A few months ago, Biden’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced economy-crushing, liberty-limiting, rules that would theoretically eliminate carbon dioxide emissions from the nation’s electricity sector by 2040.
U.S. power plant owners warned these plans are unworkable, relying too heavily on costly technologies that are not yet proven at scale.
Top utility trade group the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for revisions of the proposed power plant standards, which hinge on the widespread commercial availability of carbon capture and storage (CCS) and low-emissions green hydrogen, adding the agency’s vision was “not legally or technically sound.”
“Electric companies are not confident that the new technologies EPA has designated to serve as the basis for proposed standards for new and existing fossil-based generation will satisfy performance and cost requirements on the timelines that EPA projects,” EEI said in a public comment released on Tuesday on the agency’s deadline for feedback.
Resistance from the EEI and other energy-related groups poses a potentially big challenge to the administration’s climate agenda.
EEI isn’t the only group that has crunched the numbers during the comments phase of the rule-making process. The Center of the American Experiment was hired by the State of North Dakota to model the EPA proposal to determine whether it could supply reliable electricity to the 15 states on the MISO (Midcontinent Independent System Operator) grid.
Our team found that the grid implied by the EPA rule, heavily dependent on sporadic wind and solar power, would result in devastating blackouts. They further calculated that if the grid were to be made mostly (but not entirely) immune to blackouts, while still complying with the EPA rule, another $246 billion would have to be spent within the MISO system alone. That public comment is embedded below.
EPA’s power plant regulations will devastate ordinary people–those who rely on electricity and want affordable transportation–while enriching a handful of well-connected industries that have curried the favor of the current administration.
In their quest for green energy glory, the eco-activists at the EPA have forgotten about math and science.
A solar farm can generate 200 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy all the way up to more than 100 million kWh in a single year.
In the U.S., there are geothermal power plants in seven states, which produced in 2022 about 17 billion kilowatthours (kWh) (or 17,002,000 megawatthours). This was equal to about 0.4% of total U.S. utility-scale electricity generation.
Let’s compare these numbers to less favored and privileged energy sources.
Coal is a remarkably dense energy source: A single metric ton of coal can produce up to 1,927 kilowatt-hours of electricity. In the United States, 52% of the electricity comes from coal generation. A typical coal fired power plantcan produce 109 kWh/year (1,000,000,000 kWhr/year) of power, the plant burns 14,000 tons of coal every day.
Nuclear energy takes production up a notch, so the units are in megawatts (1 million watts). As an example of potential capacity, one example reactor operates at 582 MW capacity for 24 hours, and generate 13,968 megawatthours (MWh) during this time. IDuring the year, it would create 5,098,320 MWh.
The Center of the American Experiment has modeled the projections based on the EPA’s rules and the realities of actual energy creation.
To conduct our reliability analysis, American Experiment compared EPA’s modeled power plant capacity portfolio (from the figure above) to historical hourly electricity demand in MISO and hourly wind and solar capacity factors in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 to see if EPA’s modeled grid could meet electricity demand for every hour of every day. Our analysis determined that EPA’s modeled MISO grid would not be able to keep the lights on, resulting in blackouts, some of them massive.
For example, one blackout would occur in January of 2040 and result in 26,000 megawatts (MW) of capacity shortfalls, shown in red in the graph below. This accounts for 19.5 percent of electricity demand at the time of the blackout, which means one in every five homes in the region would experience a rolling power outage.
For context, a 26,000 MW blackout would essentially shut off power to the entire states of Minnesota and Wisconsin at the same time.
EPA’s modeled MISO grid produces massive blackouts because the agency is relying on unreliable wind and solar generators to meet peak electricity demand. The agency also overestimates the reliability of wind and solar, and as a result, there is not enough reliable power plant capacity on the grid to keep the lights on.
We are still recovering from the damage done by “expert bureaucrats” during covid. If the EPA’s energy rules are allowed to go forward, the impact could be even worse for our county.
And, I mention this fact one more time: Carbon dioxide is a life-essential gas.
These rules are just part of the plan certain liberals have on reducing the world’s population by 50-90% (depending on which genocidal expert one listens to).
It is more that the genocidal nitwits who want this don’t know how many of us will die when the plan kicks off.
Starvation and wars are messy and imprecise. They, mostly, won’t directly kill us like they did in WWII.
