A wonderful example of propaganda. “Those Americans” “those small town people” “Those people who are against solar” “Look how dumb and silly they are!”
Well- truth isn’t as funny I’m afraid. A small American Town DID vote against solar panels. Not because the residents were afraid the sun might run out. Many made cases and quoted studies showing how the proposed installation would negatively effect the local economy and property values. Others looked at the economics of who benefited from the panels and determined that it was mostly the power company and certain other wealthy individuals who would see the main benefits while others would see large draw backs.
Some people pointed out that the solar farm would require many residential and business property owners to sell their land or give it up to public domain and how those people and businesses leaving would effect the well being of the town. Many relevant points were brought up, on analysis one might agree or disagree, or say the loss of some small town for a solar power farm is “worth the trade.” But it was hardly a bunch of yokels terrified that them there magic mirrors would steal all the sunshine.
It was a debate of economic interests between townsfolk who wanted to sell or would make money from the panels, an administration that would benefit from the panels, companies which would benefit from the panels, and people who saw they would be effected by the panels or were afraid of the effects of the solar panels on the local wildlife and environment.
Companies don’t make “green” technology to save the planet and neither do governments. It may be a nice effect. They do it for money, they do it to gain control early to be a titan of the future the way early automakers or petroleum companies or electric companies were able to topple the entrenched masters of industry of the last age not by trying to compete on the same field but by creating a monolithic presence in an emerging field where competition and regulation weren’t as stiff.
Do you think Toyota gives 2 shits about earth with all its “green hybrids”? It’s money dummy. Everyone cares about petroleum and carbon footprint. So they lower that and make money, make happy people who support them. Because the heavy metals and toxic wastes and battery mined that look like barren alien worlds for miles around- those aren’t a major public disaster yet. You’re looking over here- they just move the dirt over there where you don’t care to look because no one told you to yet. The cycle continues. Don’t assume that anyone who doesn’t jump right on board with a feel good idea is an idiot or hates the environment.
An idiot leaps ahead with good intentions without thinking about the actual consequences of what they are doing. When you put up a solar farm and cause the endangerment or extinction of a species of migratory birds because of the glare or heat, or from them thinking the panels are water and trying to dive fish in them and slamming glass at 70mph. When you destroy the insect population and alter an ecosystem by choking the food chain, etc. etc. solar- wind farms- wave farms- all can work and not do more harm than good. But not every single proposal to use “green” technology is smart or even actually “green.” Think.
guest_ Word Count: 572
TLDR: People rejected the solar farm because of the harmful environmental and social effects it would have, not because technology is scary.
I know about this story and they were actually worried it was going to mess up photosynthesis of nearby plants. This is in a small town in NC that has lots of farm land.
Well- truth isn’t as funny I’m afraid. A small American Town DID vote against solar panels. Not because the residents were afraid the sun might run out. Many made cases and quoted studies showing how the proposed installation would negatively effect the local economy and property values. Others looked at the economics of who benefited from the panels and determined that it was mostly the power company and certain other wealthy individuals who would see the main benefits while others would see large draw backs.
TLDR: People rejected the solar farm because of the harmful environmental and social effects it would have, not because technology is scary.