Tuesday, September 13, 2011

EPA

The EPA - a.k.a Everything Pollutes America - is in a legal tussle with the largest electric generation company in Texas. It seems the all seeing and all knowing government agency wants coal fired plants to meet more restrictions that the company has refused to bow down to. And, there are other smaller companies facing similar actions.

If it is the intent of the EPA to force Texas to run out of electricity, then this is the way to do it. Of course, I am not privy to all the details, but I do know from previous experience that if a reasonable action takes out 98% of pollutants, the government wants 100%. If the first action cost a few million or billion dollars, it is not their problem. If it cost ten times an amount to attain the next 2%, it is not their problem.

It is the consumer’s problem. There is an old law of supply and demand. When you cut available generation, you cut the supply. And, if there is no supply, then the cost goes up. In Texas in the summer time, the demand is always high. Therefore, the price will go up before it gets so hot. And, when demand reaches summer peak, the solution is simple, there won’t be enough supply to meet demand. The result is rolling blackouts.

If the government’s case is true, that they want to prevent long term health issues, then here comes another one of my questions.

What about the short term health issues of being in a building when it 110 degrees, with no air conditioning?

PMO
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