Comment by breischl

> Not really: batteries and solar need to be replaced more often that coal plant.

The design lifetimes are on the same order of magnitude, and the components of the coal plant need overhauls/replacement as well. It's not that different.

And notice that the coal plant needs a continuous supply of fuel, whereas battery/solar are one-time costs. That's a big difference anywhere, and any even bigger one in Hawaii where you have to ship the coal in.

>production and logistics for solar and batteries rely on a ton of steel

Totally unlike coal plants, coal mines, and coal shipping.

> Coal-free steel already exist but is much more expensive

If we can't do everything, perfectly, right now, then we should definitely do nothing at all. That's much better, and totally how all technology development works. /sarc