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> This term has lost whatever meaning it ever had if we're using it to refer to binding contracts. If a technological solution is optimistic and remains vaporw

> This term has lost whatever meaning it ever had if we're using it to refer to binding contracts. If a technological solution is optimistic and remains vaporware possibly forever, then it maybe "virtue signaling" is if there more nonfunctional desire for it that outstrips practical or economic utility. A better term would be "vaporware" when there is less social puritanism involved, and I don't think coal or nuclear signal anything of redeemable greenwashing value compared to cheaper renewables combined with PES and distributed grid storage.

fragmede 2y ago
Money talks. Signing the PPA is a legally binding contract to buy the power, so the power companies will them be willing to build the plant, knowing that there's guaranteed demand. Without the PPA, there's no guaranteed demand, and the powerplant won't get built.
- denkmoon 2y ago
  Legally binding is a nebulous concept when you're some of the world's richest companies with legal departments multiple times larger than the entire staff of the companies you're 'legally bound' with.
  - JumpCrisscross 2y ago
    > Legally binding is a nebulous concept when you're some of the world's richest companies The flip side of being rich enough to hire good counsel is being rich enough to be worth going after. Were Google to renege on an agreement such as this, there would be a line of litigation financiers standing to buy the claim.
    - asdf000333 2y ago
      Unless it's not actually Google but some shell company Google is technically a customer of. But either way, I don't imagine the intent is to bail on the agreement.
  - bpodgursky 2y ago
    That extremely large and competent legal departments is going to tell you this: "Taking this to court will cost you a bajillion dollars. And you'll lose. Cut the antics and pay them off."
- kortilla 2y ago
  An agreement to buy enough power for a lightbulb from a plant generating from unicorn farts is meaningless. If they happen to pull through, it’s a drop in the bucket of Google’s overall consumption. If they don’t, then there is no downside for Google. This is not an investment.
  - patmorgan23 2y ago
    It's a first customer, and guaranteed revenue if the generation is able to be built and operated. It's huge for the nuclear startup company, and can be used to get the financing lined up. Agreed that Google is taking on very little risk here, but it's still a good action and moves the space forward.
    - kortilla 2y ago
      Important to the customer, yes. Meaningless as an indication of Google’s commitment to clean energy.
- deleted 2y ago
  [deleted]

fragmede 2y ago

Money talks. Signing the PPA is a legally binding contract to buy the power, so the power companies will them be willing to build the plant, knowing that there's guaranteed demand. Without the PPA, there's no guaranteed demand, and the powerplant won't get built.

denkmoon 2y ago
Legally binding is a nebulous concept when you're some of the world's richest companies with legal departments multiple times larger than the entire staff of the companies you're 'legally bound' with.
- JumpCrisscross 2y ago
  > Legally binding is a nebulous concept when you're some of the world's richest companies The flip side of being rich enough to hire good counsel is being rich enough to be worth going after. Were Google to renege on an agreement such as this, there would be a line of litigation financiers standing to buy the claim.
  - asdf000333 2y ago
    Unless it's not actually Google but some shell company Google is technically a customer of. But either way, I don't imagine the intent is to bail on the agreement.
- bpodgursky 2y ago
  That extremely large and competent legal departments is going to tell you this: "Taking this to court will cost you a bajillion dollars. And you'll lose. Cut the antics and pay them off."
kortilla 2y ago
An agreement to buy enough power for a lightbulb from a plant generating from unicorn farts is meaningless. If they happen to pull through, it’s a drop in the bucket of Google’s overall consumption. If they don’t, then there is no downside for Google. This is not an investment.
- patmorgan23 2y ago
  It's a first customer, and guaranteed revenue if the generation is able to be built and operated. It's huge for the nuclear startup company, and can be used to get the financing lined up. Agreed that Google is taking on very little risk here, but it's still a good action and moves the space forward.
  - kortilla 2y ago
    Important to the customer, yes. Meaningless as an indication of Google’s commitment to clean energy.
deleted 2y ago
[deleted]