Results: This is part 2 of the carrot versus the stick approach to climate change.
Published on 01/25/2024
There is the saying "don't put all your eggs in one basket" and I think this also applied to climate change. In the rush to save the planet, too much emphasis is being placed on meeting an arbitrary deadline and not enough on an orderly transition from fossil fuels to allow new technology to be developed and tested in real world conditions. This winter, some government decisions have proven to be downright dangerous. Here are some examples.
QUESTIONS
GO to COMMENTS
Comments
1.
1.
Where I live in Canada we have had record low temperatures this winter of -45C and the threat of rolling blackouts because of an inadequate power grid. Our fossil fuel power plants have been gradually phased out so we have had to rely on importing power from our neighbours who are currently maintaining a wider variety of power sources. Some decisions are being made on our behalf that are "eggs in a basket" ones. Do you agree?
Closing down fossil fuel power generation before alternative non fossil fuel power sources are available.
23%
491 votes
Closing down fossil fuel power generation when it would be less costly to simply treat the stuff that comes out of the smoke stacks.
20%
422 votes
Closing down fossil fuel power generation at a time when governments are actively promoting an increased reliance on electricity that has caused demand to soar.
22%
458 votes
Closing down fossil fuel power generation when this causes a reliance on power from sources that still use fossil fuel power generation (until they also shut down fossil fuel power generation).
20%
425 votes
Other (please specify)
2%
38 votes
Not Applicable
50%
1059 votes
- 30days
- What's a "rolling blackout"?
- A week
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.87% | 16 | |
| I'd need to research more before I give an honest answer here. | 0.05% | 1 |
| Closing down all fossil fuel generation and forcing reliance on electric power source is nonsensical | 0.05% | 1 |
| Undecided | 0.05% | 1 |
| make sure you have enough power until newer methods of supplying power are up and running and can provide all that is needed then decrease the Fossil fuel | 0.05% | 1 |
| being dependent on foreign powers and their tight grip on the fuel source prices | 0.05% | 1 |
| you ask if we agree that decisions being made are eggs in a basket decisions. I agree but why all these other options. | 0.05% | 1 |
| None | 0.05% | 1 |
| I have no opinion | 0.05% | 1 |
| not closing fossil fuel power down at all. | 0.05% | 1 |
| Assuming that you buy into the scam. There is no climate change except the cyclical patterns. | 0.05% | 1 |
| Just because the average citizen will suffer does not prevent those in power, no pun intended, from making sure they don't go without. | 0.05% | 1 |
| Stay with fossil fuels | 0.05% | 1 |
| none of these | 0.05% | 1 |
| Companies find it hard and difficult to rephase | 0.05% | 1 |
| forcing canadians to "greener options" all the while we sell coal to major polluters like china that make no attempt to cut down on their carbon footprint . | 0.05% | 1 |
| I'm not really too sure | 0.05% | 1 |
| Your conservative provincial government is and always has been incompetent and corrupt. They have resisted greeh power to appease le oil companies. The solution is simple, vote out the corrupt conservatives and elect a cometant government but untirr | 0.05% | 1 |
| NO | 0.05% | 1 |
| Climate change is a hoax! The US can manipulate the weather with HAARP. So can China via ELF technology. | 0.05% | 1 |
| The planet does not need saving. It will be here after humans are extinct. | 0.05% | 1 |
| dont know | 0.05% | 1 |
| Our UCP Premier suspending all alternative energy programs that could help us here in Alberta to generate energy alongside oil and gas doesn't help either. | 0.05% | 1 |
2.
2.
Assumptions are being made about sources of electrical power that don't match real world conditions. Decisions made based on these assumptions have consequences. Which of the following are a potential concern where you live?
In just the last few days when demand for power peaked at 6,000 megawatts, renewables were only able to supply 30 megawatts.
12%
242 votes
Wind power was not available. They had to be shut down because the blades get brittle and snap below -30C and we had -40C.
14%
286 votes
We had a red alert (phone message) that our grid was about to have rotating blackouts unless we reduced consumption. Within 10 minutes of the alert, citizens had responded and reduced demand by 200 megawatts. We also started up a natural gas power plant (or 2).
