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alfredo

(60,065 posts)
Sun Sep 16, 2012, 12:12 PM Sep 2012

Photos of Apple's new solar array in NC.

They also have fuel cells (Bloom box) for when they need the extra 5 megawatts it provides.

http://www.macrumors.com/2012/09/14/panel-installation-nearly-complete-at-apples-massive-north-carolina-solar-farm/






"The solar farm is just one of two being developed Apple to support the data center, with the one captured on film located directly across the street from the center and the other located a few miles away. Together, the two similarly-sized solar farms will provide roughly 40 megawatts of power, with an on-site fuel cell facility providing an additional 5 megawatts."

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Photos of Apple's new solar array in NC. (Original Post) alfredo Sep 2012 OP
Built by "interns", or just on their backs? nt Romulox Sep 2012 #1
Doubtful. Estimates said that construction MineralMan Sep 2012 #2
Money is fungible; it was either built by unpaid labor, else it was *subsidized* by unpaid labor Romulox Sep 2012 #4
Guess what? The modules are made by SunPower. And do you know what else? NYC_SKP Sep 2012 #6
But, you see, it's the unpaid interns who paid for it. MineralMan Sep 2012 #12
Apple got the money, at least in part, through the labor of unpaid interns in China. Deal with it. Romulox Sep 2012 #23
Aren't unions illegal in NC? valerief Sep 2012 #28
No. Of course they're not. MineralMan Sep 2012 #30
Isn't that essentially the same thing? nt valerief Sep 2012 #36
No, not the same thing. MineralMan Sep 2012 #38
Apple got the money from exploiting overseas labor. Pretend otherwise, if you wish. Romulox Sep 2012 #24
Damn them! Show me a quality laptop and OS made in america... NYC_SKP Sep 2012 #25
Just admit you missed the story this week about Apple EXPLOITING unpaid interns to make the Iphone. Romulox Sep 2012 #31
I guess you missed this post, huh? Your silence says it all. nt Romulox Sep 2012 #46
I'm sure they had American contractors building the array. alfredo Sep 2012 #7
with chinese panels? DonRedwood Sep 2012 #15
oops...nope, i see farther down american :0) DonRedwood Sep 2012 #16
The arrays should have been placed on top of structures, not taking up arable land. JMHO. freshwest Sep 2012 #3
Agree, but props for choosing US made SunPower modules. NYC_SKP Sep 2012 #9
Props also for using US made modules; and they can be re-installed later, huh? freshwest Sep 2012 #14
Yes, it would be fairly easy to jack up the racks and build underneath. n/t NYC_SKP Sep 2012 #19
Why didn't they turn it into a parking garage? HopeHoops Sep 2012 #5
All workers are teleported in from the Cloud. alfredo Sep 2012 #8
There must be a lot of razor wire in "the cloud". HopeHoops Sep 2012 #10
Actually there isn't much need for parking. All there is needed are those to maintain the computers alfredo Sep 2012 #17
I have to believe that there was no need for parking. NYC_SKP Sep 2012 #11
There wasn't. The facility is a cloud data facility. MineralMan Sep 2012 #13
Chance are, it was tobacco farms. The soil was probably toxic from all the crap they use alfredo Sep 2012 #18
Oh, fuck it. A HERETIC I AM Sep 2012 #20
What nonsense XemaSab Sep 2012 #21
And tobacco producing areas don't look like that? alfredo Sep 2012 #33
It could have been, for sure. I just don't know. MineralMan Sep 2012 #22
Yes. alfredo Sep 2012 #34
Not likely in that part of NC unc70 Sep 2012 #27
Most of my work was in the harvest, cutting, housing and stripping. alfredo Sep 2012 #35
"Cutting", "stripping"? Was that burley? unc70 Sep 2012 #43
Yes, Burley. You haven't had cramps like you get working in the stripping room. alfredo Sep 2012 #44
K/R for progress, also, Macs, superior hardware and software, what can I say? NYC_SKP Sep 2012 #26
Farm out. The Midway Rebel Sep 2012 #29
If you exploit workers "over there", you can get filthy rich and still afford a PR stunt like this! Romulox Sep 2012 #32
Sounds like it is the school that is pressuring the students, not Apple. alfredo Sep 2012 #37
LOLOL. nt Romulox Sep 2012 #41
So Apple builds a plant that provides renewable energy... trumad Sep 2012 #39
It's the dark side of brand loyalty. alfredo Sep 2012 #40
That's what Apple haters do. (nt) Elwood P Dowd Sep 2012 #42
Apple is a big company. krispos42 Sep 2012 #45
Cool! Quantess Sep 2012 #47

MineralMan

(146,190 posts)
2. Doubtful. Estimates said that construction
Sun Sep 16, 2012, 12:52 PM
Sep 2012

of the new data facility and solar power plant would create 3000 jobs during that construction. I imagine that North Carolina workers benefited from that. What do you think?

