California needs to walk its green talk: Keep Diablo Canyon Open

Whether it's ineptitude or a concerted effort to export its emissions to Wyoming (or both), California's failed "renewables" experiment is having serious consequences

"Since everyone is paying attention to gas prices and to our dependence on fossil fuels, I thought that it would be helpful to remember the situation of natural gas in California, the state where I live.

I am sure that you have heard a lot about about our plans to become fully sustainable and rely on clean energy, but if you ignore what our government is *saying* and focus on what our government is *doing*, you'll realize that California's promises are just full of hot air.

Last year California petitioned the Federal government to lift emissions restrictions on its natural gas plants. At the same time, it built 5 new natural gas plants and cities around the state are looking to build more natural gas plants.

Why is this happening?
Because we simply don't have enough power when we need it. Tomorrow we could install 10 times more solar power and it would make zero difference in terms of emissions during night time, because solar is backed by natural gas. Let's not be naive, the lights are not going off. If we need to build more gas or even more coal to keep the power on, we will do it. If you don't believe me, look at Germany.

Our energy situation is serious and it's not looking good. Add to this the fact that we are going to electrify our transportation sector and our heating and you realize that our electricity consumption is going to increase a lot more. We are not ready for this. It will mean more emissions, and more vulnerability to situations like the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as gas prices depend on a global market.

While this is happening, our last nuclear power plant, Diablo Canyon, will be closed in 3 years. It provides nearly 10% of all the power in the state and it has zero emissions. Closing this plant is a political decision, not a technical decision. The plant could work for decades longer and be a key part of the green energy future of California, providing hydrogen and water for human consumption and agricultural uses. Closing the plant will make us more vulnerable to blackouts, more dependent on fossil fuels, it will make air pollution worse and it will hurt our economy. It is totally unnecessary."