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by toomuchtodo 739 days ago
Only 1 coal plant in the US is economical to run, and yet an entire industry continues to desperately attempt to continue to exist through various appeals. The market is made up by human rules, they are not physical laws, nor are they a reasonable final arbiter to what is rational.

So it’s not always just simple humans, but also malevolent ones too creating the uphill climb. Such is life.
1 comments
akira2501 739 days ago
Coal was being displaced by Natural Gas well before Solar added to the fight. Is the issue that Coal didn't just stop existing one day immediately? With power plant lifetimes of 50 to 100 years why would anyone rationally expect this outcome?

This is not a change you will see in your lifetime clearly. This is clearly a change that _is_ occurring during your life time.

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toomuchtodo 739 days ago
We agree change is occurring. Do we agree there are significant forces intentionally attempting to restrict the rate of change to be slower than it needs to be to achieve a favorable outcome for humanity?
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s1artibartfast 739 days ago
Not significantly. The economics are a tidal wave and any political action is like trying to hold it backward speed it up with a bucket.

Industry and individuals switch quickly when the economics are favorable.

Trillions of dollars stand to be made from Renewables by groups with deep political connections.

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toomuchtodo 737 days ago
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jun/09/foss... ("Far-right fossil fuel allies have launched a stunning and unprecedented campaign pressuring the supreme court to shield fossil fuel companies from litigation that could cost them billions of dollars.")

https://www.budget.senate.gov/chairman/newsroom/press/whiteh...

“Our investigation revealed how Exxon, Chevron, Shell, BP, API, and the Chamber worked in concert to mislead the public, policymakers, and investors with public promises to reduce emissions and meaningfully contribute to the transition away from oil and gas, while privately seeking to lock in continued fossil fuel production for decades into the future,” wrote Whitehouse and Raskin. “The investigation also demonstrated that the fossil fuel industry continues to knowingly obfuscate the dangers of natural gas, which they have billed as a clean and green fuel. This evidence, combined with the entities’ failure to comply fully with validly issued congressional subpoenas, suggests that further investigation by the executive branch is warranted.”

“Our investigation into the fossil fuel industry calls to mind the historic congressional investigation into deceptive practices of the tobacco industry and its trade associations, which led to investigations and litigation by several state attorneys general and the Department of Justice (DOJ),” they continued. “DOJ is well situated to pursue further investigation and take any appropriate legal action, as it has in similar cases involving the tobacco and pharmaceutical industries.”

Perhaps we disagree about the definition of the word "significantly"?

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