Comment on Wind and Solar Produced More Energy Than Coal in the U.S. From January Through July This Year, a First - EcoWatch

grue@lemmy.world ⁨5⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

• marine_mustang@sh.itjust.works ⁨5⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  This is that year for California. Except for January, renewables produced more than fossil fuels. We’ll probably end with renewables producing more than fossil fuels for the whole year.

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  • Anticorp@lemmy.world ⁨5⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    California has some unique advantages that many other states don’t have. They have a lot of open land with constant sunshine, they have plenty of wind corridors, and they have several large rivers for daming.

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    • marine_mustang@sh.itjust.works ⁨5⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      Yes, all true, and don’t forget the mild climate that allows us to spend significantly less on heating and cooling. On a typical day, or over a month in summer, California uses only about half the electricity that Texas does, even with the larger population and bigger economy.

      But don’t get the wrong impression. Colder northern states can be just as good, or better, equipped to deploy solar. Solar panels work best when it’s sunny and cold. Heat drops their efficiency. Also, all those midwestern states are going with wind power in a big way, and with their established drilling industries are uniquely positioned to move to deep geothermal rather than extracting oil and gas.

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      • Anticorp@lemmy.world ⁨5⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

        I would love to install solar, but we don’t have sunshine 8-10 months out of the year. Hopefully they continue getting more efficient to the point where it’s feasible up here. There’s no government incentive programs here either, which means that it takes like 30 years to pay itself off. Idk if I’ll even be alive in 30 years.

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