trucksterbud

Some really good information about all this tired old chatter over wind and solar energy versus coal fired power plants. In the meantime, nobody is saying anything about the 750,000 MW generator in Belen, NM that keeps up the electricity needs of a state and surrounding cities as well as the total lack of coverage of the COAL FIRED power plant at Thoreau, NM. Which basically and essentially replaced one of northwestern NM's coal fired power plants at the demands of the tree-hugger crowd, and, not so much as a yawn from the tree-huggers.

New Mexico city aims to keep open coal-fired power plant.

https://www.chron.com/news/article/New-Mexico-city-aims-to-keep-open-coal-fired-14337010.php

And of course, its been around for as long as the environmental wacko groups, that without subsidies from the taxpayers and congress, wind and solar wouldn't be economically feasible. Here's an article on that very subject. For those out there that can't add it up, if you the taxpayer weren't paying out of your pockets - in some cases A LARGE AMOUNT out of your pocket - wind and solar wouldn't add up. i.e. - it wouldn't exist.

Renewable Energy Hits the Wall By Norman Rogers (from American Thinker)

If the official definitions of renewable energy were logical, renewable energy would be defined as energy that does not emit CO2 and that is not using a resource in danger of running out anytime soon. But the definitions written into the laws of many states are not logical. Hydroelectric energy is mostly banned because the environmental movement hates dams. Nuclear is banned because a hysterical fear of nuclear energy was created by environmental groups. Both nuclear and hydro don't emit CO2. Hydro doesn't need fuel. Nuclear fuel is cheap and plentiful. A large number of prominent global warming activists, such as James Hansen, Michael Shellenberger, and Stewart Brand have declared that nuclear is the only solution for the crisis that they imagine is approaching.

For those of us who don't take global warming seriously, there is nothing wrong with using coal and natural gas to generate electricity. The CO2 emitted helps plants to grow better with less water, a great help to agriculture.

In approximately thirty states that mandate renewable energy, the only scalable forms of renewable energy allowed are wind and solar. California mandates that 60% of its electricity come from renewable energy by 2030. Nevada mandates 50% by 2030. There are other types of official renewable energy, but they can't be easily scaled up. Examples are geothermal energy, wave energy, and garbage dump methane.

Wind and solar are erratic sources of energy. The output depends on the weather. Solar doesn't work at night. Because they are erratic, there have to be backup plants, generally natural gas plants, that balance the erratic flow of electricity from wind or solar. The backup plants increase output when renewable energy output declines and vice versa. Because both wind and solar are subjected to periods of near zero output, the backup system has to be able to carry the entire load of the electric grid without the wind or solar. Neither wind nor solar can replace conventional plants. If you hear that a utility is replacing fossil fuel plants with wind or solar, that can't happen. The most that can happen is that the fossil fuel plants will use less fuel when the wind or solar is generating electricity. For a natural gas plant, the gas to generate a megawatt-hour of electricity costs about $20. That $20 is the economic value of each megawatt-hour generated by wind or solar. Unsubsidized, wind or solar electricity, either one, costs about $80 a megawatt-hour to generate. The difference between $80 and $20 is the subsidy that has to be paid in order to use wind or solar.

Full article here. https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2019/08/renewable_energy_hits_the_wall.html

So, in essence, what we're being told is a fantasy by the environmental wacko's. Ya, ya, ya, pay through the nose for renewables, all the while still paying for basic electricity to come from the same old RELIABLE source. Coal and natural gas. So, sit back ladies and gents, lets see where this takes us. I have a feeling there's gonna be another 'told ya so' at the end of this. And don't forget, Governor Grisham of NM has already pissed off the petroleum industry, if her plan is enacted will strip the schools of millions a year in tax revenue (she didn't think about that one, but she will), do away with at least 3,000 high paying oil field jobs, shut down drilling that has taken years to negotiate, and probably - by Democrat design (again) - turn NM into another Democrat poverty stricken cesspool. Which of course, they're good at and NM has been for most of its time.

Lonewolf

There is no need to burn one more ton of coal

son of witless

Because of Natural Gas from Fracking ????????????????????????????????????????

Navigator

Another of many seriously weak links in your knowledge base, logistics.

Lonewolf

Gas or oil cheaper cleaner less maintenance

Navigator

In time, yes. Outside the US, much longer time.

Lonewolf

Your right

JFlorio Loc: Seminole Florida

If it’s truly cheaper and less maintenance then it will replace coal on its own without you chicken little sky is falling wimps.

Lonewolf

It has for the most part already , Has nothing to do with sky is falling
We spent a lot of money over the years cleaning up and protecting our air and water to let the greedy Republican Party and.. faster they destroy the clean water in this country the faster they get us dependent on bottled water!

son of witless

In case you fail to think about this. At least in your own self interest, you should. Many coal miners are Union. Much of the Coal related industries are Union related. The old Unions were traditionally Democrat. And you guys are puzzled why the working man abandoned Hillary for Trump.

DUH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Screw the environment. It is really only about power with you guys. Well you guys seem too stupid to see your own self interest.

Lonewolf

I have been union my whole life and have traveled all over the Country to keep working! The republican party takes pride in crushing unions! These miners need to get training to move into a field of work with a future!

Peewee Loc: San Antonio, TX

Is that why you can't swim in the ocean near San Fran and LA?

Lonewolf

I know nothing about can is it true you can't swim there???

son of witless

Trump is the first President in years to stand up for blue collar workers. The Union leadership in the Industrial Unions may have sold their souls and their Workers dues money to the Far Leftist Socialist Democrat Party, but the actual dues paying workers are not brain washed idiots. They know Trump is their best hope. I have been in two major old line unions and in their literature they have drunken the Koolaide. I see Diversity and Transgenderism Language in their rah rah paragraphs. The workers are not buying it.

There is hope even for the leadership. In one of their most recent publications they finally railed on about Chinese Industrial Gangersterism. My words , not their's. China targets Western Industries for destruction. Their state supported companies can underbid any Western European or US companies. Their latest assault is coming in Rail Cars and Buses.

Well I ask, what is President Donald Full Time Jobs. Trump's Trade War with China all about ? Well ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

It is about finally taking on the biggest threat to US workers, China. Bush did not do it. Obama never ever dreamed of doing it. And another thing. YUSE GUYS hate Trump's abrasive style. I was in a fast food restaurant this morning and over heard a conversation among the resident old geezers who haunt the place. The interesting part was that the only Black guy was praising Trump and his up front in your face style. He hates the politically correct politicians because he thinks they are lying, whereas Trump tells you bluntly what he thinks.

Trump is taking on the real threat China, while the Democrats go on and on about Russia which is no threat to US Blue Collar Workers. I don't expect that you or the morons running your party to heed my words. That is fine with me.

debeda