Autonomy Is Long Time Solution

 

     We need a much better plan for California's future generations than our current shortsighted plan. A plan guaranteed to eat up whatever surplus funds we had accumulated and which will continue to be so expensive that costs for electrical power will force businesses and industry to avoid California like the plague.      

     Our short-sighted, controversial, ridiculous plan to build a huge bank of natural-gas, turbine-powered, generating plants throughout the state borders on almost being criminal in its lack of foresight.  They will devour much of our precious water supplies, be powered by a fuel source that is not only in short supply but is supplied by others who, like OPEC, can manipulate the cost of product by limiting supply availability. And the turbine life is limited to a mere 25 years before replacement.

     What we need here in California is the capability of producing cheap electricity from power resources found here in our own state -- resources that will not diminish in supply for hundreds of years. No, I'm not referring to nuclear energy. We would be at the mercy of the supply of fissionable materials, and we sure couldn't expect someone else to get rid of our radioactive waste. Our government is dancing around that problem, and while they are dancing the stockpile is getting larger all the time. We aren't the only country accumulating huge stockpiles of radioactive waste, soon it will become a global problem that cannot be ignored.

     In typical Hermit fashion, I have a solution, don't I always?

     I propose we create a small inland sea, a dredged out area maybe fifteen square miles in area and around 60 to 100 feet below sea level.. Construct many tide generators similar to the ones Japan has been using for years. When everything is ready to go, open the locks between the Pacific Ocean and let the water level adjust to sea level.

     The incoming tide causes the generator platforms rise turning the generators, and the  outgoing tide and gravity causes the platform to fall turning the generators, on and on forever. The tide is free and so is gravity what a deal? the only costs are maintenance costs and the normal costs of maintaining the infrastructure of power distribution.

     The costs are can be greatly reduced by using our employees and the equipment we already own. Contracting the job out to the private sector would be far too expensive. The Army Corps of Engineers & the C.Bs are our employees and they are already being paid. We have no choice from the perspective that our population is scheduled to double by 2024 and won't stop there; we better be planning for 2,224. In the year 2025 we sure don't need to be facing the sudden realization that all these gas turbines are now worn out and need replacing.

     This is why I'm constantly harping on state's rights and states responsibilities. Regarding California's power crisis, President George W. Bush said it was California's problem. He was right. Our problems came about from not seeing a developing problem and not taking steps to avoid it before it became critical.