Flex Alert Extends To Thursday | Page 3

Update by the edhat staff September 8, 2022

California ISO extended the flex alert through Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8.

Update by the California ISO September 6, 2022

With high temperatures in the forecast and record-high demand for electricity predicted, the California Independent System Operator (ISO) issued a statewide Flex Alert, a call for voluntary electricity conservation, today, Tuesday Sept 6th to help stabilize the state’s electric grid and deal with uncertainty created by the extraordinary conditions.

During a Flex Alert, Californians are strongly urged to lower electricity use by setting thermostats to 78 or higher, health permitting, avoid using major appliances, and turning off all unnecessary lights. Energy reduction during a Flex Alert can prevent further emergency measures, including rotating power outages.

To minimize discomfort and help with grid stability, consumers are also encouraged to pre-cool their homes and use major appliances before 4 p.m., when solar energy is typically abundant. The Flex Alert is scheduled between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m., when the grid is most stressed from high demand and less solar energy on the system.

Goleta City remind the public that the Goleta Valley Library (500 N. Fairview Ave) is available as a Cooling Center during their regular operating hours. Hours of operation are:

For information on Flex Alerts, and to find more electricity conservation tips, visit FlexAlert.org.

Update by the California ISO September 3, 2022

The California Independent System Operator (ISO) has issued another statewide Flex Alert, calling for voluntary electricity conservation for today, Saturday, Sept. 3 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., due to increasing high heat, tightening energy supplies and more potential strain on the grid.

Update by the California ISO September 2, 2022

For the third straight day, high heat and heightened demand for electricity has resulted in the California Independent System Operator (ISO) issuing a statewide call for voluntary electricity conservation. The most recent Flex Alert has been issued for today, Friday, Sept. 2., from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

With triple-digit temperatures in much of California and the West, the power grid operator is again expecting high electricity demand, primarily from air conditioning use, and needs voluntary conservation steps to help balance supply and demand.

Flex Alerts have been resulting in some helpful conservation and grid operators and an emergency proclamation from Gov. Gavin Newsom, requested by the ISO, has also freed up some additional resources.

A Restricted Maintenance Operations (RMO) remains in place through Tuesday, Sept. 6, each day from noon to 10 p.m. The declaration orders market participants to avoid any scheduled routine maintenance during those times to ensure all available resources are in service. View the Emergency Notifications fact sheet for more information.

The Flex Alert covers that time of day when the grid is most stressed from higher demand and less solar energy. During that time, consumers are urged to conserve power by setting thermostats to 78 degrees or higher, if health permits, avoiding use of major appliances and turning off unnecessary lights.

To minimize discomfort and help with grid stability, consumers are also encouraged to pre-cool their homes and use major appliances and charge electric vehicles and electronic devices before 4 p.m., when conservation begins to become most critical.

Reducing energy use during a Flex Alert can help stabilize the power grid during tight supply conditions and prevent further emergency measures, including rotating power outages.

For information on Flex Alerts, and to find more electricity conservation tips, visit FlexAlert.org.

Update by the California ISO September 1, 2022

The California Independent System Operator (ISO) has extended its statewide Flex Alert, calling for a second consecutive day of voluntary electricity conservation tomorrow, Thursday, Sept. 1, from 4 to 9 p.m., due to continuing extreme temperatures pushing up energy demand and tightening available power supplies.

The California Independent System Operator (ISO) has issued a statewide Flex Alert, a call for voluntary electricity conservation, for today, Aug. 31 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., due to high temperatures pushing up energy demand and tightening available power supplies.

With excessive heat in the forecast across much of the state and Western U.S., the grid operator is expecting high electricity demand, primarily from air conditioning use, and is calling for voluntary conservation steps to help balance supply and demand.

Additional Flex Alerts are also possible through the Labor Day weekend as recordsetting temperatures are forecast across much of the West. In what’s likely to be the most extensive heat wave so far in the West this year, temperatures in Northern California are expected to be 10-20 degrees warmer than normal through Tuesday, Sept. 6.

In Southern California, temperatures are expected to be 10-18 degrees warmer than normal. Death Valley is currently forecast to peak at 126 degrees on Saturday, which would tie the highest temperature ever recorded on Earth in the month of September.

Today’s Flex Alert is scheduled between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m., when the grid is most stressed from higher demand and less solar energy. During that time, consumers are urged to conserve power by setting thermostats to 78 degrees or higher, if health permits, avoiding use of major applicances and turning off unnecessary lights. They should also avoid charging electric vehicles while the Flex Alert is in effect.

