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n2doc

(47,953 posts)
Mon Dec 14, 2015, 12:32 PM Dec 2015

North Carolina town rejects solar because it'll suck up sunlight and kill the plants

A town meeting in Woodland, North Carolina heard public comments on a proposed solar farm in which citizens, including a retired science teacher called Jane Mann spoke out against the proposal.

Ms Mann opposes the solar expansion because she believes it would lower her property values. She also said that plants near solar farms do not thrive because there wasn't enough sunshine left over for them to photosynthesize. She also evinced a belief that solar panels cause cancer. Her husband added that solar panels "suck up all the energy from the sun."

The town council voted a moratorium on all future solar farms.

She is a retired Northampton science teacher and is concerned that photosynthesis, which depends upon sunlight, would not happen and would keep the plants from growing. She said she has observed areas near solar panels where the plants are brown and dead because they did not get enough sunlight.

She also questioned the high number of cancer deaths in the area, saying no one could tell her that solar panels didn’t cause cancer.

“I want to know what’s going to happen,” she said. “I want information. Enough is enough. I don’t see the profit for the town.

“People come with hidden agendas,” she said. “Until we can find if anything is going to damage this community, we shouldn’t sign any paper.”

more

http://boingboing.net/2015/12/13/north-carolina-town-rejects-so.html

49 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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North Carolina town rejects solar because it'll suck up sunlight and kill the plants (Original Post) n2doc Dec 2015 OP
based on rw 'science' spread by limbaugh and sons, and certainot Dec 2015 #1
This has to be satire. Archae Dec 2015 #2
Is it? liberal N proud Dec 2015 #6
Ye gawds... Archae Dec 2015 #9
..and little... 3catwoman3 Dec 2015 #39
not that I can tell n2doc Dec 2015 #10
That story is much different than the parts of the story other media is pushing. HuckleB Dec 2015 #34
They won't want wind either because all those fans will make it windy. liberal N proud Dec 2015 #3
Too bad stupidity isn't immediately and excruciatingly agonizing to the stupid. hobbit709 Dec 2015 #4
+infinity treestar Dec 2015 #8
Sadly, the stupid, it doesn't burn gratuitous Dec 2015 #23
Isn't anti-science great?! jeff47 Dec 2015 #5
a joke? oldandhappy Dec 2015 #7
It's true. hobbit709 Dec 2015 #11
Not a joke, just a misleading article Recursion Dec 2015 #41
Brawndo has what plants crave. Solly Mack Dec 2015 #12
There's no picture because townspeople believe that cameras will steal their soul. n/t hughee99 Dec 2015 #13
. ScreamingMeemie Dec 2015 #48
:/ Go Vols Dec 2015 #14
Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi sarisataka Dec 2015 #15
NC used to be 4th in the octoberlib Dec 2015 #16
yeah, the Kochs have a big covert anti-solar push MisterP Dec 2015 #19
Thanks for the article! octoberlib Dec 2015 #24
Science teacher?! KamaAina Dec 2015 #17
a former science teacher Sanity Claws Dec 2015 #28
These people are just hedging their bets on climate change and sea level rise liberal N proud Dec 2015 #18
Ugh. SammyWinstonJack Dec 2015 #20
retired science teacher? she should refund her whole salary, niyad Dec 2015 #21
WTF is wrong with people greiner3 Dec 2015 #22
Who needs Comedy Central? lpbk2713 Dec 2015 #25
10 bucks says they would mock the idea of an environmental review for a big construction project. arcane1 Dec 2015 #26
This level of ignorance and stupidity is frightening! n/t RKP5637 Dec 2015 #27
Damn, seriously a science teacher. . . B Calm Dec 2015 #29
You'd think this might be "The Onion," but red staters are going to put them out of business. Vinca Dec 2015 #30
I would say this teacher is a Republican and gets her news from FOX. Thinkingabout Dec 2015 #31
it has electrolytes IcyPeas Dec 2015 #32
This story is getting a lot play, but there's more to the story. HuckleB Dec 2015 #33
Thank you! wildeyed Dec 2015 #35
Indeed. Well put. -eom- HuckleB Dec 2015 #36
So, there were other dumb reasons then. Thank god you pointed this out! kcr Dec 2015 #38
If it was your home and only asset, you would probably feel differently. wildeyed Dec 2015 #45
Getting up off the floor malaise Dec 2015 #37
And rich people on Cape Cod made up crap about wind turbines killing birds, too Recursion Dec 2015 #40
These are not rich people. wildeyed Dec 2015 #43
People say colorful and unfortunate things at P&Z or permitting meetings quaker bill Dec 2015 #42
The sucking dry of solar energy comment wildeyed Dec 2015 #44
They probably do use something to control weeds quaker bill Dec 2015 #49
Are we making fun of rural people because we think they are all GOP dupes? wildeyed Dec 2015 #46
perhaps the clueless "science teacher" should watch this video: niyad Dec 2015 #47
 

