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Re:Thousands trapped on Pine Ridge burn clothes for warmth i... by starkd on Monday December 26, 2022 @11:23AM (#34139005)
During the winter, and in storms like this, solar and wind is almost nil. Upstate NY gets very cold. And they are mandating people transition away from oil or gas into using heat pumps. Heat pumps are next to worthless in subzero weather. Oh, and they are also trying to phase out nuclear.
Re:Thousands trapped on Pine Ridge burn clothes for warmth i... by Scoundreller on Monday December 26, 2022 @11:45AM (#34139287)
I think the ultimate combo will be air source heat pumps and pellet stoves.

Pellet stoves should keep the insurance companies happy. Semi-renewable fuel. Semi-automated operation with minimal fire risk.

Not much more expensive than nat gas, much cheaper than oil and propane, and most importantly: no nat gas network/connection/account/delivery charge.

Re:Thousands trapped on Pine Ridge burn clothes for warmth i... by starkd on Monday December 26, 2022 @11:58AM (#34139422)
How are pellets semi-renewable? Pellets are still burned up. Are the ashes re-used?
Re:Thousands trapped on Pine Ridge burn clothes for warmth i... by Scoundreller on Monday December 26, 2022 @12:12PM (#34139544)
Of course you re-use the ashes. Great source of potassium for the garden. The modern day fertilizer potassium-source isn’t called “potash” for nothing.

Improves traction on ice, and could melt snow if it’s close enough to freezing.

Could also make soap with it if you wanted to get really creative. Or bricks or mortar (or a concrete supplement).

Re:Thousands trapped on Pine Ridge burn clothes for warmth i... by epistasis on Monday December 26, 2022 @12:02PM (#34139455)
Pellets come from atmospheric CO2.
Re:Thousands trapped on Pine Ridge burn clothes for warmth i... by dredmorbius on Tuesday December 27, 2022 @04:40AM (#34147102)
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