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Steve Hanley's avatar

Lloyd, I have seen dozens of stories about AI and Jevon's Paradox in the past week. None explains the past history and likely future of AI as clearly as you have done. Kudos!

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GraniteGrok's avatar

"So now, the USA has to make head against a nation that not only harvests the beams of the sun with their solar panels but also possesses the power of AI."

And yet, there is this about China (Perplexity):

>> "Based on the most recent data available as of January 31, 2025, China has 1,161 operational coal-fired power plants"

Add to that, purportedly, 2 additional coal fired plants/week: https://insights.taylorenglish.com/post/102iw50/china-is-building-coal-fired-power-plants-at-an-alarming-rate

Taylor English: https://insights.taylorenglish.com/post/102iw50/china-is-building-coal-fired-power-plants-at-an-alarming-rate

"During the first six months of 2023, China issued permits for the construction of approximately 50 new coal-fired power plants, an average of two per week. China currently has more than 300 coal-fired plants that are either under construction, permitted, or awaiting permitting. If all 300 plants are constructed, China’s inventory of coal-fired power plants will increase by more than 25%.

Currently, China has six times more coal-fired power plants under construction than the rest of the World combined"

So, Lloyd, it isn't just "beams of the sun" - it's a WHOLE lot of fossil fuels. China's marketing is rather slick. China may be the leader in RE but they are the LEADER of coal and emissions.

In essence, the West could "hovel" itself and it wouldn't make a dang worth of difference in the use of coal. And India is right behind them.

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