3 ms·

>Do you have an oil well and refinery in your backyard? Well, in the context of the US, we certainly do. And yet, our prices go up, because of course they woul

by asdff 7mo ago

>Do you have an oil well and refinery in your backyard? Well, in the context of the US, we certainly do. And yet, our prices go up, because of course they would. In every domestic produced industry prices would go up if global supply were diminished. This is just how a globalized economy works. People assume a degree of economic isolation with solar that just isn't realistic with how the economy is structured today. It might have been realistic 100 years ago but today it is not.

triceratops 7mo ago
I meant in your literal backyard. And you bring up an excellent point with the globalized economy. Solar plants being bombed in a faraway country's war won't drive up the cost of your electricity because (most of the time) your electricity can't be exported. But oil can. If oil becomes expensive outside America, it becomes expensive within America. Even if America has its own oil.
- asdff 7mo ago
  What do you think the response will be if the supply chain can't source replacement parts? the grid is damaged every year from storms and wind in addition to routine replacement of parts and end of life replacement. Typically we've seen power companies when they say are handsomely fined for causing a wildfire and having to pay out repair and legal fees that they just raise rates for that behavior, rather than shouldering the consumer from some blow out of the goodness of their heart.
  - triceratops 7mo ago
    > What do you think the response will be if the supply chain can't source replacement parts? No idea what we're even talking about now. We went from "solar panels are an intolerable supply chain dependency" to "well the grid needs new transformers and power lines too" as a reason to not switch to solar. Grids will need new transformers and power lines if they're powered by coal too. Do you want to go full dieselpunk or steampunk? Or live in caves wearing animal hides?

by asdff 7mo ago

triceratops 7mo ago

I meant in your literal backyard. And you bring up an excellent point with the globalized economy. Solar plants being bombed in a faraway country's war won't drive up the cost of your electricity because (most of the time) your electricity can't be exported. But oil can. If oil becomes expensive outside America, it becomes expensive within America. Even if America has its own oil.

asdff 7mo ago
What do you think the response will be if the supply chain can't source replacement parts? the grid is damaged every year from storms and wind in addition to routine replacement of parts and end of life replacement. Typically we've seen power companies when they say are handsomely fined for causing a wildfire and having to pay out repair and legal fees that they just raise rates for that behavior, rather than shouldering the consumer from some blow out of the goodness of their heart.
- triceratops 7mo ago
  > What do you think the response will be if the supply chain can't source replacement parts? No idea what we're even talking about now. We went from "solar panels are an intolerable supply chain dependency" to "well the grid needs new transformers and power lines too" as a reason to not switch to solar. Grids will need new transformers and power lines if they're powered by coal too. Do you want to go full dieselpunk or steampunk? Or live in caves wearing animal hides?