CA’n blackout lessons: Business owners want reliable electricity, not paltry “solutions”

During recent years’ disastrous rolling blackouts, Gov. Newsom promised to partner with businesses to work towards a solution. This amounted to Newsom asking businesses to reduce electricity use. Breaking down California’s “energy crisis,” Fox & Hounds Daily editor Joel Fox argues that a true solution will involve both natural and renewable energy sources, so businesses can stably continue normal operations—and not have to turn off the lights. To receive daily updates of new Opp Now stories, click here.

There is a practical solution for dealing with potential energy shortages in the state and that is to have a balanced energy program that relies not only on renewable energy and innovative energy programs but doesn’t reject reliable energy sources like natural gas. Relying on domestic energy sources will help relieve California consumers from the highest energy costs in the nation. 

In his press conference yesterday, Governor Newsom said he wants to work with the business community to confront the immediate energy crisis resulting in the rolling blackouts. His means of working with businesses is asking them to limit consumption during peak hours. In other words, turn off the machines. How’s slowing the economic engine of the state going to help California rebound from the most shattering economic crisis in more than a decade?

The business community wants to work with the governor but not by simply turning off the lights.

“The business community has supported California’s climate change goals and established CARE (Californians for Affordable and Reliable Energy) to ensure that our energy transition will maintain a stable and affordable energy supply for business and all Californians,” Rob Lapsley, president of the California Business Roundtable, said in a statement following the most recent power outages. “Our transition has resulted in some of the highest energy prices in the country and now we are facing reliability problems in the summer months when our economy should be at its peak. We must have a robust and diversified energy portfolio including a statewide energy plan, which we have sponsored in a previous legislative session.” 

This article originally appeared in Fox & Hounds Daily. Read the whole thing here.

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Image by Paul Cross on Flickr