Reducing energy use during a Flex Alert can help stabilize the power grid during tight supply conditions and prevent further emergency measures, including rotating power outages.

For information on Flex Alerts, and to find more electricity conservation tips, visit FlexAlert.org.

From 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.:

A Flex Alert is issued by the ISO when the electricity grid is under stress because of generation or transmission outages, or from persistent hot temperatures. View the fact sheet on Emergency Notifications on our News webpage. Follow grid conditions in real time at ISO’s Today’s Outlook, download the free ISO Today mobile app, and follow us on Twitter at @California_ISO.

UCSB does have a lot of solar panels in various places across campus.

I'm pleased several people are humorously advocating getting a MULE as a transportation alternative if/when the grid collapses. They run on weeds! Mules built America and fed the nation until mechanical farm equipment led small farm owners into leveraged debt and the banks took their land which is now consolidated into Agribusiness. What isn't being snapped up by the CCP or let go fallow by Bill Gates, that is.

If only the city would allow me to have a mule on my little Westside lot! Maybe we should start advocating for mule lanes. :-)

This is cool, no pun intended... A new way to turn heat into energy https://news.osu.edu/a-new-way-to-turn-heat-into-energy/ The discovery is based on tiny particles called paramagnons—bits that are not quite magnets, but that carry some magnetic flux. This is important, because magnets, when heated, lose their magnetic force and become what is called paramagnetic. A flux of magnetism—what scientists call “spins”—creates a type of energy called magnon-drag thermoelectricity, something that, until this discovery, could not be used to collect energy at room temperature. Magnets are a crucial part of collecting energy from heat: When one side of a magnet is heated, the other side—the cold side—gets more magnetic, producing spin, which pushes the electrons in the magnet and creates electricity. The paradox, though, is that when magnets get heated up, they lose most of their magnetic properties, turning them into paramagnets—“almost-but-not-quite magnets,” Heremans calls them. That means that, until this discovery, nobody thought of using paramagnets to harvest heat because scientists thought paramagnets weren’t capable of collecting energy. What they found, Heremans said, is that paramagnons do, in fact, produce the kind of spin that pushes electrons

This is cool, no pun intended...

A new way to turn heat into energy https://news.osu.edu/a-new-way-to-turn-heat-into-energy/

The discovery is based on tiny particles called paramagnons—bits that are not quite magnets, but that carry some magnetic flux. This is important, because magnets, when heated, lose their magnetic force and become what is called paramagnetic. A flux of magnetism—what scientists call “spins”—creates a type of energy called magnon-drag thermoelectricity, something that, until this discovery, could not be used to collect energy at room temperature.

Magnets are a crucial part of collecting energy from heat: When one side of a magnet is heated, the other side—the cold side—gets more magnetic, producing spin, which pushes the electrons in the magnet and creates electricity.

The paradox, though, is that when magnets get heated up, they lose most of their magnetic properties, turning them into paramagnets—“almost-but-not-quite magnets,” Heremans calls them. That means that, until this discovery, nobody thought of using paramagnets to harvest heat because scientists thought paramagnets weren’t capable of collecting energy.

What they found, Heremans said, is that paramagnons do, in fact, produce the kind of spin that pushes electrons

Wow, within days of banning ice engines newsome throws up on himself. Good thing my car still burns hippy tears so i can get to work

Again, don't use the Taliban comparison. "Christian fundamentalist" works just fine.

I love these "macho" Repubs who like to brag about how much they enjoy "owning libs." I think its far more funny to see Texas Taliban guys getting all fussy when the libs show up with guns. https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/us-news/guns-texas-protesters-lgbt-drag-b2156101.html "She just spat on me!" LOL

I love these "macho" Repubs who like to brag about how much they enjoy "owning libs." I think its far more funny to see Texas Taliban guys getting all fussy when the libs show up with guns.

https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/us-news/guns-texas-protesters-lgbt-drag-b2156101.html

"She just spat on me!" LOL

LOL, that guy that blew past you on the way to work today paying 50.00 a month to fuel his car with electricity was me. The only tears are the ones leaking from your face every time you have to fill your gas tank.

All the more reason to add a battery to our PV system.

