These hot summer months remind us to be thankful for the invention of air conditioning. However, for California’s poor and working poor affording electricity to keep the air conditioning running can be a hardship. Meanwhile, reliability issues related to the power grid continue to threaten us all with blackouts.
What is causing this state of affairs and what can be done to ensure Californians can access affordable and reliable power?
Numerous experts and commentators have stated California’s aggressive drive to “go green” is the culprit for skyrocketing utility bills.
Does this mean the answer is to have more pollution? Absolutely not! In fact, some sources of energy not currently counted as “renewable” by California policymakers themselves have zero emissions! Large hydro and nuclear power are two such notable examples.
Staying cool in intense summer heat is not just a matter of comfort. Since 1979, more than 11,000 Americans have died from heat related causes according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Furthermore, numerous medical devices rely on electricity to operate. A disruption in the power supply for people who depend on such devices can be a matter of life and death.
It’s time for Sacramento to stop dogmatically insisting wind and solar power are our only acceptable options. Instead, let’s have a more constructive discussion that takes into account the realities of the situation at hand and what solutions are practical.
