One of my favorite exhibits in the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago has always been the coal mine. It’s immersive! And weirdly dated! And utterly fascinating, because although much of my electricity is nuclear generated, more than half and the most in the nation, yet my state also mines a lot of coal. Which we export. We do a lot of wind and solar now too, with our coal and nuclear power, and we apparently export electricity, as we generate more than we need even with the third largest city in the country to supply.
Power is pretty cheap here, I think because of the nuclear capacity but also because of the strong groups (hiya, Citizens Utility Board) fighting to keep prices low. I find it interesting to read all the panics about power use rather than panicking as a result.
Here in Prince William County, Virginia, they are building data centers like gangbusters.
The thing is, the data centers that are completed and operational are only running at a fraction of capacity. I’m beginning to wonder if the data center boom is a speculative bubble.
On Monday I have my second interview for a renewable teaching position (cross fingers some more please thanks!) and I need to be up to date on more than just solar. The enhanced geothermal links are just what I needed.
Nuclear power is esthetically ridiculous. You are using some very sophisticated physics embedded in a very complicated structure for the purpose of boiling water. Add in the reality that minor mistakes in operation can have catastrophic results, as well as the astronomical expense of building these things, and the profligate use of river water for cooling, and no sane person would consider this kind of energy source to be reasonable or viable.
Y'know, if those multi-billionaire techbros really wanted to make a mark and bring humanity into the Star Trek future, they'd be spending super-serious bucks into cracking the fusion problem. Yeah, I know, fusion has been thirty years in the future for my entire lifetime, and I'm old, but I'm still convinced that it's an engineering problem that can be solved.
My house was built before all of us were born. It had a 100 amp panel on it when I bought it, and that was more than sufficient 100+ years ago. Now it's got 300 amps with room for expansion.
Almost five years ago I had solar installed. My historic use was pretty low, and a 3kWh system would have fulfilled those needs. My plan was to eliminate fossil fuel burning appliances though, so I added 25% more capacity. This was fine until I got rid of the oil-burning furnace this year and replaced it with a heat pump. All of a sudden I'm not even producing half of the electricity I need. I've determined that I also need a nuclear power plant if I ever expect to break even again.
Yeah, heating is a massive part of our energy budget which we never noticed when we still burned ancient fermented ferns and dinosaurs for heat. Now that we have all our energy budget in comparable units it suddenly becomes very clear how much energy is required to heat a home.
Also let this prompt more often the question in our minds “What’s going on in the back room?” when Republicans are giving us all this literal circus up front
Rep Ayana Pressley educates us all on the extent to which Republicans are resolutely unserious
It is the one thing you have to give credit to the proven rapist and hater of our troops senile Old Man Trump. He is at least committed to preventing the problems with climate change and the over taxing of our electrical grid by returning the United States to what it once was.
Sure, Dok. It's gonna be AOK.
By '76, in fact. What a glorious time to be free.
My main trouble with nuclear power is proponents always say things will be static so no worries. Tell that to Ukraine.
One of my favorite exhibits in the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago has always been the coal mine. It’s immersive! And weirdly dated! And utterly fascinating, because although much of my electricity is nuclear generated, more than half and the most in the nation, yet my state also mines a lot of coal. Which we export. We do a lot of wind and solar now too, with our coal and nuclear power, and we apparently export electricity, as we generate more than we need even with the third largest city in the country to supply.
Power is pretty cheap here, I think because of the nuclear capacity but also because of the strong groups (hiya, Citizens Utility Board) fighting to keep prices low. I find it interesting to read all the panics about power use rather than panicking as a result.
So grateful for Doktor Zoom’s climate writing!!! Thank you!
Here in Prince William County, Virginia, they are building data centers like gangbusters.
The thing is, the data centers that are completed and operational are only running at a fraction of capacity. I’m beginning to wonder if the data center boom is a speculative bubble.
On Monday I have my second interview for a renewable teaching position (cross fingers some more please thanks!) and I need to be up to date on more than just solar. The enhanced geothermal links are just what I needed.
Thanks Dok!
Nuclear power is esthetically ridiculous. You are using some very sophisticated physics embedded in a very complicated structure for the purpose of boiling water. Add in the reality that minor mistakes in operation can have catastrophic results, as well as the astronomical expense of building these things, and the profligate use of river water for cooling, and no sane person would consider this kind of energy source to be reasonable or viable.
Y'know, if those multi-billionaire techbros really wanted to make a mark and bring humanity into the Star Trek future, they'd be spending super-serious bucks into cracking the fusion problem. Yeah, I know, fusion has been thirty years in the future for my entire lifetime, and I'm old, but I'm still convinced that it's an engineering problem that can be solved.
Thanks Dok, this is a really good piece.
Wind, Solar, use of tidal changes in the ocean, and some nuclear should do without burning more coal and gas.
My house was built before all of us were born. It had a 100 amp panel on it when I bought it, and that was more than sufficient 100+ years ago. Now it's got 300 amps with room for expansion.
Almost five years ago I had solar installed. My historic use was pretty low, and a 3kWh system would have fulfilled those needs. My plan was to eliminate fossil fuel burning appliances though, so I added 25% more capacity. This was fine until I got rid of the oil-burning furnace this year and replaced it with a heat pump. All of a sudden I'm not even producing half of the electricity I need. I've determined that I also need a nuclear power plant if I ever expect to break even again.
Yeah, heating is a massive part of our energy budget which we never noticed when we still burned ancient fermented ferns and dinosaurs for heat. Now that we have all our energy budget in comparable units it suddenly becomes very clear how much energy is required to heat a home.
The problem isn't AI, it's crypto-currency mining. Huge amounts of electricity are wasted on a scam.
It is both.
Just sayin', back when everything was powered by slaves, we didn't have to worry about any of this.
It's in Project 2025 people!
Just sayin'.
I know you think you’re kinda sorta kidding, but you’re actually not
A lot of members (thank goodness) have thoughts on this execrable “destroy DEI” so-called “legislation” House Republicans are introducing right now
(with the thought of actually getting SECOND-CLASS CITIZENSHIP passed and codified once Republicans control both the Senate and White House)
Some that people may find the most powerful and persuasive are Rep Moskowitz, Rep Raskin, Rep Jasmine Crocker and Rep Summer Lee
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjXx12ZaCfg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnJRWWZa1eo&t=0m21s
Also let this prompt more often the question in our minds “What’s going on in the back room?” when Republicans are giving us all this literal circus up front
Rep Ayana Pressley educates us all on the extent to which Republicans are resolutely unserious
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XiYZ-HvDvo
It is the one thing you have to give credit to the proven rapist and hater of our troops senile Old Man Trump. He is at least committed to preventing the problems with climate change and the over taxing of our electrical grid by returning the United States to what it once was.
A baren wasteland covered in ice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIsT3dJ60Uk
I've got a berth on Snowpiercer on lay-away.
Microsoft running a nuclear power plant - what could possibly go wrong? [looks at newest three unstoppable pop-ups in Outlook]
> But before you go trying to hoard electrons in a cigar box under your bed
Obligatory Funranium on cigar boxes:
https://www.funraniumlabs.com/2013/11/the-decembering-2013-a-worrisome-cigar-box/