California has been free to build out the electrical grid since over a couple decades ago regardless of Federal edicts. Even with the worlds 6th largest economy, a Democrat super majority the State Government still did nothing substantial enough to rise to this moment. The CA Emperors haven't had to wear clothes since the Gray Davis years Water is the next big issue and it will take a lot of power to run desal plants and pump water uphill away from the ocean and into treatment and storage. It will also take a battle with the Coastal Commission which blocked Huntinton Beach's desal plant

Water is the next big issue and it will take a lot of power to run desal plants and pump water uphill away from the ocean and into treatment and storage. It will also take a battle with the Coastal Commission which blocked Huntinton Beach's desal plant

Innovation: https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2022/08/chinas-2-megawatt-molten-salt-thorium-nuclear-reactor-has-start-up-approval.html https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2022/08/texas-applies-to-build-molten-salt-nuclear-by-2025.html If Newsom would have had his way two years ago, he would have shut down Diablo Cyn and almost all of the Natural Gas power plants. Addition and subtraction are hard but he did good. Inadvertantly. When it comes to power, you build to 10-15% beyond demand to allow for replacement, breakdowns etc and then subtract 10% (Diablo 24/7/365) AFTER you add 10% of a similar 24/7/365 source not before.

Innovation: https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2022/08/chinas-2-megawatt-molten-salt-thorium-nuclear-reactor-has-start-up-approval.html

https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2022/08/texas-applies-to-build-molten-salt-nuclear-by-2025.html

If Newsom would have had his way two years ago, he would have shut down Diablo Cyn and almost all of the Natural Gas power plants. Addition and subtraction are hard but he did good. Inadvertantly.

When it comes to power, you build to 10-15% beyond demand to allow for replacement, breakdowns etc and then subtract 10% (Diablo 24/7/365) AFTER you add 10% of a similar 24/7/365 source not before.

Pipe dream - corroded pipes at that. Fission power is dangerous, very expensive, and slow to come on line. This is no exception, and is not a design ready for commercial-scale power generation.

Pipe dream - corroded pipes at that.

Fission power is dangerous, very expensive, and slow to come on line. This is no exception, and is not a design ready for commercial-scale power generation.

