tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287627708105750243.post6368481266182052769..comments2023-10-07T01:34:27.534-07:00Comments on The Broccoli Horrible: The Chief Scores a Huge Win for Climate; but the Beltway Band Plays OnAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06705439881161563584noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287627708105750243.post-87479322531621830472014-11-19T05:25:32.227-08:002014-11-19T05:25:32.227-08:00Yes, funny that we fund the utilities' investm...Yes, funny that we fund the utilities' investments. <br /><br />A few years ago, Texas was trying to fast-track a bunch of coal plants. They wanted to close down the more expensive and less profitable natural gas plants. Coal was very cheap, as you know, and the potential for bigger profits was a draw. Rick Perry even got in on it. However, a coalition of mayors, along with some citizens and watch-dog groups, protested. Many of the new coal plants were not built. If more people would become involved in these energy issues, including conservation, I really do think we could make a difference. But people have to care. Here in DFW, we have bad air, particularly during the summer. I hope we don't have to look like Beijing before the citizens take action.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13120581253933513524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287627708105750243.post-73729168962513084822014-11-18T05:07:20.581-08:002014-11-18T05:07:20.581-08:00I agree on both fronts. There will be a wind down...I agree on both fronts. There will be a wind down of coal plants but utilities love them because they have high capital costs and low operating costs. Since most utilities charge customers a return on their capital investments, big coal plants are easy ways to make shareholders happy. In NC, they get around 9% return on capital investment. Given that financing is so cheap for them, return on large capital investments is the thing propping up their bottom lines. It also explains why they do not invest heavily in efficiency research, since they get to pass costs onto captive consumers rather than competing on costs of production with other providers.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06705439881161563584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5287627708105750243.post-4806973738352128732014-11-17T04:27:23.886-08:002014-11-17T04:27:23.886-08:00Drats. My first comment was lost.
I, too, was su...Drats. My first comment was lost. <br /><br />I, too, was surprised that Obama was able to get China on board. Hope it's not too little too late. I also wonder how they will bring about any significant reductions when they've relied so heavily on coal. Nuclear perhaps, but it has its own set of environmental problems. At the least, the US should stop exporting coal and enabling other nations. And we should shut down our own plants. (Not sure that "clean coal" or IGCC will ever be a viable option in our lifetimes.) Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13120581253933513524noreply@blogger.com