California has sacrificed its energy stability on the altar of green energy ideology – California Globe

State leaders’ energy mandates mean higher electricity prices for Californians.

If you heard angry cries of protest last month, it was probably your neighbors opening their electricity bills. Those echoes of protest echoed even louder in March, when PG&E proudly announced record profits for 2023. The announcement sparked a particularly sour reaction among customers who were already struggling, given that the California Public Utilities Commission gave the utility energy greenlight for a staggering 25% rate hike – a bitter pill to swallow, especially in the face of skyrocketing energy prices and nationwide inflation. While many may instinctively point an accusatory finger at this utility giant, the true architects of this painful reality are not PG&E’s board members, but our leaders who walk the hallowed halls of Sacramento. These politicians stubbornly cling to expensive and unreliable green energy mandates, stubbornly turning a blind eye to proven and cheaper alternatives like nuclear power and natural gas.

For more than a decade, California politicians have tinkered with the state’s energy market, pulling strings to mandate and subsidize the use of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. While this may sound like a noble endeavor on the surface, the reality is much less rosy. Taxpayers must foot the bill for these subsidies, while consumers must face the harsh reality of ever-rising electricity and natural gas costs.

Indeed, these green energy policies have led to exorbitant utility rates that are well above the national average. By comparison, Californians pay a staggering 32 cents per kilowatt hour due to these expensive policies. This rate is in stark contrast to the national average of 18 cents. A study by Energy Sage found that the average California household pays more than $3,200 a year just to turn on the lights.

PG&E itself is not innocent in this matter, charging an even higher figure of 40 cents per kilowatt hour, which most likely estimates its bankruptcy costs due to lawsuits. But despite these staggering costs, the state’s relentless march toward renewables has made the problem worse, with renewables expected to account for up to 40% of energy production in 2021. This move only caused prices to rise even higher.

Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature have not shied away from doubling down on their green energy crusade, stipulating in law that 60% of the state’s electricity generated should come from renewable sources by 2030, and as much as 90% by 2035 . However, the glaring irony is that the fact that many of these politicians will be long gone and out of office by the time these mandates become a reality, conveniently allows them to avoid responsibility for the unachievable goals they set.

Meanwhile, nuclear power, a proven and reliable zero-emission source, has been pushed into the background, shunned by environmentalists who get all the attention of the majority party. The share of nuclear energy in electricity generation has fallen to just 8%. Even more frustratingly, hydropower, a historically reliable and profitable source, has been left to wither and the dams have either weakened or closed completely.

Desperate to please everyone, lawmakers decided it would be a good idea to propose a solution that would base electricity bills on income. This quick solution is like putting a band-aid on a huge wound. It doesn’t solve the problems that are causing skyrocketing electricity bills: there isn’t enough energy to supply it, and we rely too heavily on expensive renewable energy sources. This half-finished solution could make the situation worse, causing even greater shortages and higher prices, making people feel there is no point in saving energy if their costs continue to rise.

While PG&E is certainly to blame for delayed maintenance and neglect in improving transmission lines, the lion’s share of the blame rests squarely on the shoulders of the state itself, which has created a regulatory framework that prioritizes renewable energy sources at the expense of reliability. By neglecting nuclear, hydro, and natural gas plants, California has effectively sacrificed its energy stability on the altar of green energy ideology.

It’s time for California’s leaders to wake up from their green energy fantasies and refocus their efforts on restoring reliable sources like dams, nuclear facilities and natural gas plants. This reckless experiment in green energy has only driven prices sky high, wasted taxpayers’ money and left consumers in the dark – literally and figuratively. It’s time to choose pragmatism over ideology and prioritize affordability and reliability in our energy policy for the benefit of all Californians.