How to Reconcile So Many Different Messages

Over 10 years a consensus has been reached that recognized:

• The climate crisis will cause the Earth’s temperature to rise 2.5 degrees within the next decade.

• Fossil fuel usage is a primary contributor to climate change.

• Federal and States issued laws created incentives to curtail fossil fuel use.

• Solar and wind power, which COST LESS than fossil fuels, are permitted and are currently under construction.

And now, science, costs, and climate concerns are being dismissed and replaced instead by opinions.

Consider:

Virginia passed a law phasing out fossil fuels out by 2045. The state has already incurred billions in costs tied to climate change. New construction and proposed solar and wind power plants were forecasted to meet rising demand and nuclear power was encouraged.

To capture additional business from AI data centers, Virginia is forecasting even greater energy demand. Consider the impact of NVDIA’s chip production for next year was 9% of the total US energy demand for 2024; Read More.

Instead of complying with law, Virginia’s largest utility is asking permission to build 944 MWs of natural gas fired generators.

Regulators reviewing the request concluded:

  1. The “cold snap” weather event used to justify construction was “unpersuasive”.
  2. Power exports to neighboring states continued during the “cold snap”.
  3. Load growth was within generation capabilities of existing power generation.
  4. Economically, construction of natural gas generation would increase electric costs for customers.
  5. No alternatives were offered.

Today’s politics are undoing more than a decade of scientific, economic, and environmental progress.

10 years from now, when these politicians are long gone, this decision (and those like it) will be costly and will be deemed wasteful and will bring us closer to environmental harm.

 

Realgy Energy Services is a registered Retail Energy Marketer serving commercial customers in the states of Illinois, and Indiana. We offer Service Plans that will provide electric and natural gas at wholesale pricing direct to customers without any utility markup. Our Service Plans work with the local utility to provide seamless service and annual energy savings. Service Plans include Guaranteed SavingsTM, ManagedPriceTM, ManagedGreenTM Index, Fixed and PriceAssuranceTM.

Realgy owns and operates 11 solar plants in Illinois and is looking to invest in additional locations. Soon to be 12 with the inclusion of Highland Park newest recreation center West Ridge Center – New Community Recreation Facility Coming in 2026 | Park District of Highland Park

Additional Reading:

Virginia’s data center boom tests clean energy law | Canary Media