California’s Energy Crunch

I have an idea for Gov. Gray Davis that will save approximately 20% of energy needs during the “high energy demand” early evening hours, about 3% to 5% of total energy requirements statewide, and probably eliminate the necessity for rolling blackouts: Immediately go to daylight saving time. With one stroke of the pen, the governor can reduce the high energy demand hours from four to three and thereby save considerable energy for electric lights and heat.

HARLEY FRANKEL

Santa Monica

*

In Harry Snyder’s commendable article, “It’s Deja Vu All Over Again on Energy Crisis” (Commentary, Jan. 18), he coincidentally reveals one of the primary causes for this unnecessary disaster: term limits. Since the Assembly is now required to turn over every six years and the state Senate every eight, we are guaranteed to get the type of inexperienced lawmakers who were so easily railroaded into signing an omnibus, take-it-or-leave-it piece of legislation on so vital an issue as energy deregulation. While bureaucrats and lobbyists are career professionals, the people are stuck with a Legislature that must, by law, be a collection of amateurs. We may as well bring a knife to a gunfight.

EVAN PUZISS

Mar Vista

*

It is quite clear now that energy deregulation will work only if there is more than enough supply to meet the demand. We are now at a fork in the road. Private utilities and their investors are on one side, and environmentalists and slow-growth advocates are on the other (and the consumer is caught in the middle). One side wants more power plants, sales and profits, while the other side wants to limit growth and the building of more plants. Somewhere in the not-too-distant future one of these two sides will have to give in to whatever realities unfold.

We will be forced to choose between 1) a tightly regulated public power system in an environment of limited growth and 2) a free-market energy system with laws that will allow for the building, “at will,” of the energy supply infrastructure necessary to meet unbridled growth.

ARTHUR SAGINIAN

Saugus

*

Here’s the latest concept in reality-based television programming: Each night, contestants (consisting of all citizens of California) will guess whether or not they will be affected by rolling electricity blackouts, with the losers suffering one- to two-hour power shortages. Tentatively titled “Wattsup?”, the show will co-star Gov. Davis and the Independent System Operator. Although only a few episodes have been produced, it is likely that the series will run indefinitely.

DOUG ANDERSON

Rancho Santa Margarita

*

Not long ago, a fine idea emerged to solve our nation’s retirement problems: invest Social Security funds directly into the stock market. A conservative, cautious manager of the funds would have bought the ultra-safe, blue-chip stocks and bonds of Pacific Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison. Please, beware these schemes to launder public funds to private pockets.

DAVID DART

Los Angeles

*

So, where will the megawatts of electricity required by thousands of ZEV (zero emission vehicles, i.e., electric cars), as mandated by the Legislature, come from? The idea was to force all of us to buy and drive these so-called clean cars. It seems obvious that California does not have the surplus energy for any significant electric vehicle fleet.

Sometimes people forget that energy is converted, not created. Unless supported by an ambitious nuclear energy program, the ZEV dream seems unattainable, even disregarding the additional technical challenges with the vehicles themselves, such as the lack of viable batteries. Do not forget the fact that all available batteries contain hundreds of pounds of highly toxic chemicals per vehicle, all to be spewed in case of an accident.

MURAT OKGUOGLU

Santa Barbara

*

Excuse me, but I was under the impression the year was 2001, not 1901. Darn! My candle maker just went out of business, too. Hiram was under the impression that electricity was here to stay.

JOHN AUSTIN

Los Angeles