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Re:Solar and Wind to Top Coal Power in US for First Time in ... by sokoloff on Saturday December 16, 2023 @10:18PM (#38670043)
> Subsidize heat pumps, to make all heating/cooling electric.

Are there ways to try to ensure much of these subsidies end up reducing the price (and associated hurdle) of consumers rather than 80+% ending up as increased profits for HVAC companies?

Re:Solar and Wind to Top Coal Power in US for First Time in ... by zemvpferreira on Saturday December 16, 2023 @11:04PM (#38670233)
Yes, competition.
Re:Solar and Wind to Top Coal Power in US for First Time in ... by sokoloff on Sunday December 17, 2023 @08:58AM (#38672865)
That’s the general answer, and I agree with it.

I think it doesn’t work well in practice for a regulated/licensed trade (with enforced minimum apprenticeship times) when trying to do a temporary lump of conversion work (retiring working fuel boilers and replacing with heat pumps faster than would otherwise happen naturally).

As a mechanical engineer and hard-core DIYer, I can’t legally do it myself, nor get the local rebates if I do a pirate install, nor start a company to compete against the HVAC incumbents without hiring from the same limited pool of licensed HVAC techs those companies have.

Competition might work as an answer over a long period of time (with stable incentive programs).

Re:Solar and Wind to Top Coal Power in US for First Time in ... by danans on Sunday December 17, 2023 @12:33AM (#38670558)
Competition