14%
286 votes
We relied on surplus power being fed into the grid from other jurisdictions. What if their politicians make similar decisions and they also have shortages of power? What then?
13%
283 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
30 votes
Not Applicable
65%
1371 votes
- none
- We have portable propane heaters that can be used indoors but I do worry about carbon monoxide if we use them for a prolonged period of time.
- Propane/flashlights
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 1.33% | 15 | |
| Cow farts do not cause global warming. The biggest cow population is in India and they don't eat cows! | 0.09% | 1 |
| NONE | 0.09% | 1 |
| We haven't had any issues where I reside. | 0.09% | 1 |
| Fossil fuels | 0.09% | 1 |
| we are not ready for solor, wind and electric power yet. | 0.09% | 1 |
| Storms which are huge take out power in municipalities | 0.09% | 1 |
| the expected load from charging EVs will further strain the grid | 0.09% | 1 |
| Had an alert from power company (electric) to use less electricity | 0.09% | 1 |
| We have plenty of power coming from hydro-electricity | 0.09% | 1 |
| I'm not sure | 0.09% | 1 |
| Solar generators pinheads. | 0.09% | 1 |
| None at this time | 0.09% | 1 |
| none of the above | 0.09% | 1 |
| See above answer and right now we have a generator and gas supply, with battery back up and then candles and wood stove | 0.09% | 1 |
| The cost of electric service has escalated in my area. People just can't pay their electric bills. | 0.09% | 1 |
3.
3.
There is a great future source of power from nuclear fission and eventually nuclear fusion. These sources are a minimum of 10 years into the future. In the meantime we have to deal with current conditions and power sources. Meanwhile governments are passing laws that increase demands on the power grid while reducing the power supply. This will increase the cost of power and the risk of black outs when we can least afford it. Should we be telling governments to slow down even when environmentalists want to speed up?
Yes
30%
635 votes
No
11%
233 votes
Undecided
22%
454 votes
Not Applicable
37%
778 votes
- No
- Yet
- YES!!!
4.
4.
In Canada we have a net zero target for power generation by 2035. If we start building nuclear power plants now while maintaining our current fossil fuel sources we could turn the fossil fuelled plants off line almost overnight when the nuclear plants come on line. Does this not make more sense if we want a stable supply that is affordable?
Yes
31%
652 votes
No
11%
230 votes
Undecided
23%
481 votes
Not Applicable
35%
737 votes
- Who knows?
- Our governments are deluded - nuclear energy is not remotely clean.
- Keep fossil fuels
5.
5.
Here are some recent articles on some of this subject matter if you want to read more about it.. Natural gas generated power rescued Alberta from a power grid collapse (not for the first time in Canada). https://boereport.com/2024/01/14/natural-gas-and-coal-saved-the-day-saskatchewan-premier-scott-moe-and-saskpower-came-to-the-rescue-of-the-alberta-power-grid-late-on-saturday-night/
14%
286 votes
Wind farms had to be shut down, not due to lack of wind but because of the cold: https://energynow.ca/2024/01/most-of-albertas-wind-fleet-slowly-shut-down-thursday-night-but-not-for-lack-of-wind-find-out-why/
15%
307 votes
Governments are rushing to ban natural gas for heating and cooking without first building capacity in the power grid. A drop in one source must be matched by an increase in another. https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/bans-fossil-fuel-heating-homes-1.6327113
23%
476 votes
A need for a more practical timetable towards net zero emissions. : https://www.vancouverisawesome.com/resources-agriculture/a-wake-up-call-alarm-raised-over-bc-electrical-grid-amid-plans-for-natural-gas-heating-ban-8102019
16%
330 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
18 votes
Not Applicable
57%
1196 votes
- I have no idea.
- They don't. Government officials aren't the brightest bulbs in the box.
- Not at all
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.92% | 13 | |
| Do you understand the half life of nuclear waste? Radioactive waste lasts thousands of years, the most toxic environmental pollution ever! | 0.07% | 1 |
| CornwallAlliance,.org | 0.07% | 1 |
| I HONESTLY DON'T KNOW | 0.07% | 1 |
| No thanks | 0.07% | 1 |
| Admit that CO2 is not just benign, but necessary for plant life on earth. It does not cause climate to change. | 0.07% | 1 |
COMMENTS