For much of my life my place on the political spectrum was well on the left—slightly to the right of Che Guevara—but over the years I have mellowed a bit with time and experience nudging me inexorably toward the center, as far as I can get from the consummate idiots occupying either extreme. So you can imagine my leftist chagrin when after reading Al Fonzi’s recent piece (“The green-energy chimera,” Feb. 25) that I had no choice but to admit that for once Al was completely correct.
In the same edition, a letter condemning the Atascadero City Council for having the foresight not to embroil their community in the community choice energy scam is a good example of delusional groupthink (“Wake up Atascadero,” Feb. 25). The author is obviously unaware that the community choice process does absolutely nothing to reduce global carbon emissions, since it involves purchasing green energy from already existing sources. Carbon emissions can only be reduced by expanding additional renewable capacity to replace that of carbon-emitting sources. The author is apparently unaware that the majority of renewable sources are only available part of the time and can therefore only serve part of the total demand. Recent California Energy Commission data indicates that in-state renewables can only ever serve about one quarter of total demand, therefore continuing renewable subsidies is a complete waste of money.
Advocates of community choice do not realize that purchasing renewable energy from distant sources is the same as purchasing clear crystalline water from a distant mountain stream and having it delivered through your tap. You do have a receipt proving you purchased pure, clean water, but that will not save you from lead poisoning from your local infrastructure or the communistic effects of fluoride.
Finally, and most importantly, community choice advocates are ignorant of the dangers of subjecting their communities to the whims of the wholesale energy market. Could community choice communities face the impact of skyrocketing rates, as it recently happened in Texas? The answer is yes. Could that happen in California? It already has: Remember Enron? Just like rampant energy deregulation, community choice will also prove too good to be true.
Mark Henry
San Luis Obispo
This article appears in Spring Arts Annual 2021.
Today, most new ships in our Navy (we’re talking about a lot of units) are run on nuclear power. The French have used nuclear electricity generation for 30 years to supply 70% of their energy needs.
If we’re going to have this debate about “renewables” and “climate change,” it seems nuclear power is the most likely practical solution to power when the winds don’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine. The fact that renewables only provide less than 5% of our power requirements today should make this a fairly reasonable alternative to consider.
I am hearing promising news about generation 4 nuclear power reactors. Let’s not overlook them.
Yeah “choice” is bad. ARE YOU SERIOUS???!!!! If communities cannot choose things for themselves, then why not just hand over the keys to life and liberty to the intellectual leftist elite and live in a cave in the riverbed? BULLSHIT Mark Henry! In America we have the freedom to choose what we want and do as a GOD GIVEN ( or arranged by the omnipotent being of your comfort level that condones anything that your fancy desires at any moment) right! REGARDLESS of your “superior” opinions. By the way, you don’t know everything, you just think you do. This is the way of the leftist “elites” in this country. You greedy conservative eco-nazis better not ever think you are capable of choosing anything for your community that opposes the groupthink of the earth-loving, peace-mongering, nanny-state creating left. Mark, I’m sure you mean well and are a fine man, but leave others alone when they don’t want to do what you think they have to.