In article ,
"HeyBub" wrote:


Assuming 70% efficiency for solar collectors, and adjusting for latitude and
40% cloud cover, it would take a collector farm the size of the Los Angeles
basin (~1200 sq miles) to provide power for California (~50GW).

Overlooking the cost to build and maintain 1200 sq miles of collectors, the
people of Los Angeles would have to fight in the shade.

You can also assume a large loss of efficiency within the first three
minutes of operation when someone decides to spray paint the collector.