Maybe energy research should concentrate of recovering the grid from zero in very little time instead of months, because it’s going to happen regularly.
When a blackout/brownout is required make sure there are switches on the homes of politicians, pundits and green weenies so we can shut their power off first.
Instead, every home and business will be on a switch. Dependent on which party holds the majority determines whether you get steady power or blackouts.
And now you know why local and federal government is continually pushing for “smart meters” that can be remotely controlled by authorities. Bad enough they now “read” your meter remotely, they want to have total control and be able to switch on/off the power at their discretion.
Assuming that is even possible given the decentralized nature of power production and grid interconnectivity (I am on a local co-op that produces its own power) what you describe is essentially rerouting power from red areas to blue enclaves;aka theft which is still frowned upon in rural and red areas.
The power would be flowing from point of generation in rural areas to urban areas. It will be moving via transmission lines in the middle of nowhere with not a soul around. You also describe this as a deliberate action to steal from these areas (so they don’t have electricity anyway) what then is the incentive for these areas to simply allow the theft? How long will the power lines stay in operation under those circumstances? That is a lot of miles of transmission lines to worry about and some PO individual deciding they have had enough could show up anywhere along the route.
One problem with that is when the grid crashes the big cities will be the place that it is hardest to bring back online. So libs will mostly kill libs to start with. They don’t care who they kill since after this gets going votes will no be needed.
They got the cause and effect wrong. Higher temperatures lead to increased CO2 (solubility of CO2 in oceans decrease with higher temps; i.e. higher temps release CO2 dissolved in the oceans).
Point of use residential solar w/battery system is looking better by the day, even if only to mitigate against the impacts of the cray cray regulations being dreamed up in DC.
I have a 7.3 kW Tesla system with 4 Powerwalls. The city forbids getting more panels than current electrical use in the house. Could have gone to 14 kW. So much for contributing to the grid. There is an “off the grid” option but uncertain if Tesla can intervene although they can remotely command the system to pull power from the grid to top off batteries during inpending bad weather. A complete loss of the grid would likely mean we are on out own … and can make it. The system was installed as a safeguard. This is the Cali house (best turd world nation-state close to USA)… the Ak house is in a valley. .. no go.
Correct. There is not economic argument. In a normal world it is impossible to beat the utility for price per KWH. I expect constant long term outages it is the only reason to go to a local system for electric power.
There might be an economic argument in the sun belt region to reach a break even point or better on cost. As you point out the majority of the Nation just doesn’t posses the profile to make it work from a pure cost standpoint.
The caveat is unless their particular jurisdiction offers subsidies for purchase and installation which lowers the cost for that person but spreads the cost of the subsidy across the rest of the ratepayers/taxpayers.
“EPA’s power plant regulations will devastate ordinary people–those who rely on electricity and want affordable transportation–while enriching a handful of well-connected industries that have curried the favor of the current administration.”
The ultimate environmental protection – getting rid of the modern lifestyle!
For a lot of these “green” industries it’s not about protecting the environment, it’s using environmentalism as a shield while they abuse the power of government to enrich themselves massively at the taxpayer’s expense.
The vile Dumb-o-crats’ fanatical ideological fealty to the “green” agenda will never be eroded. They’ll cling to their idiotic and dystopian schemes no matter how manifestly unfeasible, costly, impoverishing, destructive and deadly they predictably are.
Ty Leslie,,, very interesting..but, as far as I can tell, the entire Biden administration is unworkable. And, while I am griping,, it isn’t even his administration,, I am not sure who is calling the shots.
They know it’s unworkable. People just refuse to accept the simple math: less energy equals less living carbon dioxide emitting resource eating human life forms.
One problem with rooftop solar is that it needs to be disconnected from the grid if linemen are doing maintenance. Otherwise, the linemen can be electrocuted. Google “rooftop solar liability insurance”.
Con Edison media relations director Jamie McShane tells Fox News Digital the energy provider is ‘very aware’ of the ‘burden’ this may bring New York customers.
The expert also shared advice when it comes to saving money on electric bills following an inquiry posed by FOX Business’ Kelly O’Grady.
