My Snow Blower Batteries Are in the Garage Recharging. Guess What Isn't Charging Them on the PJM Grid?

[NNadir]

Solar cells.

We do have two functioning nuclear plants in New Jersey. As thermal plants, they are running at higher efficiency because of the cold heat sink, so that helps.

But for the most part on this grid, PJM, the batteries are charging on gas and coal. As of this moment, according to the Electricity Map the climate gas intensity of PJM is 445 grams of CO₂ per kWh. This is, in "percent talk" 1780% higher than the 25 grams of CO₂ per kWh of electricity in France as of this moment.

On our PJM grid as of this moment, 42.5% of our electricity is generated by combustion of dangerous natural gas, followed by nuclear 28.41%, followed by coal, providing 20.92%.

Happily our Democratic Governor Elect, Mikie Sherrill, supports another nuclear plant in New Jersey. So do I. I'd feel better about the damned magical lithium batteries for the snow blower if additional nuclear plants were operating.

Wait! Wait! There is solar on the PJM grid somewhere somehow despite being covered by snow!!!!! 2.6% of electricity comes from solar, probably down in Virginia. It's noon now, and the capacity utilization of solar on PJM is 16.13% in "percent talk." We're saved!!!!!!!

I'm an old man. I was half way through the sidewalk, with the batteries running out, my neighbor came by and graciously offered to finish the sidewalk portion of the job with his gasoline powered snow blower. I'm not sure, from a thermodynamic perspective, whether his snowblower has a lower carbon intensity than my battery powered one.