Wyoming Bill Would All But Outlaw Clean Energy

[glenn1]

The article is accurate, however.

Lots of stupid bills get proposed by both parties and 99.99% of them go nowhere. While it's annoying even seeing stupid ideas get proposed and considered by the legislature at this stage it's just another opportunity for the other team to act outraged about. So have fun ridiculing this bill but realize it's not going anywhere except the circular file. If it does advance further I'll happily retract my previous statement and will join the ridicule but it seems like mocking a disabled kid in a wheelchair at this point.

 

[IronWing]

Lots of stupid bills get proposed by both parties and 99.99% of them go nowhere. While it's annoying even seeing stupid ideas get proposed and considered by the legislature at this stage it's just another opportunity for the other team to act outraged about. So have fun ridiculing this bill but realize it's not going anywhere except the circular file. If it does advance further I'll happily retract my previous statement and will join the ridicule but it seems like mocking a disabled kid in a wheelchair at this point.

In the case of Wyoming, I agree with your prognosis. Introduce the same bill in Arizona; I might propose a wager.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Devil's advocate time, well not exactly, but this might be a silver lining thing.

Power is more than how it's made. It is also about distribution and what never gets mentioned is that grid technology is obsolete for many purposes. It requires a heavy investment in an increasingly vulnerable system. The real hacking concern revealed wasn't dirty laundry aired, but code found on power company systems. It is very possible that terrorists or governments can take down grids and that's the definition of disaster.

Let's assume that Wyoming does what it says it will. Renewable is becoming cheaper and this act will drive solar forward but off-grid. In some cases a cluster topology where communities share power but are isolated from a main grid may make sense, or stand alone systems which would be quite immune to hacking would become the preferred method of power generation which means that less coal is used and even light industry can use an alternative. The poor suckers which are stuck are those in heavy industry which has a high energy requirement, but for the most part the electrical utilities are irrelevant and the state significantly more resistant to tampering.

Wyoming might just have the most advanced electrical power scheme in the nation. Perversely true, but might happen.

 

[glenn1]

Devil's advocate time, well not exactly, but this might be a silver lining thing.

Power is more than how it's made. It is also about distribution and what never gets mentioned is that grid technology is obsolete for many purposes. It requires a heavy investment in an increasingly vulnerable system. The real hacking concern revealed wasn't dirty laundry aired, but code found on power company systems. It is very possible that terrorists or governments can take down grids and that's the definition of disaster.

Let's assume that Wyoming does what it says it will. Renewable is becoming cheaper and this act will drive solar forward but off-grid. In some cases a cluster topology where communities share power but are isolated from a main grid may make sense, or stand alone systems which would be quite immune to hacking would become the preferred method of power generation which means that less coal is used and even light industry can use an alternative. The poor suckers which are stuck are those in heavy industry which has a high energy requirement, but for the most part the electrical utilities are irrelevant and the state significantly more resistant to tampering.

Wyoming might just have the most advanced electrical power scheme in the nation. Perversely true, but might happen.

Given we're talking about politicians IMHO you're giving a bit too much credit for the "given the correct application no idea is inherently stupid" benefit of the doubt, but your point is well taken that we need to consider other aspects of our energy portfolio.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Given we're talking about politicians IMHO you're giving a bit too much credit for the "given the correct application no idea is inherently stupid" benefit of the doubt, but your point is well taken that we need to consider other aspects of our energy portfolio.

The idea the politicians are putting forward viewed on merit is outstandingly bad. I was presenting an "OK stupid wins, what happens next" scenario. It might be so stupid that it backfires to our benefit. I'm not suggesting we adopt the bill, I'm against it.