certainot

(9,090 posts)
1. based on rw 'science' spread by limbaugh and sons, and
Mon Dec 14, 2015, 12:45 PM
Dec 2015

North Carolina 8, North Carolina State 3, Duke 3, East Carolina 2, endorse 16 limbaugh stations

they should go screw themselves for supporting rw radio

3catwoman3

(24,058 posts)
39. ..and little...
Tue Dec 15, 2015, 01:16 AM
Dec 2015

...fishes.

I'll see your and raise you a .

This kind of ignorance in the general populace is horrifying enough, but from a science teacher? Pitiful.

HuckleB

(35,773 posts)
34. That story is much different than the parts of the story other media is pushing.
Mon Dec 14, 2015, 06:29 PM
Dec 2015

It appears that there are a couple of woomeisters in the town, but most people's reasons regarded other issues.

hobbit709

(41,694 posts)
4. Too bad stupidity isn't immediately and excruciatingly agonizing to the stupid.
Mon Dec 14, 2015, 12:49 PM
Dec 2015

It would cut down on idiots saying crap that is insulting to the intelligence of a bucket of slime mold.

gratuitous

(82,849 posts)
23. Sadly, the stupid, it doesn't burn
Mon Dec 14, 2015, 02:34 PM
Dec 2015

The only people this weapons-grade stupid hurts are those intelligent enough to recognize how stupid it is.

Recursion

(56,582 posts)
41. Not a joke, just a misleading article
Tue Dec 15, 2015, 01:46 AM
Dec 2015

The reason the town voted against it was because they were afraid it would make house prices fall.

octoberlib

(14,971 posts)
16. NC used to be 4th in the
Mon Dec 14, 2015, 01:14 PM
Dec 2015

nation for solar until the the GOP took control. I bet this teacher is on somebody's payroll.

Sanity Claws

(21,860 posts)
28. a former science teacher
Mon Dec 14, 2015, 05:53 PM
Dec 2015

But remember, in some places, they consider creationism as science.
I wouldn't be surprised if creationism was her specialty.

liberal N proud

(60,347 posts)
18. These people are just hedging their bets on climate change and sea level rise
Mon Dec 14, 2015, 01:50 PM
Dec 2015

They are about 70 miles from the outer banks and they want to have beach front property.

 

greiner3

(5,214 posts)
22. WTF is wrong with people
Mon Dec 14, 2015, 02:25 PM
Dec 2015

Also what science did she teach. Might be she's in the early stages of altheimers. My mother had anger and loss of reality as her first signs as well

 

arcane1

(38,613 posts)
26. 10 bucks says they would mock the idea of an environmental review for a big construction project.
Mon Dec 14, 2015, 05:46 PM
Dec 2015

wildeyed

(11,243 posts)
35. Thank you!
Mon Dec 14, 2015, 07:45 PM
Dec 2015

It's a click bait mischaracterization of a boring local zoning battle. A few people said dumb things, but the real concern seems to be that the solar farms decrease property values and bring very few jobs or taxes into the community.

She said her home is surrounded by solar farms and is no longer worth its value because of those facilities.

