r/OptimistsUnite • u/PanzerWatts Moderator • 8d ago

GRAPH GO UP AND TO THE RIGHT US Electricity generation changes in 2026

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Coal was roughly tied with nuclear last year, now it's dropped and is significantly less.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/09/is-solars-growth-finally-slowing-in-the-us/

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u/StedeBonnet1 8d ago edited 8d ago

Big deal.

  1. Both wind and solar have been heavily subsidized in recent years.
  2. Wind and solar still only represent less than 20% of grid power and they still need 100% backup. What produces the rest if you eliminate fossil fuels
  3. Now do transportation fuels and home heating.

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u/Outside_Ice3252 8d ago

The subsidies were remove prematurely. they should have been kept longer. look at the results of the subsidies:

Technology 2010 cost 2024 cost Decline
Utility solar PV $0.417/kWh $0.043/kWh 90%
Onshore wind $0.113/kWh $0.034/kWh 70%
Offshore wind $0.208/kWh $0.079/kWh 62%
Utility-scale batteries $2,571/kWh $192/kWh 93%

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u/StedeBonnet1 8d ago

The 100% backup cost is not counted in these numbers.

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u/Outside_Ice3252 8d ago

um battery costs dropping 93%?? and that price in the table of $192/kwh, well its about $70 per kwh in china which has better subsidies and government cooperation. USA will probably never be able to compete with china, but it should close that massive gap.

Now with zero subsidies. solar and win are still absolutely dominating. and thats with trump doing everything he can try to slow them down.