Utah Leaders Hinder Efforts To Develop Solar Energy Supply (arstechnica.com) 72
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed two bills this year that ended solar development tax credits and imposed a new tax on solar generation despite solar power accounting for two-thirds of the new projects waiting to connect to the state's power grid. The legislation passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature has already had an impact.
Since May, when the laws took effect, 51 planned solar projects withdrew their applications to connect to the grid. That represents more than a quarter of all projects in Utah's transmission connection queue. The moves came as Cox promoted Operation Gigawatt, an initiative to double the state's energy production in the next decade through what he called an "any of the above" approach.
A third bill aimed at limiting solar development on farmland narrowly missed the deadline for passage but is expected to return next year. Rocky Mountain Power earlier this year asked regulators to approve a 30% electricity rate hike. Regulators eventually awarded a 4.7% increase.
Since May, when the laws took effect, 51 planned solar projects withdrew their applications to connect to the grid. That represents more than a quarter of all projects in Utah's transmission connection queue. The moves came as Cox promoted Operation Gigawatt, an initiative to double the state's energy production in the next decade through what he called an "any of the above" approach.
A third bill aimed at limiting solar development on farmland narrowly missed the deadline for passage but is expected to return next year. Rocky Mountain Power earlier this year asked regulators to approve a 30% electricity rate hike. Regulators eventually awarded a 4.7% increase.
Shcoker (Score:3, Insightful)
Utah leaders are Maga cult members. Is this really a surprise?
Re:Shcoker (Score:4, Interesting)
You mean killing jobs and making electricity more expensive?
Yeah, shocker.
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They'll just black the "black guy" or "sleepy joe".
Demented. (Score:5, Insightful)
Anyone supporting this should be treated as a cult member and an intervention should occur.
Re: Demented. (Score:5, Insightful)
Do you mean her position as a prosecutor or the president? You said fuck it and voted for the reality show host with bankrupt casinos.
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You said fuck it and voted for the reality show host with bankrupt casinos.
With bankrupt casinos AND dementia.
You can tell people are rationalizing of course, because basically all of the arguments against Biden also applied to Trump but not Harris. But someone when Biden withdrew, Harris's laugh was a more important issue on the national level than the President having serious cognitive decline.
Re: Demented. (Score:4, Insightful)
But you have no problems voting for a traitor and child rapist as long as it has a penis?
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A white penis. That needs to be included.
I heard any number of excuses about why to not vote for Kamala. None of them stood up to any mild rebuttal very well. But very few of those people then said "and so I'm voting for Trump." They knew he was crap. But they voted for him quietly just the same.
It would have helped if Kamala was a wonk who voiced her positions rather than pointed to the online documents her people put out. But then, I suspect a good number of these people would have said she was not
Re: Demented. (Score:2)
Sure, makes sense.
I had plenty of reasons not to vote for her, I just had more reasons not to vote for you know who, and I know how first past the post voting systems work. A lot of people seem to have trouble with that and think that a protest vote is a real thing.
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Which is why Ranked Choice Voting will be a game changer....and why BOTH parties are generally not in favor of it.
It lets you protest vote all you want...and still cast a sanity vote.
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The thing about getting Trump into office in the first place let alone a second term, it required every single system of American society, economics and politics to break down on a fundamental level.
The economic system has allowed the worst people to become wealthy and powerful since the earliest times. You're mostly right about the other stuff though, it at least had civility for some.
Re: Demented. (Score:2)
I have no problem saying they're both bad.
Do you have any problem saying Trump is worse?
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Re: Demented. (Score:5, Insightful)
TLDR: I can't vote for an untalented BLACK woman chose for her position because of her skin color and vagina possession. FTFY.
How about a black woman who was a successful prosecutor, won a seat in the Senate, and was attorney General of California before being elected vice president? one running against a reality-show actor whose tag line was "you're fired!", was born rich, started businesses which went bankrupt... six times over, and had no experience in government at all (but... was a white man).
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minor nit - in the 2024 election Trump most definitely did have 'experience in govt'
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Anyone who accepts a job they are given because of racism and/or sexism should be automatically be disqualified from standing for office.
That applies to Donald Trump in spades. His entire qualifications are "he's a rich white dude."
Re: Demented. (Score:4, Insightful)
But voting for the convicted felon who'd already given you one good long look at how bad he would be?
Totally get behind that one again, couldn't you?
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And that totally give you reason to vote for the greater of two weevils. Riiiight.
I mean, unless your intent all along was really to speed the collapse of the USAlien hegemony. In which case, keep up the good work. You're doing a great job.
Re: Demented. (Score:2)
The demographic that helped put Trump into office was actually Hispanics. Do you think they cared if his opponent was black or not? Or the fact that his opponent came off as a clown that only cared about abortion as the single greatest issue facing the nation?? Or that "new arrivals" were taking the very jobs that they work at?
I'm pretty sure there's a list of reasons where race was not a primary factor. Not to mention that Obama, a black person, was elected president.
When everyone cops out and single minde
Re: Demented. (Score:5, Insightful)
You sound like a wife beater.
" Look at what you made me do ! "
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Only someone quite literally demented can deny global warming and think shutting down solar is a good idea.