She added that the only people profiting are the landowners who sell their land, the solar companies, and the electric companies.

kcr

(15,320 posts)
38. So, there were other dumb reasons then. Thank god you pointed this out!
Mon Dec 14, 2015, 11:15 PM
Dec 2015

And cleared their good name.

wildeyed

(11,243 posts)
45. If it was your home and only asset, you would probably feel differently.
Tue Dec 15, 2015, 09:54 AM
Dec 2015

The average income is 22k per year. They may not be up to your high, high intellectual standards, but I don't understand why that makes it ok for rich solar farm owners to rob them.

BTW, they are also Democrats. The district is toward the beach side of the state, which trends democratic, even in the rural areas. It half black and they send a dem to the state legislature.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodland,_North_Carolina#Demographics

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article49766215.html

Recursion

(56,582 posts)
40. And rich people on Cape Cod made up crap about wind turbines killing birds, too
Tue Dec 15, 2015, 01:44 AM
Dec 2015

In both cases it's about the fact that people want to keep their property values from falling, with some pablum thrown in to make it sound less mercenary.

wildeyed

(11,243 posts)
43. These are not rich people.
Tue Dec 15, 2015, 09:31 AM
Dec 2015

These are poor people, many elderly or disabled and on a fixed income. And FYI, the NC GOP legislature is having some sort of internal battle over these farms, so there is a boondoggle here somewhere. Some rich guy is jacking these people's property values and putting the extra $$$ in his pocket, I guarantee it. Because I know how the NCGA rolls these days.

The solar farm owners need to pay some local taxes or buy out the adjoining land at market value or above.

quaker bill

(8,225 posts)
42. People say colorful and unfortunate things at P&Z or permitting meetings
Tue Dec 15, 2015, 07:35 AM
Dec 2015

All the time. I have been a professional in this business for 22 years.

The interesting thing about P&Z meetings is that at some level sentiment of the neighbors, regardless of how poorly informed, can actually be considered relevant. I would place a caveat on this because there is a level at which the 4th amendment property rights of the party seeking the new zoning can be violated. In this case, I would say the decision rides that line.

The comments of the commissioners voting on it would be important. If they were bowing to public sentiment and simply deciding the proposed land use is incompatible, then the decision might be sustainable. If on the other hand their comments suggest that they were concerned about sucking the area dry of solar energy, the landowner could probably sue and get the decision reversed.

wildeyed

(11,243 posts)
44. The sucking dry of solar energy comment
Tue Dec 15, 2015, 09:35 AM
Dec 2015

was actually a poorly writing and/or express comment that the plants around existing farms were brown and dead, either from the shade of the panel or perhaps they spray Roundup (MONSANTO, y'all ).

quaker bill

(8,225 posts)
49. They probably do use something to control weeds
Tue Dec 15, 2015, 10:46 PM
Dec 2015

as allowing the weeds to shade the panels would defeat the purpose. There are other ways that do not involve Roundup. It could be poor writing, I have certainly been misquoted by the press. However I also know that people do say wacky things in the heat of the moment.

wildeyed

(11,243 posts)
46. Are we making fun of rural people because we think they are all GOP dupes?
Tue Dec 15, 2015, 10:06 AM
Dec 2015

Because these people are not. They are rural. The average income is 22k. But not GOP.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodland,_North_Carolina#Demographics

Woodland is in the first congressional district of North Carolina, and since 2004 is represented in Congress by G. K. Butterfield.[7] It is within the traditionally Democratic county of Northampton which was one of only two counties in the state won by George McGovern.[8]


They have legit concerns about their property values. Someone posted a click bait article that took a few comments out of context and now they are hit with a tsunami of internet outrage.

Solar energy is good. But in NC, hardcore GOP donors are getting into the game, as is Duke Energy. This is good insofar as solar energy is sustainable and if the big money is investing, we could be turning a corner. But these guys give not a single shit about local landowners or anything other than big profits they can ship overseas. They are just as rapacious as ever. The locals need some protection too.

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article49766215.html
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