Months after wrapping up a multi-million dollar initiative to harden Houston's energy infrastructure after Hurricane Beryl left the city in the dark, CenterPoint Energy is now seeking to invest nearly $6 billion in the grid.
#EnergyEnvironment #News #Centerpoint #CenterPointEnergy #Ratepayers #ResiliencyInitative
#CommunityEnergy = #EnergyIndependence.
#Renewables + #BESS = 'The #NewGrid' (#FossilFuelIndependence).
#Decentralization = #UtilityIndependence.
See the trend here?#Independence = Choice, NOT #Monopolies & #PUC's dictating to #RatePayers.
.@otiswhite
#DiabloCanyon #NuclearPowerPlant brings #profits for PG&E, deadly risk for residents [and the #environment]
Tina Landis
August 19, 2024
"Despite opposition from residents and #environmental organizations, California legislators passed #SenateBill846 in 2022 to extend the life of the dangerous, aging Diablo Canyon #nuclear facility.
"Located on the Central Coast surrounded by several #fault lines, one has to question why a nuclear facility was placed in an #earthquake zone to begin with, much less allowing it to continue to operate well past its retirement date. The world witnessed what can happen to a coastal nuclear facility in an earthquake zone when the 2011 #Fukushima disaster triggered a meltdown that displaced nearly half a million residents, with vast amounts of #RadioactiveWater still being released into the ocean today.
"As long as Diablo Canyon remains open, Californians live with the constant risk of suffering the same type of disaster.
"From its inception, Diablo Canyon had little public support. Protests occurred regularly during its construction, and thousands were arrested for #CivilDisobedience actions in 1981.
"In the 1970s and 1980s, California’s three largest utilities spent billions of dollars building dangerous and costly nuclear plants like Diablo Canyon, which resulted in skyrocketing rates for customers. Big industry fought back against these increased energy costs, which resulted in deregulation bills consisting of multi-billion dollar #bailouts to the state’s utility companies to cover their costly investments in nuclear.
"Today, the last remaining nuclear plant operating in the state is still draining billions in funds that could be used for safe, #renewable energy development. To keep Diablo Canyon running 5 years past its retirement date is expected to cost $8 billion to $12 billion. A federal aid package of $1.1 billion will contribute to some of those costs – meaning federal #taxpayers’ money – while the remaining billions will be passed on to #California #ratepayers.
"Despite being run by PG&E and only generating power for its territory, customers of #SouthernCaliforniaEdison and #SanDiegoGasAndElectric will help cover the remaining costs of the Diablo extension. Edison bills will increase by around $1.25 a month and SDG&E by 87 cents a month, while PG&E customers are expected to chip in $2.07 a month – and that’s just for the first year. Critics warn that costs are likely to increase in coming years to keep the plant running, and that’s on top of already skyrocketing PG&E rates that have doubled over the last decade. And if PG&E collects more funds than are needed for Diablo’s operations, they get to keep it!
"In 2022, when legislators pushed this through #SB846, the excuse of energy shortages was used due to pandemic-related supply chain issues and massive #wildfires. But today, there is plenty of energy being produced with increased #solar and #battery storage capacity that has kept the lights on even during this summer’s unprecedented heat waves driving up demand. The California Public Utility Commission’s own reporting shows that an additional 18,500 megawatts of new resources were added to the grid between 2020 and 2024, which is enough to power around 14 million homes. Another 11,000 megawatts will be added by 2028.
"Nuclear has the third highest lifecycle emissions of all energy sources after scrubbed #coal fired plants and natural gas – meaning it is far from being zero-emission. It also creates the unresolved issue of the #RadioactiveWaste which remains dangerous for tens of thousands to millions of years.
"Keeping the Diablo facility running will only hold back further development of safe and truly low-carbon, low cost renewable sources like solar and #wind energy.
"So why isn’t Diablo Canyon being decommissioned? The short answer is that #capitalism must ensure continued profits for the #InvestorClass.
