Rolling blackouts?
From the just-making-things-up department comes this from presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton's first Webcast:
I'm really impressed with what California has done over 30 years. Because they have imposed conservation and energy efficiency standards, they have kept flat their energy use, and the rest of the country has just, unfortunately, continued to use more and more energy. We've got to do something to make our transportation system more fuel efficient.
Kept flat? California? For the past 30 years? Those rolling blackouts that got Gov. Gray Davis sacked must've been a figment of my imagination.
I'm trying to think by what possible measure that Clinton's statement that California's energy usage has been flat for the past three decades. Per capita? I just can't see it with the proliferation of TV sets, computers, faxes, etc.
According to the Department of Energy's analysis of California's power blackouts, demand was consistently increasing as power generation capabilities declined. A partial list:
Although there is not universal agreement on the causes of California's problems, there is general agreement among industry leaders on a core set of factors contributing to the energy crisis.(7)
1. Investment in new power generation capacity has not kept pace with the increasing demand for electricity. California's generation capability decreased 2 percent from 1990 through 1999, while retail sales increased by 11 percent. Further, no new generation capacity has been constructed in California for over a decade.
2. To meet its demand for power, California relies on about 7 to 11 gigawatts of out-of-state generation capability, of which a significant portion is hydroelectric capacity located in the northwestern United States. Reduced hydroelectric power generation caused by unusually low water levels in the northwest resulted in a reduction of power imports to northern California.
3. During 2000, approximately 10 gigawatts of generation capability was out of operation during some of the high demand times, which contributed to power shortages.
4. Path 15, the high voltage transmission line connecting southern California to northern California, became congested at times, reducing the flow of surplus electricity capacity in southern California to meet shortages in northern California.
So, is Hillary just misinformed or intentionally blowing smoke?
0 comments on “Rolling blackouts?”
Tags
'So, is Hillary just misinformed or intentionally blowing smoke?' My guess would be a combination of both. She willingly misinforms herself and then deliberately BS's on things where she knows better if she thinks it's useful for a little political advantage.
That's what happened when she voted in favor of invading Iraq and then persisted in supporting that utter disaster. In 2002 she voted for starting that war "based on the best information we had," rather than actually pressing to get better information despite what was obviously political hackery on the part of the Bush Administration. Willful self-deception joined with intentional misrepresentation-- even then, it was obvious to anyone with an iota of common sense that Saddam wasn't behind 9/11, wasn't collaborating with al-Qaida (which was a bitter enemy of Saddam for many years), and probably didn't have WMD, as the inspections had been going for years before that.
Even years into the disaster, Hillary Clinton has still been supporting the Iraq War, and advocating for its disastrous extension into Iran and elsewhere into the Middle East. Hillary's deliberate self-deception and misrepresentation are dangerous traits in such a public figure, and it's why we among the Democrats' core voters will not be supporting her and will not vote for her at any point. Barack Obama, Bill Richardson and John Edwards are our strongest prospects for the election.
MANDATORY RENEWABLE ENERGY – THE ENERGY EVOLUTION –R11
In order to insure energy and economic independence as well as better economic growth without being blackmailed by foreign countries, our country, the United States of America’s Utilization of Energy sources must change.
"Energy drives our entire economy." We must protect it. "Let's face it, without energy the whole economy and economic society we have set up would come to a halt. So you want to have control over such an important resource that you need for your society and your economy." The American way of life is not negotiable.
Our continued dependence on fossil fuels could and will lead to catastrophic consequences.
