Climate in the 21st Century

[DIY-HP-LED]

ERCOT you asshats, you were supposed to fix this....course like always you tell one thing and you do another......200 deaths in 21, was actually alot more higher....add another 0 to that.....

Texas warns of rolling blackouts to ease strain on power grid

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas warned it may use rolling blackouts to ease the strain on the state's power grid this winter as in February 2021 when over 200 people perished in the cold snap.

www.dailymail.co.uk

More reason for those who can, to go solar and battery and if you have that an EV becomes more of an option. Texas is a good place for home solar and paradoxically the place has been building out more grid scale renewables than most places. However, the local independent grid sucks and I've read some people had power bills in the thousands of dollars. A lot of folks would only need one of those before solar went on the roof and batteries went in the basement!

 

[BudmanTX]

More reason for those who can, to go solar and battery and if you have that an EV becomes more of an option. Texas is a good place for home solar and paradoxically the place has been building out more grid scale renewables than most places. However, the local independent grid sucks and I've read some people had power bills in the thousands of dollars. A lot of folks would only need one of those before solar went on the roof and batteries went in the basement!

in a snow storm like we had solar wouldn't have worked, you would have used more of a wind power for generation and even that was sketchy for the most. I was lucky and had a fireplace to keep warm with plenty of wood and to cook with. Cast Iron all the way......some people weren't that lucky though. I did give wood out to my family and my neighbor so they can keep warm.

 

[DIY-HP-LED]

in a snow storm like we had solar wouldn't have worked, you would have used more of a wind power for generation and even that was sketchy for the most. I was lucky and had a fireplace to keep warm with plenty of wood and to cook with. Cast Iron all the way......some people weren't that lucky though. I did give wood out to my family and my neighbor so they can keep warm.

Wood is a good backup, though a charged plugged in EV can power a home for nearly a week if it is setup to do it. Moving forward more people will be looking to store some of that solar power too. Texas is only 35 degrees north, so solar should work well, I imagine the snow doesn't last long, but it can get pretty cold. A better utility and less government corruption would be best though, then folks wouldn't have to worry so much about the lights going out!

 

[BudmanTX]

Wood is a good backup, though a charged plugged in EV can power a home for nearly a week if it is setup to do it. Moving forward more people will be looking to store some of that solar power too. Texas is only 35 degrees north, so solar should work well, I imagine the snow doesn't last long, but it can get pretty cold. A better utility and less government corruption would be best though, then folks wouldn't have to worry so much about the lights going out!

for the summers here, solar does work, and sometimes for winters here too. Just during that storm it wouldn't have worked at all, 9 degrees does not help with batteries, it will honestly take them out. No keeping the batteries warm no workey at least not for long anyways....

ERCOT down this direction is corrupt, just like our state legislature......Abbott was supposed to fix the problems, but he didn't he left one part out of the infrastructure and that's the pipeline that carry the gas to the power station, basically saying those are not part of the infrastructor and they don't need to be protected from harsh winters like that.....

 

[cannabineer]

somewhat climate-related: friction over wildland policy

Why environmentalists are suing the National Park Service to prevent it from planting trees | CNN

The National Park Service wants to replant wildfire-devastated sequoia groves in the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, and environmentalists are suing.

amp.cnn.com

 

[Fogdog]

Chart: Here's where utility-scale solar is located in the US

Though a few states are leading the way, big solar installations are spread all around the country — and many more will get built in the years to come.

www.canarymedia.com

Utility scale PV makes sense when used in a energy grid, not so much for home-storage using batteries, etc. Still though, government should encourage home owners to use their roofs for PV energy generation and feed it into the grid. That's good policy.

 

[Fogdog]

somewhat climate-related: friction over wildland policy

Why environmentalists are suing the National Park Service to prevent it from planting trees | CNN

The National Park Service wants to replant wildfire-devastated sequoia groves in the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, and environmentalists are suing.

amp.cnn.com

It might seem harsh to say, but there are already plenty of redwood tree seeds in the ground for redwoods to replenish themselves and if they can't it's because the climate has changed and it's time for something else to occupy that niche.

