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Amusing video. 0/ I have a different theory. But first... New projects have stalled because of permitting bottlenecks. 1/ Investment in '22 was $1.1 trillio

Amusing video. 0/ I have a different theory. But first... New projects have stalled because of permitting bottlenecks. 1/ Investment in '22 was $1.1 trillion dollars. Another record. https://about.bnef.com/new-energy-outlook/ https://about.bnef.com/new-energy-outlook/ 2/ There's plenty of other investors. Like utilities, NGOs, govts, and customers. Here's the list of projects in Bhadla Solar Park. https://cms.mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/List-of-Projects-Developed-in-Bhadla-Solar-Park.png https://cms.mercomindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/List-... Where's Big Oil, Vanguard, Blackrock? Scanning some dozen other marque projects tells a similar story. Further, IIRC, the ROI for mega projects are largely predetermined via PPAs and such. Think of them as bonds. There seems to be no shortage of investors (for feasible projects). Okay, back to my theory... Big Oil knows this is the end game. But they want to compensated for all their soon-to-be stranded assets, real and (more likely) imaginary. So this is a hostage negotiation. They've redoubled their efforts to up the stakes. "Pay us! Or we kill the planet!" It's just straight up extortion. I have no sense for how it'll play out. My vote is for nationalizing all the fossil fuel companies. Then put all their execs (say Director on up) and board members in solitary confinement for life. Stage some show trials at The Hague for ecocide or whatever, to add a veneer of legitimacy. Though I recognize opinions may differ. -- 0/ I prefer my socialism to be advocacy-oriented, vs whinging, but tastes differ. 1/ Separately, post IRA, the billionaire funded reactionary astroturf campaign is now in full swing. For instance, every single offshore wind farm has been opposed, farmers adopting solar are being harassed, ad nauseum. So even as permitting is reformed, brain worms will likely slow our transition. 2/ Early reports post-IRA suggest new investment, in everything, has gone bonkers. With potential for even more as the Biden Admin firms up the implementation. David Roberts' Volts podcast is one of my primary sources, highest recommendation. https://www.volts.wtf/podcast/archive?sort=new https://www.volts.wtf/podcast/archive?sort=new

intrasight 3y ago
> "Pay us! Or we kill the planet!" Well it used to be "Pay us! And we kill the planet!" My opinion is that the "or" operator is an improvement over the old. It implies that there is a chance to save the planet. >My vote is for nationalizing all the fossil fuel companies This will have exactly the opposite effect as you are envisioning. Having every citizen benefit from fossil fuels will make them much harder to keep in the ground. If you haven't already done so, read Kim Stanley Robinson's article on this topic: https://www.noemamag.com/paying-ourselves-to-decarbonize/ https://www.noemamag.com/paying-ourselves-to-decarbonize/
- specialist 3y ago
  > ...will have exactly the opposite effect as you are envisioning. Sure. Or not. At some point, like with coal before it, oil's price will fall thru the floor. What then? The fate of the countries listed will vary. Foreseeing the inevitable, some of the Gulf States and Norway have been diversifying for a while. China is racing to create the post carbon future, hoping to outrun the bear. Russia is choosing oblivion. The others will fall somewhere in between. Or in the schizophrenic USA, somewhere(s). > read Kim Stanley Robinson's article Ok, have done. Meh. Aside: "The Ministry for the Future" presents an absolutely best case scenario, in all its terribleness. Pretty unconvincing. There's no reactionary movement actively thwarting progress, no emergent right wing eco-fascism. Technological progress always begets social upheaval. Globe spanning wars were fought over much lower stakes (than climate crisis). That said, I have no idea how any of this will play out. Can't even guess. But I expect the worse. And I'm an optimist.
  - intrasight 3y ago
    > But I expect the worse. And I'm an optimist. Same. That KSR article just made me more pessimistic about fossil fuels. Politicians in the West need to quickly show some leadership towards a carbon tax.

intrasight 3y ago

> "Pay us! Or we kill the planet!" Well it used to be "Pay us! And we kill the planet!" My opinion is that the "or" operator is an improvement over the old. It implies that there is a chance to save the planet. >My vote is for nationalizing all the fossil fuel companies This will have exactly the opposite effect as you are envisioning. Having every citizen benefit from fossil fuels will make them much harder to keep in the ground. If you haven't already done so, read Kim Stanley Robinson's article on this topic: https://www.noemamag.com/paying-ourselves-to-decarbonize/ https://www.noemamag.com/paying-ourselves-to-decarbonize/

specialist 3y ago
> ...will have exactly the opposite effect as you are envisioning. Sure. Or not. At some point, like with coal before it, oil's price will fall thru the floor. What then? The fate of the countries listed will vary. Foreseeing the inevitable, some of the Gulf States and Norway have been diversifying for a while. China is racing to create the post carbon future, hoping to outrun the bear. Russia is choosing oblivion. The others will fall somewhere in between. Or in the schizophrenic USA, somewhere(s). > read Kim Stanley Robinson's article Ok, have done. Meh. Aside: "The Ministry for the Future" presents an absolutely best case scenario, in all its terribleness. Pretty unconvincing. There's no reactionary movement actively thwarting progress, no emergent right wing eco-fascism. Technological progress always begets social upheaval. Globe spanning wars were fought over much lower stakes (than climate crisis). That said, I have no idea how any of this will play out. Can't even guess. But I expect the worse. And I'm an optimist.
- intrasight 3y ago
  > But I expect the worse. And I'm an optimist. Same. That KSR article just made me more pessimistic about fossil fuels. Politicians in the West need to quickly show some leadership towards a carbon tax.