Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

California Can’t Keep the Lights On
National Review ^ | October 29, 2019 | Rich Lowry

Posted on 10/29/2019 7:53:29 AM PDT by karpov

California is staying true to its reputation as the land of innovation — it is making blackouts, heretofore the signature of impoverished and war-torn lands, a routine feature of 21st-century American life.

More than 2 million people are going without power in Northern and Central California, in the latest and biggest of the intentional blackouts that are, astonishingly, California’s best answer to the risk of runaway wildfires.

Power — and all the goods it makes possible — is synonymous with modern civilization. It shouldn’t be a negotiable for anyone living in a well-functioning society, or even in California, which, despite its stupendous wealth and natural splendor, has blighted itself over the decades with misgovernance and misplaced priorities.

The same California that has been the seedbed of world-famous companies that make it possible for people to send widely viewed short missives of 280 characters or less, and share and like images of grumpy cats, isn’t doing so well at keeping the lights on.

The same California that has boldly committed to transitioning to 50 percent renewable energy by 2025 — and 100 percent renewable energy by 2045 — can’t manage its existing energy infrastructure.

The same California that has pushed its electricity rates to the highest in the contiguous United States through its mandates and regulations doesn’t provide continuous access to that overpriced electricity.

California governor Gavin Newsom, who has to try to evade responsibility for this debacle while presiding over it, blames “dog-eat-dog capitalism” for the state’s current crisis. It sounds like he’s referring to robber barons who have descended on the state to suck it dry of profits while burning it to the ground. But Newsom is talking about one of the most regulated industries in the state — namely California’s energy utilities

(Excerpt) Read more at nationalreview.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Editorial; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: cablackout; california; infrastructure; lowry; pgande; poweroutage
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-47 next last
To: karpov

“It is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness”

Origin according to
Quote Investigator: (my paraphrase)....

The earliest appearance was in a 1907 collection titled “The Supreme Conquest and Other Sermons Preached in America” by William L. Watkinson. A sermon titled “The Invincible Strategy” .
In September 1907 the sermon was reprinted in a magazine called “China’s Millions” published by a Protestant Christian missionary society based in China.

Thus, the expression was disseminated to a group of people in China. Nowadays, the words are sometimes ascribed to Confucius or labeled a Chinese proverb, but that is unsupported.


21 posted on 10/29/2019 8:21:58 AM PDT by frank ballenger (End vote fraud & harvesting,non-citizen voting & leftist media news censorship or we are finished.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: karpov

No need to go overseas to help the indigenous - go to Calezuela to help.


22 posted on 10/29/2019 8:29:15 AM PDT by SkyDancer ( ~ Just Consider Me A Random Fact Generator ~ Eat Sleep Fly Repeat ~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: PGR88

Me too


23 posted on 10/29/2019 8:35:38 AM PDT by Rj Snows (Some years back Sacramento area used to be the capital of tomatoes)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: karpov

Lights out twice last week for us, tuesday, Saturday night through Monday night.
Now 9am the say to have them out again.


24 posted on 10/29/2019 8:40:15 AM PDT by Rj Snows (Some years back Sacramento area used to be the capital of tomatoes)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Spok

“incapable”

Only applies to the useful idiots. Those in charge know exactly what they’re doing. Like Maduro, as long as their pockets are being filled that are happy. They simply don’t give a shit about the lowlies.

When they can’t leech anymore out they will do it elsewhere or retire to their own fortress somewhere.


25 posted on 10/29/2019 8:42:11 AM PDT by fruser1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Responsibility2nd

Nah...

Why would they do that? Just because there’s more poop on the streets and less electricity than in Mehico?

I don’t think that would bother them. Remember, their calculators run on batteries and as long as you shop-lift with your calculator on, keep a running tab, and stay below... what is it $999?... you can get tons of free stuff.

Who cares about a little poop and candle light?


26 posted on 10/29/2019 8:43:03 AM PDT by samtheman (Never underestimate The Stupid on the left... or the evil in the heart of a bureaucrat.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: karpov

Reminds me of a joke...