I mean, climate change is a bitch but it's time for us to get used to her being around.

National Park Service should just concede this one. I'm guessing plenty of their own botanists agree.

 

[Ozumoz66]

Utility scale PV makes sense when used in a energy grid, not so much for home-storage using batteries, etc. Still though, government should encourage home owners to use their roofs for PV energy generation and feed it into the grid. That's good policy.

Canada has some incentives for solar.

We keep meticulous records for hydro, water and natural gas usage and in 22 years we've paid $43k for hydro - using between 9k to 11k KWhr/year, except for the decade when we had a pool. A 10KW stand alone system, with batteries and inverters is about $35k + installation. We'd have room on the 60 foot hip roof barn for the panels, but cleaning off snow would be difficult. An off grid system isn't quite affordable yet.

A grid tied solar system currently pays $.39KW here and would pay for itself in under 7 years. A net metering contract is required as well a two-way hydro meter.

Solar Incentives Canada (Updated 2023)

Complete list of residential solar incentives in Canada. Includes 32 solar rebates, financing options, and tax

www.energyhub.org

.

 

[cannabineer]

It might seem harsh to say, but there are already plenty of redwood tree seeds in the ground for redwoods to replenish themselves and if they can't it's because the climate has changed and it's time for something else to occupy that niche.

I mean, climate change is a bitch but it's time for us to get used to her being around.

National Park Service should just concede this one. I'm guessing plenty of their own botanists agree.

Coast redwoods are almost weeds. But sequoia are remarkably fussy organisms. So I’m ambivalent. Affirmative Conifer Action is an inherently controversial policy. Perhaps I’m a sucker for charismatic megaflora.

 

[cannabineer]

Canada has some incentives for solar.

We keep meticulous records for hydro, water and natural gas usage and in 22 years we've paid $43k for hydro - using between 9k to 11k KWhr/year, except for the decade when we had a pool. A 10KW stand alone system, with batteries and inverters is about $35k + installation. We'd have room on the 60 foot hip roof barn for the panels, but cleaning off snow would be difficult. An off grid system isn't quite affordable yet.

A grid tied solar system currently pays $.39KW here and would pay for itself in under 7 years. A net metering contract is required as well a two-way hydro meter.

Solar Incentives Canada (Updated 2023)

Complete list of residential solar incentives in Canada. Includes 32 solar rebates, financing options, and tax

www.energyhub.org

.

California is setting up to do us a dirty rotten thing. Apartments etc. with solar will be forbidden to use their own power. The proposed law requires them to sell every watt to the utility at a deep discount, and pay retail for every joule they use.

Usually California is the progressive trendsetter. This time they’re doing a Texas. Ew.

California proposes “blatant seizure of property” in solar ruling

The California Public Utilities Commission is set to vote on a virtual net energy metering program that would force renters to sell solar generation to the utility and buy it back at a higher rate, outlawing them from consuming their electricity directly.

pv-magazine-usa.com

.

 

[CANON_Grow]

California is setting up to do us a dirty rotten thing. Apartments etc. with solar will be forbidden to use their own power. The proposed law requires them to sell every watt to the utility at a deep discount, and pay retail for every joule they use.

Usually California is the progressive trendsetter. This time they’re doing a Texas. Ew.

California proposes “blatant seizure of property” in solar ruling

The California Public Utilities Commission is set to vote on a virtual net energy metering program that would force renters to sell solar generation to the utility and buy it back at a higher rate, outlawing them from consuming their electricity directly.

pv-magazine-usa.com

.

If I am understanding it correctly, that would only apply to buildings connected to the utility infrastructure, so a farm or college would still be able to build out their own self reliant power system with no utility connection? If the proposal is any solar/wind/hydro has to be sent to the grid and purchased back at retail rates - that's bullshit.

