9 Comments

West Virginia and Pennsylvania are considered highly feasible locations for 24/7 enhanced geothermal systems (EGS). EGS could increase the nation's geothermal energy production to 90 gigawatts, which is about 10% of the current U.S.

The best thing that high-capital AI companies can do is start building their own 24/7 Advanced geothermal power plants +solar +storage, with an integrated data processing facility, & then sell any surplus power into the local grid. Start in CA, UT, PA, & WV, four states with mapped, accessible geothermal resources. Cyrq Energy, Eavor Energy & Chevron New Energies are already under contract with Sonoma Clean Power to develop 3 new Geothermal production & storage plants in Lake & Sonoma Counties within 3 years. This will totally replace any remaining fossil gas power in the SCP portfolio.

Expand full comment

How do you persuade people when, as Krueger says, "what the economics say versus what your average voter is thinking about are very different"/

Krueger: "We need to talk about policies that help everybody. I think we need to talk about issues that bring people together again. I think the coalition of labor movements and environmental movements is key to our success here in Pennsylvania. But I don't see us changing anytime soon, David."

That sounds exactly right. Thank you both for this incredibly informative discussion.

Expand full comment

There is some opposition to the Microsoft Three Mile Island reboot: David Hess, a former Pennsylvania Secretary of Environmental Protection. And it's also worth noting that this isn't as simple as a private company offering private cash to restart the plant. They intend to use it to power their own data center, so it's not like there will be a direct public benefit from the project. And they are applying for a federal loan guarantee, so if the project fails, the taxpayer will be the one holding the bag.

https://www.politico.com/newsletters/the-long-game/2024/10/01/big-techs-nuclear-option-00181838

Expand full comment

While technically in WV, the Form iron-air battery factory is only 5 miles from the PA border and draws a lot from the old steel and energy workforce of the region. And a lot of us engineers that work there have moved to the Greater Pittsburgh area from all over the country. So IRA manufacturing projects are making an impact in Western PA!

Expand full comment

I still remember your "Good riddance" tweet when Manchin announced he wasn't running. I'm glad to the "I have so much respect for" line near the end of the interview. Manchin's sin was that he was in the exact middle while representing a Trump+42 state. We can't be a small tent party. Now WV will lose an unreliable D in favor of a hardcore R. I don't know if Manchin could have won and he was frustrating, but if Cal Cunningham hadn't been flirtatious, Manchin's position wouldn't have been so obvious.

Expand full comment

That comment was not in reference to Joe Manchin. I have absolutely no respect whatsoever for Joe Manchin. Zero. Just to be clear.

Expand full comment

I live in southwest PA, about 10 south of Pittsburgh. I'm feeling like a failure in politics, from what initially motivated me, redistricting reform to a couple of calls to my State Legislator about HB 1842.

I can't even get people to organize and access basic political information like the voter file and the mechanics of mail in voting, which varies by county in each of the 67 counties.

I think we could get together and motivate the 500 school districts to consider a significant solar installation. I'd be happy to work with people doing that.

Expand full comment

A minor point, but RGGI (Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative) (mentioned around 30 mins) is the nation’s first cap and trade program and it applies to the electric power sector in 10 states (CT, DE, ME, MA, MD, NY, NH, NJ, RI, VT) for all fossil powered plants above 25 MW. Carbon prices are about $20/short ton at most recent prices.

Expand full comment

No meaningful comment, but looking for help on promoting a clean energy prosumer idea applicable for supermarket chains, warehouse club stores and other retail that along with their customers can generate, use, sell and barter primarily solar energy to democratize energy and bypass the "natural" monopolies. Currently in Durham, NH, but genealogy-wise my ancestors came over via W.Penn, settled in upper Delaware valley, town named Drehersville, and g-g-g-great grand father was Judge Dreher, who sentenced the Molly McGuires, so am by lineage a Pennsylvanian. Perhaps you and/or Leanne could apply the ideas I have scribed. I would like to attach but do not know how to so I need an E-mail address. or addresses to send this 8 page tome. By the way some of the ideas expressed could be used by Harris/Walz addressing grocery price relief and concurrent store energy cost reduction. Jim@durhamboat.com btw: G.Washington closed the Delaware in a Durham Boat!

Expand full comment