The federal, state and local government should implement a mandatory renewable energy installation program for residential and commercial property on new construction and remodeling projects with the use of energy efficient material, mechanical systems, appliances, lighting, etc. The source of energy must by renewable energy such as Solar-Photovoltaic, Geothermal, Wind, Biofuels, etc. including utilizing water from lakes, rivers and oceans to circulate in cooling towers to produce air conditioning and the utilization of proper landscaping to reduce energy consumption. (Sales tax on renewable energy products should be reduced or eliminated)
The implementation of mandatory renewable energy could be done on a gradual scale over the next 10 years. At the end of the 10 year period all construction and energy use in the structures throughout the United States must be 100% powered by renewable energy. (This can be done by amending building code)
In addition, the governments must impose laws, rules and regulations whereby the utility companies must comply with a fair “NET METERING†(the buying of excess generation from the consumer at market price), including the promotion of research and production of “renewable energy technology†with various long term incentives and grants. The various foundations in existence should be used to contribute to this cause.
A mandatory time table should also be established for the automobile industry to gradually produce an automobile powered by renewable energy. The American automobile industry is surely capable of accomplishing this task. As an inducement to buy hybrid automobiles (sales tax should be reduced or eliminated on American manufactured automobiles).
This is a way to expedite our energy independence and economic growth. (This will also create a substantial amount of new jobs). It will take maximum effort and a relentless pursuit of the private, commercial and industrial government sectors commitment to renewable energy – energy generation (wind, solar, hydro, biofuels, geothermal, energy storage (fuel cells, advance batteries), energy infrastructure (management, transmission) and energy efficiency (lighting, sensors, automation, conservation) (rainwater harvesting, water conservation) (energy and natural resources conservation) in order to achieve our energy independence.
"To succeed, you have to believe in something with such a passion that it becomes a reality."
Jay Draiman, Energy Consultant
Northridge, CA. 91325
Jan. 25, 2007
P.S. I have a very deep belief in America's capabilities. Within the next 10 years we can accomplish our energy independence, if we as a nation truly set our goals to accomplish this.
I happen to believe that we can do it. In another crisis--the one in 1942--President Franklin D. Roosevelt said this country would build 60,000 [50,000] military aircraft. By 1943, production in that program had reached 125,000 aircraft annually. They did it then. We can do it now.
The American people resilience and determination to retain the way of life is unconquerable and we as a nation will succeed in this endeavor of Energy Independence.
Solar energy is the source of all energy on the earth (excepting volcanic geothermal). Wind, wave and fossil fuels all get their energy from the sun. Fossil fuels are only a battery which will eventually run out. The sooner we can exploit all forms of Solar energy (cost effectively or not against dubiously cheap FFs) the better off we will all be. If the battery runs out first, the survivors will all be living like in the 18th century again.
Every new home built should come with a solar package. A 1.5 kW per bedroom is a good rule of thumb. The formula 1.5 X's 5 hrs per day X's 30 days will produce about 225 kWh per bedroom monthly. This peak production period will offset 17 to 24 cents per kWh with a potential of $160 per month or about $60,000 over the 30-year mortgage period for a three-bedroom home. It is economically feasible at the current energy price and the interest portion of the loan is deductible. Why not?
Title 24 has been mandated forcing developers to build energy efficient homes. Their bull-headedness put them in that position and now they see that Title 24 works with little added cost. Solar should also be mandated and if the developer designs a home that solar is impossible to do then they should pay an equivalent mitigation fee allowing others to put solar on in place of their negligence. (Installation should be paid “performance basedâ€)
Installation of renewable energy and its performance should be paid to the installer and manufacturer based on "performance based" (that means they are held accountable for the performance of the product - that includes the automobile industry). This will gain the trust and confidence of the end-user to proceed with such a project; it will also prove to the public that it is a viable avenue of energy conservation.
Installing renewable energy system on your home or business increases the value of the property and provides a marketing advantage.
Nations of the world should unite and join together in a cohesive effort to develop and implement MANDATORY RENEWABLE ENERGY for the sake of humankind and future generations.
Jay Draiman
Northridge, CA 91325
Email: [email protected]
Matt,
Stunningly enough, it is per capita consumption, which has not only been flat, but has declined in California over the last three decades. Data for California at http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/states/state.html?q_state_a=ca&q_state=CALIFORNIA. State comparitive data at http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/states/_seds.html.