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California could resort to using electric cars to charge its struggling power grid
Just the News ^ | 8/13/2023 | Addison Smith

Posted on 08/14/2023 9:11:43 AM PDT by Signalman

The state of California, which has struggled to reconcile its aggressive "green energy" agenda against its unreliable and blackout-prone power grid, may have an admittedly "unconventional" solution thanks to a proposal from Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E): Using electric cars to charge the power grid.

PG&E, which provides power for around 16 million California residents, sees "great potential" for EVs to act as power grid backup generators. "The grid needs those electric vehicles. We need to make it available, and it can be a huge resource," he added, per The Orange County Register.

Just the News contacted PG&E for more details. A spokesman responded by lauding the supposed benefits of "bidirectional charging."

"PG&E believes in a future where everyone is driving an electric vehicle (EV) and where that EV serves as a backup power option at home and more broadly as a resource for the grid," the statement to Just the News read. Not only is this a huge advancement for electric reliability and climate resiliency, it’s yet another advantage of clean-powered EVs, which are so important in our collective battle against climate change."

The company also said tapping electric cars eliminates "the need for non-renewable resources" like fossil fuels.

The state is widely regarded as the most green energy-driven state, but it is also infamous for its rolling blackouts. In August 2020, ABC reported that hundreds of thousands of Californians briefly lost power in rolling blackouts. Many times, the state uses a diesel generator to supplement the grid during peak energy usage.

Nonetheless, PG&E’s 2030 Climate Strategy Report has a goal for the grid "to quickly and safely power at least 3 million EVs— or about 12,000 GWh of EV-related electric load." Two million of those EVs are being sought for "vehicle-grid integration (VGI) applications, allowing EVs to be a cornerstone of both electric reliability and climate resilience for PG&E customers broadly."

According to the Pacific Research Institute, California isn’t able to generate enough electricity to meet its pending EV mandate. 12,000 GWh is nearly 18% of its total renewable electricity generated in 2021.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has openly referred to his state’s power grid as having a reliability "issue" that "has to be addressed." Even though it has an abundance of oil, it still imports more electricity from outside the state than any other state in the nation because of its green agenda pledge. Data culled from the U.S. Department of Energy shows that California led the nation in power outages last year, with 142 major events.

Because the state has notoriously high energy costs—with some reportedly paying triple the providing cost—three utility companies have proposed charging residents based on income rather than energy consumption.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Front Page News; Government; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: automotive; calif; california; californication; electricgrid; energy; evs; justthenews; newscum; pic; powergrid
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To: Tell It Right

they’ll make it mandatory...


21 posted on 08/14/2023 9:19:59 AM PDT by Sacajaweau ( )
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To: Signalman

Is this anything like a perpetual motion machine. The loop must be from electric generator company to EV to user then back to generator company for fill up of EV.

I don’t see how this alleviates much of the pressure on the generator company to provide for the grid.


22 posted on 08/14/2023 9:20:18 AM PDT by wildbill (The older I get, the less the term 'life in prison" scares me)
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To: Yo-Yo

“It’s got electrolytes…”


23 posted on 08/14/2023 9:21:03 AM PDT by EEGator
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To: CatOwner
If they were to do this, watch for an increase in the number of EV fires in garages in the state.

I wasn't considering that but I think you're on to something.
24 posted on 08/14/2023 9:21:34 AM PDT by Signalman
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To: Angelino97
"But if the cars charge the grid, that won't the cars be without power to drive on the roads?"

Pfft. Just a technicality.

All they have to do is plug in their perpetual motion power machine and they will be all set.

25 posted on 08/14/2023 9:21:35 AM PDT by rlmorel ("If you think tough men are dangerous, just wait until you see what weak men are capable of." JBP)
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To: Signalman

What unbelievable idiocy.


26 posted on 08/14/2023 9:21:53 AM PDT by Dave911
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To: Yo-Yo

“Experts” and “authorities” in California are working on legislation to repeal the first law of thermodynamics.

That’s how this will work.


27 posted on 08/14/2023 9:22:32 AM PDT by packagingguy
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To: Sirius Lee

Hey perpetual machines never work ... oh wait, ten to one the way the internet has been taken over by advertisers and scammers I’d almost bet you will see this for sale on it in about a week.


28 posted on 08/14/2023 9:23:25 AM PDT by antidemoncrat
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To: Magnum44

Best move he made was working out and getting 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi.


29 posted on 08/14/2023 9:23:30 AM PDT by EEGator
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To: Signalman

Insurers should cancel homeowners’ policies if implemented due to fire risk.


30 posted on 08/14/2023 9:24:32 AM PDT by SpaceBar
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To: Angelino97
But if the cars charge the grid, that won't the cars be without power to drive on the roads?

I think it's time for the officials of PG&E to learn some basic physics...like the "Conservation of Energy" principle.
31 posted on 08/14/2023 9:25:32 AM PDT by Signalman
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To: EEGator

13 Hours is such a great movie. True heroes in a world of cowards.


32 posted on 08/14/2023 9:25:37 AM PDT by Magnum44 (...against all enemies, foreign and domestic... )
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To: Angelino97

Win/win. /s


33 posted on 08/14/2023 9:27:24 AM PDT by gundog (It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. )
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To: Signalman
"...Nonetheless, PG&E’s 2030 Climate Strategy Report has a goal for the grid "to quickly and safely power at least 3 million EVs— or about 12,000 GWh of EV-related electric load." Two million of those EVs are being sought for "vehicle-grid integration (VGI) applications, allowing EVs to be a cornerstone of both electric reliability and climate resilience for PG&E customers broadly..."

I have never heard of anything so asinine in my life. This is a little scary.

So, these people who put out this statement above, are somehow being treated seriously by the company that employs them, the state that regulates them, and the people who need their power?

This statement is no more valid than a statement that Unicorn Dust will bring it all together and make it work.

These people are dangerously incompetent and deranged.

34 posted on 08/14/2023 9:27:54 AM PDT by rlmorel ("If you think tough men are dangerous, just wait until you see what weak men are capable of." JBP)
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To: EEGator
“It’s got electrolytes…”

So does Vodka and Gatorade.

35 posted on 08/14/2023 9:28:04 AM PDT by Yo-Yo (Is the /Sarc tag really necessary? Pray for President Biden: Psalm 109:8)
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To: Magnum44

I have it. Solid rewatch-able flick.


36 posted on 08/14/2023 9:28:17 AM PDT by EEGator
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To: Yo-Yo

So, what’s the loss converting AC to DC, and then back again?


37 posted on 08/14/2023 9:28:29 AM PDT by gundog (It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. )
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To: Tell It Right

That’s right.


38 posted on 08/14/2023 9:28:58 AM PDT by No name given (Anonymous is who you’ll know me as )
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To: BradyLS

Or a shot glass.


39 posted on 08/14/2023 9:29:14 AM PDT by No name given (Anonymous is who you’ll know me as )
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To: Signalman

People will charge their car at work.

Run their home during the day on solar panels.

Run their home during the night on the car battery.

Disconnect their home from the grid.


40 posted on 08/14/2023 9:29:41 AM PDT by Brian Griffin (Article II, Section 2: "The President...may require the opinion, in writing,...upon any subject...")
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