I have been trying for days to get information of the cost per kilowatt hour of various energy sources.
Searches all seem to bring up the same papers from sources that I don’t trust showing that solar and wind is the cheapest.
What I’m looking for is simple -
the average cost of energy from coal is X amount per kw/hr
natural gas
nuclear
oil
solar
wind
etc
You get the idea... a straight up cost comparison.
Those papers all get into these rambling explanations of build costs, fixed costs, variable costs, yadda yadda yadda.
Got into a ‘discussion’ with a liberal family member about this over the holidays and couldn’t find a source I trusted.
Coal : 2004 , electricity costs in Kentucky were 4.63 cents per kilowatt- hour .. US average per KWh was 7.62 cents.. there is a list of the states.
http://www.coaleducation.org/ky_coal_facts/electricity/average_cost.htm
2019 : Natural gas: a megawatt- hour of electricity costs about $20. .. wind or solar electricity costs about $80 a megawatt-hour.. batteries are very costly for moving electricity.. $270 per megawatt-hour..
$270 includes the cost of replacing the battery every five years. The batteries have to be air-conditioned and .. further comments thru the thread.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3772445/posts
2007 : Coal is the lowest cost energy, costing 1/3 to 1/4 the cost of energy from natural gas, nuclear and renewable energy resources.