"SB 846 authorized Diablo’s extension through 2030, and gave PG&E a $1.4 billion loan for the for-profit utility to facilitate the plant’s extension. #GovernorNewsom facilitated another transfer of taxpayer dollars to PG&E through an additional $400 million loan from the state’s general fund, included in the recent budget deal. Critics warn that these 'loans' will never be repaid, meaning residents will be fully subsidizing the Diablo extension – from federal and state tax dollars to our utility fees.
"But there is a way out. SB 846 allows the #CPUC to retire the plant earlier than 2030 if sufficient levels of new renewable zero-carbon energy resources exist, are interconnected, and meet demand, which is the case.
"CPUC has a long track record of serving PG&E’s interests, so intervention by the commission is unlikely. One example of many that demonstrates their close relationship: CPUC is not requiring PG&E to show how much of our utility bill actually goes to the Diablo extension, but instead lumps the cost in with 'public purpose programs,' making it impossible to determine.
"While communities are demanding an early shutdown of Diablo, PG&E is currently applying for a 20-year license renewal from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission [#NRC] for the facility, which is expected to be approved. This would mean customers will foot the bill to keep this dangerous nuclear facility running through 2045, far beyond the original expiration dates of 2024 and 2025.
"CPUC has proven their unwavering support time and again for PG&E’s monopoly control over the state’s energy system at the expense of residents’ safety and affordable rates. The Diablo Canyon nuclear plant is just another mechanism to squeeze ratepayers and line the pockets of shareholders who live far away from the dangers posed by this aging facility. Only a public takeover of this #corrupt utility can win clean, safe and affordable energy for all."
#PGAndE #RethinkNotRestart #NuclearCorruption #NuclearBailouts #RenewablesNow #NoNukes
#DiabloCanyonNuclearPlant
#NuclearPowerCorruptionAndLies #California #WaterIsLife #OceansAreLife
Chief #CleanEnergyGrifter #granholm spewing her #NuclearBullshit at any fool who will listen to her. Her arguments, along with the legions of #NuclearGrifters out there, are the epitome of #NuclearMadness. Don't buy any of it. #JustSayNO. #Ratepayers should give them a swift kick in the ass and send them packing.
#GriftersGonnaGrift. #DOE #NuclearEnergy #SMR.
https://wapo.st/3Xbgt8D
#NuclearBullshit - #NuclearGrifters - #NuclearMadness.
#GriftersGonnaGrift & #Ratepayers gonna pay astronomical #NuclearCosts. @dwatney
#Ratepayers have been getting the #Shaft from #FossilFuels, #Nuclear and #Hydro (electricity sources) for centuries now. #PUC’s (Regulators) have passed-on inordinate price increases without fail. Will they now pass-on Price Decreases to these same Ratepayers from #RenewableEnergy? #ColorMeDoubtful. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/31/climate/electricity-from-coal-is-pricey-should-consumers-have-to-pay.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
The highest priced MW/h rates ever! #Vogtle #NuclearMadness.
#Ratepayers in #Georgia will NEVER see the the benefits of #RenewableEnergy and #BESS as they will be paying for this #albatross for centuries to come.
Don't succumb to #NuclearMadness. #JustSayNo.
https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=61963&src=email
The Epidemic of #NuclearMadness across the globe is being driven by #NuclearGrifters who use their #NuclearBullshit to cow Politicians into choosing failures like #SMR. What is never mentioned is: #Costs to #RatePayers, abysmal #NuclearSafety & #NuclearSecurity, #NuclearWaste disposal and the #Fact that #NuclearEnergy is a gateway for #NuclearWeapons
Yes, absolutely. #RatePayers in the #UK (no matter how close they are to where #RenewableEnergy is being generated) are paying exorbitant rates to support the #Energy #ClusterFuck brought to you by the #Tories and #Labour over the decades. You are paying to maintain #FossilFuel, #Nuclear and #Hydro generation which is not only wrecking the atmosphere, but isn't even in the realm of being #CostCompetitive. #CommunityEnergy is the only way out of this mess. @Andy_European
No amount of #NuclearBullshit can plaster over all the problems with the #SMR. They don't even bother to talk about #BWR's anymore.
