Lets say you live in a state that has one of the highest costs for electricity in the country, nearly 15 cents/KWH. Lets also say you live in a state that hasn't built a new conventional power plant in years instead preferring to build green boondoggles despite an ever increasing demand and problems with blackouts.
Lets just say this state is California, because it is.
Now just what would you say if you lived in California, and Public Utilities Commission decided to raise your electric rates ? And, if they raised your rates so they could study climate change ? You might be a little upset.
You'd be right to be upset because that's just what they did.
California Public Utilities Commision
CPUC ESTABLISHES INSTITUTE FOR CLIMATE SOLUTIONS
TO BUILD ON STATE'S ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP
SAN FRANCISCO, April 10, 2008 - The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) today created the California Institute for Climate Solutions (CICS), taking a bold and innovative approach to expanding California's leadership on this most pressing of environmental issues.
The mission of the CICS is based on these essential pillars:
· To facilitate mission-oriented, applied and directed research that results in practical technological solutions and supports development of policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the electric and natural gas sectors, or otherwise mitigates the impacts of climate change in California.
The funding for the CICS, $60 million per year for 10 years, is an investment in California's future and will directly benefit ratepayers, the CPUC determined. The CPUC has charged the CICS Executive Director with obtaining 100 percent matching funds over 10 years in order to maximize ratepayer benefits. The CPUC will maintain extensive continuing oversight over the CICS and will require two external audits - a biennial performance review and an annual financial audit.
What fun. The CPUC instead of allowing the California Utilities to invest in something silly like a power plant has decided to
Procastinate,
waste money,
provide sinecures for the politically connected make a wise farsighted decision looking towards California's future. The cleverness of this scheme and its subtlety should not be lost on anyone. California gains a well funded commission to which otherwise out of work but well connected people can be appointed to. While there they can pontificate solemnly about the evils of the environmental damage of electrical use. While at the same time, the electrical rate in California goes up again encouraging people not to use a resource the utilities aren't being allowed to provide. BRILLIANT !!!!
By contrast,
India has nothing on our clever politicians
Money approved for India's Mega Power Plants
India’s Tata Power group just gained important financial backing from the International Finance Corporation, a branch of the World Bank, for its planned $4 billion, 4-billion watt “Ultra Mega” coal-burning power plant complex in Gujarat state.
I forget which country has a democracy answerable to the people ?
Crossposted at
Redstate
Recent comments