Indoor Grows Consume 10% of Humboldt's Electricity Says Schatz Energy Research Center

According to Peter Lehman, director of the Schatz Energy Research Center at Humboldt State,

…indoor grows consume 10% of all [Humboldt] county’s electricity, enough to power an additional 13,000 homes.

That’s bad enough, for all kinds of reasons, Lehman contends, “but the worst of it locally are the diesel-powered grows in rural Humboldt County.”

Humboldt State’s NOW magazine discusses the issues of indoor growing in their latest piece.  They quote Evan Mills of Lawerence Livermore Laboratory as pinning the blame for the electrical demand on the criminality of cannabis currently as well as “pursuit of security and the desire for greater process control and yields.”

 

 

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Uti
Guest
Uti
12 years ago

Another unintended consequence of the prohibition—driving cultivation indoors has resulted in the tremendous waste of electrical energy that requires the burning of fossil fuels to produce at a high cost to the global environment, as well the local watershed degradation from mishandling diesel fuel, land use practices and sloppy management of grow scenes by people who put their personal profit ahead of stewardship values that ensure the land they leave behind was well cared for.

I’ve always been curious as to whether the quality issue of indoor being superior to outdoor was true. Or is open sunshine or greenhouse grown cannabis produced with the best available nutrients and meticulous care equal in terms of potency and other subjective qualities? I hope some experts will weigh in on the issue. In my limited experience I can’t say one is better than the other.

Staff
Member
12 years ago
Reply to  Uti

The recent winner of the SF Cannabis Cup was outdoor grown in Humboldt. (Cup was open to both indoor and outdoor.) “The indica strain Royal Kush took home the highest honors at the 2011 San Francisco Patients’ Choice Awards. It tested at 19.4 percent THC and 0.3 percent CBD and was sun-grown in Humboldt County by EarthGreenCali Farms.” I’d think that at least indicates that grown properly there is equality between the two and my personal opinion is that sungrown is the best for a variety of reasons.”

Uti
Guest
Uti
12 years ago

Another unintended consequence of the prohibition—driving cultivation indoors has resulted in the tremendous waste of electrical energy that requires the burning of fossil fuels to produce at a high cost to the global environment, as well the local watershed degradation from mishandling diesel fuel, land use practices and sloppy management of grow scenes by people who put their personal profit ahead of stewardship values that ensure the land they leave behind was well cared for.

I’ve always been curious as to whether the quality issue of indoor being superior to outdoor was true. Or is open sunshine or greenhouse grown cannabis produced with the best available nutrients and meticulous care equal in terms of potency and other subjective qualities? I hope some experts will weigh in on the issue. In my limited experience I can’t say one is better than the other.

Staff
Member
12 years ago
Reply to  Uti

The recent winner of the SF Cannabis Cup was outdoor grown in Humboldt. (Cup was open to both indoor and outdoor.) “The indica strain Royal Kush took home the highest honors at the 2011 San Francisco Patients’ Choice Awards. It tested at 19.4 percent THC and 0.3 percent CBD and was sun-grown in Humboldt County by EarthGreenCali Farms.” I’d think that at least indicates that grown properly there is equality between the two and my personal opinion is that sungrown is the best for a variety of reasons.”

random guy
Guest
random guy
12 years ago

What a fucking LIE! Holy shit how the fuck can this asshole get away with this?????? I wouldn’t even call it skewed truth for fucks sake! How the fuck??? Look at how he came up with that number, figure it out for yourself, jesus fucking christ!!!

The growers aren’t hurting anybody, they’re risking alot to provide an unjustly prohibited, wholey benefial, consciousness awakening plant to the masses. More power to ’em.

Ivan B Nobody
Guest
Ivan B Nobody
12 years ago

Here are two points…1. Even though indoor growing is using vast amounts of electricity and the diesel gennies are making even more, I ask you just what percentage of Humboldt’s economy is powered by indoor profits? 20%…35%…or more?
2. As soon as it is legal to grow outdoors I see a rapid development of a ‘hybrid’ growing methodology that uses hydroponic technology outside in the sun with only supplemental lighting used in the early AM and late PM. Obviously any method that depends on clones will require the use of electricity to maintain itself.

random guy
Guest
random guy
12 years ago
Reply to  Ivan B Nobody

WAY more energies, ultilities, transportation resources, etc. etc. etc. are being used in humbolt to provide plastic trinkets made in chinese sweatshops. WAY more electricity is being used to provide chemically saturated processed “food”, and the “food” that has to be kept cold. The study is a complete fuckin lie, an intentional smear tactic and very easy publicity shot for the research team. COULDN’T BE MORE OBVIOUS! They know not even 1/10 people are going to look into their claim, and those 9 will spread the bullshit. Like how they keep all the other bullshit afloat decade after decade.

Ivan B Nobody
Guest
Ivan B Nobody
12 years ago

Here are two points…1. Even though indoor growing is using vast amounts of electricity and the diesel gennies are making even more, I ask you just what percentage of Humboldt’s economy is powered by indoor profits? 20%…35%…or more?
2. As soon as it is legal to grow outdoors I see a rapid development of a ‘hybrid’ growing methodology that uses hydroponic technology outside in the sun with only supplemental lighting used in the early AM and late PM. Obviously any method that depends on clones will require the use of electricity to maintain itself.

random guy
Guest
random guy
12 years ago
Reply to  Ivan B Nobody

WAY more energies, ultilities, transportation resources, etc. etc. etc. are being used in humbolt to provide plastic trinkets made in chinese sweatshops. WAY more electricity is being used to provide chemically saturated processed “food”, and the “food” that has to be kept cold. The study is a complete fuckin lie, an intentional smear tactic and very easy publicity shot for the research team. COULDN’T BE MORE OBVIOUS! They know not even 1/10 people are going to look into their claim, and those 9 will spread the bullshit. Like how they keep all the other bullshit afloat decade after decade.

j.marko unknown (@obtusemental2)
Guest

even fecal matter has use-re call an era,when in late 70’s,drip lines became the rage-do believe that was an economic push-nice reads-

Duh
Guest
Duh
12 years ago

You love Humboldt’s wicked ways.

j.marko unknown (@obtusemental2)
Guest

even fecal matter has use-re call an era,when in late 70’s,drip lines became the rage-do believe that was an economic push-nice reads-

Duh
Guest
Duh
12 years ago

You love Humboldt’s wicked ways.

bongandablintz?
Guest
bongandablintz?
12 years ago

Well, it is certainly clear that Humboldt County should do an Environmental Impact report before enacting any land use ordinances regarding indoor, outdoor or dispensary grow scenes.
There are to be considered the dumping of used soil full of amendments and how it affects the watersheds, water withdrawl and use of electricity. High rents and the effects on housing costs should be considered as well, since the shortage of affordable housing has been skewed by the marijuana industry in our area.
Whether other industrial or corporate or even personal uses are “worse” or not is beside the point. Damage to the environment from growing pot must be addressed.

bongandablintz?
Guest
bongandablintz?
12 years ago

Well, it is certainly clear that Humboldt County should do an Environmental Impact report before enacting any land use ordinances regarding indoor, outdoor or dispensary grow scenes.
There are to be considered the dumping of used soil full of amendments and how it affects the watersheds, water withdrawl and use of electricity. High rents and the effects on housing costs should be considered as well, since the shortage of affordable housing has been skewed by the marijuana industry in our area.
Whether other industrial or corporate or even personal uses are “worse” or not is beside the point. Damage to the environment from growing pot must be addressed.