California surrenders their economy to Texas (and climate worries)

Jerry Brown, photo author Neon Tommy, source Wikimedia
Jerry Brown, photo author Neon Tommy, source Wikimedia

Guest essay by Eric Worrall

Governor “Moonbeam” Jerry Brown has just signed what might amount to an economic death sentence for California, by signing California up to the bleeding edge of international green agreement lunacy.

According to Reuters;

May 19 California and leaders of 11 states and provinces signed an agreement on Tuesday to limit their output of heat-trapping greenhouse gases 80 to 95 percent by 2050, a goal they hope will help prevent runaway climate change.

The target, which is based on a 1990 benchmark, will allow the individual governments, which collectively represent more than $4.5 trillion in GDP and 100 million people, to tailor reduction plans to fit their regional needs.

Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/05/19/climate-change-agreements-idUKL1N0YA26Q20150519

What could make less sense? California is already haemorrhaging business and jobs to Texas, thanks to skyrocketing energy prices and rampant green tape. The obvious thing to do is more of the same, right?

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May 19, 2015 3:14 pm

Thank God I abandoned ship several years ago.

Reply to  Max Photon
May 19, 2015 3:21 pm

Want to blow your mind? Just read about half way down this article for a glimpse into the San Francisco Bay Area housing market.
No Bubble Here: $1.5 Million for 750 Sq. Ft. Flat, Rent a Bed for $1,000/Month, or 20 Beds in 7-Bedroom House for $21,000/Month
http://www.oftwominds.com/blogmay15/bubble5-15.html

spetzer86
Reply to  Max Photon
May 19, 2015 5:32 pm

Don’t forget the $15/hr minimum wage to help pay for that bed!

Bryan A
Reply to  Max Photon
May 19, 2015 9:18 pm

$15 will only just pay for the bed. After Federal and State tax withholdings,FICA,Medicare,Social Security and the now mandated Healthcare expenses, you would take home $10 per hour (perhaps less). $80 per day, $400 per week, it would take 2 weeks and 3 days work to pay for your bed which would leave you $600 (Feb) to $800 left for
Energy bills
Water bills
Food bills
Insurance bills (renters, auto)
Phone bills
Healthcare copays
Dental
Eye care
Better not have childcare expenses
And forget about trying to save money for retirement (IRA) or charity
The jobs that would pay you minimum wage were not intended to be careers or to allow for family support, they were intended for those who are just entering the workforce or working through College and either still live at home with their parents or in college dorms where other expenditures are minimal
$15 per hour might just rent you a bed but won’t allow for much else.

Philip Arlington
Reply to  Max Photon
May 19, 2015 10:56 pm

“$1.5 Million for 750 Sq. Ft. Flat” will most certainly NOT blow the mind of anyone familiar with London property prices.

Tim Williams.
Reply to  Max Photon
May 19, 2015 4:30 pm

After 35 years in Cali I’m selling out and heading to South Carolina this year! Foreign immigration, legal amd otherwise, is driving California’s population growthTo those arriving from the Far East, South Pacific or Asia Cali is in much better shape, less corrupt and less grievous than the country they left.

markl
Reply to  Tim Williams.
May 19, 2015 5:26 pm

Tim Williams. commented :
“… Foreign immigration, legal amd otherwise, is driving California’s population growthTo those arriving from the Far East, South Pacific or Asia Cali is in much better shape, less corrupt and less grievous than the country they left.”
To those arriving from anywhere, that’s why they’re here. And that’s why Western countries are the preferred target for people escaping to freedom and prosperity.

JJ, too.
Reply to  Tim Williams.
May 20, 2015 5:23 am

Tim,
Welcome to the Carolina’s! It may be a little muggy in the summer, but get yourself a nice log cabin in the mountains with a fabulous Blue Ridge view and enjoy the good life (food, jazz and wine). The politics are closer to ‘neutral’, people work hard, there is less class separation and prices are a LOT less. Enjoy!

May 19, 2015 3:15 pm

As a Texan, thank you Governor Brown and my condolences to your state’s residents.

Bob Diaz
Reply to  kat phiche
May 19, 2015 6:30 pm

Thanks, I hope all of you in Texas enjoy all the jobs California keep sending to you.

