Rural electric provider in Utah warns of ‘impending U.S. energy crisis’

Deseret News ^ | June 28, 2023 | By Amy Joi O’Donoghue

[Oldeconomybuyer]

A small, rural electric cooperative in eastern Utah approved a declaration of what it says is an “impending U.S. energy crisis,” fueled by the accelerated retirement of coal-fired power plants without ensuring an alternative base load energy supply can take their place.

In the action approved by board members of the Moon Lake Electric Association earlier this month, the nonprofit cooperative serving 24,121 connections that include the Ute Indian Tribe said current federal energy policies are untenable.

“There is a growing trend of decommissioning many of the existing dispatchable power generation resources across the country without viable replacements. Demand for energy continues to increase while the supply of reliable and affordable electricity follows a downward trajectory leaving the nation’s populace with an electricity deficiency,” the cooperative said in a letter.

“As the electricity deficiency progresses, it will result in higher cost of electricity to the ‘Average Joe’ domestically. In other words, those with greater financial means will be able to afford electricity while the less fortunate will have to go without — this crisis cannot be tolerated,” it said.

Yankton Johnson, chief executive officer and general manager of the Moon Lake Electric Association, said there were blackouts in nine states last December due to lack of capacity amid a grid experiencing vulnerabilities.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

[BobL]

The KEY QUESTION is when do the blackouts start, as that will determine how many fossil fuel plants and nuke plants are left standing. If the Leftists get lucky with the weather, they may get most of those plants dismantled prior to the mass blackouts.

We shall see.

[SaveFerris]

I’ve got a generator coming supposedly but it’s just for emergency use really

[FlingWingFlyer]

I don’t think the windmills and solar panels are workin’ out. Just my opinion.

[antidemoncrat]

Just anther Biden success story.

[BobL]

“I’ve got a generator coming supposedly but it’s just for emergency use really”

Depends on generator. Generally a water-cooled engine is the best for long-term (meaning near-continuous) use, while the cheaper, air cooled, ones are called stand-by for a reason (meaning that your hours are limited before they start to fail).

So you might be limited to actual emergency use, rather than being able to provide continuous power, should the blackouts end up being like the ones now in South Africa (as in near-daily).

[MMusson]

Note - if you replace a 100 MW coal plant with a 100 MW Solar Farm - you get power from 10am to 4pm.

To replace a 100 MW coal plant with solar, requires 1800MW hours of electricity storage and 4 100 MW Solar Farms.

100MW Coal = 4 100 MW Solar Farms + 1800MWH batteries.

Then, you hope it doesn’t rain or snow.

[Openurmind]

Soon they will be stealing power from rural areas to give to the upper class city people. If you are rural may as well figure on not having power very often if at all. Same with phone and internet service.

You don’t matter and are not important enough to supply with power.

[beef]

Look at the edges to see what is planned for the middle.

[SaveFerris]

I think it’s just a Craftsman 3500

But if I can ever get a double-wide trailer or an RV might have a little backup in an emergency

Needs gas ⛽ I think

[odawg]

When we all freeze and starve in the dark, we can be comforted by the fact that we are saving the planet. Biden can’t save people but he can save the Earth.

[oldasrocks]

I had a Craftsman 3,500. Good for short term use. Found all the little gennys are made mainly for weekend part time use only. Continuous use, it burnt up in 3 days use.

We have a 11KW Generic on the house. Run like a champ for the 11 days we were out of power in 07 and still going strong. Moral of the story is you get what you pay for.
That was in cold weather and often thing I should go to water cooled for summer use. Pain in the rear but may be worth it if we lose long term power in the summer.

[BobL]

I’m sure it’s gas. Still far better than nothing, and very cheap. Next step is to get some battery storage for phones and computers. Look up Jackery on Amazon (or wherever), they great units in the 500 to 2000 Watt-hour range!

[VeniVidiVici]

This is exactly what the Democrats want to happen; a shortage of electricity and extremely high fuel prices to combat the Democrat lie called climate change.

Control …

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Southern Utah still has plenty of coal. Back in the early 1970s there were plans to build “Mine mouth” power plants but the Enviros got the project stopped.

The Kaiparowits Plateau has plenty of coal. Now made a National Monument so no coal mines can operate there.

“The Kaiparowits Plateau is a large, elevated landform located in southern Utah, in the southwestern United States. Along with the Grand Staircase and the Canyons of the Escalante, it makes up a significant portion of the Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument.”— Wikipedia

https://ugspub.nr.utah.gov/publications/open_file_reports/OFR-314.pdf

[bgill]

The illegal invasion is using too many resources.

[SaveFerris]

Thanks!

[SaveFerris]

Thanks for the info

I had a choice on a gift

Went with the most practical thing

[Arlis]

I’ve had generators for 40 years, now have permanently installed one for whole house with ATS - Automatic Transfer Switch, and 500 gallon underground propane tank.

Not worth much.

Propane is $4.00/gallon or more and in crisis will not be available. Fuel costs for any generator makes them impractical to use for any length of time.

[SaveFerris]

(Fuel costs for any generator makes them impractical to use for any length of time.)

I was thinking that as well