> From: Michael Foster > Speaking of solar towers, does anyone know why Solar One, > which became Solar Two, was decommissioned? It was in Daggett, > CA, and was visible from I-15 on your way from Los Angeles to > Las Vegas. Steam-on-a-stick, as it was called, seemed to be > producing plenty of electricity, so why was it shut down? > Political? Economic? What?
I wonder too. > I used to marvel at the fact that the top of the tower, which > was dead black, looked bright white from being at the focal > point of all those mirrors. > > BTW, Jed, I recall reading some years ago about how many > plants and animals were thriving under the mirror array > on account of the previously unavailable shade. No doubt > this would have resulted in a different local ecosystem, > but an ecosystem nontheless. > > M. You bring up an interesting point. Decommissioned ships have been deliberately sunk in order to increase favorable habitat for aquatic forms - places for the little fishies to hide in to get away from the bigger fishies. Never the less, little fishies attract bigger fishies and before you know it, you've got a thriving eco system that didn't exist before. Sometimes, sinking a ship turns out to be in everyone's best interest. Perhaps strategically placed solar towers might might create similar valuable eco systems as well. Regards, Steven Vincent Johnson www.OrionWorks.com
