Time to Think

The Sun #251

By Hank Silverberg

As I write this on a sunny Sunday morning the solar panels on the roof of my home are producing 4.93 kw of power although it goes down with some cloud cover at any time. With my computer on,my washing machine going, and various appliances like the refrigerator plugged in, I am using .61 kw. So at the moment I type this, I am sending 4.32 kw into the power grid. That's good for a chilly day in May. And it makes me think those "credits" I am earning now from my utility company, Dominion Power, for sending extra power to the grid, will really help keep the electricity bill down in July and August when the temperatures hover around 90 degrees and the air conditioning is needed to fight off Virginia's oppressive summer humidity.

(Some of the solar
panels on my roof)

Those figures bounce up and down as the day progresses and I start using more electricity. Then the sun goes down and my panels stop producing, though I noticed last night about 8pm as it was getting dark, my panels were still producing a few watts.

Solar power is getting a bad wrap in many places right now. Many people paid lots of money or took out loans to buy solar panels and are not getting their money back in savings.

I took a different track. I don't own the panels on the roof.They belong to a solar company which I an not going to name, which charges me a flat fee of $84 a month for the panels. I will owe Dominion at least $9 a month for a hook up fee meaning my monthly electricity bill will be at least $93 a month That is actually more than I payed Dominion before the panels were on line in February, but much less than the $200 a month I paid during the AC season last year. (I should note I have gas heat)

I am not sure if I am going to save any money here. But I am not strapped with a big loan like some other solar homes. This summer will tell the tale. The increased demand for electricity from the plethora of Data Centers across Virginia is crushing, and the electricity produced on my roof may help just a little bit to keep everybody's overall rate down. If enough people install panels, the utility company may not have to build another power plant. We shall see. Check back with me in August.

News You May Have Missed!

Water Fight

Oil is not the only resource that can can cause a conflict. Water is becoming a bigger issue in some areas and in the American southwest, it has produced a battle between three states over the use of the Colorado River.

Reservoirs along the river are heading down to critically low levels. Communities in California, Nevada and Arizona all use the river as a source of drinking water and irrigation for crops. According the Los Angeles Times those states have reached an agreement on how to stabilize the river's water supply at least through 2028.

Lake Mead, the country's largest reservoir near Las Vegas, is only 31% full. Lake Powell, upstream near the Arizona/Utah border is only 24% full and is so low it may soon not be able to generate hydroelectric power.

(Lake Mead, Climate Change Dispatch)

The states have identified 3.2 million acre-feet of cutbacks in water use over the next two years.

Under the plan, California will reduce water consumption by 13% over the next two years. Arizona and Nevada agreed to larger cutbacks.

The Colorado River provides water for about 35 million people and 5 million acres of farmland from the Rocky Mountains into northern Mexico.

Part of the reason for the low water levels was a much smaller snowpack in the Rockies, just 22% of the average, the lowest on record.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/general/california-arizona-and-nevada-announce-new-water-saving-plan-for-dwindling-colorado-river/ar-AA22eQP8?ocid=BingNewsBrowse

Strange New Worlds

The Artemis II astronauts had a visit to the White House this past week and a meeting with President Trump. Normally such an obligatory photo op would be no big deal for the astronauts or for the President. But Mr. Trump threw out some interesting information that has the space world and conspiracy theorists on the alert. During the event the President recalled his creation of the Space Force during is first term and then confirmed he intends to released classified documents on UFO's. He was not very specific but he has been creating interest in such files since directing federal agencies to release records related to UFO's. So far, no word from Roswell!

(What is it? DOD photo)

The President likes to reveal such classified records. He's already ordered the release of records about the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King. Trump keeps saying we shall see them very soon, but nothing has been disclosed yet.

Dumbest Quote of the Week!

US Attorney General Todd Blanche has blurted out this week's dumbest quote.

Speaking on NBC's Meet The Press he was asked by host Kristen Welker if ANYONE using the term 8647 would be prosecuted like former FBI Director James Comey who has been accused of threatening the President by posting a photo on line of seashells with that number. Blanche said :

"Of course not. That's posted constantly. That phrase is used constantly. There are constantly men and women who chose to make threatening statements against President Trump. Everyone of those statements do not result in indictments"

But he then said dozens of people have already been charged with threatening the President which was news to me and probably a lot of other people.

I would tell you what I think of this, but I don't a visit from the thought police (The proposed new name for the FBI?)

https://universemagazine.com/en/trump-promised-the-astronauts-on-the-artemis-ii-mission-to-reveal-the-whole-truth-about-ufos/

(You suggestions and comments are welcome)

My recent book "The Campaign" can be purchased at the links below. Or you can buy a copy by emailing me at: HankSilverberg@gmail.com for instructions on how to get a copy at a reduced price and with my signature)