Nelson Eclipsed

This post directly follows
Nelson Community Solar Garden
5 Mar, 2018
below.
Reading it first or again will provide an intro and depth.

Photos here - all taken 18 Mar, 2018 - largely are a layperson's impression of the project's construction aspects. A basically urban, Lakeside Park kinda guy - while inexperienced in carpentry, concrete-whatever and solar-power "production" - I am comfortably observant and used to thinking reasonably/logically.

With design/construction-flaws and their ramifications glaringly apparent (even) to me - Are you ready for that? Are they serious? - I must wonder at the intentions and lack of qualifications of those who conceived this thing and slapped it together: unelected decision-makers, for the community. 
And Kevin Cormack, CAO, calling it all "a low-value project".  
What's with that, investors? They tell you?

Following are only observations/impressions of the installation's structural integrity. 

Observations (pictures) are divided into 3 groups - from the ground up. Close scrutiny of pictures will reveal diverse problems within single images: block-misalignment, gravel-flow, moisture-absorption thus/and cracks in frames.

1.
Concrete Mount-Blocks/Gravel Beds
2.
Wooden Support Frames
3.
Solar Panels

   

1a. Concrete Mount-Blocks
These lumbering blocks - unsecured, except by gravitational pull - are markedly out of alignment with each other. Unless they were positioned this way - unlikely - they have been moving individually, to ultimately influence the frames carrying the solar panels - the whole. Individual then collective movement - falling dominoes - is irreversible: having to lead to the project's sooner demise.
1b. Gravel Beds
Unsecured - as in blocks floating on indifferent beds of gravel so loose that smaller stones/coarser sand have been washed away downhill: these gravel beds are uncontained.
The gravel has no specific depth but is a quickie attempt to level the ground, where rock in/protrudes irregularly. A Botox job.

2. Wooden Support Frames
Untreated timber(s) consistently exposed to moisture - much rain, mist and fog from the dam - without enough time to dry-out thoroughly: will warp, crack and rot. Cracks are particularly apt to retain moisture - therefore lengthening, widening and deepening, as is the case here.

 
3. Solar Panels
While very sensitive, they need a gentle but firm, steadying hand. Without it they will act-up and out. They already have for some time.

Council's approval of this project followed their usual m.o. - approve the principle/ignore the detail. Leaving that to whomever.


Go have a look!

 

Image Credits:
Norm Yanke
iconspng


Alex Love, Nelson Hydro
alove@nelson.ca

Carmen Proctor, Consultant
cproctor@nelson.ca

Kevi Cormack, CAO
kcormack@nelson.ca

Deb Kozak, Mayor
dkozak@nelson.ca

City Council
nelsoncouncil@nelson.ca