Solar Plant Sets Birds On Fire As They Fly Overhead 521
Elledan writes: Federal investigators in California have requested that BrightSource — owner of thermal solar plants — halt the construction of more (and bigger) plants until their impact on wildlife has been further investigated. "Unlike many other solar plants, the Ivanpah plant does not generate energy using photovoltaic solar panels. Instead, it has more than 300,000 mirrors, each the size of a garage door. Together, they cover 1,416 hectares. Each mirror collects and reflects solar rays, focusing and concentrating solar energy from their entire surfaces upward onto three boiler towers, each looming up to 40 stories high. The solar energy heats the water inside the towers to produce steam, which turns turbines that generate enough electricity for 140,000 homes." The concentrated solar energy chars and incinerates the feathers of passing birds. BrightSource estimates about a thousand bird die this way every year, but an environmental group claims the real number is much higher.
Slaver sunflowers (Score:1, Funny)
I was excited for a moment. I thought someone had made slaver sunflowers :). http://larryniven.wikia.com/wiki/Slaver_Sunflower
Cut out the middle man! (Score:5, Funny)
Why not skip all the expensive equipment and just use birds for fuel?
Re:Hydroelectric Dams (Score:5, Funny)
Three humans die each day due to obesity-related health reasons within 3500 of the McDonalds by my house. They say humans are attracted to the site by the brightly-lit golden arches which some say is a food source for the species.
Re:god dammit. (Score:3, Funny)
Add KFC next to solar powerplant... problem fixed!
Re:god dammit. (Score:5, Funny)
That's what the catapults are for.
Re:god dammit. (Score:4, Funny)
Re:god dammit. (Score:5, Funny)
I find that hard to believe - very few automobiles get killed by skyscrapers in my experience.
Re:god dammit. (Score:5, Funny)
chickens can't fly that high
What do chickens have to do with KFC?
Re:Insignificant...unless you're the bird (Score:5, Funny)
Actually no, Society is not OK with that. Only the most horrible pet owners let their cats out like that. It's the scumbag fringe of society that is OK with it.
Many cities are trying hard to fight the scourge of bad pet owners letting their cats out.
Re:god dammit. (Score:4, Funny)
Re:god dammit. (Score:5, Funny)
Sorry to be completely off-topic, but The Nuclear Shill sounds like the name of a really bad comic book villain.
Re:god dammit. (Score:4, Funny)
Household cats and their escaped feral counterparts kill like a 1 billion birds and small animals in the US every year...
"Fuck them." -- my cat