If connecting to the grid is only when those rules apply then I can see valid justification why it must be done that way. There is a cost associated with maintaining the infrastructure and covering liability when something goes wrong. The infrastructure still has to be maintained and built to handle all the power requirements for everything connected to it, even if using solar 95% of the time. I'm sure there are different ways that cost could be covered, but a regular utility connection should not have to pay extra so another connection has a back-up power supply.

One of the many issues that will need to be addressed as new technology changes everything, from EV's and road maintenance, to what Uber/Lyft did to the typical taxi medallion, to fiber optic and 5G wireless internet distribution.

 

[cannabineer]

If I am understanding it correctly, that would only apply to buildings connected to the utility infrastructure, so a farm or college would still be able to build out their own self reliant power system with no utility connection? If the proposal is any solar/wind/hydro has to be sent to the grid and purchased back at retail rates - that's bullshit.

If connecting to the grid is only when those rules apply then I can see valid justification why it must be done that way. There is a cost associated with maintaining the infrastructure and covering liability when something goes wrong. The infrastructure still has to be maintained and built to handle all the power requirements for everything connected to it, even if using solar 95% of the time. I'm sure there are different ways that cost could be covered, but a regular utility connection should not have to pay extra so another connection has a back-up power supply.

One of the many issues that will need to be addressed as new technology changes everything, from EV's and road maintenance, to what Uber/Lyft did to the typical taxi medallion, to fiber optic and 5G wireless internet distribution.

A system would have to be 100% off-grid to escape the provision.

The grid is largely amortized, so I see this as a power (!) move by the utilities. A “mostly off-grid” installation should not be so heavily penalized imo.

I’m curious: what did Uber/Lyft do to taxis? Near as I can tell, either a taxi or an Uber will break my bank here.

 

[CANON_Grow]

A system would have to be 100% off-grid to escape the provision.

The grid is largely amortized, so I see this as a power (!) move by the utilities. A “mostly off-grid” installation should not be so heavily penalized imo.

I’m curious: what did Uber/Lyft do to taxis? Near as I can tell, either a taxi or an Uber will break my bank here.

Wheelchair accessible transportation that taxis have specialized vehicles for (was an issue in the beginning from what I understand, don't believe it is any more), and surge pricing that was not wide spread previously. I don't recall all the issues that came up, just that regulations that were in place for taxis to benefit the general public and the lack of rules with the other rideshare services.

I don't disagree that being forced to sell at wholesale and purchase full retail is harsh, just that there is a cost for access that is above what each kWh is billed for. The utility gets the benefit of a decentralized power feed and that shouldn't be ignored.

 

[Fogdog]

Coast redwoods are almost weeds. But sequoia are remarkably fussy organisms. So I’m ambivalent. Affirmative Conifer Action is an inherently controversial policy. Perhaps I’m a sucker for charismatic megaflora.

I have backpacked in Sequoia NP and recall how different it felt when passing through an old grove. I am decades removed from that experience but the memory is fresh. I mourn the passing of those trees. I understand what you are saying.

There must be millions of seed in the soil around those old trees. They will sprout and renew without man's intervention. But the groves that were wiped out are gone and those trees were hundreds if not thousands of years old. No amount of sentimentality can bring them back for the next few generations to see. The thing that I'm opposed to is not growth of new trees but the treatment of Sequoia NP as if it were Disneyland. Leave the wilderness alone and let it do what wild things do. Fires are part of CA's ecosystem. It could be that the climate has changed and an epic cycle of drought has made the re-establishment of those old groves impossible, I hope not. But if the climate can no longer support natural regrowth of Sequoias in that park then trying to replant them with drought resistant hybrids seems wrong to me. Leave it the f alone. IMO

There isn't one best answer here. You might favor treating the park like it is a tree plantation and I might favor leaving it alone and watching nature do its thing. We both are right within our value system.

 

[Fogdog]

California is setting up to do us a dirty rotten thing. Apartments etc. with solar will be forbidden to use their own power. The proposed law requires them to sell every watt to the utility at a deep discount, and pay retail for every joule they use.

Usually California is the progressive trendsetter. This time they’re doing a Texas. Ew.

