A terrific video explains why utility investments in “baseload” coal and nuclear power plants are acting against increasing renewable energy. Credit to EnergyShouldBe, a website created by one of the technical analysts helping Boulder, CO, pursue a more local, renewable energy system.
My one caveat is that flexibility of a utility system varies by utility. Some utilities already have a lot of flexible natural gas generation and don’t need more to accommodate renewable energy. Others will need to replace baseload power plants with more flexible ones.
Delve deeper at EnergyShouldBe.org, read more about Boulder’s fight for a clean energy future, or read more about how the Germans (with over 20% renewable energy) are facing down the conflict between baseload and renewables.
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