Solar-Wind........and prayer!!!

[skookerasbil]

"A lack of strong political backing is due in large part to the unpopularity of climate change as an underlying motivation for clean energy expansion."

Solar, Wind, and Prayer

Been saying for 10 years, the climate folks need to come up with a Plan B......the alarmism is impressing far, far too few people for renewables to grow at any significant rate.

And make no mistake.......its not about the science. Never has been.........its ALL about the politics. Long ago, the masses have zoned out from that whole bomb thrower message. duh

The evangelicals are not caring.........if they don't care, the green fantasy continues for a long, long, long, long time s0ns!!!

That's how it works in the real world.........

 

[Old Rocks]

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/24/b...-win-on-price-vs-conventional-fuels.html?_r=0

In Texas, Austin Energy signed a deal this spring for 20 years of output from a solar farm at less than 5 cents a kilowatt-hour. In September, the Grand River Dam Authority in Oklahoma announced its approval of a new agreement to buy power from a new wind farm expected to be completed next year. Grand River estimated the deal would save its customers roughly $50 million from the project.

And, also in Oklahoma, American Electric Power ended up tripling the amount of wind power it had originally sought after seeing how low the bids came in last year.

“Wind was on sale — it was a Blue Light Special,” said Jay Godfrey, managing director of renewable energy for the company. He noted that Oklahoma, unlike many states, did not require utilities to buy power from renewable sources.

“We were doing it because it made sense for our ratepayers,” he said.

According to a study by the investment banking firm Lazard, the cost of utility-scale solar energy is as low as 5.6 cents a kilowatt-hour, and wind is as low as 1.4 cents. In comparison, natural gas comes at 6.1 cents a kilowatt-hour on the low end and coal at 6.6 cents. Without subsidies, the firm’s analysis shows, solar costs about 7.2 cents a kilowatt-hour at the low end, with wind at 3.7 cents.

And since this was published, the price of wind and solar has continued to come down, and the use of coal has declined to the point several of the big coal companies are in bankruptcy. The renewables are winning on the basis of economics.

 

[skookerasbil]

I love this part.................

"Over the past 35 years, wind energy – which supplied just 4.4% of US electricity in 2014 – has received US$30 billion in federal subsidies and grants. These subsidies shield people from the uncomfortable truth of just how much wind power actually costs and transfer money from average taxpayers to wealthy wind farm owners, many of which are units of foreign companies."


"Another factor often overlooked is the extra cost of transmission. Many of America’s wind-rich areas are remote and the turbines are often planted in open fields, far from major cities. That means new transmission lines must be built to carry electricity to consumers. The cost of building new transmission lines ranges from $15 to $27 per megawatt-hour.

In 2013, Texas completed its Competitive Renewable Energy Zone project, adding over 3,600 miles of transmission lines to remote wind farms, costing state taxpayers $7 billion."

http://www.newsweek.com/whats-true-cost-wind-power-321480



Only the uninformed fall for the wind/solar are cheap argument. The advocates only tell you a little part of the story. Wind and solar are still and will continue to be mega-expensive and wont be able to compete with fossil fuels for many decades at a minimum. The German people were lied to by their government years back about wind/solar costs and years later started seeing their electric bills and their collective jaws hit the floor......so they are back to building coal plants for the next 5 years like nobody's business. The government never told the people about the cost of building the transmission lines across the country!!

But don't take my word for it.......go check out the 2015 Obama EIA projection graph on renewables out to 2040. But fair warming........don't be sipping that coffee when you take a look at it.......it'll end up all over the monitor from splitting your sides laughing.


Indeed......economics will ALWAYS dictate energy policy.


http://www.theenergycollective.com/micha/2294847/why-renewable-energies-are-causing-increase-coal-power-Germany

The Myth Of Wind And Solar 'Capacity'

World Coal Consumption To Surpass Oil By 2020 Due To Rising Demand In China And India


http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/24/b...e-energy-stumbles-toward-the-future.html?_r=1


10 predictions for the world's energy future

 

[Old Rocks]

Yep, economics. The two states with the most renewable resources paid far less for electricity than did the states that are almost totally on fossil fuels. Washington, in 2014, an average of 7.15 kwh, Oregon, 8.78 per kwh, New York, 16.25 per kwh.

Annual Electricity Price Comparison by State

And Oregon and Washington continue to invest in renewables.

 

[skookerasbil]

Yep, economics.

And Oregon and Washington continue to invest in renewables.

Hey what can I say? Even the New York Times just two months ago ( see link above ) said renewable energy is "stumbling" forward.

Of course people will continue to "invest" in renewables. The important question ALWAYS is, "As compared to what?"

In 2035, fossil fuels will account for 78% of worlds energy use!! ( see link above ). I guess for the renewables advocate, that's considered winning!!!


God bless..........


And ps.....about 17 people live in Nebraska!!!

 

[skookerasbil]

anybody say any prayers yet?

These people need a beer and a plan at a minimum!!