this post was submitted on 21 Mar 2026
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[–] gandalf_der_12te@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 11 minutes ago* (last edited 11 minutes ago)

What the article completely misses to mention is that solar companies will obviously pay taxes which is a lot of money for the communities where these projects are built.

Like, every community wants to have big companies building solar parks in their area sothat they get a lot of extra money in taxes. The tax money can be a big help to rural communities. That's what people need to talk more about.

It's sad to see the biggest argument to convince people that solar in their vicinity is a good thing unused. Why did the writers of the article not talk about it? Why were they unwilling to take effective action by asking the right questions? Why is the "but how do you not want extra tax money for your local school project" question not asked to everybody who was interviewed?

[–] TheJesusaurus@piefed.ca 2 points 14 minutes ago

How unsightly to see all that free clean energy being made by sleek glass panels.

[–] SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world 34 points 4 hours ago (3 children)

Oh yeah, all that terrible noise and pollution from solar. The sunbeams screaming and shitting each time they smack into a panel.

[–] gandalf_der_12te@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 10 minutes ago* (last edited 10 minutes ago)

solar panels make about as much noise as trees and corn fields. just to put things into perspective

[–] AlpacaChariot@lemmy.world 2 points 29 minutes ago

The noise is from the substation (it says so in the article).

[–] fullsquare@awful.systems 16 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

some people think that solar panels suck out solar energy from around like some kind of evil wizard depleting lifeforce and never heard about shadows

[–] SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world 7 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

Some people also think that clouds prevent light from reaching the planet surface.

[–] harmbugler@piefed.social 3 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 1 hour ago) (2 children)

You can see clouds from space, so just not all of it.

[–] gandalf_der_12te@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 9 minutes ago

Yeah when you take a picture from space and all you see is clouds, that means that clouds actually block or redirect most of the light; doesn't have to be all of it.

Does somebody have data on how much sunlight reaches the ground when it's cloudy? It's 1361 W when not cloudy, at least that much i know.

[–] SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world 1 points 46 minutes ago

Good point. When it's cloudy out, were fully enshrouded in darkness down here.

[–] Papierkorb@feddit.org 8 points 3 hours ago

But if we turn the sun light into electricity the planet will cool down and turn into an ice block!

/s

[–] dumnezero@piefed.social 4 points 2 hours ago

Boomergeoisie

[–] HuudaHarkiten@piefed.social 26 points 5 hours ago (2 children)

Set up a strategic oil and gas storage there instead.

[–] Denjin@feddit.uk 8 points 3 hours ago (2 children)

Waste to energy conversion plant, ie a factory that burns rubbish.

Interestingly this exact thing is now happening in Poole in Dorset where locals successfully opposed an offshore wind farm nearby but have since failed in blocking a waste furnace right next door.

[–] Maeve@kbin.earth 1 points 2 hours ago

That will really cool down the atmosphere!

[–] HuudaHarkiten@piefed.social 2 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

That would be a nice option too. Too bad those are not nearly as awful as oil/gas infra. They don't even smell that badly.

My dad used to work in one, got to visit it a few times. Pretty interesting what people consider as "general rubbish"... Everything from false teeth to propane tanks... Luckily the system has a big magnet that pulls that shit out of there

[–] Maeve@kbin.earth 1 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

Luckily the system has a big magnet that pulls that shit out of there.

False teeth, too?

[–] HuudaHarkiten@piefed.social 1 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

Oh, no not those. Those were just spotted by happenstance

[–] Maeve@kbin.earth 1 points 1 hour ago

I didn't think so, but thanks for confirming!

[–] arandomthought@sh.itjust.works 16 points 4 hours ago* (last edited 4 hours ago) (2 children)

Or how about a cute little coal mine?
Edit: Call me Miss pelling...

[–] HuudaHarkiten@piefed.social 9 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

That would make a proper British countryside idyll and proper British job's in the same time. Wonderful!

[–] 30p87@feddit.org 5 points 4 hours ago

I'd love a Bagger 288 in my backyard!

[–] SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world 2 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

Which Cole? Nat King, or Porter?

[–] arandomthought@sh.itjust.works 3 points 4 hours ago

As long as she's clean, Trump would think shes beautiful. Beautiful clean Cole... PS: Fixed the mistake. Thx for pointing it out.

[–] fullsquare@awful.systems 8 points 4 hours ago (2 children)

Remind these racist idiots that Chinese went all on solar and aren't affected as much by oil supply problems, and you wouldn't like to be worse than them, right,

[–] AlpacaChariot@lemmy.world 2 points 33 minutes ago (1 children)

Did you read the article?

One of the new plants being built in this area, Tillbridge, is the largest solar development to be granted planning permission so far. The project will cover approximately 1,400 hectares (3,460 acres), equivalent to 2,000 football pitches.

That's absolutely enormous!

They are covering the area with panels because there is an existing grid connection from an old power station nearby that they can re-use. Makes sense from an engineering perspective but it's a shocking planning decision, it's not like a few fields of solar in the middle of lots of normal fields, people who live there now will be surrounded by them.

It really seems like bad policy to me, it turns something that should be a positive symbol that you could feel proud of as a local, into something that will feel really oppressive.

You've called these people racist, doubtless some are but I expect the majority are just desperate and only support reform because the alternatives aren't representing them well on this issue.

[–] inari@piefed.zip 1 points 18 minutes ago (1 children)

What's the alternative? We should make building renewables easier, not add obstacles because "looking at panels feels oppressive". Relying on fossil fuels is much, much worse for the locals.

[–] TheJesusaurus@piefed.ca 1 points 13 minutes ago

Also literally a billion times more oppressive.... Like.... We're about to fight world war 3 over it, and it's being pulled out of the ground in Saudi by slave labour

[–] Maeve@kbin.earth 3 points 2 hours ago

If they cared so much, they should've been doing what they can to limit emissions for themselves, kids, and grandkids, but no, too damned selfish.