So you’re selling your house. You definitely want to show it off to its best advantage. Let’s take this example from the BBC Panel Show QI. A charming, three bedroom cottage in Kent.
Potential buyers who turned up to view the home were greeted with a remarkably different view.
The estate agent failed to inform the public that the property was 100 yards from Europe’s largest nuclear power station. More importantly, they took the real estate listing photos facing the other direction.* (This was in 2009. Dungeness Power Station is no longer in use due to operational issues.)
Aside from the rather daunting view, there are an assortment of documented safety concerns in living close to a nuclear power plant. And that’s assuming the plant is running as designed. The risks go up dramatically in emergency/malfunction situations.
I must say, I probably wouldn’t buy that house.
Now let’s talk about something closer to home.
Do you remember when I wrote earlier about the proposed moratorium on solar projects in Western Howard County?
“Solar sounds great to a lot of folks, but all of the negative impacts are falling on the rural west,” Yungmann said. “The residents of the rural west are receiving virtually none of the benefits.”
Here’s what I need to know:
Solar sounds great to a lot of folks.
Why does solar sound great to a lot of folks? Elaborate.
All of the negative impacts are falling on the rural west.
What are the negative impacts of solar that are falling on the rural west? Please list.
The residents of the rural west are receiving virtually none of the benefits.
What are the benefits of solar that the residents of the rural west are not receiving? Please list.
As Woodbine residents complain about solar projects, Howard County weighs moratorium, Council member David Yungmann’s bill targets projects between 1 and 2 megawatts that skip state and county review, April Santana, Baltimore Sun
The answer to my questions boils down to two complaints:
Solar panels will mar my view and may negatively impact my home value.
That’s it.
No safety concerns. No destruction of their own property. No trickery, swindling, or theft.
Solar panels in a rural setting look like this.
Howard County benefits from solar energy because it reduces our dependence on electricity produced with non-renewable fossil fuels. It’s better for the planet - - that benefits everyone.
I’m not against solar power, I just don’t want it to spoil my view.
Solar panels will not expose you to radiation, pollute your air, or poison your drinking water. They will contribute to making our environment healthier. When you look at it that way, perhaps the sight of them might even be - - dare I say? - - beautiful.
It’s all in how you look at it.
*One of the ways to sell a house right next to a nuclear power plant is for the publicity photo of the house to be taken without the plant in shot. In 2009, three-bedroom cottage in Kent was advertised with photo as if the house was away from anywhere, but the estate agent failed to mention that if you stood behind the house you would see that the cottage is just 100 yards away from Dungeness Nuclear Power Station, one of Europe's largest nuclear power stations. When asked about it, the estate agent said: "The thing is, anywhere on Dungeness is close to the power station." BBC QI, Series R, Episode: Radiation
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