Its a permit for an engineering department to try it out. I highly doubt they are going to do it in a way that would destroy their entire campus. Besides: #1 Low concentrations of fissible materials... a stark contrast to LWR and HWR designs where the all the fissile material is present in the core and reactor safety is maintained with control rods. #2 The second safety feature comes from physical properties of the fuel-salt. The fuel-salts are known to physically expand on heating to such an extent that temperature increases in the core will push fuel-salt out of the core and decrease the amount of fissile material in the core. [6] The fuel salts are also known to decrease neutron production on heating which further decreases the amount of fission events taking place in the core in the event of a temperature rise. [6] The combination of these two features lends a unique safety advantage to MSRs compared to LWR and HWR designs and essentially precludes the possibility of a fission run-away event #3 Mitigation of major concern. Corrosives Current research in containing MSR waste is focused on sequestering the MSR waste in glasses, taking inspiration from the way high level waste in current spent fuel reprocessing is stored diluted in chemically inert glasses. From Stanford in 2021, an even handed assessment Safety Features of MSRs Safety features are built into the reactor and materials design of MSRs. The first, and potentially most crucial safety feature, comes from the formulation of the fuel salt itself. The fuel-salt is designed with a low enough concentration of fissile material that the only time a fission reaction can be sustained in the fuel-salt is when the fuel-salt nears a moderator (graphite in MSRs). [7] This only occurs in the reactor core and means only a fraction of the total nuclear fuel is undergoing a sustained fission reaction at any given time, a stark contrast to LWR and HWR designs where the all the fissile material is present in the core and reactor safety is maintained with control rods. [3] The second safety feature comes from physical properties of the fuel-salt. The fuel-salts are known to physically expand on heating to such an extent that temperature increases in the core will push fuel-salt out of the core and decrease the amount of fissile material in the core. [6] The fuel salts are also known to decrease neutron production on heating which further decreases the amount of fission events taking place in the core in the event of a temperature rise. [6] The combination of these two features lends a unique safety advantage to MSRs compared to LWR and HWR designs and essentially precludes the possibility of a fission run-away event - what researchers at Oak Ridge National Lab termed a "major accident". [5] A core temperature rise due to increased fission activity (which can only occur in a small amount of fuel) would self-correct and decrease the neutron population of the core. The design and material properties of MSRs provides impressive safety features, but also presents other safety concerns. Safety Concerns An important concern comes from the method of removing contaminants and fission by-products from the fuel-salt. Fission reactions generate products that are strong neutron absorbers (neutron poisons) that can destroy the neutron population in a reactor. A well-studied example of this is the generation of the strong neutron absorber, Xe-135, as a decay daughter of various species. Xe-135 can be removed by operating the reactor carefully such that the buildup of Xe-135 is balanced by its removal so-called burning of the Xe-135. However, other neutron poisons can not be removed in a reasonable time scale during the reaction and are only eliminated by physically removing fuel rods that contain these poisons. [8] This presents an interesting design challenge for MSRs that do not have individual fuel rods, but instead contain a continuously circulating fluid. This was a recognized problem as early as the first MSR experiments performed at ORNL, and the proposed solution involves an onsite processing facility (chemical processing plant in Fig. 1) for cleaning the fuel-salt after it has spent time in the reactor and generated neutron poisons. [5] However, this solution leads to a general design challenge of moving radioactive waste safely from the reactor core to the processing facility and handling radioactive contamination in the structural components of the processing facility (e.g. pumps, pipes, etc.). The structural components are primarily nickel-based alloys that withstand corrosive attack from the fuel-salt, and radioactive isotopes of nickel, such as Ni-59 and Ni-63, are long-term storage issues that present radiation hazards for greater than 1000 years. [9,10] Handling contaminated structural components does not necessarily present an impossible challenge: reprocessing of spent fuel and structures around the spent fuel already does occur on the order of ~4000 metric tons of material per year, and structural components of MSRs would in principle be designed for durability. [5,11,12] A more difficult challenge arises for handling the fuel-salt waste from the reactor. Extensive work was performed in the 1970s at ORNL to identify fission by-products in the MSR waste and to develop processes for "cleaning" the fuel-salt of certain neutron poisons and contaminants. [13,14] However, cleaning the fuel-salts still generates hazardous waste that must be dealt with. The ORNL scheme for cleaning the fuel-salts of a MSR highlights the kind of waste products that exist. For the 2250 MWth MSR developed at ORNL, the fuel-salt cleaning process was estimated to generate 2 m3 of waste every 220 days. [15] This particular process was designed to recover U-233 present in the waste stream. The final waste composition was 76.3-12.3-9.8-0.64 mole % LiF-ThF4-BeF2-Zr4 and 0.96 mole % rare earths (including Sr-90 and Zr-95). [15] Though modern MSR designs will have varied waste streams from the ORNL experiments, common waste elements remain, including lithiated fluoride or chloride salts, left-over fuel (e.g. U or Th isotopes), and a host of fission by-products. [16,17] This is high level radioactive waste that must be managed carefully. Though management of high level waste already exists, MSR waste presents a challenge in that some form of containing the salt waste must be developed, since the MSR waste is corrosive (even in the solid state highly corrosive gases are produced) and is not the conventional fuel rods from LWRs or HWRs. [12,16] Current research in containing MSR waste is focused on sequestering the MSR waste in glasses, taking inspiration from the way high level waste in current spent fuel reprocessing is stored diluted in chemically inert glasses. [16] There is a lack of experimental studies on the long-term (>1 year) durability of chloride or fluoride containing glasses though, so developing strategies for containing MSR waste is still an active area of research. [16] All nuclear reactors generate gaseous waste (mostly Xe-135 and tritium). [8] MSRs generate relatively large quantities of tritium, and this presents an important safety challenge. [16] Tritium readily exchanges hydrogen in with water vapor to form tritiated water vapor that condenses to become tritiated water, which is difficult and costly to separate from ordinary water. [18] This tritiated water is a potential environmental health risk that must be managed carefully. Tritium is a low energy beta emitter that has a relatively short half-life of ~14 days. [19] The potential for uptake in the human body though is worrying nonetheless, as tritiated water absorbs readily through skin. [18] Tritium is formed in MSR reactors primarily from the decay of Li-7. Though Li-6 is the dominant isotope of Li used in the MSR salt-fuel solutions, Li-6 has a large neutron absorption cross section (940 barns) and converts to Li-7 readily. [5,20] Concerningly, tritium was observed to diffuse through the nickel-based alloys that make up the majority of MSR components. [5,13] While estimates from ORNL in the 1970s place MSR tritium production less than HWRs of the time, more modern estimates MSR tritium production significantly higher than HWRs. [5,16]The second safety feature comes from physical properties of the fuel-salt. The fuel-salts are known to physically expand on heating to such an extent that temperature increases in the core will push fuel-salt out of the core and decrease the amount of fissile material in the core. [6] The fuel salts are also known to decrease neutron production on heating which further decreases the amount of fission events taking place in the core in the event of a temperature rise. [6] The combination of these two features lends a unique safety advantage to MSRs compared to LWR and HWR designs and essentially precludes the possibility of a fission run-away event . [18,21] Outlook Research and interest in MSRs has persisted for more than 6 decades, but commercialization and practical use remains to be seen. While there are design and material features of MSRs that do provide safety benefits, such as the elimination of possible fission run-away events, there are still safety issues involving material handling that must be mitigated before commercialization of these reactors begins. Nonetheless, there is considerable interest in MSRs as an important reactor design for the future. [1]