Romulox

(25,960 posts)
4. Money is fungible; it was either built by unpaid labor, else it was *subsidized* by unpaid labor
Sun Sep 16, 2012, 01:36 PM
Sep 2012

in the Iphone/Ipad division.

 

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)
6. Guess what? The modules are made by SunPower. And do you know what else?
Sun Sep 16, 2012, 01:52 PM
Sep 2012

This means that they're domestically manufactured.

Surprised because they could have gone with Chinese modules but did not, and it cost them plenty, millions more, to use US mods.

MineralMan

(146,190 posts)
12. But, you see, it's the unpaid interns who paid for it.
Sun Sep 16, 2012, 02:00 PM
Sep 2012

Facts don't matter. I tried to find out who the contractors were on this and whether they were unionized, but I didn't find the info.

It's a huge solar project, and Apple is committed to running that data center with renewable power. They used US Companies and local labor to build it, and the whole project also includes a very large fuel-cell power plant to supply power with the sun isn't shining.

It's a good project. That Apple also has lots of unpaid interns is irrelevant to this story, which is big news.

Romulox

(25,960 posts)
23. Apple got the money, at least in part, through the labor of unpaid interns in China. Deal with it.
Sun Sep 16, 2012, 09:24 PM
Sep 2012
Facts don't matter.


Typical for you.

MineralMan

(146,190 posts)
38. No, not the same thing.
Mon Sep 17, 2012, 09:44 AM
Sep 2012

Do the Google search and click through on some of the links. Unions are present in North Carolina. You said they weren't allowed. I simply clarified the situation. There's no question that right to work states make it more difficult for unions to prosper, but they still exist and still organize workers. That's very different than saying they're not allowed. Accuracy matters.

Here's a list of labor unions active in the Charlotte area alone:

http://www.yellowpages.com/charlotte-nc/labor-unions

Romulox

(25,960 posts)
31. Just admit you missed the story this week about Apple EXPLOITING unpaid interns to make the Iphone.
Mon Sep 17, 2012, 08:55 AM
Sep 2012

And you, who, as a "citizen of the world", have always cared about all the workers of the world--equally! will surely be outraged when you finally become informed about this, I'm sure.

Apple’s iPhone manufacturer faces labor complaints over status of student workers

By Associated Press, Published: September 12

BEIJING — The company that manufactures Apple’s iPhones has responded to an accusation that vocational students are forced to work in its Chinese factories by saying Wednesday its agreement with their schools allows them to leave.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/apples-iphone-manufacturer-faces-labor-complaints-over-status-of-student-workers/2012/09/12/1f9af890-fcd2-11e1-98c6-ec0a0a93f8eb_story.html

freshwest

(53,661 posts)
3. The arrays should have been placed on top of structures, not taking up arable land. JMHO.
Sun Sep 16, 2012, 01:31 PM
Sep 2012

Our population is expected to increase to a billion by the halfmark of this century. America's landscape will be nothing like it is today. This seems wasteful facing the harsh realities to come. Otherwise, I applaud Apple 110% for showing a good corporate example to follow regarding alternative energy.

 

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)
9. Agree, but props for choosing US made SunPower modules.
Sun Sep 16, 2012, 01:57 PM
Sep 2012

I totally agree that for not much more $, they could have created space beneath for parking or storage or agriculture (yes), but maybe there just wasn't demand, or maybe this could be done at a later time.

I've worked on a lot of proposals with the largest one coming to fruition (500kW two acre shaded parking).

This is great news, but I agree that it would be better to have allowed for land use below the system.

freshwest

(53,661 posts)
14. Props also for using US made modules; and they can be re-installed later, huh?
Sun Sep 16, 2012, 02:45 PM
Sep 2012

Not as hard as removing a hydroelectric dam or dismantling a traditional power plant. Just pick them up and put them on the top. Most likely, they know what the planning commissions have laid out for that area for the years to come.

Living in a state where with little available arable land left makes me lust for that piece of dirt. What can I say...

We are sporting arrays on almost all new construction, and using them in many different ways, bus stops, etc. A friend had one installed on her garage to take care of her needs and send back the excess to the city grid. It also has increased the resale value of her home.

Even with all electric and few sunny days, her bill has been decreased. We're pretty big on all of these ideas, a whole lot of innovative things that require public approval.

I wish every state was doing this, but now our media is infested now with baggers, so we're getting resistance on many good things. It's a national regression.

