New Yorkers unhappy with Con Edison’s huge rate increases have two people to blame: disgraced former Governor Andrew Cuomo for the green agenda he implemented, and Kathy Hochul for doubling down on his failures.
Both are completely ignorant on energy, and their policies are dangerous to the state’s overall economy and the well-being of its citizens, especially those without cushion in their budget to sustain the higher price tags.
New York consumes a known amount of electricity each day.
Everything from a Park Avenue elevator to an air conditioner in Buffalo needs electricity, and that electricity must come from somewhere.
As with any fixed commodity, the greater the demand with a limited supply means higher prices.
Any teen who wanted to see Taylor Swift in concert understands this.
Cuomo did not.
First, Cuomo went after New York’s coal plants.
Coal once produced 16% of the State’s electricity; it now produces 0%.
It’s part of the plan to be 100% “zero-emission electricity” by 2040.
It’s up for debate whether these policies make the air cleaner or people happier, especially after Special Presidential Envoy for Climate (SPEC) John Kerry came up empty in his climate negotiations with the world’s largest polluter, China.
But one thing is certain: costs are higher.
Next, Cuomo went after nuclear power, which even France relies on for 70% of its electricity.
It was not that long ago that safe, reliable nuclear power produced 33% of New York’s electricity, but Cuomo had national ambitions that required adherence to the green cult.
When he closed Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant in 2021, another 2,000 megawatts of electricity generation — nearly one quarter of New York City’s needs — went offline.
Again, the only tangible results so far have been higher prices.
Liberal politicians in New York claim they are “investing in renewables.”
President Biden is spending hundreds of billions of this trying to convince the American people wind and solar are a solution.
They are not because they do not work.
When pressed on the loss of reliable nuclear and coal power, green politicians will say the state has more than 2,000mw of “capacity.”
As of this writing, New York’s wind energy is generating a little over 300mw of electricity.
New York is not consuming less electricity, just producing less, so again the delta is higher prices.
Unless, of course, Albany finds a way to turn up the wind.
Solar is no better.
One day in May, New York’s solar installations generated 3,300mw of electricity for an hour and it made headlines.
A tremendous feat!
But as I write this at 12:30 pm in July, solar power is generating 342mw.
The delta?
Higher utility bills.
Andrew Cuomo took New York “green” and gave the state an electric grid based on weather.
The wind does not always blow, and the sun goes down every day for a period known as night.
Wind and solar are by nature intermittent at best, and this problem will only be exacerbated since Hochul is pushing to electrify everything.
Gas stove bans mean more electricity consumption.
EV mandates mean more electricity consumption.
New Yorkers will be lucky if the consequences of the green agenda are only higher prices.
In Texas, when the ice storms of 2021 shut down their wind capacity, 700 people died because of an untested yet politically fashionable green agenda.
When it first passed, many Texas politicians took victory laps praising their green energy push, but when it failed, nameless, faceless, powerless Texans paid the price with their lives.
With its colder climate, New York’s fate will be much worse if this green push continues.
Con-Ed’s rate hikes are completely expected because so-called green energy cannot meet our needs.
Using fossil fuels and nuclear power is the only way forward and unless the New Yorkers stop voting for energy ignorant politicians embracing a failed green agenda, higher prices and even worse are the future of the Empire State.
It is inevitable.
Daniel Turner is the founder and executive director of Power The Future, a national nonprofit organization that advocates for American energy jobs. Twitter: @DanielTurnerPTF
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