"They could be using that surplus power to extract CO2 from the atmosphere to help fight climate change"
HA HA HA that's funny! So altruistic, except for the premise upon which it is based. Using a means to make money to KEEP the electricity cheap sounds better, to me.
Now, extract CO2 from the air to provide for soda machines, dry ice, greenhouses, and air rifle cartridges? THAT sounds pretty good to me!
(yes, increasing CO2 in a greenhouse makes plants grow faster. If you expand this notion to the entire world, increasing CO2 in the atmosphere will make plants grow faster, and thereby deplete it faster, via a "biological equilibrium" and I happen to LIKE trees and plants, so I'd like more of them, thanks)