US has absurdly large domestic energy resources like gas reserves, coal reserves, uranium, and thermal energy infrastructure.

Then, there is the supply chain argument: the specialized turbines, components, vessels and manufacturing chains are manufactured overseas and imported to support Wind. RWE is itself German. It’s good to reduce dependence on foreign supply chains.

Fishing and maritime was also cited as a concern.

Onshore Wind is used (see New Mexico). Offshore Wind is a harder sell.

Gas/nuclear/geothermal is a better investment for the US than Offshore Wind.

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m4ck_ an hour ago | parent | next [-]

>It’s good to reduce dependence on foreign supply chains

The fact that we're still basically entirely reliant on the middle east and other foreign producers for our domestic fuel supply suggests this isn't really that big of a deal. Even in the middle of a war that is generating massive profits for the oil industry, no one is suggesting they should add refinery capacity or convert existing ones to use domestic oil.

This move is about the president's personal vendetta against offshore wind and satisfying his financial backers in the fossil fuel industry.

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firesteelrain an hour ago | parent [-]

I disagree.

The US is the largest producer of oil and natural gas in the world. We’re also a net energy exporter.

We import some crude because our refineries are set up for it. That’s a long way from being “entirely reliant” on foreign fuel.

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m4ck_ 28 minutes ago | parent [-]

We are indeed the largest producer of oil and natural gas. In this case, "some" is like 70%. Maybe that's not "entirely reliant", but it's far from independence. If other countries stopped selling us oil, our car-centric society would be FUBAR for some time.

https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/oil-and-petroleum-produc...

https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_move_impcus_d_nus_Z00_mbblp...

https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_move_exp_dc_NUS-Z00_mbblpd_...

	▲	firesteelrain 15 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		70% figure isn’t dependence on foreign oil for 70% of our consumption. The US both imports and exports huge amounts of petroleum. And most US crude imports come from Canada, not the Middle East. If the Middle East suddenly stopped it would cause a disruption but that’s very different than saying the US is reliant on the Middle East.

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ch_sm an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

While these arguments are valid, you’re missing the forrest for the trees. Renewable energy has better long-term ROI because it doesn’t require constant purchase of fuel. Renewable energy plants also produce far, far less CO2 that goes into the atmosphere and endangers our biosphere (yours and mine).

	▲	firesteelrain an hour ago \| parent [-]
		[dead]

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windyoil an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Do you know if it would be easier to get fully domestic supply and manufacturing chains for solar or for wind, if a way is found to prevent corruption undermining setting up fully domestic production?

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firesteelrain 36 minutes ago | parent [-]

For onshore wind, probably wind.

For offshore wind, not nearly as clear. The US still lacks a lot of the specialized vessels, ports and manufacturing capacity.

Solar has bigger upstream dependence on Asian wafer/cell production.

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ceejayoz 26 minutes ago | parent [-]

> The US still lacks a lot of the specialized vessels, ports and manufacturing capacity.

Maybe we should put the $1.2B into that sort of thing, then?

	▲	firesteelrain 17 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		[dead]

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brookst 2 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

> It’s good to reduce dependence on foreign supply chains.

Huh? That’s quite a whopper to drop as if it’s an obvious truth.

It’s good to diversify supply chains. Eggs-in-one-basket is bad for many reasons, even if it’s your own domestic basket.

Trade interdependence is good for competition, reduces risks from disasters, and creates disincentives for war.

And the market apparently thinks offshore wind is a good investement for the US, to the point where the government has to pay companies not to do it.

	▲	firesteelrain 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		See 1. https://www.energy.gov/cmei/systems/securing-us-supply-chain... 2. https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy23osti/84710.pdf 3. https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-26-107769 4. https://www.energy.gov/cmei/wind/articles/report-outlines-su...