#2 The second safety feature comes from physical properties of the fuel-salt. The fuel-salts are known to physically expand on heating to such an extent that temperature increases in the core will push fuel-salt out of the core and decrease the amount of fissile material in the core. [6] The fuel salts are also known to decrease neutron production on heating which further decreases the amount of fission events taking place in the core in the event of a temperature rise. [6] The combination of these two features lends a unique safety advantage to MSRs compared to LWR and HWR designs and essentially precludes the possibility of a fission run-away event

#3 Mitigation of major concern. Corrosives Current research in containing MSR waste is focused on sequestering the MSR waste in glasses, taking inspiration from the way high level waste in current spent fuel reprocessing is stored diluted in chemically inert glasses.

From Stanford in 2021, an even handed assessment

Safety Features of MSRs Safety features are built into the reactor and materials design of MSRs. The first, and potentially most crucial safety feature, comes from the formulation of the fuel salt itself. The fuel-salt is designed with a low enough concentration of fissile material that the only time a fission reaction can be sustained in the fuel-salt is when the fuel-salt nears a moderator (graphite in MSRs). [7] This only occurs in the reactor core and means only a fraction of the total nuclear fuel is undergoing a sustained fission reaction at any given time, a stark contrast to LWR and HWR designs where the all the fissile material is present in the core and reactor safety is maintained with control rods. [3] The second safety feature comes from physical properties of the fuel-salt. The fuel-salts are known to physically expand on heating to such an extent that temperature increases in the core will push fuel-salt out of the core and decrease the amount of fissile material in the core. [6] The fuel salts are also known to decrease neutron production on heating which further decreases the amount of fission events taking place in the core in the event of a temperature rise. [6] The combination of these two features lends a unique safety advantage to MSRs compared to LWR and HWR designs and essentially precludes the possibility of a fission run-away event - what researchers at Oak Ridge National Lab termed a "major accident". [5] A core temperature rise due to increased fission activity (which can only occur in a small amount of fuel) would self-correct and decrease the neutron population of the core. The design and material properties of MSRs provides impressive safety features, but also presents other safety concerns.

Safety Concerns An important concern comes from the method of removing contaminants and fission by-products from the fuel-salt. Fission reactions generate products that are strong neutron absorbers (neutron poisons) that can destroy the neutron population in a reactor. A well-studied example of this is the generation of the strong neutron absorber, Xe-135, as a decay daughter of various species. Xe-135 can be removed by operating the reactor carefully such that the buildup of Xe-135 is balanced by its removal so-called burning of the Xe-135. However, other neutron poisons can not be removed in a reasonable time scale during the reaction and are only eliminated by physically removing fuel rods that contain these poisons. [8] This presents an interesting design challenge for MSRs that do not have individual fuel rods, but instead contain a continuously circulating fluid. This was a recognized problem as early as the first MSR experiments performed at ORNL, and the proposed solution involves an onsite processing facility (chemical processing plant in Fig. 1) for cleaning the fuel-salt after it has spent time in the reactor and generated neutron poisons. [5] However, this solution leads to a general design challenge of moving radioactive waste safely from the reactor core to the processing facility and handling radioactive contamination in the structural components of the processing facility (e.g. pumps, pipes, etc.). The structural components are primarily nickel-based alloys that withstand corrosive attack from the fuel-salt, and radioactive isotopes of nickel, such as Ni-59 and Ni-63, are long-term storage issues that present radiation hazards for greater than 1000 years. [9,10] Handling contaminated structural components does not necessarily present an impossible challenge: reprocessing of spent fuel and structures around the spent fuel already does occur on the order of ~4000 metric tons of material per year, and structural components of MSRs would in principle be designed for durability. [5,11,12]