Where does it say the Governor denies "global warming"? He's doing two things - he's cutting subsidies and taxing Solar (probably to the same extent as other sources of energy - or are we pretending that nuclear, natural gas, etc are all operating tax-free in Utah?)
Anyone supporting this should be treated as a cult member and an intervention should occur.
Why?
As noted in TFS:
Since May, when the laws took effect, 51 planned solar projects withdrew their applications to connect to the grid. That represents more than a quarter of all projects in Utah's transmission connection queue. The moves came as Cox promoted Operation Gigawatt, an initiative to double the state's energy production in the next decade through what he called an "any of the above" approach.
I read that as removing special subsidies for Solar and treating it equally to other methods of power generation - putting solar on an equal funding/taxing basis as other sources of electricity could be seen as part of an "any
Re:Demented. (Score:4, Insightful)
Now talk about subsidies for the nuke plants.
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Your reading comprehension leaves much to be desired. From the article:
They aren't shutting it down (Score:1)
The people currently in control of our energy supply are going to make damn sure they stay that way. And we're going to help them because we are more easily distracted than a Chihuahua at a fireworks convention.
Re:Demented. (Score:5, Interesting)
Only someone quite literally demented can deny global warming and think shutting down solar is a good idea.
I agree, but I feel like I have to speak up here to defend Governor Cox a bit (I live in Utah). He's actually an intelligent and very reasonable guy, and as close to a thoughtful centrist as has any hope of getting elected to a statewide office in Utah. His position on trans rights just about cost him re-election, even though he really wasn't saying anything other than "Hey, we have to be careful here, these kids are suffering and doing the wrong thing could cause a lot more suicides" (Utah already has among the highest teen suicide rates in the nation, and the US has pretty high rates relative to the world). His "disagree better" campaign, while exactly what we need in this country, IMO, also raised a lot of GOP eyebrows in the state. Which is just stupid, but it is what it is.
Anyway, the point is that he has to pick his battles. He often signs legislation he disagrees with because he knows the GOP-dominated state legislature can and will override him if he vetos, and being overridden is politically costly. And if you think that's a cop-out, you should look at the field of competitors he had in the GOP primary, none of whom could be called thoughtful, reasonable or anything close to centrist.
I'd prefer someone the left of how Cox acts, but he's not only the best we've got, he's the best we're likely to get. And I strongly suspect that Cox would prefer to move significantly leftward (which would still leave him right of center, nationally), but he's an astute politician and politics is the art of the possible.
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Anyway, the point is that he has to pick his battles. He often signs legislation he disagrees with because he knows the GOP-dominated state legislature can and will override him i
How is what you described a coalition? It sounds much more like internalised oppression. The wrong thing must happen. We know we have to do the wrong thing otherwise someone will override us. This is not in anyone's interest.
Re: Demented. (Score:2)
Very good analysis. And he did modulate some rather draconian "bathroom bills." I can't help but wonder how many Democrats are actually registered as GOP so they can help keep him in office!! - past the "caucus system"!
Good on them!
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Very good analysis. And he did modulate some rather draconian "bathroom bills." I can't help but wonder how many Democrats are actually registered as GOP so they can help keep him in office!! - past the "caucus system"!
Heh. I am, kind of. I'm not only a registered Republican, I'm a precinct officer. I've historically always voted Republican but got active in the party in 2016 to do what I could to undercut Trump and Trumpism. I remain active for that reason. I do not consider myself a Democrat but I have been voting straight-ticket Dem since 2018[*] and will as long as Trumpism controls the GOP, while taking what opportunities I can to argue against Trumpism from the inside of the party. Of course, it's vanishingly un
Perpetually short on details. (Score:3)
Although the announcement was short on details
Well, can't fault them for consistency.
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I can't even see what the fuss is.
Temporary subsidies to establish a new technology are a good thing.
But photovoltaics, solar power generation, is dirt cheap now. It does not need subsidising, just less red tape.
Where I live, we already have an excess of solar panels, and they are turned off in the middle of the day for lack of demand.
So the subsidies have been shifted to batteries. We need cheaper storage now, not solar generation.
Is that the same in Utah?
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I can't even see what the fuss is.
Shoving out a plan that's "short on details". That doesn't breed confidence that those putting the plan together know what they are doing. And it smacks of a "political" move rather than a technical one.
we already have an excess of solar panels, and they are turned off in the middle of the day for lack of demand.
Two ways to look at that problem: Too many solar panels, or too little transmission capacity.
So the subsidies have been shifted to batteries.
That seems like a logically thought out and intelligent pivot.
Is that the same in Utah?
Certainly doesn't look like it from my chair. But I have no horse in the race, so I'm reserving commentary.
Another example why not to invest (Score:2)
Can you imagine finishing a project and then a magical tax suddenly appearing before you get to even turn it on simply because the government of the day hates you. America is shooting itself in the foot. No one in their right mind would invest in any infrastructure there right now.
Re: Another example why not to invest (Score:2)
Or indeed, any time before we institute some strong controls which somehow prevent this from happening again. And good luck to us on that.
