Letter: Solar-energy systems can withstand hurricanes
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A recent letter regarding solar power was full of misinformation typically repeated by right-wing sources (“Mulling solar energy’s reliability in a disaster,” Star-Advertiser, July 11).
Solar PV installations in Hawaii must withstand winds up to 160 mph in hurricane-prone areas. That’s in excess of a Category 4-hurricane classification. Such a hurricane would destroy the grid, especially given Hawaii Electric’s practice of replacing poles when they fall, rather than when they weaken. That would block all roads and could take many months to repair, and climate change is forecast to increase the strength and number of hurricanes in Hawaii.
Our PV system supplies a bit more power than we use over a year, with peak production during hurricane season. That plus our batteries will keep everything on our property (including our electric car) running, while the author of the earlier letter sits in the dark. How will he refuel his generator with roads closed?
Bob Gould
Kaneohe
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