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The numbers for 2014-2024: https://www.eia.gov/electricity/annual/table.php?t=epa_03_01_a.html https://www.eia.gov/electricity/annual/table.php?t=epa_03_01...

by coryrc 4mo ago

The numbers for 2014-2024: https://www.eia.gov/electricity/annual/table.php?t=epa_03_01_a.html https://www.eia.gov/electricity/annual/table.php?t=epa_03_01... I doubted what you wrote, but everything you said is correct (for the last 10 years, at least). Over the time period, natural gas increased 740 TWh/year (to 1870) and coal decreased 940 TWh/year (to 650). Electricity production is up ~7%, but that's quite low compared to the growth of everything else. > This administration swapped to actively suppressing Wind and Solar via tariffs etc Biden's administration put on solar tariffs, but of course I'll grant the current administration is fucking up everything else possible.

Retric 4mo ago
Plenty of blame to go around, my understanding of the timeline is: Trumps first administration put in solar Tariffs with China (25%), Biden administration increased them with China (50%), 2nd Trump administration increased those and applied solar Tariffs to other countries. Though honestly I’ve largely stopped paying attention at this point. Solar adoption increased through all of that.
- cameldrv 4mo ago
  I think the issue is that the tarriffs just don’t really matter anymore because the panels are so cheap that they’re dwarfed by the “balance of system” costs — installation, racking, inverters, cabling, etc.
  - coryrc 4mo ago
    It matters because of opening up cheaper ways to install them. For example, in some Scandinavian country they're cheaper than fence panels, so they just use them for fences, and the power they generate is a nice bonus.
- anakaine 4mo ago
  As a foreigner it just seems.so braindead that the administrations would tarrif solar panels. The US doesnt have a great manufacturing capacity for solar panels compared to established manufacturers. The high cost of new production ensures slow uptake. From a place that embraced solar rebates, and has subsequently benefited from having in place solar battery rebates, we have a thriving industry of solar installers, electricians, and an ever increasing amount of local grid energy security in the event that storms or accidents cause supply disruptions. About 5% of households will likely not see an energy bill for the next 20 years. Another 40% have solar that covers daytime energy requirements. The requirement for baseline coal.and gas has been decreasing - though will not completely abate. I live in a state that produces abundant coal for power and steel. We have decreased our carbon emissions to 35% below 2005 levels.
3eb7988a1663 4mo ago
Biden also put out a bunch of incentives in the IRA to encourage domestic solar panel production.
- coryrc 4mo ago
  Dumb waste of money, paying an order of magnitude more.
  - 3eb7988a1663 4mo ago
    Either you want to secure the full energy chain or you do not. There are many comments in this thread about how the solar panels come from China. If that bothers you, there needs to be some financial reason for a domestic factory to open.
    - triceratops 4mo ago
      > Either you want to secure the full energy chain or you do not. Is every part of the fossil fuel production chain "secure"? All oil production and processing equipment, chemicals and so forth are produced domestically?
pfdietz 4mo ago
A new coal-fired power plant hasn't come online in the US since 2013, IIRC.

by coryrc 4mo ago

Retric 4mo ago

Plenty of blame to go around, my understanding of the timeline is: Trumps first administration put in solar Tariffs with China (25%), Biden administration increased them with China (50%), 2nd Trump administration increased those and applied solar Tariffs to other countries. Though honestly I’ve largely stopped paying attention at this point. Solar adoption increased through all of that.

cameldrv 4mo ago
I think the issue is that the tarriffs just don’t really matter anymore because the panels are so cheap that they’re dwarfed by the “balance of system” costs — installation, racking, inverters, cabling, etc.
- coryrc 4mo ago
  It matters because of opening up cheaper ways to install them. For example, in some Scandinavian country they're cheaper than fence panels, so they just use them for fences, and the power they generate is a nice bonus.
anakaine 4mo ago
As a foreigner it just seems.so braindead that the administrations would tarrif solar panels. The US doesnt have a great manufacturing capacity for solar panels compared to established manufacturers. The high cost of new production ensures slow uptake. From a place that embraced solar rebates, and has subsequently benefited from having in place solar battery rebates, we have a thriving industry of solar installers, electricians, and an ever increasing amount of local grid energy security in the event that storms or accidents cause supply disruptions. About 5% of households will likely not see an energy bill for the next 20 years. Another 40% have solar that covers daytime energy requirements. The requirement for baseline coal.and gas has been decreasing - though will not completely abate. I live in a state that produces abundant coal for power and steel. We have decreased our carbon emissions to 35% below 2005 levels.

3eb7988a1663 4mo ago

Biden also put out a bunch of incentives in the IRA to encourage domestic solar panel production.

coryrc 4mo ago
Dumb waste of money, paying an order of magnitude more.
- 3eb7988a1663 4mo ago
  Either you want to secure the full energy chain or you do not. There are many comments in this thread about how the solar panels come from China. If that bothers you, there needs to be some financial reason for a domestic factory to open.
  - triceratops 4mo ago
    > Either you want to secure the full energy chain or you do not. Is every part of the fossil fuel production chain "secure"? All oil production and processing equipment, chemicals and so forth are produced domestically?

pfdietz 4mo ago

A new coal-fired power plant hasn't come online in the US since 2013, IIRC.