaddog Report Abuse killing green to make green????????????
Joeski1 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:10,012 Points:1,743,785 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 7:04:06 AM Ignore Joeski1 Report Abuse Some farms make great money from cell tower site leasing too Each farmer knows the balance that is necessary to maintain the viability of their farm. Harvesting sun power can be quite lucrative right alongside of growing crops, because there's no on site pollution produced Try that with a coal, gas, nuke or oil plant
mabrams184 Champion Author Lexington Posts:2,109 Points:534,990 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 6:48:20 AM Ignore mabrams184 Report Abuse They need to look into using some of the less productive lands, even if it means building new infrastructure for transmission.
humblepie Champion Author Toledo Posts:34,295 Points:2,373,320 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 6:42:55 AM Ignore humblepie Report Abuse solar is such a waste right now [Edited by: humblepie at 2/3/2013 7:43:45 AM EST]
Yooperheart Champion Author Michigan Posts:3,430 Points:528,975 Joined:Feb 2010	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 6:40:46 AM Ignore Yooperheart Report Abuse Well that is one way to control non-green cards from farming.
must87searcher Champion Author Maryland Posts:8,990 Points:1,782,360 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 6:23:35 AM Ignore must87searcher Report Abuse It is amazing that some cannot learn and realize conditions. There is always a cost, and this one is going to be heavy.
ovillaone All-Star Author Dallas Posts:795 Points:180,380 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 6:09:48 AM Ignore ovillaone Report Abuse forgive them lord, for they don't know any better
Piper0072 All-Star Author Rochester Posts:906 Points:383,330 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 5:42:05 AM Ignore Piper0072 Report Abuse The end result - fewer farming jobs in California and higher food prices for everyone. Then we can import more lead laden food from China.
grandpadon28110 Champion Author Charlotte Posts:4,726 Points:1,144,260 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 4:57:50 AM Ignore grandpadon28110 Report Abuse Good.
Palantas All-Star Author Indianapolis Posts:803 Points:414,595 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 3:52:41 AM Ignore Palantas Report Abuse I wonder how many of these will go bankrupt and take public money with them.
mrjames1818 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:1,555 Points:2,000,045 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 1:59:45 AM Ignore mrjames1818 Report Abuse texasvet = Ditto although it is better use than shoppingmalls
DisMusBeDaPlaz Champion Author Tampa Posts:2,420 Points:569,370 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 1:53:56 AM Ignore DisMusBeDaPlaz Report Abuse The Day The Earth Stood Still, Logan's Run, Soylent Green, Mad Max all in one when you take away the production of foods, just so that you have the energy to create production.....sounds ironic!!
ajrn Champion Author Toledo Posts:14,195 Points:2,970,315 Joined:Nov 2003	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 1:39:29 AM Ignore ajrn Report Abuse ....are there not enough buildings to put these on the roofs of there?? We won't be happy until we starve ourselves, with some of the world's BEST farmland, wasted with shopping centers, suburbs, and the like.. grrrrrr
SparkieMi Champion Author Kalamazoo Posts:3,271 Points:590,335 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 1:33:30 AM Ignore SparkieMi Report Abuse Texasvet nails it down very well!!!!
madison8359 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:9,036 Points:1,595,245 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 1:31:45 AM Ignore madison8359 Report Abuse Tough choice eat or have electricity.
SnickersDog Champion Author Denver Posts:3,293 Points:682,935 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 1:31:39 AM Ignore SnickersDog Report Abuse Okay
Kaiyne Champion Author Chicago Posts:2,349 Points:474,665 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 1:30:13 AM Ignore Kaiyne Report Abuse ok.
Wizrd03 Champion Author Illinois Posts:8,162 Points:1,634,285 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 1:26:52 AM Ignore Wizrd03 Report Abuse They may have power but won't have food, what a trade off....
nurdco Champion Author Colorado Springs Posts:9,244 Points:1,696,360 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 1:22:22 AM Ignore nurdco Report Abuse Tax exempt business???
Happytalk Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:2,145 Points:579,065 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 1:22:02 AM Ignore Happytalk Report Abuse don't waste farm land
Matt G Champion Author Boston Posts:4,543 Points:2,774,990 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 1:20:00 AM Ignore Matt G Report Abuse Good more oil for us
texasvet Champion Author Texas Posts:3,839 Points:360,875 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 1:18:29 AM Ignore texasvet Report Abuse The law of unintended consequences strikes again. California is heading toward more brownouts and blackouts and they'll blame everything but themselves. Meanwhile, taking farmland out of service will increase food prices nationwide.
76chevy Champion Author Toledo Posts:3,994 Points:770,280 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 1:15:32 AM Ignore 76chevy Report Abuse This is green?
MRED3 Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:4,011 Points:931,920 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 1:14:20 AM Ignore MRED3 Report Abuse Who will grow the food for California and it will cost them.
Quick68 Champion Author Columbus Posts:8,238 Points:1,227,750 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 1:13:39 AM Ignore Quick68 Report Abuse If it's solar Obama must be in on it.
kgbellman Champion Author Ann Arbor Posts:2,723 Points:733,790 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 1:13:37 AM Ignore kgbellman Report Abuse Great plan, absolutely terrible execution. More energy from alt fuels is a great plan, but not at the expense of vital US food sources.
Topless2012 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:2,437 Points:482,040 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 1:11:52 AM Ignore Topless2012 Report Abuse we cant afford food anyway.
MarAzul Champion Author London Posts:3,786 Points:681,435 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 1:11:12 AM Ignore MarAzul Report Abuse Good;but nothing new in Canada.
olebufnav Champion Author Omaha Posts:3,989 Points:1,024,430 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 1:10:51 AM Ignore olebufnav Report Abuse How stupid
rd2000 Champion Author Florida Posts:3,581 Points:688,945 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Feb 3, 2013 1:08:23 AM Ignore rd2000 Report Abuse there must be a better way than this