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Comment by Jerry2 | Hacker News Reader

So, do Amish consider solar power acceptable?

Any question like that is hard to answer as Amish groups are pretty diverse. Some do. It depends on how that particular group views that technology's impact on the community.

Solar power as in stove with parabolic mirror - probably yes, solar power as in photovoltaic panel - probably not. The reason is that you can build one yourself and you can't the other.

No dependency during usage is less bad but you're still depending on manufacturer - and you want to avoid dependency.

Can they refine diesel and build an air compressor themselves? And I mean in practice, not theoretically.

In practice they most likely can't build a hammer or nails from scratch, because refining iron ore and making steel is quite complicated.

Can't diesel engines burn oil?

Can solar panels be made in ways they make their current appliances and tools? I'm guessing not. I'm guessing a huge reason solar panels are made in China is because their production pollutes a lot[1]. I'm guessing the Amish are against anything that pollutes.

[1] https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelshellenberger/2018/05/23...

But gasoline & diesel are okay despite polluting? That doesn't make sense, nor does it follow that petroleum based fuels are permitted despite be extracted and refined using tools and appliances well beyond what most Amish communities currently permit.

The Amish don't use solar because it's green, they use it because it enables them to stay off the grid.

the argument was made that they don't use solar because it is not green enough. of course we are not going to get the answer here by mere speculation.

This criticism of solar power is mostly propaganda from the fossil fuel industry.

There are 5+ types of solar panels. Cadmium-Telluride solar cells, the ones criticized for toxic components, only make up about 5% of all solar panels produced.

Most conventional solar panels are made from Silicon. Silicon is produced by refining sand. It's not toxic and makes up objects that we use every day (i.e. windows or cups).

My understanding is that many Amish are enthusiastic solar adopters, precisely because it's off the grid.

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