A more difficult challenge arises for handling the fuel-salt waste from the reactor. Extensive work was performed in the 1970s at ORNL to identify fission by-products in the MSR waste and to develop processes for "cleaning" the fuel-salt of certain neutron poisons and contaminants. [13,14] However, cleaning the fuel-salts still generates hazardous waste that must be dealt with. The ORNL scheme for cleaning the fuel-salts of a MSR highlights the kind of waste products that exist. For the 2250 MWth MSR developed at ORNL, the fuel-salt cleaning process was estimated to generate 2 m3 of waste every 220 days. [15] This particular process was designed to recover U-233 present in the waste stream. The final waste composition was 76.3-12.3-9.8-0.64 mole % LiF-ThF4-BeF2-Zr4 and 0.96 mole % rare earths (including Sr-90 and Zr-95). [15] Though modern MSR designs will have varied waste streams from the ORNL experiments, common waste elements remain, including lithiated fluoride or chloride salts, left-over fuel (e.g. U or Th isotopes), and a host of fission by-products. [16,17] This is high level radioactive waste that must be managed carefully. Though management of high level waste already exists, MSR waste presents a challenge in that some form of containing the salt waste must be developed, since the MSR waste is corrosive (even in the solid state highly corrosive gases are produced) and is not the conventional fuel rods from LWRs or HWRs. [12,16] Current research in containing MSR waste is focused on sequestering the MSR waste in glasses, taking inspiration from the way high level waste in current spent fuel reprocessing is stored diluted in chemically inert glasses. [16] There is a lack of experimental studies on the long-term (>1 year) durability of chloride or fluoride containing glasses though, so developing strategies for containing MSR waste is still an active area of research. [16]

All nuclear reactors generate gaseous waste (mostly Xe-135 and tritium). [8] MSRs generate relatively large quantities of tritium, and this presents an important safety challenge. [16] Tritium readily exchanges hydrogen in with water vapor to form tritiated water vapor that condenses to become tritiated water, which is difficult and costly to separate from ordinary water. [18] This tritiated water is a potential environmental health risk that must be managed carefully. Tritium is a low energy beta emitter that has a relatively short half-life of ~14 days. [19] The potential for uptake in the human body though is worrying nonetheless, as tritiated water absorbs readily through skin. [18] Tritium is formed in MSR reactors primarily from the decay of Li-7. Though Li-6 is the dominant isotope of Li used in the MSR salt-fuel solutions, Li-6 has a large neutron absorption cross section (940 barns) and converts to Li-7 readily. [5,20] Concerningly, tritium was observed to diffuse through the nickel-based alloys that make up the majority of MSR components. [5,13] While estimates from ORNL in the 1970s place MSR tritium production less than HWRs of the time, more modern estimates MSR tritium production significantly higher than HWRs. [5,16]The second safety feature comes from physical properties of the fuel-salt. The fuel-salts are known to physically expand on heating to such an extent that temperature increases in the core will push fuel-salt out of the core and decrease the amount of fissile material in the core. [6] The fuel salts are also known to decrease neutron production on heating which further decreases the amount of fission events taking place in the core in the event of a temperature rise. [6] The combination of these two features lends a unique safety advantage to MSRs compared to LWR and HWR designs and essentially precludes the possibility of a fission run-away event . [18,21]

Outlook Research and interest in MSRs has persisted for more than 6 decades, but commercialization and practical use remains to be seen. While there are design and material features of MSRs that do provide safety benefits, such as the elimination of possible fission run-away events, there are still safety issues involving material handling that must be mitigated before commercialization of these reactors begins. Nonetheless, there is considerable interest in MSRs as an important reactor design for the future. [1]

9:49 - Molten salt reactors have huge safety issues with regard to corrosion of the plumbing used to circulate the molten material. Leave it to Texas to not care.

I got so tired of the all or nothing politically motivated BS arguments. No, we aren't going to abandon non-green energy sources tomorrow. Yes, we need to innovate a way out of our dependance on fossil fuels. Why are people so committed to extremist thinking?

I think there's a lot of value there with solar microgram and battery back up systems as battery technology advances into new materials, also you can make fresh water from the air around you, there are a number of systems that exist to do that already.

If we're smart, future development will be based on solar microgrids. The real problem will be fresh water.

12:28@ Not surprising to see you've fallen for the "balanced energy" propaganda playbook of the carbon fuels industry.

Not surprising to see you've fallen for the "balanced energy" propaganda playbook of the carbon fuels industry.

Indeed. My electric bills have double in the last few years.

Where did I advocate for that? I didn't.

Living in an all electric world will be unaffordable for many and the unreliability of infrastructure and sources will doom us all. Never a good idea to put all your eggs in one basket. Diversifying energy sources and methods is vital.

