Ankeny water ban

Sigmapolis

Minister of Economy
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Aug 10, 2011
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Waukee
Way off the OP, but reminded me of this article. Solar has got really cheap, and even the "what about night time?" problem is getting sorted out. This is the future, and the sooner the better.

Cali Batteries

View attachment 151226

Yep. All sorts of technical pathways out of the "duck curve" problem.

Cheaper/better storage (mostly batteries but could be other things in the future)

Wind is "countercyclical" to solar... better at night and in the cold and the winter

CCUS for the gas fleet

Next-generation modular nukes

More advanced demand-side management (smart devices, AI, etc.) to smooth out load

"Load dumps" for otherwise curtailed energy (e.g., charging up storage batteries, electric vehicles, or pumping water uphill, desalination, hydrogen electrolysis, direct air capture, etc.)

The technology to manage these problems are coming online. Coal is toast.

Clinging to it is somewhere between pathetic and sad at this point.
 
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