OldMcDonald
Platinum Member
One last try. I am opposed to subsidising any industry. I do not believe that either wind or solar, or a combination of them both can supply 100% of the power needed to keep a grid operational. I am not a "greenie". Switching to as much wind and solar power as possible will not "save the planet" - whatever that means. Everybody understand that? Good.
Now put your spare time to some use and campaign to have the subsidies stopped on ALL forms of electricity generation. And in fact all subsidies to all industries. Unfortunately you will be wasting that time, because it is not going to happen, so we all have to live with the fact. Ask your political representative why.
If I remember correctly, I think a grid has to be maintained within an extremely small tolerance. This obviously means there has to be sufficient available reserve to be able to do that. So in turn that obviously means having generating capacity that can be switched on irrespective of the weather. I know that already, hence my knowledge that wind and solar cannot supply 100% of electric. I am not sure why it has to be, because we all experience disruption to many things in our lives - why cannot we expect the occasional few minutes blackout from time to time? Because most people out there are unable to function without permanent access to electricity, and politicians have decreed that it will be so. The same people who have decreed that there will be subsidies to certain industries.
As it happens I do have blackouts from time to time. It was the same when I farmed in Australia and for similar reasons. Almost always just a few seconds to a few minutes. It can be for longer, but rarely and not more than about once a month. When I signed up to my electric contract I accepted that. I am on the very end of a long line and in the category where power is not guaranteed to be always available. I accepted those terms because I liked the look of the place, so bought it. Most people would not accept that situation, or would be continually grumbling about the poor service. That is the modern way of life. I have had to generate my own power on another farm. I choose to live in these places so accept what is available and make do. Gey few others would be prepared to do so.
Now put your spare time to some use and campaign to have the subsidies stopped on ALL forms of electricity generation. And in fact all subsidies to all industries. Unfortunately you will be wasting that time, because it is not going to happen, so we all have to live with the fact. Ask your political representative why.
If I remember correctly, I think a grid has to be maintained within an extremely small tolerance. This obviously means there has to be sufficient available reserve to be able to do that. So in turn that obviously means having generating capacity that can be switched on irrespective of the weather. I know that already, hence my knowledge that wind and solar cannot supply 100% of electric. I am not sure why it has to be, because we all experience disruption to many things in our lives - why cannot we expect the occasional few minutes blackout from time to time? Because most people out there are unable to function without permanent access to electricity, and politicians have decreed that it will be so. The same people who have decreed that there will be subsidies to certain industries.
As it happens I do have blackouts from time to time. It was the same when I farmed in Australia and for similar reasons. Almost always just a few seconds to a few minutes. It can be for longer, but rarely and not more than about once a month. When I signed up to my electric contract I accepted that. I am on the very end of a long line and in the category where power is not guaranteed to be always available. I accepted those terms because I liked the look of the place, so bought it. Most people would not accept that situation, or would be continually grumbling about the poor service. That is the modern way of life. I have had to generate my own power on another farm. I choose to live in these places so accept what is available and make do. Gey few others would be prepared to do so.