How are all the electric cars going to charge up.... What about after 2035...? How will our modern society cope without have A/C...? Dependency on Chinese sourced lithium batteries, Solar Panels , Wind turbine components will raise our standard of living...? For the rich? Who exactly can afford this RUSH into "Green Sustainability" without fossil fuel / petroleum usage...? The Chinese are continuing to build COAL plants, mine lithium and all the components needed to supply these "Green mandates" in the West. Germany and Western Europe are already feeling the pain of limited Natural Gas.... WHY are we as a society, taking 10 steps backwards? Bring back Nuclear Power Plants . Petroleum manufacturing AND incorporate "Sustainable Energy" WE are not at the point where Wind Machines and solar can generate enough power to keep people warm in the winter, cool in the summer and Charge electric vehicles....

you know solar subsidies of up to 20%! of the cost of the solar and ANY repairs to the roof or electrical DURING install, have been available for years to all residents. I have personally helped many people get this credit and its amazing. not just for the rich, if you look into it. Its actually more feasible than you think.

We have running water at least - unlike Mississippi with failed Jim Crow era infrastructure. We have electricity in the winter - unlike Texas who is working off an antiquated grid with multiple single points of failure. But yes - repuglicans insert your complaints now about how horrible California is even though you continue to live here.

A definition of a 3rd world country is one that primarily, imports finished goods and exports raw materials. The US achieved this distinction decades ago, so no need to go to Mississippi to find 3rd World.

Correct - Mississippi is third world - because their leaders don't have a problem with citizens not having running water.

"We have running water at least..." Now THAT is a 3rd world perspective! There does not seem to be much hope for US infrastructure or, from energy/food perspectives, that of most of the World. Trickle up economics are almost complete while the people fight Left vs Right vs everyone else amongst themselves. Few countries seem to have this together, Uruguay being one (98% renewable electric w/ no shortages). We actually use electric heat/cool, electric hot water, pump our own water and our total power bill still averages only $200/month) Our SB City water bill was often over $200/mo! While not easy to implement, there are quality alternatives in life.

Shutdown nuclear and fossil fuel power generation plants. Vigorously eliminate ICE engines for vehicles, lawn mowers and everything else. Forbid natural gas for home heat and cooking. Provide vigorous subsidies for EVs. Don't promote national sources for rare earth materials or solar panel manufacture. And don't invest in a more robust electrical infrastructure. Yeah, no one could have possibly predicted this scenario and to suggest otherwise is to believe conspiracy theories.

Hey simpleton, who exactly do you think are the SB rich white guys among the commenters?

3:46 - No surprise that you're pushing carbon propaganda. From SourceWatch: The Institute for Energy Research (IER), founded in 1989 from a predecessor non-profit organization registered by Charles G. Koch and Robert L. Bradley Jr., advocates positions on environmental issues including deregulation of utilities, climate change denial, and claims that conventional energy sources are virtually limitless. It is a member of the Sustainable Development Network. The IER's President was formerly Director of Public Relations Policy at Enron. IER has been established as a 501(c)(3) non-profit group. It is a "partner" organization of the American Energy Alliance, a 501c4 organization which states that it is the "grassroots arm" of IER. AEA states that, by "communicating IER’s decades of scholarly research to the grassroots, AEA will empower citizens with facts so that people who believe in freedom can reclaim the moral high ground in the national public policy debates in the energy and environmental arena." AEA states that its aim is to "create a climate that encourages the advancement of free market energy policies" and in particular ensure drilling for oil is allowed in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and in US coastal waters.

3:46 - No surprise that you're pushing carbon propaganda. From SourceWatch:

The Institute for Energy Research (IER), founded in 1989 from a predecessor non-profit organization registered by Charles G. Koch and Robert L. Bradley Jr., advocates positions on environmental issues including deregulation of utilities, climate change denial, and claims that conventional energy sources are virtually limitless.

It is a member of the Sustainable Development Network. The IER's President was formerly Director of Public Relations Policy at Enron.

IER has been established as a 501(c)(3) non-profit group. It is a "partner" organization of the American Energy Alliance, a 501c4 organization which states that it is the "grassroots arm" of IER. AEA states that, by "communicating IER’s decades of scholarly research to the grassroots, AEA will empower citizens with facts so that people who believe in freedom can reclaim the moral high ground in the national public policy debates in the energy and environmental arena." AEA states that its aim is to "create a climate that encourages the advancement of free market energy policies" and in particular ensure drilling for oil is allowed in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and in US coastal waters.

https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/renewable/the-environmental-impact-of-lithium-batteries/ This is actually quite scary. But, hey, as long as it's not in California right?

so now it's a race thing? i know several SB-rich-hispanic-guys and SB-rich-asian-guys and quite a few SB-rich-black-guys, a couple of my SB-rich-Sri lankan-guys too....like any of that matters. keep race out of this please.

We're just out here living in the real world. Hard not to be sarcastic and not affected much by perspectives of SB-rich-white-guy-bubbles. I presuppose that you should enjoy leaning into the Wired review of the Rivian. Smells like FUD. Enjoy and good night!

