I did a tad more checking on the CA situation and there is some feeling that the CA de-regulation affected power companies in a negative way forcing them into debt or to become a net importer of power where they used to be an exporter. Again business just trying to turn a buck in an environment where they can't effectively build large new power facilities of the fossil or nuclear type. It seems they were massively converting to Gas and OOOPS.....Natural gas is now one of the most expensive fossil fuels on the planet now! It looks bad for all that new generating capacity which is just virtually idle. I imagine the 40% rate hike will start the Nautral gas flowing into the burners again.
CA. is a leader of sorts into alternate energy, having decent wind, geothermal, hydro and solar opportunities, but it is a drop in the bucket compared to nuclear and fossil. A fairly interesting summary is presented in the current issue of Infinite energy. Supposedly a lot of their wind capacity is old and due for retirement or replacement too.
Still no viable fusion power in the wings and the fission card is a big no-no where earth quakes, albeit small to micro ones, are a near daily occurence near the fault lines. CA has unique problems and opportunities as regards her power future. I don't think strict regualtion is the answer nor is business as usual.
The idea of conserving energy is a rather silly idea with mega quantities of new qizmos, widgets, and electrically powered status symbols flooding the market daily. Those who conserve generally just conserve it so the rich or power hungry inductries can gobble it up and happily pay for the new energy they receive. They gleefully pass any increases in their bills back along down the line to the struggling conservators.
The only real, long term solution is going to be a glut of continuous and readily avaialble cheap power. Ideally with low or reduced absolute, immediate impact on the environment. No matter what you don't get something for nothing and tradeoff will have to be made. Fission always was the best power source. The hassle now is nervous nellies and a place for the waste. Minor hassles in a terrified world about to go dark.
Richard Hull
Created on Thursday, March 29, 2001 9:54 AM EDT by Richard Hull