Good job, Apple, and thanks for the information NYC SKP.

alfredo

(60,065 posts)
17. Actually there isn't much need for parking. All there is needed are those to maintain the computers
Sun Sep 16, 2012, 04:41 PM
Sep 2012

grounds, and building.

 

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)
11. I have to believe that there was no need for parking.
Sun Sep 16, 2012, 01:59 PM
Sep 2012

Or it would have been worthwhile.

Parking would required major underground work for drainage, and then grading baserock and asphalt and stiping, and continued maintenance.

It would be worth it if needed, they must not have needed it.

MineralMan

(146,190 posts)
13. There wasn't. The facility is a cloud data facility.
Sun Sep 16, 2012, 02:03 PM
Sep 2012

One article said that there would be about 50 full-time employees when it was operating. Not much need for parking. Lots of automation, and few workers.

I'm not sure what the quality of the ag land is that the power plant was built on. Could be marginal. I just don't know.

NC gave some really hefty tax credits to Apple to get them to build the plant there.

alfredo

(60,065 posts)
18. Chance are, it was tobacco farms. The soil was probably toxic from all the crap they use
Sun Sep 16, 2012, 04:45 PM
Sep 2012

in the production of tobacco. I used to work the tobacco fields. Nasty stuff.

alfredo

(60,065 posts)
33. And tobacco producing areas don't look like that?
Mon Sep 17, 2012, 09:31 AM
Sep 2012

I live in the middle of Burley country. Hay is grown here too. There were several acres of field corn behind my house. Across the road and down the road were large tobacco farms. The farm I worked was across from the Headley-Whitney museum.

MineralMan

(146,190 posts)
22. It could have been, for sure. I just don't know.
Sun Sep 16, 2012, 08:48 PM
Sep 2012

In any case, now it's a solar energy farm. That's a good, good thing.

unc70

(6,094 posts)
27. Not likely in that part of NC
Sun Sep 16, 2012, 10:57 PM
Sep 2012

While tobacco is inherently a nasty crop (the gum from the plants themselves), the toxic substances applied in the fields were not particularly different than most commercial agriculture. Even in the bad old days (pre Silent Spring, pre-EPA), about the only chems were DDE (bad, but commonplace at that time) and MH-30.

If you really worked on a tobacco farm, all that hard work should have taught you more.

 

NYC_SKP

(68,644 posts)
26. K/R for progress, also, Macs, superior hardware and software, what can I say?
Sun Sep 16, 2012, 10:16 PM
Sep 2012

Except I've never really loved iTunes or Pages.

Romulox

(25,960 posts)
32. If you exploit workers "over there", you can get filthy rich and still afford a PR stunt like this!
Mon Sep 17, 2012, 08:56 AM
Sep 2012
Apple’s iPhone manufacturer faces labor complaints over status of student workers

By Associated Press, Published: September 12

BEIJING — The company that manufactures Apple’s iPhones has responded to an accusation that vocational students are forced to work in its Chinese factories by saying Wednesday its agreement with their schools allows them to leave.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/apples-iphone-manufacturer-faces-labor-complaints-over-status-of-student-workers/2012/09/12/1f9af890-fcd2-11e1-98c6-ec0a0a93f8eb_story.html
 

trumad

(41,692 posts)
39. So Apple builds a plant that provides renewable energy...
Mon Sep 17, 2012, 09:53 AM
Sep 2012

uses American labor and Products--- but---some here at DU still shit in a thread about it.

Douchebags

alfredo

(60,065 posts)
40. It's the dark side of brand loyalty.
Mon Sep 17, 2012, 12:16 PM
Sep 2012

The next insurgent technology is being developed in some garage in suburban America. Maybe in ten to twenty years they will be fending off bitter complaints by Apple users.


I say enjoy the benefits of a company that pushes the technology.


BTW, The MS Tablet is coming soon. Let's see if they did it right.

krispos42

(49,445 posts)
45. Apple is a big company.
Mon Sep 17, 2012, 11:37 PM
Sep 2012

Big companies like to do stuff like this to generate good PR to cover up or deflect attention away from other, bad-PR stuff.


If this was a small business that did this, it would be a different story. But Apple is on the same level as BP.

The fact that BP shells out a few millions in damages and runs a TV ad campaign with a native Southerner speaking about how dedicated BP is to cleaning up the Gulf doesn't change the fact that a fabulously wealthy company screwed up to save money.



If the data-processing center was a small business doing this, it would be a different story. But Apple is big company taking full advantage of globalization: outsourcing labor, using very poorly cared for and paid laborers, avoiding environmental regulation and concerns, all the while sucking steadily at the wealth of the middle and working classes who's wealth was created by insourcing labor, using well-paid and well-benefited laborers in an environment that was subject to environmental regulation.

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