3 ms·

That's playing a bit fast and loose with the definition of "free market". Hydropower is also geographically unique.

• sudosysgen 6y ago
  Hydropower is not geographically unique, there are many US states (and Chinese provinces) which use mainly hydropower. If you think that I am overextending the term free market, then you must agree that there are no energy free markets? There are two options here. Either there are, and they are all suboptimal to at least some state run solutions, or they don't exist, in which case my argument still applies.
  • aww_dang 6y ago
    >Hydropower is not geographically unique Yes, many places have hydropower. Some have more than others. There are also population, consumption concerns relative to the supply. The Wikipedia article notes that the Quebecois authorities subsidize aluminum smelters with a goal of job creation. Perhaps the market price could be even cheaper without this subsidy? Electricity markets are generally highly regulated, public-private partnerships or outright nationalized. I don't see a dispute here or an argument. Observing that something is commonplace isn't a rationalization of the efficiency or morality of the practice. >you are arguing against reality. This isn't helpful. Different individuals have different observations, experiences, perceptions and thus opinions. That's healthy. It is the source of discussion. Would it be helpful if I characterized this turn of phrase as you arguing for an exclusive license on "reality"? No, I don't think that would advance the discussion at all, but it would be equivalent to what you've offered in my view.