Monday, February 11, 2013

Inside The Fox News Solar Bubble Where Facts Die

Fox News created a political bubble for viewers who desperately wanted to be told that Romney would beat Obama so it should not surprise that most of its reporting is deliberately false. That's the case with Fox's solar reporting, where Fox builds for its viewers a solar bubble where facts go to die. Watch the following:
http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2013/02/07/fox_news_expert_on_solar_energy_germany_gets_a_lot_more_sun_than_we_do_video.html.

Fox News tells its viewers that solar is collapsing in the USA, though doing well in Germany.  Why is solar doing well in Germany?

The Germans will be surprised to learn that they enjoy more sunshine than in the US, at least according to Fox.  In fact, Germany has less sun that just about anywhere in the lower-48 states of the USA.

In addition to getting basic weather facts wrong, Fox paints a portrait of solar collapse in the USA.  In the real world, a record amount of solar--more than 3,000 megawatts--was installed during 2012.  US total solar capacity jumped from about 4,000 to 7,000 megawatts.  That's not a collapse or bust but a boom!

Fox also fails to report the true collapse that is going on in the solar industry--the collapse of solar costs.  Solar costs have crashed and are going lower still. The plunge in solar costs makes solar competitive with bundled electricity rates in more and more utility service territories.

The collapse in solar costs and the intense competition in the solar industry is also why some solar manufacturers don't survive and go bankrupt.  Fox, of course, focuses endlessly on the bankruptcies, especially those like Solyndra's that it turns into a political weapon against the President, but never manages to tell its viewers about how intense competition has crashed solar costs and led to a global solar installation boom.

Anyone viewing Fox's solar reporting is as well informed as viewers of Fox's political reporting.  No wonder so much misunderstanding about the reality of the global solar boom exists.

2 comments:

  1. John
    As I have told you before, I consider you a breath of fresh air on truth telling on issues pertaining to energy. I am disappointed however that you did not inform your audience of the pollution issues associated with solar power. Both the toxic sludge and the diesel used to transport it are not being included in the pollution footprint of solar power. On the issue of solar cost, I am not finding the cost of putting solar shingles on my roof to be cost effective at all. My estimate was three times the cost of regular shingles. Assuming it would reduce my electric bill by half, that is an eleven year payout.
    Larry

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    Replies
    1. I appreciate the comment. Today I posted on the Washington Post story you reference in your comment. Thanks again.

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