Speaking Of Jobs -- For The Archives -- Nuclear Power In Illinois

In an article about Illinois deciding at the last minute to "keep" two nuclear power plants, these two items caught me eye:

• The bi-partisan bill allows Exelon’s Clinton and Quad Cities nuclear power plants to remain open, saving 4,200 jobs and over 22 billion kWhs of carbon-free power each year, more than all of the state’s renewables combined.
• These two plants were in jeopardy of closing because even at a low cost of five cents or so per kWh, they were losing a combined $100 million per year because they could not compete with cheap natural gas and wind energy that is subsidized at 2.3¢/kWh. Illinois taxpayers subsidize solar energy at 21¢/kWh. This bill provides these nuclear plants with just 1¢/kWh, and only until market conditions change.

It's amazing that this was even as issue.

Nuclear energy at 5 cents/kWh cannot compete with "cheap" natural gas. Apparently, Illinois subsidies for nuclear energy will be1 cent/kWh "but only until market conditions change."

Wind energy in Illinois is subsidized at 2.3 cents/kWh.

Solar energy in Illinois is subsidized at a whopping 21 cents/kWh.

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The Apple Page

I am probably the last one to know this. Google Chrome is considered a "battery hog." If your PC battery is not lasting as long as you would expect, and you are using Google Chrome, now you know. Google "google chrome battery drain." Too many hits to list. 

Of the articles that I read that addressed that issue none explained why. Probably because it's very obvious what is going on. The analogy: compare how long your smart phone battery lasts when you ride the subway all day, compared to when it is sitting on your desk and not being used.