On the y2kchaos (WWW.y2kchaos.com) site there was a mention of the washington times reporting that the wierd looking thing being built next to the pentagon was a state of the art 25 KW solar power system. Question-what does the pentagon know that we don't? Even though 25 KW will not power the pentagon it would certainly be enough for critical command and control.

-- Tyrel Sackett (Ty.Sackett@usa.net), June 20, 1998

Answers

I also saw the blurb on the Pentagon's solar generator. Actually, I'm glad about it. This news was what I needed to banish those last bits of illogical "hope" that I was over-reacting to the whole Y2K problem. It also made my grown children begin to soften a bit....perhaps in another 6 months they'll actually believe me....but I digress... There is only ONE reason I can see for the Pentagon to construct a solar generator. It's certainly not to save the taxpayer some money on electricity!! And I can't see that its just for "emergency power" or "back-up power" They KNOW the power will be down....and obviously have known for quite some time.....the Gov't simply doesn't figure something out one day, and start construction the next! The nagging question that keeps popping into my mind is: What else have they planned and implemented quietly?

-- Sheila Ross (sross@bconnex.net), June 20, 1998.

I am sure the explanation will be: Bio and Cyber terrorist threats. Where were these bad guys when we were at war with Iraq?

-- Bill Solorzano (notaclue@webtv.net), June 20, 1998.

It was said that :

"I also saw the blurb on the Pentagon's solar generator".

Does someone have actual evidence on this?

-- Dave Jones (dfj@fea.net), June 20, 1998.

Evidence please.

-- zerad (zerad@my-dejanews.com), June 20, 1998.

Gee, does anyone think it is possible that the Pentagon might want to have a power supply not tied into the main D.C. area power grid for all sorts of other purposes?

Nah. Who could image the people in charge of national defense, combat preparedness and stuff like that trying out technologies to make themselves a little more self-sufficient. I mean, what possible military benefit could come from perfecting technology that would make on the spot power generation possible at almost any location you choose to set up shop in?

C'mon folks. Let's not keep looking for communists and Antichrists under every bush. There are enough provable problems out there in the world to deal with.

-- Paul Neuhardt (neuhardt@ultranet.com), June 21, 1998.

Did I shout Antichrist or communist? I think my post requested evidence. What was your point?

-- zerad (zerad@my-dejanews.com), June 22, 1998.

The following was received from my request for the article:

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Date: Mon, 22 Jun 1998 02:19:17 -0500 To: Pastor Chris From: The Washington Times Subject: Re: Pentagon solar powered?? Content-Length: 647

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-- Pastor Chris (chrisbr@ptinet.net), June 22, 1998.

Gee.... Here is a reason the Pentagon might want a solar generator!! Wake up and smell the roses!

-- Annie (anniegaff@mailexcite.com), June 22, 1998.

Paul, your post implied that the Pentagon might be using a solar installation to 'perfect the technology.' Sorry, but they don't operate that way. Any government contract would require installation of a test bed at some other site.

Actually, it's weird, because 25 killowatts is peanuts in that environment. One would guess that there would be a number of large diesel generators located somewhere under that place. I suspect they just want to insure that their coffee makers will operate in extreme circumstances.

-- DeAlton Lewis (delewis@inetone.net), June 22, 1998.

DeAlton,

Actually, I didn't intend to imply that they were perfecting the technology. I assumed that anything hooked up to the Pentagon was, at least in the minds of those involved, pretty well perfected. My point was that the military as a whole would be interested in the technology, and that the Pentagon in particular would be eager to have it installed ASAP.

Sorry for the confusion.

Paul

-- Paul Neuhardt (neuhardt@ultranet.com), June 23, 1998.

Paul,

I don't blame them. I'd like to have that rig in my back yard, too.

DeAlton

-- DeAlton Lewis (delewis@inetone.net), June 23, 1998.

I don't think the Pentagon has the brains to perfect anything. Oh wait, they did spend $750.00 on toilet seats. Those had to be perfection.

-- Annie (anniegaff@mailexcite.com), June 23, 1998.

It is true that the new solar power thing outside the Pentagon is for electrical back-up. One of the generals there (whom I will not name) goes to my church. When asked if the solar thing was for y2k back-up he said yes. And that they'd already tested it for several days.

-- Libby Alexander (libbyalex@aol.com), September 24, 1998.

$5.00 for a copy of an article from the Times in a reply from an automated request?

And we complain about military spending..........

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), September 24, 1998.

How about a little reality? 25 KW is 25 Kilowatts or 25,000 watts. This is exactly enough for 250 one hundred watt light bulbs or about 20 twelve hundred and fifty watt coffee makers. Command and Control indeed! IT IS A TOY!

-- "C" Student (basic@science.com), September 25, 1998.

"C"

You're right, it probably is a toy. (My neighbors and I could actually make use of such a toy.) Of course, it could be much higher output than 25 KW. Who would know? Ordinarily, it would probably have to be much larger, physically, but the military has the best of everything - even toilet seats and screw drivers.

Just doing my part to keep the doubtful doubting!

-- Mike (gartner@execpc.com), September 25, 1998.

correct me if i am wrong but one comp. expert said that the clocks would simply reset. no body listened, and i am sure somebody made money of the hole y2k

-- Louis Lesky (tom4107842@a0l.com), April 14, 2004.