Renewable Power Theatre of the Absurd

[IsailedawayfromFR]

Along with many other states, California, Arizona and Nevada all have “renewable portfolio laws.” California requires that 60% of its electric power be from renewable sources by 2030. Nevada requires 50% by 2030. Arizona requires 15% by 2025. Renewable power is defined by law in each state, but usually it amounts to wind or solar.

One might think that having a quota for renewable power means that the power has to be generated by wind or solar and consumed within the state. There is a loophole. The “renewable attribute” can be legally separated from the actual power. So, the power can be consumed in one place, but a different place gets credit as if it had actually consumed the renewable power. For example, a wind farm in Colorado can generate a megawatt hour of electricity. The power is actually sold and consumed in Colorado, but California gets credit for a megawatt hour of renewable power.

The Colorado wind farm in the normal course of events can sell the abstract credit, known as an RPC or Renewable Power Certificate to California. California needs credits to meet it renewable power quota, so it is willing to pay, for what is a piece of paper. The wind farm can also sell the real electric power separately to someone who is willing to buy electricity that comes without the renewable power attribute, because the renewable power attribute has been sold to California. This is a legal way to convert power from fossil fuels into renewable power, or to meet a renewable power quota without actual renewable power.

https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2020/02/renewable_power_theatre_of_the_absurd.html

Does anyone but me believe this solidifies that "Renewables' is nothing but contortions to manipulate the public treasury as one can take non-renewable generated energy and claim it is 'renewable' and claim a renewable credit in California when the energy is neither generated and used in California?

Anytime one takes public funds to pick winners one gets distortion of the market like this.

The ones that take it on the chin the most are the ones who have to pay their power bills that contain this crap.

[Smokin Joe]

Does anyone but me believe this solidifies that "Renewables' is nothing but contortions to manipulate the public treasury as one can take non-renewable generated energy and claim it is 'renewable' and claim a renewable credit in California when the energy is neither generated and used in California?

Anytime one takes public funds to pick winners one gets distortion of the market like this.

The ones that take it on the chin the most are the ones who have to pay their power bills that contain this crap.

From Carbon Credit schemes  to the present day nonsense, subsidies, etc. it has always been about the redistribution of resources (wealth), under coercion if necessary.  Climate change has been going on since there has been an Earth, and no piece of paper will suddenly bring that natural process to a halt, regardless of the hardships and expenses it imposes.