Energy Costs

State-Specific Regulations Boost Prices

With any comodity, shrinking the supply will cause prices to increase. This is what California has done by mandating special blends of gasoline, and banning the sale of gas manufactured in other states—or even in California. The federal mandate for the addition of oxegenates only compounds the problem. Please read: State to Blame for Gas Price Rise; MTBE called bust in smog fight.

Decimation of Small Businesses

The effort by California in the 1990s to stop the pollution of groundwater increased costs to California residents by mandating the replacement of underground storage tanks (including those that weren’t even leaking) with expensive double-walled tanks that drove many independent gas stations out of business, leaving the market in control of the big oil companies that were then free to increase their prices. Even the independents that were left had to increase prices to pay for the expensive tanks.

Government-Created Pollution Costs

The mandated use of MTBE, which has since been found to be a big water pollutant—far greater a problem than any other component of gasoline—has increased costs to the public by taking money out of government and private coffers to pay for the cleanup of a chemical that wound up in the water by the action of the government. Reference these newspaper articles: MTBE Leaks Are A Ticking Bomb; State Blocked in Attempt to End Use of MTBE in Gasoline.

Letter From a Retired PG&E Employee

This letter describes how to calculate what your energy bill would be if it weren’t for the fact that the utility distribution companies can’t pass on the cost of the energy they are providing you with.

Regulation

What the Calif. Government Must Do

To permanently solve the energy shortage in California.

Energy Deregulation Fraud

Background and predictions from Bill Wattenburg on why the California energy crisis happened.

Nuclear Power

We must begin planning for six new nuclear power plants, to be operational no later than two years from now. Don’t like this, or don’t think it’s a safe idea? Then you had better read this:

Nuclear Power Plant Safety and Pollution

If you think that nuclear energy is dangerous and causes radioactive pollution, guess again.

For instance, our power plants burn billions of tons of coal each year, and since this coal contains radioactive uranium and thorium, burning coal actually puts 2,000 tons of radioactivity into our atmosphere each and every single year! Don’t believe us? Then read this report by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

According to Bill Wattenburg, the Kyoto conference’s goals of reducing carbon-dioxide (CO₂) emissions can be met by closing down 2–4 coal-fired power plants (out of the hundreds in the US) and replacing them with nuclear power plants, while at the same time reducing total radioactive emissions. Given a typical coal-fired plant, producing 1000 megawatts, it burns 2.3 million tons of coal per year, produces 200,000 thousand tons of fly ash a year, 7.5 million tons of CO₂ per year, 200,000 tons of sulfur oxide, 25,000 tons of nitrous oxide, and 1000 tons of carbon-monoxide (CO).

Intel and Sun CEOs Propose Nuclear Plants—Here is some ammunition for them

Dr. Bill Wattenburg outlines several innovative, new ideas on how to produce more energy for California and reduce our energy rates.

Safety of shipping nuclear waste

Sandia National Labs has done extensive testing for the safety of the containers used to transport spent nuclear fuel, including slamming a locomotive into a cask at 80MPH and setting another one on fire. Video of the tests.

Energy Conservation

If everyone conserves just 10%, we can gain the power to demand even lower rates, because if the greedy power companies can’t sell all the power their plants can generate, they will reduce rates rather than let expensive plants (many cost $1Billion) sit idle.

Tips by Dr. Bill Wattenburg:

New Sub-Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs

A new generation is available, screw into conventional sockets and fit inside most existing fixtures, with lengths ranging from 4.56 to 5.8 inches, so they fit in almost any lamp.

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs

One of the best, easiest ways you can reduce your use of electricity is by replacing standard incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs).

Water Heaters

Water Heaters constantly lose energy to the outside air. Most folks don’t need large amounts of hot water after showers and clothes washing in the morning. Most water heaters will stay warm for 24 hours after they are turned down or turned off. Read this article to learn how to save lots of money.

Electric Stoves, Clothes Dryers, and Dishwashers

One reason we have peak power demands during winter is that many folks turn on electric stoves and appliances in the evening. You can help eliminate the need to buy a lot of expensive power from out of state by simply not using these in the evening.

Heating Your Home

Heating the home is the biggest use of gas in the most homes. This can be reduced substantially by turning down the thermostat at the right times. Read this article to find out how and when.

It’s Time for New Appliances

The big jumps in utility bills will cost many homeowners another 600 to 1000 dollars this year. It could be twice that next year. New appliances that are much more energy efficient could save you enough to pay for them in a few years. Old refrigerators and water heaters are the most wasteful.