Does California really hate fossil fuels? Obviously, the minority which votes Republican doesn’t. But, what of the typical Democrat voter? They profess they hate fossil fuels and want them gone, and support silly initiatives like suing fossil fuels companies, blocking construction of new gas stations, doing away with the sale of fossil fueled vehicles in the near future, forcing Other People onto public transportation, and others. And. certainly the elected Democrats and their appointees hate them. But, see, there are two problems. First, almost all these people are refusing to give up their own use of fossil fuels. Second
California scorns fossil fuel but can’t keep the lights on without it
California wants to quit fossil fuels. Just not yet.
Faced with a fragile electrical grid and the prospect of summertime blackouts, the state agreed to put aside hundreds of millions of dollars to buy power from fossil fuel plants that are scheduled to shut down as soon as next year.
That has prompted a backlash from environmental groups and lawmakers who say Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s approach could end up extending the life of gas plants that have been on-track to close for more than a decade and could threaten the state’s goal to be carbon neutral by 2045.
“The emphasis that the governor has been making is ‘We’re going to be Climate Leaders; we’re going to do 100 percent clean energy; we’re going to lead the nation and the world,’” said V. John White, executive director of the Sacramento-based Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies, a non-profit group of environmental advocates and clean energy companies. “Yet, at least a part of this plan means going the opposite direction.”
It’s all fun and games until the Cold Dead Mackerel Of Reality slaps them in the face. It’s really easy to believe in Doing Something about anthropogenic climate change in theory, not so much in practice. Want to put up off and on short wind turbines? That’s great, right up till extreme enviros and rich folks who like their views sue. Solar farms? Yeah, same enviroweenies will sue to stop them over something or other.
The legislation, which some Democrats labeled as “lousy” and “crappy,” reflects the reality of climate change. Heat waves are already straining power capacity, and the transition to cleaner energy isn’t coming fast enough to meet immediate needs in the nation’s most populous state.
Officials have warned that outages would be possible this summer, with as many as 3.75 million California homes losing power in a worst-case scenario of a West-wide heat wave and insufficient electrical supplies, particularly in the evenings.
It’s also an acknowledgment of the political reality that blackouts are hazardous to elected officials, even in a state dominated by one party.
Yeah, well, California has been pushing this for decades, and still doesn’t have the power generation necessary to replace coal, oil, and nuclear. If the leftist there really Believe, they should be willing to suffer for those beliefs, right?
Read: Bummer: California Hates Fossil Fuels But Needs Them For Power »