Jim Bates: ‘No’ means higher energy prices

AP PHOTO/JEFF ROBERSON AP PHOTO/JEFF ROBERSON

Published: 03-25-2024 4:19 PM

Headline Feb 27th — “Ratepayers fed up with high energy costs in Massachusetts,” — Duh, yeah!

What did you think was going to happen, Shangri-La? Solar panels and wind turbines from the Berkshires to Cape Cod, an EV and heat pumps in every home? Along with rainbow pinwheels and peppermint ice cream delivered to your home every Wednesday?

Remember “No nukes” Vermont Yankee and Pilgrim closed, “No Pipeline” created no additional supply of natural gas to keep up with demand, “No oil” see heat pumps above. “No coal” Holyoke plant shuttered, “No solar battery backup storage” in Wendell.

No, no, no equals higher and higher prices for energy.

To date, there are still no solar panel farms or wind turbines on Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket islands, where the top one percent, Messrs. Barack Obama and John Kerry reside. Pigs will fly before that happens.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Agency, EIA.gov, our state consumes 17 times more energy than it produces, 80% of home heating is from fossil fuels (NG, oil, propane, bio), 66% of electricity generated in Mass. is from natural gas.

Plugging everything into the electrical grid increases the demand. With limited energy options, there is a finite amount of electricity that can flow through the grid. Given that this state imports so much of its energy, transmission and distribution costs rise as well. Let’s not forget Massachusetts has to “buy” electricity to bring into this state at fair market value.

If you continue to vote the same people into local and state office this is where it leads.

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