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> We need to wean off of fossil fuels asap, and this sentiment is easily manipulated to hurt that cause. Even if it makes absolutely no sense to do so? A frie

> We need to wean off of fossil fuels asap, and this sentiment is easily manipulated to hurt that cause. Even if it makes absolutely no sense to do so? A friend of mine purchases power for a municipal utility. Regulation requires that they have to reserve capacity for up to estimated peak usage. If they choose wind generation they can only apply 7% of that capacity to their requirement! So, in order to match the reliability of other forms of power they would have to purchase 14.3x as much as required. Wind power is VERY unreliable. That isn't opinion, that is a fact recognized by everyone in the industry. If someone is telling you we can build a reliable grid with wind power as a large component, they are lying to you and pry lining their pockets. Attitudes like the one you express in your statement are music to the ears of those seeking to take advantage via profiteering and crony capitalism.

mrguyorama 4y ago
I am sad that nobody ever discusses overbuilding by huge amounts to be a viable option. Wind power or solar power sometimes underdelivers? Well they are fantastically cheap systems, so just quadruple the investment/build out, and be pretty well off. This isn't investigated because 1) It is more expensive and 2) That will result in significant extra supply that will literally need to be "wasted". Electricity in many situations literally becomes "too cheap to meter" I personally don't see that as a downside because that "overproduction" should be thrown at things like carbon capture, which is much more viable when the electricity is literally priced negatively This is only not possible because people refuse to turn electricity into a fully public utility. They want their profits. The USA should treat it as a huge infrastructure project though, like the highway system, and either force or hugely subsidize the buildout of excessive renewable systems.

mrguyorama 4y ago

I am sad that nobody ever discusses overbuilding by huge amounts to be a viable option. Wind power or solar power sometimes underdelivers? Well they are fantastically cheap systems, so just quadruple the investment/build out, and be pretty well off. This isn't investigated because 1) It is more expensive and 2) That will result in significant extra supply that will literally need to be "wasted". Electricity in many situations literally becomes "too cheap to meter" I personally don't see that as a downside because that "overproduction" should be thrown at things like carbon capture, which is much more viable when the electricity is literally priced negatively This is only not possible because people refuse to turn electricity into a fully public utility. They want their profits. The USA should treat it as a huge infrastructure project though, like the highway system, and either force or hugely subsidize the buildout of excessive renewable systems.