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Solar doesn't work as well in WA State as in other areas. For that reason, we've been using hydroelectric for decades.
by stephengillie 9y ago
Solar doesn't work as well in WA State as in other areas. For that reason, we've been using hydroelectric for decades.
- techsupporter 9y agoA common misconception. Solar does work in Washington, both halves of it, and a lot of people are installing it here. We get more sun than solar-happy Germany and it is more efficient here than in sunny-but-hot Phoenix because cooler panels work better. Hydro is cheap and plentiful and built before solar systems were even technically feasible. (FWIW, "we" is also a misnomer. PSE gets the majority of its power from coal and natural gas[3], while Seattle City Light is overwhelmingly hydro[4], as is Snohomish PUD[5].) 0 - http://www.seattle.gov/light/solarenergy/ http://www.seattle.gov/light/solarenergy/ 1 - http://www.pugetsoundsolar.com/solar-in-seattle.html http://www.pugetsoundsolar.com/solar-in-seattle.html 2 - http://www.seattlepi.com/realestate/article/Solar-power-a-harder-sell-in-Seattle-1840996.php http://www.seattlepi.com/realestate/article/Solar-power-a-ha... (Pointing out that the relative low cost of power means the payback for solar is longer, not that it is less efficient) 3 - https://www.pse.com/aboutpse/EnergySupply/Pages/Electric-Supply.aspx https://www.pse.com/aboutpse/EnergySupply/Pages/Electric-Sup... 4 - http://www.seattle.gov/light/FuelMix/ http://www.seattle.gov/light/FuelMix/ 5 - http://www.snopud.com/PowerSupply.ashx?p=1105 http://www.snopud.com/PowerSupply.ashx?p=1105