The looming Covid Depression has no room for more green energy silliness. We cannot afford to mollycoddle an aging failing technology. A hard dangerous new world is coming. To survive we will need cheap reliable energy—coal, gas, nuclear or hydro. 1
California leads the way in electricity blackouts, closely followed by South Australia. They both created this problem by taxing, banning, delaying or demolishing reliable coal, nuclear, gas or hydro generators while subsidizing and promoting unreliable electricity from sickly green twins—solar and wind. All were supposed to solve a global warming crisis that exists only in academic computer models.
Viv Forbes reports wind and solar will always be prone to blackouts for three reasons:
First- they are intermittent, producing zero power when wind drops or sunlight fails.
Second- green energy is dilute so the collection area must be huge. Both solar panels and wind turbines are old technologies and now close to collecting the maximum energy from a given land area of wind and sun, so limited technology gains are possible. Wind turbines generate nothing from gentle breezes and must shut down in gales. To collect more energy the green twins must collect from greater areas using a widespread scatter of panels and towers connected by a fragile network of roads and transmission lines. This expensive, extensive but flimsy system is far more susceptible to damage from cyclones, hail snow, lightning, bushfire, flood and sabotage than a big, well-built, centrally located, well-maintained traditional power station with strong walls, a roof and lightning protection. Green energy also requires far more investment in transmission lines and inter-connections that consumers must pay for, and the energy transmission losses are greater.
Third- green energy is like a virus in a distribution network. When the sun shines, solar energy floods the network, causing energy prices to plummet. Coal and gas plants are forced to operate at a cash loss or shut down. Erratic winds make this problem worse as they are less predictable and changes can be quicker. But when all green energy fails suddenly, like in an evening peak demand period after a still cold sunset, coal cannot ramp up quickly unless it has been kept on standby with the boilers hot, waiting for an opportunity to generate some positive cash flow. Gas and hydro can fire up swiftly but who wants to own/build/maintain an expensive power station that operates intermittently? 1
The rolling blackouts across California serve as a cautionary tale as states across the country increase renewable energy and reduce their reliance on fossil fuels that can generate power more reliably. 2
The recent drama on California's power grid is forcing the state to confront difficult questions about its commitment to an all-green electricity future.
For years the state has been in a sprint to remove carbon from its power supply. It already gets nearly one-third of its power from solar, wind and other renewable sources, and the legislature is demanding more. State law requires that the grid must be 100% carbon free by 2045. As more solar and wind farms spring up, traditional fossil fuel plants get mothballed.
But now the blackouts have put Gov. Gavin Newsom and policymakers on the defensive about the state's energy choices. Critics are chortling over the fact that wind power isn't always reliable and solar naturally fades as evening arrives, leaving the state exposed to energy shortages during extraordinary heat waves. 3
“When the wind stops blowing and the sun stops shining, the people of California do not stop living their lives and cooking their food and washing their clothes,” said one assemblyman.
Newsom insists the state won't go back. Drawing a line between the heat wave and recent explosion of deadly wild fires, he told reporters at a press briefing: “We are committed to a low carbon, green growth future. We are going to radically change the way we produce and consume energy for one reason. We believe in climate change. We believe in science. The last thing we need to do is double down on a future that actually created the conditions that we are trying to address here today.” 3
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Yet Newsom admitted recently that the state had to 'sober up' about the fact that renewable energy sources had failed to provide enough power for the state at peak demand and needed 'backup' and 'insurance' from other sources. 4
Fourteen years ago, the state suffered one of the worst heat waves ever recorded. When it was over, more than 650 Californians had died. And the state had set a dubious record: the most electricity ever consumed on the grid, a peak demand of 50,270 megawatts on July 24, 2006. Nonetheless, the state avoided blackouts that day. It also had enough power in the late summer of 2017, when another terrible heat wave rolled into the state and electricity consumption again topped 50,000 megawatts.3
By contrast, the state ran short of electricity just recently even though demand was lower—several thousand megawatts lower—than it was in 2006 and 2017.
What's different now?
Before, California was able to buy electricity fairly easily from neighboring states to avoid shortages. Now those states, with growing populations of their own, aren't as willing to share.
Another big difference: California's greater dependence on renewables and its shelving of large quantities of gas fired generation. In 2014 natural gas provided 45% of the state's electricity needs. In 2018 it was down to 35%.
Other traditional sources are going by the wayside, too. In 2013 California Edison pulled the plug on the San Onofre nuclear plant, and a few years later PG&E said it would decommission its nuclear plant, Diablo Canyon. Its two reactors will go dark in 2024 and 2025. That represents thousands of lost megawatts. (3)
“Hot weather and a cloudy day should not be able to shut down the fifth-largest economy in the world,” Lance Hastings, President of the California Manufacturers and Technology Association, said in a statement. “While we support California's renewable energy goal, we absolutely need system redundancy that allows us to continue to operate and manufacture products for our residents and the world.” 5
References
Viv Forbes, “The green road to blackouts,” Canada Free Press, September 3, 2020
Katherine Blunt, “California's blackouts a warning for states ramping up green power,” The Wall Street Journal, August 17, 2020
Dale Kasler, “California is rushing to add solar power. Did recent blackouts just shade our green future?”, sacbee.com, August 23, 2020
Joel B. Pollak, “California Gov. Gavin Newsom: time to sober up about green energy's flaws,” breitbart.com, August 17, 2020
Debra Kahn and Colby Bermel, “California has first rolling blackouts in 19 years—and everyone faces blame,” politico.com, August 18, 2020
Jack Dini is author of Challenging Environmental Mythology. He has also written for American Council on Science and Health, Environment & Climate News, and Hawaii Reporter.
The looming Covid Depression has no room for more green energy silliness. We cannot afford to mollycoddle an aging failing technology. A hard dangerous new world is coming. To survive we will need cheap reliable energy—coal, gas, nuclear or hydro. 1
California leads the way in electricity blackouts, closely followed by South Australia. They both created this problem by taxing, banning, delaying or demolishing reliable coal, nuclear, gas or hydro generators while subsidizing and promoting unreliable electricity from sickly green twins—solar and wind. All were supposed to solve a global warming crisis that exists only in academic computer models.