What did the socialists use before candles?

Electricity!


27 posted on 10/29/2019 8:44:37 AM PDT by 3boysdad (The very elect.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 3boysdad

+.


28 posted on 10/29/2019 8:44:54 AM PDT by mad_as_he$$ (Beware the homeless industrial complex.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: karpov

California is their own undoing.
You can’t regulate a business into bankruptcy over unicorn farts and expect them to provide a service.


29 posted on 10/29/2019 8:50:10 AM PDT by BuffaloJack ("Security does not exist in nature. Everything has risk." Henry Savage)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SES1066

California: building a bridge to the 19th century.

CC


30 posted on 10/29/2019 9:00:40 AM PDT by Celtic Conservative (My cats are more amusing than 200 channels worth of TV)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: CIB-173RDABN

It’s a joke. My European relatives have been laughing at us for 20 years with these stupid above ground electricity wires. In some places it is necessary, but even in earthquake country we could do underground in most spots.

Our roads suck, our infrastructure sucks, we have sacred homeless pooping and gathering rats and drugs on our streets. How to Third World Your State Instantly.


31 posted on 10/29/2019 9:07:14 AM PDT by Yaelle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: karpov

These power shut offs are truly caused by Global Warming.


32 posted on 10/29/2019 9:19:48 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer (The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Outage map:

https://poweroutage.us/area/state/california


33 posted on 10/29/2019 9:33:36 AM PDT by Rio
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: CIB-173RDABN

PG&E is being held responsible for a fire that burned down an entire city. They cannot afford to let it happen again. They did not write the regulations that caused the forests to be choked by vegetation that fuels small fires making them very large very fast. Look how many and how big the fires are that are burning right now. But PG&E can’t be blamed for them which they very well could have if they were not doing something to prevent them.


34 posted on 10/29/2019 9:41:09 AM PDT by webheart
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: karpov

But they’re straw free...


35 posted on 10/29/2019 9:43:00 AM PDT by WKUHilltopper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: webheart

California’s Socialist/Communist authority is the cause. Much more to come, as they are also there to “fix it”.


36 posted on 10/29/2019 9:44:07 AM PDT by gathersnomoss (Welcome to North Mexico, Gringo's it...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: alloysteel

What happens to the high-speed rail when PG&E flips-off the power (and it’s customers - see what I did there?)

Asking for a friend.


37 posted on 10/29/2019 9:48:15 AM PDT by Reagan80 ("In this current crisis, government is not the solution to our problems, government IS the problem")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: karpov

Live in California?

Got horses?

Ready to BOLT California?

I have a 5.58 acre horse property for sale. Current annual property taxes UNDER $750.

Will provide any info you need. PM me.


38 posted on 10/29/2019 9:48:25 AM PDT by ridesthemiles
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: alloysteel

And suing PG&E $50B isn’t going to help do the vital ~$50B of maintenance needed to mitigate the fire risks.


39 posted on 10/29/2019 9:57:44 AM PDT by ctdonath2 (Specialization is for insects.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: CIB-173RDABN

Perhaps even having planes in the air on the look out for fires when they start and call in a strike team to put them out.”””

Let me take you back to the days of Bill Clinton in the White House & his Secretary of the Interior.....who was a 4th generation rancher from New Mexico.

Clinton & that Sec of the Interior shut down the US FOREST roads-—called it the ‘ROADLESS POLICY” and put up expensive, massive gates at the entrances of those forests. They also dug large holes right behind those gates to prevent anyone from entering with a vehicle. Holes big enough to drop a school bus into. I have seen them. NO JOKE>

Ever since, firefighters CAN NOT get into the forests to stop a fire when it is small. The ONLY way to get them in is by plane...and there are not that many “Hot Shots’ who parachute into a fire & try to stop it.

They both also filled up all the Interior/Forest Service/BLM
departments with Enviros who want Mother Nature to run things.


40 posted on 10/29/2019 9:57:48 AM PDT by ridesthemiles
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-47 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson