[time_to_smile]

Problem is that everything needs X powered by clean energy, which means we need both a lot more clean energy and, if we want to slow/stop climate change, to massively reduce our use of fossil fuels... which requires a lot more clean energy.

We also, so far, globally have not shown any evidence of replacing fossil fuels with green energy, only supplementing them.

[acidburnNSA]

Direct carbon capture, electric vehicles, electric building heat, electric industrial process heat, and desalination are all massive new sectors that need to be powered that are barely on the radar of the existing electric grid.

And we need more power to let emerging economies rise out of poverty, where having electric pumps and washing are truely life-changing from a quality of life perspective.

So we need about 5x more total energy while also shifting from 80% fossil to 0% fossil.

This is why I advocate for nuclear while most people advocate for wind and solar. We need advocates for all clean energy. Nuclear can actually use its own direct low-carbon heat to help with buildings (district heat) and industry, and that heat can also help in desal in some cases, though RO is the preference these days and doesn't really need that much heat input.

[anigbrowl]

Tidal power is a thing. Tidal power for ocean desalination eliminates the need for transmission infrastructure. Desalination has so many obvious upsides that I'm increasingly suspicious of the people insisting it's too difficult to contemplate, none of whom contribute anything of value to the discussion.