Tell these #NuclearGrifters to #TakeAHike and that you only want #RenewableEnergy & #BESS.
1/ Lowest intrinsic costs of all #Energy platforms
2/ The fuel is free, never runs out and there is no waste.
3/ #CarbonFree, #ECOResponsible & Can be deployed by everyone.
Oh, the irony. Perhaps now they will publicly admit that #NuclearEnergy is the most expensive per/Kw - Mw which all #ratepayers have to choose from. #RenewableEnergy is almost #Free in comparison.
#NuclearMadness in #AUS.
Governor Dunleavy Legislation to Increase Competition and Reduce Energy Costs for Ratepayers
[the_ad id="30587"]
Governor Dunleavy Image-State of Alaska
(Juneau, AK) - Friday, Governor Mike Dunleavy introduced legislation to benefit electricity ratepayers by increasing the efficiency of transmission...
https://alaska-native-news.com/governor-dunleavy-legislation-to-increase-competition-and-reduce-energy-costs-for-ratepayers/72412/
#alaska #dunleavy #legislation #electricity #ratepayers
#Vogtle produces the most expensive Mw/hours of #electricity ever consumed by #ratepayers. Bravo #NuclearEnergy. #Bravo!
#NuclearMadness.
@inkican
With no cap on price increases for California’s utilities, Pacific Gas & Electric will hike rates 13%, which it says is needed for upgrades.
Well this is sucky for Californians who get their #electricity from #PGE. Here they fail to maintain their system for decades & now the #ratepayers have to foot the bill. #Greed is the driving force. The cost should bring borne by the investors & management.
$3.5 billion debt lands on Texas ratepayers shoulders
https://www.fox26houston.com/video/1321699
#TexasDebt #Ratepayers #FinancialBurden #EnergyIndustry #TexasEconomy #DebtCrisis #Politics #News
#SammyRoth succumbs to #NuclearMadness (again). How long will this episode last?
Nobody should take #NuclearGrifters & #NuclearBros seriously as they spew their #NuclearBullshit everywhere. Their #CleanEnergy #FeverDream is powered by #FUD & #Graft and #ratepayers - #taxpayers are their marks. #JustSayNo!
If only nuclear power were an easy climate change solution https://www.latimes.com/environment/newsletter/2023-10-03/if-only-nuclear-power-were-an-easy-climate-change-solution-boiling-point
Does this seem odd to anyone else?
It seems strange that you would choose an electric vehicle (paid for by ratepayers) because you are climate conscious, then promote a classic car show; cars that are known petrol guzzlers!
I do not begrudge people wanting to go to a car show, I understand the appeal, but this just seems contradictory to me 🤷♀️
#electriccar #environment #climatechange #ecofriendly #Brimbank #ratepayers
#Kleptocracy: They lost a lot of money. The shareholders bore those costs. Once the wholesale prices started dropping, those plants started losing money. FirstEnergy and AEP says, Well, what do we do with these things? I know. Let's bring them to West Virginia. Let's put them on the backs of the West Virginia ratepayers.
History of #ratepayers bailing out the #corruption being legalized by #SCROTUS.
#RenewablesAreDeflationary #RepublicansBackLosers
#CoalDependencyPath #CitizensUnited #Manchin #utilities #transmission #McDonnell
https://xenetwork.org/ets/episodes/episode-198-the-coal-trap/
When a local traffic country road is used for several months as a detour it has a huge impact.
Road rage is introduced as detouring traffic tries to speed up the locals. Limiting speed with signs setting a maximum above the normal speed brings about honking and bullying.
Bicycles and walkers disappear and wildlife becomes locally extinct.
Embrace country pace
#Bellingen #Speeding #Bully #Rage #Violence #Vehicles #Ratepayers #Pedestrians #Roadkill #Countryside
From twitter
Dave Anderson
@cleantechfacts
Jan 9
$60 million in #bribes.
FirstEnergy.
Utility #ratepayers forced to bail out nuclear and coal plants.
Clean #energy standards rolled back.
Get ready for the #utility #corruption trial of the century./
