Global Warming and Energy

Ten years after major east coast blackout that started in Ohio, the power grid remains fragile.

"But as the 10-year anniversary of the 2003 blackout approaches, industry experts say the impact from that catastrophic event -- which estimates later said cost up to $10 billion, contributed to 11 deaths, and left 540,000 homes in Ohio without power for up to to 24 hours -- was the catalyst for numerous changes. "

One would hope so, but they weren't changes for the better.

"Mr. Hilt and other experts agree that one primary change has made the grid system more reliable and large-scale blackouts less likely: The federal Energy Policy Act, passed in 2005, codified standards and practices by which electric utilities operate. The standards, which took effect in 2007, are mandatory and enforceable by punitive actions, usually in the form of heavy fines. "

Centralizing authority makes things worse, not better.

Archaic US power grid.

Benefits of electricity competition.

"The Texas Public Utilities Commission (PUC) concluded in 2005 that the state has the most robust retail electric market in the United States. According to the PUC, the state continues to see additional investment and entry into the electricity marketplace. New generating plants have displaced older, less efficient units, while still contributing to projected reserve margins far in excess of the traditional standard margin of 15%. Furthermore, new competitive suppliers continue to enter the marketplace and compete for retail customers.
However, Texas customers have experienced major price increases in recent years. The statewide average monthly bill for a residential customer who did not choose a competitive suppler and who used 1,000 kilowatt-hours increased from $79.93 in January 2002, to over $125 in May 2005. Customers who did choose a competitive supplier have increased by a slightly smaller amount. Similarly, electric rates have increased recently in Britain. In both cases, the primary factor in the electric rate increase was the increased cost of natural gas, which is extensively used to generate power. As discussed in OLR Report 2006-R-0034, rising natural gas prices have also been a major factor behind recent electric rate increases in Connecticut."

Even high tension power lines could be placed underground.

Only 36 percent of geoscientists and engineers believe that humans are creating a global warming crisis.

Extensive criticism of environmentalism contains a pithy truth about economics.

"When the price system functions freely, it brings supply and demand into rough equality, ensuring that resources are put to their most-valued uses. To the extent that government meddles with prices, it ensures waste, hampers entrepreneurship, and makes people poorer."

It's that simple.

Obama's campaign organization held a climate change rally today and nobody showed up.