LETTERS: Renewable energy lacks capacity to meet demand

The controversy about rooftop solar power generation and the prices paid for excess generation versus power drawn from the grid is just a microcosm of what will happen nationwide as politicians mandate ever higher requirements for electric companies to generate more power from renewable sources (solar and wind). These sources of electricity are inherently intermittent and unreliable.

For example, the capacity factor for a solar photovoltaic plant is at best 20 percent, which means that if the nameplate output is rated at 100 megawatts, the actual output averaged over a year would be 20 megawatts. An electric utility cannot rely on such intermittent power sources to support the grid, which must supply power whenever it is demanded. Therefore, the power companies must maintain oil, gas, coal or nuclear plants in operational standby condition in order to meet the demand for power when the renewable sources are off-line.

It costs money to maintain these necessary standby facilities, and someone must pay for them. They must be capable of supplying the maximum demand placed on the grid, no matter how many renewable plants are built. Hence, the cost for electricity must inevitably rise as more renewable plants are built and as other power sources must be maintained.

Rooftop solar users lower their power bill by generating their own power during the day — if the sun is shining. They should not be rewarded with low rates for their power needs when the sun is not shining. All users connected to the grid must pay their share of the cost to maintain standby facilities that power companies cannot take off line.

Regardless of the actual cost of solar panels for a rooftop installation, solar power is not competitive with conventional power plants without the large government subsidies put in place to induce people to use renewable power sources.

Walter F. Wegst

Las Vegas

Beware of Buffett

So many people are upset or worried because Sheldon Adelson bought the Review-Journal. It’s a newspaper, people. If you don’t like it, don’t buy it

What should scare you is NV Energy, which is owned by Warren Buffett. He’s already penalizing the people who went to the expense of installing solar panels. Who’s next?

Barbara Deldin

Las Vegas

Affordable Care Act

Of course, the Review-Journal editorial page would have a view that the Affordable Care Act needs to be repealed (“Blown coverage,” Jan. 4). As part of the middle class all our lives, my wife and I have paid very high deductibles and high premiums on health insurance, because we are owners of our own company. Yes, it’s been a struggle, and it could be more of a struggle as we go through the upgrading of health care in America following the Affordable Care Act.

However, if you read your own paper, you would have seen the Jan. 6 article reporting how Obamacare is helping the disadvantaged and the hospitals required to help them (“Obamacare helping the poor get access to care, studies show”).

We have to get this straight: All Americans must have health care. Most Republicans don’t care about the disadvantaged, but the rest of us would like to see a better life for all of us, not just the few of you. Have you visited any of the shelters, food banks or people living in cardboard boxes? Where is your plan?

I haven’t heard anything out of the Review-Journal except negativity, just as we hear from Washington, D.C. We’re fed up. That is why Donald Trump and Sen. Bernie Sanders are getting so much attention. We need results, not lies, politics and promises. God bless President Barack Obama. He might not be perfect, but his head and his heart are in the right place.

Brian L. Knaff

Las Vegas

Teachers contract

I am thrilled teachers have finally received a decent contract (“Clark County teachers union members ratify proposed 2-year contract,” Dec. 20 Review-Journal). They deserve it. However, there is one glaring red flag.

As a retired Clark County School District educator, I have had some outstanding administrators, but sadly, I’ve had many more that proved the Peter principle applies to educators, as well. The fact that a teacher’s supervisor has to approve the required professional growth plan tied to salary increases is a disaster waiting to happen. It’s a perfect tool for many inept and vindictive administrators to stymie a teacher’s progress and force that teacher to change schools.

Robert Bencivenga

Henderson