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- #61
The "deregulation" craze which overran the utility company is an example of why "Free Market" is not a panacea answer to all problems.Our gov is telling us to use less power, at the same time telling us to buy products, many of those are electrical. The gov is not talking about power shortages, it is pretending that there is plenty to go around; that is not the case. As our plants age, it will be harder to meet the demands of the nation's energy requirements. Until we "develope and perfect" the alternative sources for energy, don't you think it would be "wise" to prepare for the next thirty years or so?
The "free Market" suppliers cut on their infrastructure investment to remain competitive in today's market. When the infrastructure fails, people complain, but they don't understand that a well regulated industry works better than the free market in this particular instance.
The problem with government regulation is that instead of appointing someone who is both competent and honest, the position is often awarded to a crony of whichever politician controls the appointment. If the position is filled by election it gets no better for all that generally gives is a smooth talking snake oil salesman with no true ability in the field. There is a solution, but not one available unless we, the people, curb our preference for ignorant slogans and actually take the time to learn a bit about various problems.
The most regulated and governmentally controlled power distribution system in the country was in Kahleeforneeahhh. It was the cause of the highest costs anywhere in the country, the closure of virtually every power company in that state, the dismal failure of buying power on the open market at the highest rates, the political end of the career of Grey Davis and the election of Ahrnold.
The California debacle is single best argument in favor of using the cheapest and most available energy source, coal, and figuring out a way to trap the undesired waste. I cannot believe that this cannot be figured out.
The same people who endorse wind power, an energy source that provides about 1% of the nation's power as something that needs to be exploited claim that "clean coal" does not exist and is impossible to achieve. Uh-huh... Impossible, it seems, depends on your point of view.
My guess is that the energy source that currently provides about 50% of the nation's electricity would be easier to make clean than it would be to re-manufacture the entire energy grid.
Of course, that's an uneducated opinion.
Well said.