The Renewable Energy Reality Check

[wtmusic]

25. No, not terrible. Natgas generates about 60% as much CO2 as coal

when it's being used for load balancing (stopping and starting). But wind's capacity factor is only 35% in the best locations - gas is filling in 65% of the time.

So wind puts out a full 39% of the carbon coal does. You can't slice it any other way.

Now back to the "best locations" - wind is simply not viable everywhere. Even across the Great Plains it takes miles of additional transmission (not included in levelized calculations). That transmission makes wind cost 3x as much for offshore locations. All of these factors support the author's contention that renewables' chance of being a significant mitigant to climate change are "slim to none".

For a contemporary analogy, renewables advocates are like residents of Moore, OK seeking shelter from a tornado in a nylon tent (it may be the best nylon tent ever made, but it's still a freaking nylon tent).

Do you agree with the EIA's assessment that all non-hydro renewables will make up a paltry 15% of power generation by 2035? If not, why not?