The problem with the Bailer Hill solar farm is the technology and not the location. Solar energy lacks sufficient energy density to power a modern economy. Since it takes energy to make energy, energy output to energy input ratios best describe energy densities. For carbohydrate energy that existed before the Industrial Revolution, the ratio was four. With a ratio of 30, fossil fuels powered the Industrial Revolution and provided 26 additional energy units to create more goods, increase gross domestic product, and raise living standards. Nuclear energy has the highest ratio of 100 and the greatest energy potential to raise living standards. With a ratio of four, solar energy entails a regression to preindustrial living standards. With a 4 ratio, solar energy cannot cover depreciation and guarantees economic decline.
On March 26, OPALCO held an informational meeting over Zoom about the community solar Bailer Hill Microgrid project. The meeting included a presentation given by Russel Guerry, OPALCO’s Manager of Operations and Engineering, and touched on different topics such as why the Bailer Hill location was chosen for the solar array, agrivoltaics, meaning agricultural production underneath direct or adjacent solar panels, of the property, and different benefits of the project. Around 80 attendees joined the Zoom meeting and had the opportunity to ask questions about the project and receive answers at the end.