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Just read a report saying 70% of new US power capacity added last quarter was renewable, but natural gas plants are still being built.
Found the stat from the EIA's own data, which kinda surprised me given the climate goals we keep hearing about. Does that mismatch in planning bother anyone else, or is it just me?
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eric_morgan5928d ago
Yeah, it's that weird middle ground we're stuck in. You see it everywhere, like stores pushing paper straws but still wrapping everything in plastic. The grid needs constant power, and until batteries get way cheaper, they're keeping the gas plants as a backup plan. Makes the climate goals feel a bit like wishful thinking right now.
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tyler8224d ago
But isn't the backup plan the whole point? They're not running the gas plants all the time, just when renewables dip. The paper straw thing is a good example of feeling pointless, but this is more like keeping a spare tire in the trunk. It's clunky and not ideal, but it keeps the lights on while they build out better storage. It's a step, just not the final one.
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