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Only in the fantasy world of the Beltway does it make sense to spend billions of taxpayer dollars to artificially support an energy source that is so labor-intensive that it requires a workforce 79 times greater per unit of energy produced than coal, and nearly 40 times greater than natural gas. If I could re-title the New York Times article, I think a better choice would be "Today's Most Productive Energy Workers are in Coal and Gas, Not Solar."
Don't forget -- when anything is new and emerging it is more costly to produce. As demand increases and the technology becomes more popular -- it becomes less expensive.
While coal is cheaper - -it's long term effects on the worker, the environment may cost us more if we don't evolve...become more efficient in producing energy and using it.
"Solar is already "at least as cheap as coal" in some countries, including the United States, Germany, Australia, Spain and Italy, the report said. The cost of wind power could also be cut in half"
"By 2040, U.S. power generation from renewable energy is likely to skyrocket by 169%, according to a recent forecast from the research firm Bloomberg New Energy Finance. Coal-fired power is projected to plunge by 51% in the United States over the same period.
"The greening of the world's electricity system is unstoppable," wrote Seb Henbest, the lead author.
Wow, you want to talk about propaganda?
My former neighbor in San Diego installed solar panels on his house. He reported on FB that he now is generating all he uses, plus sells some to SDG&E. I asked him what it cost him, and found out he spent a small fortune. He won't get a return on his investment for many years (I forget what the number was). But I guess it makes him feel good.
Commercially speaking, the real estate that a solar farm takes up (or wind farm) is enormous. The solar panels only produce energy when the sun shines, of course, or the windmills when the wind blows. They require storage batteries to store the energy, and some of the energy produced always goes to keeping the batteries charged.
This isn't exactly a panacea. It's really a pipe dream ...like a perpetual motion machine!
Don't forget -- when anything is new and emerging it is more costly to produce. As demand increases and the technology becomes more popular -- it becomes less expensive.
While coal is cheaper - -it's long term effects on the worker, the environment may cost us more if we don't evolve...become more efficient in producing energy and using it.
Is this meant to be justification for shoveling taxpayer money into the solar pit?
Nuclear plants are still being built, and probably will be for many years. And coal isn't going away anytime soon just because "environmentalists" say it is. The biggest problem with nuclear plants are public perception, not the technology.
Solar, wind and geothermal aren't capable of meeting the demand, and that's not the least of the problem. You can't cover the earth with solar panels and wind farms.
But you're welcome to your pipe dream, even if it is laughable.
Last edited by nononsenseguy; 06-22-2017 at 06:37 AM..
Coal isn't going away because Trump has adopted it like some poor little lost puppy. He is using coal as an example of how he helps blue collar workers. He doesn't care if it isn't sustainable or practical -- as long as it plays to his base...and it does.
Solar sure has benefited from a lot of subsidies in the past to get where it is. Maybe its time for coal to get some of the subsidies.
Coal already has those subsidies. Also local and state tax credits for the mine owners. What coal does not have is a clean easy delivery system to homes or business.. Go figure. Maybe the POTUS needs to push a plan to go back in time.
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