Bryan A
Reply to  Bob Diaz
May 19, 2015 9:24 pm

Yes, jobs do seem to be one of California’s leading exports, probably with the people who were working them running a close second

Reply to  Bob Diaz
May 20, 2015 10:52 am

We’ll take the jobs but CA can keep the “Progressives”

Reply to  kat phiche
May 19, 2015 7:15 pm

Might want to hold onto those thanks. Give just a little more time and Texas will be deep blue. These idiots will vote for the same disastrous policies that drove them from California. Sure as the sun rises. Been to Austin lately?

Dobes
Reply to  TomB
May 19, 2015 7:52 pm

They’ve been keeping Austin weird for a long time. We’re redder than we’ve ever been.

The3o
Reply to  TomB
May 19, 2015 8:57 pm

Austin was like that in the 1960’s. Population and city limits have greatly grown but everything else is the same. Yes, I did enjoy the nachos at World Armadillo Headquarters.

Mark T
Reply to  TomB
May 20, 2015 12:46 am

Already did it to Colorado.
Mark

jbird
Reply to  TomB
May 20, 2015 8:04 am

Yep. Colorado was Californicated a few years ago. My guess is that more Californication is coming to lots of towns in the west, south and mid-west soon, especially since the “golden” state is drying up and it is becoming increasingly difficult to afford living there.

Joe Crawford
Reply to  TomB
May 20, 2015 8:31 am

I visited Kalispell, Montana back in the early ’70s and the people out there were already complaining about the Californians moving in. They said the first thing the Californians did when they moved in was install fences. Up ’till then nobody bothered. Every one was friendly and trusted their neighbors.

klem
Reply to  kat phiche
May 20, 2015 7:45 am

Sadly, more and more Canadian provinces are signing-up for this carbon trading fraud. They just see the profits, they don’t care if their constituents object.
And no Canadian opposition leader has the backbone to pledge to dismantle the agreements, like Australia’s PM Abbott did. Canadians are pathetic.

Barbara
Reply to  klem
May 21, 2015 8:03 am

University of Colorado Boulder, July 2, 2014
‘Colorado research universities to lead U.S. contribution to global environmental initiative’
Selected as one of the five ” Future Earth” organization hubs along with:
Canada, Montreal
France
Japan
Sweden
http://www.colorado.edu/news/releases/2014/07/02/colorado-research-universities-lead-us-contribution-global-environmental

Barbara
Reply to  klem
May 21, 2015 10:11 am

Bloomberg, Sept.24, 2014
“California, Quebec Seek Partners to Grow Carbon Market’
“Quebec is discussing a regional market with the governors of New England states and leaders in Ontario while California is working with Oregon and Washington in the western U.S., Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard said yesterday …”
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-09-24/quebec-california-seeking-to-boost-size-of-carbon-market

Barbara
Reply to  klem
May 21, 2015 11:35 am

Future Earth, Research For Global Sustainability
Launched June 2012 at the UN (Rio +20)
Interim Engagement Committee in place from October 2013 to December 2014 to support the development of Engagement activities under Future Earth.
Engagement Committee included:
Robert Tony Watson, Chair, and Prof. of Environmental Sciences and Strategic Director of The Tyndall Centre, University of East Anglia, UK
Andrew Revkin, New York Times
http://www.futureearth.org/interim-engagement-committee

Barbara
Reply to  klem
May 21, 2015 2:10 pm

Future Earth – Who We Are
Science Committee
Chair., Mark Stafford Smith, CSIRO, Australia
Engagement Committee includes:
Scott Vaughan, Pres. & CEO, International Institute for Sustainability (IISD), Winnipeg, Manitoba
http://www.futureearth.org/who-we-are

Barbara
Reply to  klem
May 21, 2015 3:27 pm

Canada’s Ecofiscal Commission, advocates for carbon taxes for Canada.
The People Behind The Commission
Includes:
Elizabeth Beale, Pres. & CEO, Atlantic Provinces Council
Michael Harcourt, Fmr. B.C. Premier
http://www.ecofiscal.ca/the-commission/the-people-behind-the-commission

