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Another California energy crisis looms, draft report warns
ap on San Diego Union Tribune ^ | 9/16/05 | Don Thompson - ap

Posted on 09/16/2005 9:59:01 PM PDT by NormsRevenge

SACRAMENTO – Four years after electricity prices soared and blackouts rolled across California, the state is in danger of another energy crisis – this one involving gasoline and natural gas as well, said a draft report Friday. The state is a captive of its own geographic and regulatory isolation, separated by miles and mountains from many refineries and fossil fuel sources. Moreover, the state sets stricter fuel standards to trim air pollution, driving up prices and limiting availability as is evident in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, said the California Energy Commission.

"California's way of life is threatened by its growing dependence on oil and natural gas, spiraling energy prices, potential supply shortages and an inadequate and aging energy delivery infrastructure," said the report that, in its final version, will go to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and state legislators.

The draft was released as a three-day international global warming conference hosted by the commission and the California Environmental Protection Agency concluded. Commissioners are to vote on adopting the report Nov. 16.

An EPA panel separately released draft proposals for how the state can meet Schwarzenegger's goal of cutting the state's emissions of greenhouse gases to 2000 levels by 2010, 1990 levels by 2020, and 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. A final version will go to Schwarzenegger in January.

The problems are interlinked: Warming temperatures could harm the Sierra Nevada snow pack that provides hydroelectricity, while hotter summers will drive up electricity demand.

"As the state's demand for electricity intensifies, California could face severe shortages in the next few years," partly as a result of the warming trend, the energy report warned.

Both panels recommended conservation, improved technology and regulatory changes among responses.

But the energy commission report warns that "the state has made only minimal progress" since it made similar recommendations two years ago, and calls for policy-makers to "take immediate action." Few new power plants are operating despite an intensive drive after the last electricity crisis, with 7,000 megawatts worth of approved plants on hold due to regulatory and market problems.

California's demand for transportation fuels has increased nearly 50 percent in 20 years. It is second only to Texas in consumption of natural gas, 87 percent of which is imported from other states or nations and much of which goes to produce electricity.

Electricity transmission problems last year cost the state's economy more than $1 billion, the energy report estimated, and this summer led to Southern California's first rolling blackouts since the 2000-2001 crisis.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: another; california; calpowercrisis; draftreport; energycrisis; globalbalony; looms; warns
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To: msf92497
"They can wear little gold stars to let everyone know just how SPECIAL they are."

The headlines in my local newspaper stated that natural gas prices were subject to rising by 70% this winter.

The wood (clean-up from hurricane Katrina) I place out on the roadside for FEMA removal is being salvaged by the locals, unlike it was for hurricane Ivan.

21 posted on 09/17/2005 5:38:54 AM PDT by blam
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To: peyton randolph
If all Californians would modify their Hummers to run on alternative energy sources,

Or they could just send the illegals home and cut consumption by 20 to 50% depending on what percentage of the state you believe to be illegal.

22 posted on 09/17/2005 7:52:46 AM PDT by itsahoot (Any country that does not control its borders, is not a country. Ronald Reagan)
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To: backhoe
Remember when?

---

lol.. chickens coming home to roost roost roost, maybe?

just like old times, indeed, and surprise, much the same faces are in office while Rome begins to combust.


23 posted on 09/17/2005 9:17:17 AM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... "To remain silent when they should protest makes cowards of men." -- THOMAS JEFFERSON)
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To: Carry_Okie

I retract my earlier post to you as to, ignorance, not stupidity. You have proved it is indeed the latter.


24 posted on 09/17/2005 9:34:09 AM PDT by Ursus arctos horribilis ("It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees!" Emiliano Zapata 1879-1919)
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To: Ursus arctos horribilis
I retract my earlier post to you as to, ignorance, not stupidity. You have proved it is indeed the latter.

It must be nice to believe something without supporting facts.

What you are going to have to explain is how the major donors to the environmental movement (leftists all): the Pew family, the Rockefeller family, the British Royals, and the Packards (now in methane hydrate to the tune of $300 million) have no interest in high prices by means of regulatory constraint when they are are all heavily invested in methane production.

These folks work through political donations, funding NGO lawsuits, paying for useful university research... Such actions are invisible to you in the industry.

Go ahead, make my day.

25 posted on 09/17/2005 9:45:02 AM PDT by Carry_Okie (There are people in power who are truly evil.)
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To: Jaysun; Grampa Dave; Ernest_at_the_Beach; Robert357; snopercod; Carry_Okie; sasquatch; ...
"The environmentalist have set our sails for the waterfall at the foot of sh*t creek."

And they won't even let us harvest the trees with which to make wooden paddles, therefore we are without a paddle!!!

Whata ya mean "sails?" They've cut off our ag water that we used to grow cotton with for sails in CA, as well!!!

