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Here is the CLEAN Future Act's biggest issue!

Doug Houseman's picture
Doug Houseman 33,798
Visionary and innovator in the utility industry and grid modernization, Burns & McDonnell

I have a broad background in utilities and energy. I worked for Capgemini in the Energy Practice for more than 15 years. During that time I rose to the position of CTO of the 12,000 person...

  • Member since 2017
  • 255 items added with 92,293 views
  • Mar 12, 2021
  • 510 views

While the CFA has all sorts of rights and mandates in it, there is one missing that is fatal in my mind.

Nowhere in the bill is any promise of adequate energy production to meet the needs of the American public for electric power, not the wants, but the needs. In no place do they promise to have enough generation to provide for the people.

So in 2030 - if we don't meet the 80% goal for clean energy - does that mean we do regional rolling black outs?

Do we shutdown the internet? cellphone networks? businesses? homes?

24/365 lights on is not a promise of the CFA - are you ready to live in a home with no electricity for hours or days at a time?

I want to see that promise of enough power to meet the public's needs in the bill before I will sign up to support it.

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Matt Chester's picture
Matt Chester on Mar 12, 2021

Of course that reliabilty should be the #1 goal-- is that 'promise' a part of actual policy or law today? Or is it assumed? And would it be written in a way that was an 'out'-- say by 2025 we're looking too far behind on our goals, will coal industry use that as an argument that they should start building more new power plants?

Just curious how you envision it working in practice so it's tangible and holds leaders accountable. 

Bob Meinetz's picture
Bob Meinetz on Mar 12, 2021

"While the CFA has all sorts of rights and mandates in it, there is one missing that is fatal in my mind."

Agree, Doug. For a moment, let's revisit the subject of social inequity again, a common theme of the "Green New Deal": who will be most impacted by rolling blackouts when wind and solar can't keep the lights on:

A) Wealthy, "green" residents of Westchester County with gas backup generators, or
B) Impoverished, brown/black residents of southwest Baltimore?

Here's a clue:

Texas blackouts disproportionately affect low-income, nonwhite communities

Michael Keller's picture
Michael Keller on Mar 23, 2021

The objective of the bill is to line the pockets of investors, utilities and politicians as opposed to providing reasonably priced and reliable energy. The alleged “climate change” benefits cannot be determined and will not occur in our lifetimes, if indeed there are any benefits. The Perfect scam with no remedy for the theft of trillions of dollars, as nobody can prove a thing. 

Doug Houseman's picture
Thank Doug for the Post!
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