America has to wake up to the fact there is no easy or quick solution to our energy problem.
The energy issue — as per my humble opinion — is not for politics but rather should be determined by a genuine business plan. America has been spoiled for so long on energy that any change or disruption will move us out of our “God given” comfort zone. Americans can no longer say “let them eat cake” to the minions of alternate energy.
The recent proposals by Gov. Hochul are progressing to replace fossil fuels. She realizes that our best and currently the most successful energy replacements for fossil fuels are wind and solar energy. They are now the cheapest forms of electrical energy production, while nuclear power is the most expensive not only to build but to maintain, this by a long margin.
The change, however, has its costs. While NYS can replace most of its electrical needs at the current level of use, the question remains as we phase out fossil fuels: Can we keep up with the expanded use of electricity of AI and EVs? Not only that, will the public accept it? So far they are not all in agreement.
The challenge of providing future energy is being met with opposition. I see that many in our local communities are upset with solar and wind. They see that farmland is being converted to producing solar power. To them it disrupts the rural setting of our lands.
Farmland is more advantageous for solar power because it is flat, does not require clearing and is proximate to power lines. This seems the motivation for accessing farm and instead of seeking less tillable land such as the numerous landfill sites and “brown” sites such as those left by coal burning facilities which require massive clean up budgets.
I get misty eyed whenever a “concerned citizen” voices opinion about alternate energy as an........