US town rejects solar panels amid fears they 'suck up all the energy from the sun'

[Chittychangchang]

A US town has rejected a proposal for a solar farm following public concerns.

Members of the public in Woodland, North Carolina, expressed their fear and mistrust at the proposal to allow Strata Solar Company to build a solar farm off Highway 258.



During the Woodland Town Council meeting, one local man, Bobby Mann, said solar farms would suck up all the energy from the sun and businesses would not go to Woodland, the Roanoke-Chowan News Herald reported.

Jane Mann, a retired science teacher, said she was concerned the panels would prevent plants in the area from photosynthesizing, stopping them from growing.

Ms Mann said she had seen areas near solar panels where 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 solar panels didn't cause cancer.

The area around Woodland is a popular choice because it has an electrical substation allowing the panels to be hooked up to the national grid.

A spokesperson for Strata told the meeting: "There are no negative impacts. A solar farm is a wonderful use for a property like this."

They added: "The panels don't draw additional sunlight."

The council voted three to one against rezoning the land and later voted for a moratorium on future solar farms.

Speaking after the COP-21 summit on climate change in Paris pledged to limit global warming below the threshold of 2°c, Pope Francis said the plan will require "a concerted and generous commitment" from everyone.

Experts said a move towards renewable power, with investment in wind and solar energy, will be required to cut down on emissions.

US town rejects solar panels amid fears they 'suck up all the energy from the sun' | Americas | News | The Independent

[kingwilly]

The Onion? Satire, surely?

[david44]

Neverna a sucker an even break

[pickel]

The Onion? Satire, surely?

It's true, and with the political climate the way it has been in the US lately, it doesn't surprise me.

[Dapper]

The Onion? Satire, surely?

It's true, and with the political climate the way it has been in the US lately, it doesn't surprise me.

Sadly, me neither

[baldrick]

Did our board member hans know he had cousins in North carolina?

[BobR]

The Independent isn't exactly responsible Pulitzer winning journalism. Yes, some idiot likely made the stupid statement about sucking up the suns energy, but there is no indication that was a factor behind the city council's rejection.

People say stupid things at local city council meetings all the time.

Garbage journalism at its worst. Maybe a poll on how stupid British serfs are for reading and believing nonsense like this should be done in place of the above video.

[AntRobertson]

Jane Mann, a retired science teacher, said she was concerned the panels would prevent plants in the area from photosynthesizing, stopping them from growing.

Just hazarding a wild guess here, but what are the odds that our Ms. Mann here is a proponent of the Intelligent Design school of 'scientific' thought.

[kingwilly]

Just hazarding a wild guess here, but what are the odds that our Ms. Mann here is a proponent of the Intelligent Design school of 'scientific' thought.

I'd be guessing fairly high.

[Bettyboo]

Jane Mann, a retired science teacher, said she was concerned the panels would prevent plants in the area from photosynthesizing, stopping them from growing.

Ms Mann said she had seen areas near solar panels where 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 solar panels didn't cause cancer.

Here in Korea there are many many American teachers, and the majority are really fuking stupid, almost all are devout christians. Just sayin...

[roger77]

100 years ago, when I was still an apprentice, there were still people who
believed that electricity would run out because there were only so many electrons
in the world.

[sabang]

The Independent isn't exactly responsible Pulitzer winning journalism.

Can you name a better newspaper in the UK today? (besides the Mail).

[Lantern]

Are they really that stupid in Woodland, North Carolina.

Tell me it ain't so.

[wasabi]

It's interesting that grass and plants turn brown around solar panels, great observation there , a scientific study should be undertaken to establish the cause, and blow Me away shaded areas anywhere do tend to make plant life go brown.

[Seekingasylum]

The Onion? Satire, surely?

It's true, and with the political climate the way it has been in the US lately, it doesn't surprise me.

Sadly, me neither

It really is quite extraordinary just how dumb they are. Too dumb to even know how dumb they are.

It really does provide an insight into why Donald Trump is a contender for the presidency.

Truly frightening.

[taxexile]

[Bobcock]

Here in Korea there are many many American teachers, and the majority are really fuking stupid, almost all are devout christians. Just sayin...

To me belief in religion and stupidity go hand in hand to be honest.

And it pains me to say it....

[Seekingasylum]

Scarcely comparable at all, Tax. Most seemed to be Scottish, very young or old and from the lower end but even then they got some right.