California proposes “blatant seizure of property” in solar ruling

The California Public Utilities Commission is set to vote on a virtual net energy metering program that would force renters to sell solar generation to the utility and buy it back at a higher rate, outlawing them from consuming their electricity directly.

pv-magazine-usa.com

.

I couldn't find a source that rebuts this article. It sounds like it's a hot issue but for some reason only the side that opposes the new legislation is publishing their viewpoint. It could be that there is no good reason other than corporate greed. I'd like to think there is a better reason than that.

 

[cannabineer]

I have backpacked in Sequoia NP and recall how different it felt when passing through an old grove. I am decades removed from that experience but the memory is fresh. I mourn the passing of those trees. I understand what you are saying.

There must be millions of seed in the soil around those old trees. They will sprout and renew without man's intervention. But the groves that were wiped out are gone and those trees were hundreds if not thousands of years old. No amount of sentimentality can bring them back for the next few generations to see. The thing that I'm opposed to is not growth of new trees but the treatment of Sequoia NP as if it were Disneyland. Leave the wilderness alone and let it do what wild things do. Fires are part of CA's ecosystem. It could be that the climate has changed and an epic cycle of drought has made the re-establishment of those old groves impossible, I hope not. But if the climate can no longer support natural regrowth of Sequoias in that park then trying to replant them with drought resistant hybrids seems wrong to me. Leave it the f alone. IMO

There isn't one best answer here. You might favor treating the park like it is a tree plantation and I might favor leaving it alone and watching nature do its thing. We both are right within our value system.

I like a Japanese garden.

I like a wilderness that is at equilibrium without the touch of humans even more.

What you say resonates with me. If only for the fact that Nature surprises but a park never does.

 

[GenericEnigma]

I like a Japanese garden.

I like a wilderness that is at equilibrium without the touch of humans even more.

What you say resonates with me. If only for the fact that Nature surprises but a park never does.

I tend to go for undisturbed nature myself, whenever possible. Ironic that in order to enjoy it, I must, on some level, disturb it.

But the USFS's motive likely lies behind its mission:

"The mission of the USDA Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations."

Many of the folks who hate the crowds and wish we didn't have so many people - have more children than needed for population replacement.

I cry with the Lorax. So much will "never" be the same.

 

[cannabineer]

… Many of the folks who hate the crowds and wish we didn't have so many people - have more children than needed for population replacement.

Doesn’t that hit the nail on the head! Many many maga sorts think it’s a breeding competition with the “imposter Americans.” Zero-sum thought at its most direct.

I tend to go for undisturbed nature myself, whenever possible. Ironic that in order to enjoy it, I must, on some level, disturb it. …

And this is pure Zen insight. I tread very lightly in wildland.

 

[injinji]

. . . . . . . . . 9 degrees does not help with batteries, it will honestly take them out. No keeping the batteries warm no workey at least not for long anyways....

ERCOT down this direction is corrupt, just like our state legislature......Abbott was supposed to fix the problems, but he didn't he left one part out of the infrastructure and that's the pipeline that carry the gas to the power station, basically saying those are not part of the infrastructor and they don't need to be protected from harsh winters like that.....

Cold is the bane of vlogging hikers. If you don't keep your phone and battery bank in your sleeping bag with you at night, you better not try turning them on before second breakfast. It's crazy how fast they drain.

What they do to "harden" the pipeline portion of the system against cold is to take the water out of the gas. All the northern power companies have to do it. So all it takes is time and money, two things for profit power companies don't want to spend.

I'm glad our power company is a co-op. We do still have a Hurricane Michael recovery fee each month, five years after the fact. Lots of my neighbors bitch about it, but everything had to be replaced. I can see where it isn't paid for yet.

 

[cannabineer]

Utilities commission gives the profiteers a big leg up in California

New California rules are crushing the solar industry

The California Public Utilities Commission’s decision to slash the value of electricity produced on the state’s rooftops is having the exact effect the solar industry said it would. Sales are down sharply and the solar industry is losing jobs.

www.kpbs.org