Where Did All The Grapes Go??? Traditional Cache
Where Did All The Grapes Go???
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Size: 
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The History
In the mid 1930's Borrego Springs was the largest Thompson Grape growing region in the state. Robert DiGiorgio ended up buying 1200 acres of land and that became the first holdings for the new company in the Valley. Table grapes were the crop DiGiorgio grew in the Valley (others grew tomatoes, alfalfa, cotton and variety of other fruits and vegetables). In 1950, Di Giorgio Fruit Corporation shipped 149,000 packages of grapes from Borrego Springs. The grapes were shipped around the country - primarily to the New York market.
The business never had more than one or two successful years in the 14 years the company was in business. Further, the success of Cesar Chavez in unionizing farm workers would play a key role to the end of DiGiorgio's farming. When a strike was called against DiGiorgio's Borrego vineyards, the pumps, necessary to irrigate the vines, were shut off. Additionally Di Giorgio had realized the heat, high winds and winter cold made growing grapes in Borrego difficult. Di Giorgio decided quickly that growing grapes here in Borrego would never be profitable.
Today
Instead of grapevines soaking up the desert sun a new project is underway.
The Science
During photovoltaic conversion, solar energy is collected through panels, called solar panels. These solar panels are covered with large modules that are covered with lots of little PV cells, or photovoltaic cells. The PV cells collect the light from the sun. Once the light is inside a PV cell, there is a semiconductor made of a thin sheet of silicone crystal that takes in the photons from the sunlight. A photon is a particle of solar energy. Within the semiconductor, energy of the photons shifts to the electrons. This energizes the electrons. Then the electrons break out of the semiconductor to get to the silicone atoms and, in doing so, flow into the electric current. Usually a solar cell is made of a glass protective layer, an anti-reflective coat, and electric contacts.
The Business
NRG Energy is building this 26 megawatt Borrego Solar Project . Cost-competitive, renewable power generated by the facility will be sold to San Diego Gas & Electric (SGD&E) under a 25-year power purchase agreement.
At full capacity, the project will generate enough power to meet the energy demands of about 20,800 homes. The project will be built on 308 acres of privately owned land just across the street. NRG Solar anticipates completing the project by the end of 2012.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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Treasures
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