For the most part I am happy with free trade, but let’s consider the end game of connecting the Texas grid to one of the other grids in the U.S.
During times of excess capacity, as you mentioned, excess production would be sold off to other states so Texas would not enjoy any benefits of lower energy prices. Texans would have to pay the same rates as everyone else.
During times of limited capacity, we would simply import capacity from other states rather than building our own additional capacity. Again, we pay the same as people in other states.
Isn’t that what ‘free trade’ with China has done, moved all of the U.S. production capacity to China?
Don’t we generally agree that this was not good for the U.S.?
“For the most part I am happy with free trade, but let’s consider the end game of connecting the Texas grid to one of the other grids in the U.S.”
Doesn’t sound like it. You’re OK imposing government regulations forbidding the import and exports of electricity (but not other goods).
” During times of limited capacity, we would simply import capacity from other states rather than building our own additional capacity. Again, we pay the same as people in other states.”
How much additional capacity have you guys built over the last week? And given that Texas does not pay a utility for spare capacity, how much unused capacity do you think utilities are voluntarily going to build? And at times like these wouldn’t 99.9% of Texans be ecstatic to be paying what people in other states are paying AND not freezing their asses off.
*Isn’t that what ‘free trade’ with China has done, moved all of the U.S. production capacity to China?
Don’t we generally agree that this was not good for the U.S.? “
Ah, so now you’re in favor of government commie regulations telling you who and what you can trade with. And with less than a 3% unemployment rate before the plague hit, I wonder what those 97% were producing?
Don’t you see how your silly ideology and fear of the commie boogieman is twisting you into an incoherent pretzel?
I’m sure you fancy yourself a conservative, but you are much more of an ideologue than a conservative. Above all conservatives are pragmatists, ie doing what works, especially what’s been proven to work. Whereas an ideologue has a conception of how things must be and come hell or high water, or freezing your butt off weather, I’m going to stick with that.
BTW, I’m still waiting to hear your totally free of any “commie style” government regulations solution to Texas feast or famine energy problem. I’m looking forward to it.