“You can invest in things like smart thermostats,” she explained. “Those will help lower your bill, and at the end of the day, you are going to have to embrace,
if you want a lower energy bill, you’re probably going to have to set the thermostat 7 to 10 degrees higher than what you typically would. So in the summertime, you’re going to have to embrace being a little bit warmer. And in the wintertime, you’re going to have to embrace being a little bit colder throughout the house.”
I wonder how many well compensated leftists worked on this garbage. I believe this was an intentionally poorly thought out proposal but served its purpose as a make work spending vehicle.
The energy companies have waited too long to fight this fight. For 30 years they have been happy to take subsidies and raise rates to pay for capital spending they were allowed for wind turbines. So they went along with the premise that their own fossil fuel plants were going to kill us all. Now, since no one ever really fought back we will all pay the price.
The proper role of a utility is being ignored, and perhaps a bit of grumbling every month as you make a payment. You turn the faucet, you flip the light switch, you flush the toilet, and everything works. The utility executives make plans so these simple goals continue with no interruptions, careful plans stretching out decades with contingency alternatives and a great respect for balancing their expenses with stingy accounting held open to public inspection and respect for taxpayer dollars.
The minute a utility company executive decides that Green New Deal stuff or DEI stuff or whatever the leftist conspiracy of the day should get ahead of those simple goals, the executive should be quietly escorted off the property and served with a restraining order.
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These rules are just part of the plan certain liberals have on reducing the world’s population by 50-90% (depending on which genocidal expert one listens to).
It is more that the genocidal nitwits who want this don’t know how many of us will die when the plan kicks off.
Starvation and wars are messy and imprecise. They, mostly, won’t directly kill us like they did in WWII.
Maybe energy research should concentrate of recovering the grid from zero in very little time instead of months, because it’s going to happen regularly.
When a blackout/brownout is required make sure there are switches on the homes of politicians, pundits and green weenies so we can shut their power off first.
Instead, every home and business will be on a switch. Dependent on which party holds the majority determines whether you get steady power or blackouts.
And now you know why local and federal government is continually pushing for “smart meters” that can be remotely controlled by authorities. Bad enough they now “read” your meter remotely, they want to have total control and be able to switch on/off the power at their discretion.
90% chance you already are on a switch.
You know as well as I do that any negative effect from this nonsense will be centered in conservative areas by design.
Maybe what they’d prefer, but inevitably cities will be most affected.
Assuming that is even possible given the decentralized nature of power production and grid interconnectivity (I am on a local co-op that produces its own power) what you describe is essentially rerouting power from red areas to blue enclaves;aka theft which is still frowned upon in rural and red areas.
The power would be flowing from point of generation in rural areas to urban areas. It will be moving via transmission lines in the middle of nowhere with not a soul around. You also describe this as a deliberate action to steal from these areas (so they don’t have electricity anyway) what then is the incentive for these areas to simply allow the theft? How long will the power lines stay in operation under those circumstances? That is a lot of miles of transmission lines to worry about and some PO individual deciding they have had enough could show up anywhere along the route.
Not that hard to cut the transmission lines that feed the cities…
One problem with that is when the grid crashes the big cities will be the place that it is hardest to bring back online. So libs will mostly kill libs to start with. They don’t care who they kill since after this gets going votes will no be needed.
They got the cause and effect wrong. Higher temperatures lead to increased CO2 (solubility of CO2 in oceans decrease with higher temps; i.e. higher temps release CO2 dissolved in the oceans).
Point of use residential solar w/battery system is looking better by the day, even if only to mitigate against the impacts of the cray cray regulations being dreamed up in DC.
I’m considering either that, or perhaps a large (2k gal?) propane tank with a whole house generator.
In most localities that is already a zoning violation.
They are coming for natural gas and propane as fast as they can.
They just steal your electricity one way or another
Who is ‘they’?
I have a 7.3 kW Tesla system with 4 Powerwalls. The city forbids getting more panels than current electrical use in the house. Could have gone to 14 kW. So much for contributing to the grid. There is an “off the grid” option but uncertain if Tesla can intervene although they can remotely command the system to pull power from the grid to top off batteries during inpending bad weather. A complete loss of the grid would likely mean we are on out own … and can make it. The system was installed as a safeguard. This is the Cali house (best turd world nation-state close to USA)… the Ak house is in a valley. .. no go.
In 40% of the US, rooftop solar will never recover the energy expened in makibg and installing the panels.
I ain’t making and economic argument for them but a ‘I would like a working refrigerator and whatnot v sitting in the dark without power’ argument.
Correct. There is not economic argument. In a normal world it is impossible to beat the utility for price per KWH. I expect constant long term outages it is the only reason to go to a local system for electric power.
There might be an economic argument in the sun belt region to reach a break even point or better on cost. As you point out the majority of the Nation just doesn’t posses the profile to make it work from a pure cost standpoint.
The caveat is unless their particular jurisdiction offers subsidies for purchase and installation which lowers the cost for that person but spreads the cost of the subsidy across the rest of the ratepayers/taxpayers.
“EPA’s power plant regulations will devastate ordinary people–those who rely on electricity and want affordable transportation–while enriching a handful of well-connected industries that have curried the favor of the current administration.”
The ultimate environmental protection – getting rid of the modern lifestyle!
For a lot of these “green” industries it’s not about protecting the environment, it’s using environmentalism as a shield while they abuse the power of government to enrich themselves massively at the taxpayer’s expense.
For this administration that’s a feature, not a bug.
The vile Dumb-o-crats’ fanatical ideological fealty to the “green” agenda will never be eroded. They’ll cling to their idiotic and dystopian schemes no matter how manifestly unfeasible, costly, impoverishing, destructive and deadly they predictably are.
The typical leftist cannot admit the lack of self-awareness.
They. Don’t. Care….
I’m sure Texas will have another grid failure because they have kept us on 30% useless windmills
Abbott, Rino…just like Bush, Perry
Wind and solar optimally return 5 times the energy invested. That is comparable to cutting and burning cord wood.
Coal and natural gas return 35 to 40 times.
Nuclear returns 100 times.
Wind and solar are unreliable, therefore they are essentially worthless.
But that’s the point. These are nihilists we are dealing with, here. NIHILISTS.
Ty Leslie,,, very interesting..but, as far as I can tell, the entire Biden administration is unworkable. And, while I am griping,, it isn’t even his administration,, I am not sure who is calling the shots.
They know it’s unworkable. People just refuse to accept the simple math: less energy equals less living carbon dioxide emitting resource eating human life forms.
But, they are wokeable.
One problem with rooftop solar is that it needs to be disconnected from the grid if linemen are doing maintenance. Otherwise, the linemen can be electrocuted. Google “rooftop solar liability insurance”.
It’s mandatory to have an auto switch in Alabama to prevent that. Pretty common most everywhere due to the danger as you correctly point out.
https://www.removepaywall.com/article/current
Con Edison media relations director Jamie McShane tells Fox News Digital the energy provider is ‘very aware’ of the ‘burden’ this may bring New York customers.
The expert also shared advice when it comes to saving money on electric bills following an inquiry posed by FOX Business’ Kelly O’Grady.
“You can invest in things like smart thermostats,” she explained. “Those will help lower your bill, and at the end of the day, you are going to have to embrace,
if you want a lower energy bill, you’re probably going to have to set the thermostat 7 to 10 degrees higher than what you typically would. So in the summertime, you’re going to have to embrace being a little bit warmer. And in the wintertime, you’re going to have to embrace being a little bit colder throughout the house.”
Was she wearing a cardigan sweater?
“I understood that reference.”
–Steve Rogers
Physics, math, and tidal flux are no match for Joe Canute Biden.
I wonder how many well compensated leftists worked on this garbage. I believe this was an intentionally poorly thought out proposal but served its purpose as a make work spending vehicle.
The energy companies have waited too long to fight this fight. For 30 years they have been happy to take subsidies and raise rates to pay for capital spending they were allowed for wind turbines. So they went along with the premise that their own fossil fuel plants were going to kill us all. Now, since no one ever really fought back we will all pay the price.
The proper role of a utility is being ignored, and perhaps a bit of grumbling every month as you make a payment. You turn the faucet, you flip the light switch, you flush the toilet, and everything works. The utility executives make plans so these simple goals continue with no interruptions, careful plans stretching out decades with contingency alternatives and a great respect for balancing their expenses with stingy accounting held open to public inspection and respect for taxpayer dollars.
The minute a utility company executive decides that Green New Deal stuff or DEI stuff or whatever the leftist conspiracy of the day should get ahead of those simple goals, the executive should be quietly escorted off the property and served with a restraining order.