Barbara
Reply to  klem
May 21, 2015 6:46 pm

Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, April 13, 2015
‘Support for Ontario Capping Greenhouse Gas Pollution’
Supporters included:
Gov. Edmund G. Brown, California
Chris Ragan, Chair., Canada’s Ecofiscal Commission
And others.
http://www.news.ontario.ca/ene/en/2015/04/support-for-ontario-capping-greenhouse-gas-pollution.html

Barbara
Reply to  klem
May 22, 2015 8:49 am

Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, March 9, 2015
Ontario created an advisory Climate Change Action Group.
Members include:
Louise Comeau, Climate Action Network Canada
Peter Gilgan, Also Canada’s Ecofiscal Commission
Katie Sullivan, worked with the WCI/Western Climate Initiative
http://www.news.ontario.ca/ene/en/2015/03/special-advisor-and-climate-action-group.html

Barbara
Reply to  klem
May 22, 2015 9:59 am

Office of Gov. Edmund G. Brown, California, May 19, 2015
Partnership to fight Climate Change
Statements from Signatories included:
Glen Murray, Ontario Minister of the Environment and Climate Change
http://www.gov.ca.gov/home.php

Barbara
Reply to  klem
May 22, 2015 11:16 am

Montreal Gazette, Dec.31, 2012
‘Environmental cap-and-trade regulations in force’
The idea, cap-and-trade, was pushed by former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and former Quebec premier Jean Charest within the Western Climate Initiative.
http://montrealgazette.com/technology/Environment+trade+regulation+force/7762705/story.html
Jean Charest is a member of Canada’s Ecofiscal Commission

Barbara
Reply to  klem
May 22, 2015 4:40 pm

CBC News, May 22, 2015
‘Oil industry pushing for carbon tax in Alberta’
“The biggest players in Canada’s oil and gas industry are urging Alberta’s government to step up its environmental policies and introduce a carbon tax.”
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/oil-industry-pushing-for-carbon-tax-in-alberta-1.3083832
Suncor CEO Steve Williams is a member of Canada’s Ecofiscal Commission which was est. about November, 2014

Barbara
Reply to  klem
May 22, 2015 6:01 pm

680 News/The Canadian Press, April 7, 2015
‘Forget federal leadership, blue-chip panel urges provinces to price carbon now’
Panel:
Chris Ragan, Chair. Canada’s Ecofiscal Commission
Jim Dinning, Canada’s Ecofiscal Commission
Jack Mintz, Canada’s Ecofiscal Commission & on board of Imperial Oil which is about 69% owned by Exxon Mobil Corp.
Steve Williams, CEO Suncor
http://www.680news.com/2015/04/07/forget-federal-leadership-blue-chip-panel-urges-provinces-to-price-carbon-now
Canada’s Ecofiscal Commission is a self-appointed commission.

Paul
May 19, 2015 3:17 pm

5 to 10 years ago people and companies were all moving from California to Oregon. None recently, that I know of. Now Oregon is competing with California for lunacy in government.

MarkW
Reply to  Paul
May 19, 2015 3:46 pm

To a large degree that is because about 5 out of 10 Oregonians are former Californians who brought their insanity with them.

noaaprogrammer
Reply to  MarkW
May 19, 2015 3:53 pm

A few decades back when there was a big influx of people from California moving to Washington State, we had this to say: “Don’t Californicate Washington!”
Unfortunately, the more that came, the more liberal Washington State became.

HGW xx/7
Reply to  MarkW
May 19, 2015 4:39 pm

No joke. As someone (barely) surviving Seattle, I’m on the cusp of moving over to Spokane. I can’t wait. Leaving it was the biggest mistake of my life.
The eastern half of the state is the REAL Washington as far as I’m concerned. The ‘wesside’ is an epicurean asylum, IMHO.
God, how I hate it over here.

tgmccoy
Reply to  MarkW
May 19, 2015 5:53 pm

East of the Cascades is the sane place. I’m all in for the state of Western Idaho….

