Thread by @AlexEpstein

I live in CA, a state that, as a result of its "clean energy standard," which favors unreliable electricity, just announced a Stage 2 Power Grid Emergency.

And yet The @Guardian assures us that a far more aggressive nationwide "clean energy standard" will work out great.

For my debunking of the "fossil fuels cause mass death from air pollution" myth, read this: energytalkingpoints.com/1-in-5-myth/

To learn about California's disastrous electricity policy and why it's a terrible to do a doubled-down national version, read this:
energytalkingpoints.com/california-bla…

It's crazy to me that in 2021, a year in which states pushing renewables have had huge reliability problems--in the case of TX, killing dozens and harming millions--that @Guardian can get away with pretending that "renewables" (unreliables) are cost-free.

https://twitter.com/alexepstein/status/1361691271199264770

The only practical way to lower global CO2 emissions is to develop low-carbon sources that are cheaper than fossil fuels. If the US, which causes <1/6 of global emissions, mandates unaffordable low-carbon sources, we'll hurt ourselves--while global CO2 emissions continue rising.

Unreliable wind and solar cannot compete with fossil fuels. Because they can always go near zero--as we saw recently in Texas--they don't replace the cost of reliable power plants, they add to the cost of reliable power plants. That's why more wind and solar = higher prices.

Unfortunately, nuclear has become ultra-expensive in the US because politicians (mostly Dems) have demonized it and virtually criminalized it through endless unscientific regulations--along with wind/solar favors+subsidies, like the "PTC," that defund reliable nuclear plants.

US policy is so anti-nuclear that virtually no one will attempt to build a nuclear plant in this country--and this year utilities are planning to shut down a record amount of our existing low-carbon, low-cost, reliable nuclear power plants!

Any policy serious about CO2 emissions needs to recognize the severe deficiencies of wind/solar and *make nuclear decriminalization priorities number 1, 2, and 3*. Instead, the "clean energy standard" mandates catastrophic amounts of wind and solar.

The "clean energy standard" means 80% "clean electricity” by 2030--but does nothing substantial to reverse the criminalization and defunding of nuclear. So nuclear will decrease from its 20% share today. Hydro, at <7% today, has little room for growth. That means >50% wind/solar!

Consider: Germans, to get 37% of their electricity from wind/solar, have doubled their prices--now 3X US prices. And US prices are already inflated, along with big reliability problems, at 10% wind/solar. This is what we're supposed to quintuple down on in 8.5 years??

During TX's recent cold spell, wind and solar disappeared when they were needed the most. Its expensive batteries, which can store a mere 40 seconds, didn’t help, either. What the hell would they have done under a "clean energy standard"?

The US adopting anything like the proposed "clean energy standard" would lead to a far more extreme version of the outcomes we are seeing globally with wind/solar schemes: driving up electricity costs, harming economies, destroying domestic industries, and harming consumers.

The only benefit from the suicidal "clean energy standard" would be to China, which thanks in large part to its 85% fossil fuel energy system dominates the mining, processing, and manufacturing of wind/solar components. China will be happy to sell us even more inferior energy.

By forcing Americans to use unreliable solar and wind, the "clean energy standard" won’t stop global CO2 levels from rising, because China and others won’t be stupid enough to follow suit. The only thing it will bring about is an economic and security crisis in America.

Anyone who cares about human life, America, and rising CO2 levels has a clear path forward: support the decriminalization of nuclear, the only hope for globally competitive low-carbon energy. And reject suicidal policies like the "clean energy standard."