Thoughts on mega wind and solar projects

[edgarrian]

Oh sure.

Based on Open Market Prices -- Most of US would have likely already dropped to Local Solar PV and would be back-feeding the whole country.

But that wipes out the Rich(er) Folks and Corporate Owned Central Plant model. So as typical in life (and below deck on the Titanic) = Screw the Bottom End.

The bottom end gets screwed in every scenario. What country even tries to make the bottom end thrive? Id venture to say none.

Solar power here in the states is pretty expensive. We can afford to do it. But the payback just isn't worth it to me. In other countries. Solar is much cheaper. Australia for example is much cheaper for install

 

[workinonit]

Funny how companies with coal and nuke plants that were on the slate to mothball have suddenly been revived. We are even re-commissioning un its that had already been shut down. This country is far from ready for wind and solar to be the primary sources of power.

 

[Phil Timmons]

Funny how companies with coal and nuke plants that were on the slate to mothball have suddenly been revived. We are even re-commissioning un its that had already been shut down. This country is far from ready for wind and solar to be the primary sources of power.

US New Coal (none) and Nukes (few to none) are just MASSIVE FREELOAD Corporate WELFARE projects.

At this point, they just make local Utilities Billing go up, and are near 100% Welfare Projects. Not even like Tax Credits. Real Money Welfare. All existing Nukes were put on Production Tax Credit Welfare a couple years ago, just to prevent early bankruptcy.

Real World 2026 -- How many New Coal or Nukes do you see on this?

 

[Phil Timmons]

The bottom end gets screwed in every scenario. What country even tries to make the bottom end thrive? Id venture to say none.

Solar power here in the states is pretty expensive. We can afford to do it. But the payback just isn't worth it to me. In other countries. Solar is much cheaper. Australia for example is much cheaper for install

In the US, contractors will charge you more IF you will pay it.

Real Deal, $1 per Watt is very doable in the US. Typical Aussie numbers are down near 60 cents per Watt.

US $1 per Watt -- makes the "payback" about 3 to 4 years, but that is sort of an odd way to do math, as then the Electricity is "Free" for the next 30 years.

More legit US $1 per Watt math may be to declare long-term production cost of 2 to 3 cents per kWh, "behind the meter."

 

[edgarrian]

In the US, contractors will charge you more IF you will pay it.

Real Deal, $1 per Watt is very doable in the US. Typical Aussie numbers are down near 60 cents per Watt.

US $1 per Watt -- makes the "payback" about 3 to 4 years, but that is sort of an odd way to do math, as then the Electricity is "Free" for the next 30 years.

More legit US $1 per Watt math may be to declare long-term production cost of 2 to 3 cents per kWh, "behind the meter."

I quoted solar about 8 years ago. 50% it was going to be around 25000. I just quoted again about 2 years ago and its gone up significantly

 

[workinonit]

US New Coal (none) and Nukes (few to none) are just MASSIVE FREELOAD Corporate WELFARE projects.

At this point, they just make local Utilities Billing go up, and are near 100% Welfare Projects. Not even like Tax Credits. Real Money Welfare. All existing Nukes were put on Production Tax Credit Welfare a couple years ago, just to prevent early bankruptcy.

Real World 2026 -- How many New Coal or Nukes do you see on this?

The ones I am referring to are not new. They won't show up on your stats. These are all existing plants that are re-opening.

Other than that you are pretty funny. Without those "MASSIVE FREELOAD Corporate WELFARE projects" you would be reading in the dark.

 

[Phil Timmons]

The ones I am referring to are not new. They won't show up on your stats. These are all existing plants that are re-opening.

Other than that you are pretty funny. Without those "MASSIVE FREELOAD Corporate WELFARE projects" you would be reading in the dark.

I understand. Work and Work(ed) this field for decades.

Really the most cited example? Palisades plant in Michigan?

HUGE Welfare Project. Over $3 billion in combined federal and state funding. Along with more long term (high cost) liabilities against the local utilities. Now this has DECADES ahead of Operations and Maintenance Costs, as well.

All for 800E6 Watts.

For $3 Billion -- they could have done 3E9 Watts of Solar (4 x as much) and had little-none-forward liability and near zero O&M costs.

US Nukes and Coal -- at this point -- 2026 are for Economic Idiots and are Money Sink-holes.

Really they are just grifting for the Top End, as Central Plants for Corporate Owner-Operators.

 

[Phil Timmons]

I quoted solar about 8 years ago. 50% it was going to be around 25000. I just quoted again about 2 years ago and its gone up significantly

A LOT has changed in 8 years. Things have even changed in the last 2 years.

You will want to get your quotes in $ per Watt. (not by "# of panels," or project cost, or however else the salesfolks try to spin things).

The target number is $1 per Watt, but is okay up to $2 per Watt -- depending on what other features may be included.

 

[oosik]

There is a large - ( > 75 units ) wind farm about 50 miles south of me. My neighbor to the south is currently negotiating with this company to install a few on his land. His land - like mine - is all open range land. So.....no reduction of crop lands involved.

 

[Phil Timmons]

There is a large - ( > 75 units ) wind farm about 50 miles south of me. My neighbor to the south is currently negotiating with this company to install a few on his land. His land - like mine - is all open range land. So.....no reduction of crop lands involved.

Yeah when you do the math on HOW LITTLE actual Land that Wind Turbines use -- about a 60 diameter circle inside the fence, which is about 3000 square feet -- nothing (other than Solar PV on buildings) can come close to lower land use for Energy Generated.

 

[JJT]

There is a large - ( > 75 units ) wind farm about 50 miles south of me. My neighbor to the south is currently negotiating with this company to install a few on his land. His land - like mine - is all open range land. So.....no reduction of crop lands involved.

The service roads for the turbines take up more space than the footprint of the towers.