Climate Change? Nahhh ...

We have. The bottom line is that we *have* to start doing things to mitigate the damage and decrease it as an ongoing process or the planet will be damaged beyond our capability to repair it.

Too many of the people in power don't give a shit because they're old and don't have a stake in it. If it costs them money now, screw it.

 

In the short run, but if the majority of vehicles are electric then the whole supply chain will begin shutting down.

The knock-on effect of electric cars and trucks will be interesting. Electric motorcycles? Sure, Harley-Davidson already makes one. Electric lawnmowers are plentiful, even zero-turn models. But what about electric boats? Or jet skis? Will electric trucks have enough juice to pull a horse trailer or fifth-wheel camper?

I kind of expect electrics to be in majority in 10-15 years, with select models available in diesel - because semi trucks won't be converting en masse.

 

Re: the land issue with large-scale solar and wind

As others have mentioned, there are plenty of spaces for installing panels. The Batesville, Arkansas, school district put 1,500 solar panels on top of their various buildings. They generate about half the electricity the district uses and resulted in $300,000 in savings - which was used to increase teachers' salaries.

Why can't every school district do something like that? And every city- or state-owned building?

 

The initiative aims to shutter every coal plant. That’s the definition of either/or.

Honestly? Wind and solar are fine. They’re fine. Nice complement. A third down back. As it stands - and I concede it can change - it cannot carry the energy needs really of any big country, including this one. You’ll need nuclear, and a lot of it. China’s doing it. France already has. The climate cool kids probably know, I suspect, you’ll have to embrace it, but it’s like medicine they don’t want to swallow.

 

Coal plants are filthy and outdated technology. They're being replaced by natural gas power generation because it is cheaper, cleaner, and more efficient - and they don't give miners black lung disease.

They're buggy whip manufacturers.

 

If you’re going to be alive 14 months from now …

R1T - Rivian

 

The "Earth will end in x number of years if we don't do something by x" warnings had no effect on folks, so the movement ramped up its emotional strong-arming into using children to shame us and tying, you know, wind turbines to moral injustices of all kinds.

I'm not sure how effective it's been. Somewhat, obviously, given the pushes. But the shift is a tell. The other tell is, damn right, the only way to stop what we're being told is unavoidable disaster is to alter our lives in ways that sharply reduce consumption. And the climate movement will not say that outright.

 

That thing is pretty slick, but (in addition to the $67.5K price tag), the range is the deal breaker for me. Towing capacity seems fine for my needs. It's all about range and how long it takes to recharge.
It says the range is 300+ miles. I regularly make a 410-mile trip that requires me one stop of under 10 minutes. That's kind of my line in the sand on electric. If that gets sorted out, I'm on board.

 

Biden's talking about building charging stations along the interstate as part of his infrastructure package. I'm also seeing buzz about a company that's come up with easily replaceable battery packs for EV's. You roll in, they yank your discharged battery, swap in a charged unit, and off you go. Cool if they can work it out. Battery tech improvement remains the biggest limiting factor.

 

Shrug. I'll be dead in twenty years or less and I don't have any grandchildren.

Fuggit.