On the next Probably True Solar Stories, we conclude "A Murder of Solar Crows." Four thieves have tried to strip two solar farms of their expensive copper wires, solar panels, and other equipment. But a brown tabby cat and her animal friends keep getting in their way. Will the gang finally beat her on their third and final job?
True Solar Takeaways
- Listen to Part 1 here: https://www.probablytruesolar.com/murder-crows/
- A line of crows on a tree limb or electrical wire is called "A murder of crows."
- Kelptovoltaics is the term for the act of stealing solar equipment from a solar project.
- Theft of solar modules, inverters, copper cabling, and other valuable equipment from solar installations is a real phenomenon.
- Sinovoltaics, a global solar quality assurance company, wrote an article about Kleptovoltaics in 2020, which discussed security methods for preventing solar projects from theft. The article cited several kleptovoltaic news reports from around the world, so it's probably more common than what's reported in city and national crime statistics.
- Instead of traditional mowing equipment, solar project owners often hire ranchers with sheep, goats, and other grazing animals to naturally mow the project's ground cover. None have attacked humans at a solar project, as far as I know.
- Local mammals, reptiles, and insects are always present at solar projects. These include mice, rats, rabbits, squirrels, coyotes, foxes, deer, snakes, wasps, and even stray cats. Birds can also fly over projects and poop on the panels.
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