Looks like you're not following the news about recent federal legislative packages that have passed. But, since your goal is spreading FUD, you would ignore those, anyway.

If you’re going to get an EV, then you better look at getting a generator! I understand california is trying to outlaw those too, but they’re still pretty easy to get. The new EV pickups would make an excellent choice because they have the capacity to carry a generator, making longer trips and driving during increasingly frequent power outages more feasible. Not sure what the situation is regarding a tow package and trailer for a tesla to haul a generator. In any case, I’ll stick to my traditional combustion engine vehicles. Nothing beats being able to fill the tank in minutes, drive hundreds of miles in a single day, and being able to keep a couple cans of spare fuel on hand in case of emergencies.

"I think the Cayenne is a fugly pile." Now what is it you said? "Not really what this is about". You contrasted your lightest car to the heaviest of all Teslas. Why? Because you're a fundamentally bad person.

"I think the Cayenne is a fugly pile."

Now what is it you said? "Not really what this is about".

You contrasted your lightest car to the heaviest of all Teslas. Why? Because you're a fundamentally bad person.

"Not really what this is about so I beg your pardon." Oh, your dishonesty is very much what it is about.

"Not really what this is about so I beg your pardon."

Oh, your dishonesty is very much what it is about.

"Tesla weighs in at about 5300 lbs." Of course being a fundamentally dishonest person you pick the most heavy Tesla there is, the Model X Plaid. All other Tesla models weigh less, and some EVs weigh around 2600 lbs. The rest of that comment is pathetic whackadoodle whining. And COVID has resulted in 6.5 million *confirmed* deaths worldwide; the actual numbers are considerably higher.

"Tesla weighs in at about 5300 lbs."

Of course being a fundamentally dishonest person you pick the most heavy Tesla there is, the Model X Plaid. All other Tesla models weigh less, and some EVs weigh around 2600 lbs.

The rest of that comment is pathetic whackadoodle whining. And COVID has resulted in 6.5 million *confirmed* deaths worldwide; the actual numbers are considerably higher.

@Chip You're the one denying climate science.

10:26 _ I'm sure you're well acquainted with porches. When it comes to Porsches, though, not so much, as is apparently true for many subjects you pontificate on.

I think the Cayenne is a fugly pile. You know Porches like you know "Science"! Why drive a tesla? They are one of the dirtiest vehicles from production thru grave. Elon Musk doesn't like people like you and yet you sell out your philosophy in a moment to score some internet points. Stay on subject troll.

The carbon fantasy pushers here are paltering, as usual. Gasoline powered generators, beyond the gross polluters already banned, will be banned starting in 2028. Of course there are generators not fueled by gasoline, but spreading FUD requires you to ignore that.

The carbon fantasy pushers here are paltering, as usual. Gasoline powered generators, beyond the gross polluters already banned, will be banned starting in 2028.

Of course there are generators not fueled by gasoline, but spreading FUD requires you to ignore that.

Sorry Alex- I just used the googlator and that popped up. My other vehicles all weigh more that the 911. Not really what this is about so I beg your pardon.

Also, the current 911 weighs in at 3800 pounds, exactly my Model 3, also the Porsche Cayenne weighs in at about 5,000 pounds, so why aren't you attacking people who own those cars? I think we know why...LOL

Also, the current 911 weighs in at 3800 pounds, exactly my Model 3, also the Porsche Cayenne weighs in at about 5,000 pounds, so why aren't you attacking people who own those cars?

I think we know why...LOL

Chico, you're an expert in energy management but apparently you don't know how to do the most basic research on a topic. My Tesla model 3 long range weighs in at about 3800. You can cherry pick the heaviest vehicle out there if you want, but that means you're sort of intentionally FOS.

Chico, you're an expert in energy management but apparently you don't know how to do the most basic research on a topic.

My Tesla model 3 long range weighs in at about 3800.

You can cherry pick the heaviest vehicle out there if you want, but that means you're sort of intentionally FOS.

Chip, I would be laughing, but your comment is so true. When CA bans gas stations we will be forced to move. I hear CA will be banning generators in 2028? What to do without electricity or backup generators?

the only thing i have read is that gas powered CARS are banned from being sold by 2035 in full. the reduction in new car sales starts immediately and progresses each year, and by 2035 100% of cars sold in CA will be hybrid, electric. Didn't see anything about ALL gas powered engines, just cars.

Alex, he's a fear mongering forest raking MAGA follower...what do you expect?

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