Oklahoma and Texas now as earthquake prone as California

[shaddack]

@RogerStrong

Do aluminium smelters normally generate their own power, or do they normally use power from the electrical grid (which in large parts of North America means hydro power)? If the latter, then what’s the difference?

Usually the latter. But they tend to be located close to large enough power sources.

@RogerStrong

Sure, a given solar or wind farm is subject to local weather. But over a large area, different wind and solar farms tied to a big electrical grid like we have today, the power is reliable.

I wouldn’t be so certain. For renewables you need a beefed up grid and quite some backup sources able to start up fast.

I for one prefer something more predictable. Solar and wind are okay as augmenting sources but I still like the reactors more.