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I can't see any business making any substantial investment in the US these days. The federal or state government tax, fiscal, or trade policies will almost certainly make a 180 degree turn every few years, ensuring that almost any sizable project will end up a financial failure.
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Can you imagine finishing a project and then a magical tax suddenly appearing before you get to even turn it on simply because the government of the day hates you.
Perhaps he doesn't see a reason to provide special subsidies to solar projects, and he doesn't agree with the tax-exempt status solar projects enjoyed versus other sources of electricity? If solar is so great and cheap, why does it require so much taxpayer money to "make sense"?
Re: Another example why not to invest (Score:3)
"If solar is so great and cheap, why does it require so much taxpayer money to "make sense"?"
You're pretending fossils and nuclear don't get subsidies.
Pretending is fun but it doesn't move this conversation forward.
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So both fossil fuel and nuclear get MASSIVE subsidies by not having to pay for their emissions/waste. If gas prices included the cost to sequester the CO2 they released, they'd be FAR more expensive. Same for nuclear and it's waste storage and disposal. It isn't priced into the per kwh cost consumers pay.
Where solar and all renewables are *cheap* is long term - 50-100+ years out. Every ton of CO2 we don't emit this year saves $$$ money in reducing the increase in disaster spending gov'ts will definit
corrupt and proud of it. (Score:2)
The GOP doesn't pretend (Score:3)
Until it affects the billionaires we like: The party of State's Rights strikes again. It's easy to see how someone was murdered in Utah for not being bigoted and cruel. The many state GOPs don't pretend to protect the state or its people, anymore: Cruelty is the point.
The US people need to spend their time on ensuring the 2026 elections happen and are not manipulated by voter re-districting, voter suppression, ballot destruction, or falsifying the count.
What about the other 3/4ths of pending projects? (Score:2)
Since May, when the laws took effect, 51 planned solar projects withdrew their applications to connect to the grid. That represents more than a quarter of all projects in Utah's transmission connection queue.
So 51 solar projects withdrew their applications to connect to the power grid - that quote implies there are still about 150 more projects that still are applying to connect to the power grid - perhaps those 51 projects were marginal, only viable with free money from the state of Utah? And who know what the other (estimated) 150 power projects are? Are they coal-fired? Nuclear? Natural Gas-fired? Wind? Hydro? Solar? We Just Don't Know - but why let that get in the way of a good rant?
For those that didn't cl
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From the sub heading of the linked-to article:
Solar power accounts for two-thirds of the new projects waiting to connect to the state’s power grid.
and from TFS:
Since May, when the laws took effect, 51 planned solar projects withdrew their applications to connect to the grid. That represents more than a quarter of all projects in Utah's transmission connection queue.
Seems like there are still quite a few solar projects going forward (not withdrawing their applications)
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Sunk costs can make it hard to withdraw. I wouldn't read too much into that. And the precise number isn't as important as their size, which doesn't seem to be mentioned, or at least featured.
Utah and Texas both (Score:3)
There's a whole shitload of old people who think they're going to get away with letting America become an oligarchy in exchange for whatever stupid little promises of culture War bullshit they get from the Republican party.
If you're over 65 you might very well die before the shit hits the fan for you personally. And anyone who is thinking like this could care less about what happens to their kids and grandkids. Those little shits never visit anyway right?
But even if you're over 65 you don't really know how long you're going to live especially with modern medical care.
Or without it. Donald Trump has started using AI to deny Medicare claims. The company he has contracted with gets to keep any savings from denying the claims. A couple of my buddies were old enough for Medicare have already had trouble getting basic pills of the kind that they need to stay alive. Basically the heart medications that are the only reason they're not dead.
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It is the topic. The oil companies fund the politicians, the politicians stay in power by any means necessary. Cronyism pays the bills. We've gone from being one of the least corrupt political systems (not THE least corrupt, but 22nd from the best CPI in 2010, to 69th now) to this. And the voting system and the gerrymandering is the only thing keeping them in. They are doing everything they can to milk the last few bucks out of this situation before they get booted.
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It will be utterly hilarious if/when the extreme Texas gerrymander actually loses them seats in Texas.
They had to make 'solid red' districts be just 'lean red' in order to get the new 5 seats.
A big enough blue wave and oopsie.
Interesting "small government" bill ya got there (Score:4)
FTA: "Jack said he was driven to act by ranchers who were concerned that solar companies were outbidding them for land they had been leasing to graze cows."
Huh. Ok.
"After negotiating with solar developers, Jack eliminated the land use restrictions while preserving provisions to prohibit tax incentives for solar farms on private agricultural land and to create standards for decommissioning projects."
Ah, so to "fix" that they 1) limit what uses private land owners can charge for, and 2) make the land leases less valuable thus reducing the potential profits of the land owner.
I thought conservative Republicans were for freedom, private property rights, freedom to contract, free markets, and other things those cock suckers claim but no longer stand for.
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\o/ (Score:1)
Trump-tastic.
Apparently clean free energy is.. bad? Uhh wait, wtf are you guys doing over there?
Not just.. (Score:2)
taking away incentives, but adding taxes.
Gee, and here I thought they were all "the invisible hand of the free market"...