Rolls Royce ain't British either so that chap was right since there are no British manufacturers known within the general public although Ford, Peugeot, Vauxhall etc were, or still are, manufactured in Britain and therefore legitimately understood by the masses to be British even if they are wholly foreign owned.

How dare you try to drag your countrymen down to the level of septics on a board such as this. Have you no loyalty, man? Bloody Yorkshire tykes!

[harrybarracuda]

The Independent isn't exactly responsible Pulitzer winning journalism. Yes, some idiot likely made the stupid statement about sucking up the suns energy, but there is no indication that was a factor behind the city council's rejection.

People say stupid things at local city council meetings all the time.

Garbage journalism at its worst. Maybe a poll on how stupid British serfs are for reading and believing nonsense like this should be done in place of the above video.

Maybe you should read the original report from the local newspaper and stop making yourself look as retarded as they are.

Woodland rejects solar farm | The Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald

[thaimeme]

One does have to seriously wonder about the supposed superior civilisations, huh?

Are they really all that?

Must be a broad cultural affliction.
Reflective of the enlightened ones.

[david44]

The Independent isn't exactly responsible Pulitzer winning journalism.

Can you name a better newspaper in the UK today? (besides the Mail).

FT , Scotsman, Private Eye though like the Economist it's a weekly yet manages to expose more misdoings than the courts cops,border agency and Chilcot combined, exactly the scourge of corruption required in any state not guided by wise counsel.

For non UK members who ave neve sampled here's a link, it's a lot mre than witty articles.

Private Eye | Official Site - the UK's number one best-selling news and current affairs magazine, edited by Ian Hislop

[taxexile]

How dare you try to drag your countrymen down to the level of septics on a board such as this. Have you no loyalty, man? Bloody Yorkshire tykes!

whatever the country of origin, stupid is as stupid does. it's a dumbed down world we live in i'm afraid, and like baseball caps, coca cola and halloween, we have the americans to thank. they invented the concept of "lowest common denominator" and it has probably been their most successful export, making them very rich in the process.

the ignorant, free spending, heavily indebted, loud mouthed, obese brits and their repulsive gobby spouses that seems to make up the majority of the population one encounters on the streets and malls these days, at least in the southern half of the country, are just doppelgangers of their free spending loud mouthed obese american cousins.

[david44]

Here in Korea there are many many American teachers, and the majority are really fuking stupid, almost all are devout christians. Just sayin...

To me belief in religion and stupidity go hand in hand to be honest.

And it pains me to say it....

Indeed despite 300 years of enlightenment, street lighting,the battery bunny and the illuminati, they are none too bright.

Alongside Robin Williams,Mort Sahl,Lenny Bruce and Bill Smith the average citizen is Dulles ditchwater. of course those who've ventured outt even to Alaska p Rico or theSandwich Islands see the bigger picture.

As they say under the Diamond Head (kindly recalled by Storekeep kudos)

Mele Kalikimaka a Hauoli Makahiki Hou!

[harrybarracuda]

the ignorant, free spending, heavily indebted, loud mouthed, obese brits and their repulsive gobby spouses that seems to make up the majority of the population one encounters on the streets and malls these days, at least in the southern half of the country, are just doppelgangers of their free spending loud mouthed obese american cousins.

'Tis true, if we had Walmarts everywhere we'd have our own Walmartians.

[Seekingasylum]

How dare you try to drag your countrymen down to the level of septics on a board such as this. Have you no loyalty, man? Bloody Yorkshire tykes!

whatever the country of origin, stupid is as stupid does. it's a dumbed down world we live in i'm afraid, and like baseball caps, coca cola and halloween, we have the americans to thank. they invented the concept of "lowest common denominator" and it has probably been their most successful export, making them very rich in the process.

the ignorant, free spending, heavily indebted, loud mouthed, obese brits and their repulsive gobby spouses that seems to make up the majority of the population one encounters on the streets and malls these days, at least in the southern half of the country, are just doppelgangers of their free spending loud mouthed obese american cousins.

Tax, did you live next to a sink estate when you returned to Blighty and did you spend your entire time in shopping precincts (don't call them malls, you're not a septic) and pootling around town centres aimlessly?

You seem very embittered about the British lower end. Personally, the solution is to avoid them which is relatively simple if one discriminates.