Concern is mounting among citizens and lawmakers in California about just how high energy prices have gotten due, in part, to the state’s rather unrealistic approach to climate policy.
California is often touted as a leader in climate and clean energy, yet my home state boasts some of the highest electricity prices, most unreliable energy grids, and is not on track to meet its lofty decarbonization goals. Instead of championing an all-of-the-above energy approach that embraces all the tools in our toolbox, the state condemns the use of energy sources like natural gas and nuclear. The irony is that these are sources many respected entities recognize as playing a role in the transition to increasingly cleaner energy sources.
Similarly, earlier this month, the state released a draft rule proposing a permanent ban on fracking starting this year. Although the mainstream environmental movement would like to claim this as a win for the climate, it could result in increased emissions and diminished supply in an already stressed grid.
At the same time, Democratic Senate candidates in the state recently emphasized that they would advocate for closing the state’s last remaining nuclear power plant, which ironically provides nearly 20% of the state’s carbon-free electricity. Not to mention that nuclear energy provides nearly 10% of the state’s electricity – a rather significant contribution in terms of reliability.
These misinformed policies do little to solve climate change, all while creating unreliable grids and unaffordable energy. When California moved to close the San Onofre nuclear reactor, emissions in the state increased, and late last year state officials were forced to extend the life of three natural gas plants to avoid potential blackouts.
Moreover, as the state continues to electrify with the adoption of things like electric vehicles (EVs) and heat pumps, the grid is going to fall under ever more stress, more than it already is. Just a couple of years ago, days after announcing a plan to ban gas car sales in the state, citizens were asked not to charge their EVs. Without investments in baseload power, alongside renewables, this problem will get worse.
Yet, instead of learning from its poor energy policies, state-based lawmakers propose band-aid solutions that do nothing to address the root of the problem. A great example is a recent proposal to implement an income-based fixed fee, or “utility tax,” on Californians’ already inflated electricity bills to cover the costs of rising prices. This would do nothing but increase prices for those already struggling to pay their bills. Luckily, due to pushback from citizens and sound lawmakers who do not want to further burden their constituents, some are working to repeal this misguided effort.
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If California wants to seriously address rising energy costs and reliability challenges in the face of climate and clean energy targets, its leaders should rethink how it approaches energy policy. For example, the state could lift its moratorium on building new nuclear energy and embrace energy-permitting reform to unleash clean energy. It should also accept the role natural gas will play in our path to a clean energy future and instead spend time and resources working to effectively address methane emissions and other environmental impacts associated with the development of this energy source.
California should learn from its mistakes by embracing solutions that do not pick winners and losers, but instead unleash American innovation and take an all-of-the-above energy approach. This would do more to address climate change, reduce costs, and increase the reliability of the state’s energy grid – outcomes that could live up to the state’s desire to be a leader in climate and clean energy.
Sarah Jensen is a policy associate for the American Conservation Coalition (ACC).