You're funny as heck, but you're fallin behind their curve!!!

26 posted on 09/17/2005 10:32:50 AM PDT by SierraWasp (The only thing that can save CA is making eastern CA the 51st state called Sierra Republic!!!)
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To: peyton randolph; NormsRevenge; FredZarguna; Boot Hill
The whole "alternative energy" scenario is economic horse manure! Plus, people that can afford a Hummer can afford gasoline, not matter what the cost. It's just Arnold that's puttin all the horse hockey around the streets of the Crapitol in Sacramenna!!!

He expects you to worship both him and his economically unviable "Hydrogen Highway" for his equally impracticle "Hydrogen Hummer!"

27 posted on 09/17/2005 10:39:32 AM PDT by SierraWasp (The only thing that can save CA is making eastern CA the 51st state called Sierra Republic!!!)
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To: SierraWasp
"The environmentalist have set our sails for the waterfall at the foot of sh*t creek."

It's past time that we just start ignoring them and their laws.

28 posted on 09/17/2005 10:43:40 AM PDT by stboz
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To: stboz
What? By taking the law into our own hands? No thank you! That's why I continue to exert political pressure anyway I can afford. Politics is the way Americans and Californians change things without killing each other in the process!!!

My weapons are strictly for self-defense ONLY!!! I will follow the law, even if it is an "ass" until we can get it changed politically and judicially!!!

29 posted on 09/17/2005 10:52:07 AM PDT by SierraWasp (The only thing that can save CA is making eastern CA the 51st state called Sierra Republic!!!)
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To: Prophet in the wilderness
As I drive to work (in Southern California) I pass the local high school and every day see SUV after SUV each with one adult and usually one child passenger.

The thought occurred - do the schools have any incentive to car pool?

Any CA educators - or parents - here who would know?

BTW My work is 20 miles from home - car is essential.

30 posted on 09/17/2005 10:55:14 AM PDT by Churchillspirit (Anaheim Angels - 2002 World Series Champions)
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To: Carry_Okie
The conspiracy nuts in your alternate universe are in the ascendancy. Adjust your tin foil hat and take your meds.
31 posted on 09/17/2005 11:19:20 AM PDT by Ursus arctos horribilis ("It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees!" Emiliano Zapata 1879-1919)
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To: SierraWasp; backhoe; NormsRevenge

Thanks for the ping to an enlightened thread, backhoe and Norm have even revived some of the oldies....got this thread on the calpowercrisis list.....


32 posted on 09/17/2005 11:19:38 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach (History is soon Forgotten,)
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To: NormsRevenge
Hay! Yew gotta copy on that muthertrucker, c'mon?

MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Ah... That'sa big 10-4 there muthertrucker! Hev we got us a convoy? Git back!!!

Yeeeeeeeeeehawwwwwwwww! Giddy Up!!! (clip clop, plip plop)

33 posted on 09/17/2005 11:42:35 AM PDT by SierraWasp (The only thing that can save CA is making eastern CA the 51st state called Sierra Republic!!!)
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach

Good deal! I love threads like these!!!


34 posted on 09/17/2005 11:43:46 AM PDT by SierraWasp (The only thing that can save CA is making eastern CA the 51st state called Sierra Republic!!!)
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To: NormsRevenge

I'd lost track of the "Greyout Davis" graphic- thanks!


35 posted on 09/17/2005 12:10:54 PM PDT by backhoe (Just an old Keyboard Cowboy, ridin' the trackball into the Sunset...)
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To: NormsRevenge

36 posted on 09/17/2005 12:38:24 PM PDT by Grampa Dave (Jamie Gorelick is responsible for more dead Americans(9-11) than those killed in Iraq.)
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To: Grampa Dave

LOL.. Thanks!


37 posted on 09/17/2005 12:52:04 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... "To remain silent when they should protest makes cowards of men." -- THOMAS JEFFERSON)
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To: NormsRevenge

Basically every screwball enviro law dealing with energy has helped the Opecker Princes and Opecker Thugs.


38 posted on 09/17/2005 1:22:19 PM PDT by Grampa Dave (Jamie Gorelick is responsible for more dead Americans(9-11) than those killed in Iraq.)
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To: Ursus arctos horribilis
The conspiracy nuts in your alternate universe are in the ascendancy. Adjust your tin foil hat and take your meds.

Wow. Such persuasive alacrity.

39 posted on 09/17/2005 1:34:37 PM PDT by Carry_Okie (There are people in power who are truly evil.)
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To: SierraWasp
The whole "alternative energy" scenario is economic horse manure!

Not all of it. Geothermal used to be considered alternative energy. Biomass has considerable promise and we have to do something about overgrown vegetation anyway.

40 posted on 09/17/2005 1:36:13 PM PDT by Carry_Okie (There are people in power who are truly evil.)
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