Thread by @AlexEpstein

At today's Congressional hearing, Rep. @AOC advocated shutting down "tomorrow" the reliable, resilient coal plant that provides *20%* of electricity-challenged Puerto Rico's electricity.

I tried to convince her that this would be beyond devastating to the people of Puerto Rico.

I tried to make clear on my Whiteboard of Justice to @AOC, @RepKatiePorter, and others advocating a rapid shutdown of coal--a reliable 20% of electricity--in favor of "renewables," that "renewables" provide a mostly-unreliable *2.5%* of PR electricity.

Written testimony: "To provide low-cost, reliable electricity in Puerto Rico, fossil fuels are...crucial--along with massive regulatory reform that enables low-cost natural gas and/or coal to replace the very expensive oil-based power plants that dominate Puerto Rico today."

"Oil is a far more expensive fuel than natural gas or coal, and is best used for transportation--where its unique "energy density" makes it unrivaled. But because of myriad bad policies, oil provides almost half of PR’s electricity..."

"But instead of pursuing reforms that would enable Puerto Rico to benefit from low-cost, reliable natural gas and/or coal electricity, the government of Puerto Rico is trying to outlaw these vital sources--and many on this committee are telling them to do it faster."

"The PR Energy Public Policy Act (PREPA) requires 40%...renewables by 2025, and 100% by 2050. These targets will absolutely not be met, just as such targets are failing around the world--but pursuing them at all makes electricity even more expensive and less reliable."

"We should be telling PR to abandon this suicide pact. But many on this committee are telling them to almost immediately shut down their most...resilient source of electricity--a coal plant, which survived...Maria and last year’s earthquakes, that provides 1/5 of PR electricity."

"PR is already desperately short of generating capacity, with a recent earthquake destroying...significant amounts of natural gas generation....without the coal plant, the grid will turn to its already overtaxed oil-based power plants, guaranteeing...even more blackouts."

"The alleged justification for the rapid shutdown of this vital plant is issues with coal ash. But many places...deal with coal ash just fine. If a real, unbiased scientific study demonstrates a real problem, fix the problem--don't further destroy PR's terrible grid."

"While PR needs to completely reject all fossil fuel elimination policies, it also needs radical regulatory reform to rid itself of the many destructive regulations that are holding it back. One reform it should push for is exemption from the Jones Act..."

If anyone reading this knows @AOC, please encourage her to take 10 minutes to read my written testimony. I believe she really does care about Puerto Rico, but she has absorbed dangerously delusional views about energy that will end up killing many people.

energytalkingpoints.com/alex-epstein-c…

Dear Rep. @AOC,

I think you care about the people of PR but have been tragically misinformed by your advisors about its energy needs.

So today at 3:30 ET, I will do a webinar refuting every energy claim you made yesterday. DM me for the link. Also open to media and politicians.

@AOC Dear Rep. @AOC,

Since you didn't ask me any questions and left our hearing in Congress before my closing statement yesterday, I recorded this 34-minute video definitively refuting every energy claim you made.

Please watch it and then do what's right.

@AOC

https://twitter.com/AlexEpstein/status/1410765958596071425

After our PR hearing I looked into the @Siemens report that @AOC claimed supported an immediate shutdown. In fact Siemens did not even consider a shutdown till 2027. And admitted that it would raise costs!

Here's the proof, beyond any reasonable doubt.

https://twitter.com/AlexEpstein/status/1410962013853868039