$3.1B annual cost estimated for fossil fuel plants DOE won't allow to retire

toomuchtodo | 23 points

Well, it's not surprising.. To have a reliable grid there needs to be some backup the few days solar/wind fails. Grid stability and black starts are no joke.

TheChaplain | a day ago

what happened to the invisible hand and free market?

dubious2 | 9 hours ago

A similar cultural statement to this X post, just with a higher price tag … https://x.com/energy/status/1950904421669318868?s=46&t=bC_eC...

flgb | 20 hours ago

Fraud, waste and abuse to own the libs.

blitzar | a day ago

$30B over ten years to reduce blackouts and grid instability is a good deal. For reference, the 2021 Texas blackout caused ~$100b in damage.

Very very few people in the power industry want to run coal plants- but they cannot in good conscience turn them off. The whole “turn off the lights” mantra is not funny. It’s unfortunate the grid is fragile and facing increased demand. Operating coal plants, preferably at zero or super low utilization rates, for another ten years or so until the grid is more resilient seems reasonable.

thoughtstheseus | 15 hours ago