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Politics : High Tolerance Plasticity -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Zeuspaul who wrote (3655)	4/23/2001 12:14:58 AM
From: Peter van Steennis	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 23153

Zeus: Since you live in the Peoples Republic of California, as do I, it is hard for me to agree with much of what you have to say regarding the building of power plants, transmission lines, gas pipe lines etc. We are the NIMBY State. We have more nit wits per square inch that any other state. "Agreed there are impediments to building power plants in California..there are more hurdles. If the market can't deal with the issues then that is simply evidence that market forces don't work in California as a power planning tool." Why would energy companies, electric or gas, divert precious resources trying to build facilities in California when "everyone" from the neighbor next door to the State Government either rejects their need or imposes such onerous requirements that the project will either be delayed for years or the cost skyrocket. Who needs the grief or the headache? They can use their resources elsewhere where they are needed and wanted without the constant criticism and impediments of California. I admittedly do know all of the implications of the various FERC rulings, but I do know the mind set of Californian's. NOT IN MY BACK YARD. Don't post often, as I am not as knowledgeable as most of you are, but this self imposed state energy crisis is unbelievable. Peter

To: Zeuspaul who wrote (3655)	4/23/2001 9:11:52 AM
From: Think4Yourself	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 23153

Regarding the FERC being at fault, I have some very strong counterarguments to most of your points but don't want to get into an argument over this. I will simply say this: If the FERC is at fault then why has everyone, and I do mean everyone, in California been saying there is NO shortage of electricity up until February of this year!!? The signs were crystal clear last summer, and there were strong hints the summer before. The idea that power producers could control the price of a commodity like electricity is IMHO ridiculous. There is no "cartel". It is easy to make and fairly easy to transport. Hundreds of companies make it, the US government makes it (BPA, TVA, etc), Canada makes it, Mexico makes it, even individuals can make it. The reason Californians are being charged so much more than everyone else is due mostly to the drought (they rely heavily on hydropower). They also haven't paid for past purchases, making them an extreme credit risk. Lastly they have shown a willingness to manipulate prices, making them even more of a credit risk when compared to the free market. From an objective standpoint it is clear the drought is largely responsible for the problems in California. Unfortunately the Californians need someone to blame for their woes, so nothing is getting done. THAT is what I am making fun of, the totally pointless and unproductive finger pointing going on in California. It's Bush's fault, It's the producer's fault, it's FERC's fault, etc, etc, etc. I don't see any of the other parties doing it. If I were a Californian I would be extremely embarrassed by the behavior of my elected leaders.