6 ms·

Land and exploration costs are definitely included in fossil fuel costs. I think most major solar projects include land and infrastructure so only comparing th

Land and exploration costs are definitely included in fossil fuel costs. I think most major solar projects include land and infrastructure so only comparing the costs of the panels is like comparing hydro only based on operating the dam, not building it.

hvb2 1y ago
> Land and exploration costs are definitely included in fossil fuel costs. I think most major solar projects include land and infrastructure so only comparing the costs of the panels is like comparing hydro only based on operating the dam, not building it. Fossil the way we're running it now is only priced out based on burning it not dealing with its externalities either.
- prepend 1y ago
  That’s true, but GP was talking about land and other direct costs, not externalities. Comparing solar cells without other direct costs is not sufficient for decision making.
ragequittah 1y ago
What about the trillions of dollars per year in damages, health costs, etc. due to emissions?
- Forgeties79 1y ago
  Exactly my point. People always want to be nit picky about solar and wind costs, which I agree we should be, but the same scrutiny hardly gets applied to the fossil fuel industry.
- prepend 1y ago
  What about them? Include them in cost comparisons. The answer to this problem is more precise and complete comparisons, not fewer.
  - Forgeties79 1y ago
    > Include them in cost comparisons. Our point is that they aren't. Find a single study the fossil fuel industry funds, hell even accepts, that includes the longterm environmental and health costs. They’ll never agree it’s accurate. This ripples out to their proponents. We have a US president touting “clean coal” in 2025. What else is there to say? > Our Nation’s beautiful clean coal resources will be critical to meeting the rise in electricity demand due to the resurgence of domestic manufacturing and the construction of artificial intelligence data processing centers. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/reinvigorating-americas-beautiful-clean-coal-industry-and-amending-executive-order-14241/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/rein...

hvb2 1y ago

> Land and exploration costs are definitely included in fossil fuel costs. I think most major solar projects include land and infrastructure so only comparing the costs of the panels is like comparing hydro only based on operating the dam, not building it. Fossil the way we're running it now is only priced out based on burning it not dealing with its externalities either.

prepend 1y ago
That’s true, but GP was talking about land and other direct costs, not externalities. Comparing solar cells without other direct costs is not sufficient for decision making.

ragequittah 1y ago

What about the trillions of dollars per year in damages, health costs, etc. due to emissions?

Forgeties79 1y ago
Exactly my point. People always want to be nit picky about solar and wind costs, which I agree we should be, but the same scrutiny hardly gets applied to the fossil fuel industry.
prepend 1y ago
What about them? Include them in cost comparisons. The answer to this problem is more precise and complete comparisons, not fewer.
- Forgeties79 1y ago
  > Include them in cost comparisons. Our point is that they aren't. Find a single study the fossil fuel industry funds, hell even accepts, that includes the longterm environmental and health costs. They’ll never agree it’s accurate. This ripples out to their proponents. We have a US president touting “clean coal” in 2025. What else is there to say? > Our Nation’s beautiful clean coal resources will be critical to meeting the rise in electricity demand due to the resurgence of domestic manufacturing and the construction of artificial intelligence data processing centers. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/reinvigorating-americas-beautiful-clean-coal-industry-and-amending-executive-order-14241/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/rein...