Alan Robertson
Reply to  MarkW
May 19, 2015 7:22 pm

Californicating Oregon, was the phrase…

Leonard Lane
Reply to  MarkW
May 19, 2015 10:43 pm

Isn’t it strange how they Leave California to escape the problems there and then immediately make wherever they move to be like California. Strange.

Reply to  MarkW
May 20, 2015 3:10 am

Leonard, they did the same to Long Island 20-30 years ago. Came to escape the crime & taxes of NYC. I got out & headed south.

ferdberple
Reply to  MarkW
May 20, 2015 5:46 am

they Leave California to escape the problems there and then immediately make wherever they move to be like California.
===========
similar to people moving to a new country to escape religious of sectarian violence, only to find they have brought the problem with them. unfortunately the citizens of the host country wake up to find themselves embroiled in someone else’s misery.

DD More
Reply to  MarkW
May 20, 2015 9:44 am

Alan Robertson , I also remember that is was Oregon and then Gov Tom McCall with his urging.
Referring to Oregon’s tourist industry in a 1971 speech, McCall may have first publicly voiced his famous “Come visit, don’t stay” slogan: “I urge them to come and come many, many times to enjoy the beauty of Oregon. But I also ask them, for heaven’s sake, don’t move here to live.”

MarkW
Reply to  MarkW
May 21, 2015 2:44 pm

I’ve interviewed for jobs in Pullman, WA and Couer d’Alene, ID.
Unfortunately I didn’t land either.

Stephen Singer
Reply to  Paul
May 19, 2015 4:01 pm

Unfortunately my state Washington has decided to enter the nut-house as well. Perhaps also fortunately most of our electricity comes from hydroelectric dams as long there is enough water(fingers crossed).

Bubba Cow
Reply to  Stephen Singer
May 19, 2015 4:41 pm

alternatives are lobbying to have 2 deals impact your hydro:
1) big hydro is NOT considered renewable due to large ecological changes (which could be good, but doesn’t matter)
2) only new counts; existing = 0 and new must be small scale
Keep your eye out. Inventing new rules.

curly
Reply to  Stephen Singer
May 19, 2015 7:40 pm

Not too many years ago, a then US Congressman from WA state wanted to jack up electricity prices in the state to “make money” selling electricity to Cali. I think he’s now the governor of WA state, and good buddies with that green wacko billionaire, Tom Steyer.
So don’t take anything for granted, especially when one of the US Senators from WA state may be the stupidest person in the US Senate (google it). And that’s saying a lot. The current governor is not the brightest bulb in the socket either.

HGW xx/7
Reply to  Stephen Singer
May 19, 2015 9:07 pm

Inslee is a liar who promised no new taxes and now is proposing a carbon tax. He’s scum but people in Seattle love him…which is fitting. Makes my stomach turn. This half of the state is an embarrassment.

Bubba Cow
May 19, 2015 3:19 pm

more bird beaters and solar grills coming to Vermont too …
where to go? where oh where?

Reply to  Bubba Cow
May 19, 2015 3:28 pm

Detroit? It’s probably relatively green-free.

Bubba Cow
Reply to  Max Photon
May 19, 2015 3:40 pm

someone told me they were thinking of razing the place and turning it back to agriculture … pure hearsay, of course, so must be fact

MarkW
Reply to  Max Photon
May 19, 2015 3:48 pm

Bubba, abandoned buildings are being razed to prevent them from becoming drug or prostitution dens. Whole neighborhoods are being abandoned because the city can no longer afford police and fire protection for them.

Reply to  Max Photon
May 19, 2015 4:26 pm

Detroit has large swathes of real estate that’s prime location for post-Zombie Apocalypse movies.

MarkW
Reply to  Max Photon
May 19, 2015 5:43 pm

And vast swathes of residents that would be prime candidates for such a movie as well.

Barbara
Reply to  Max Photon
May 19, 2015 8:21 pm

About 2/3 of the people left Detroit. So 2/3 of the property is vacant or abandoned.
No businesses so no jobs. Very little left to produce wealth.
It’s true that vacant land is being used for urban farming. And people are making money farming in Detroit.

Paul
Reply to  Max Photon
May 20, 2015 4:49 am

Urban timber too. I recently talked to an arborist that harvests the lumber.
Sad really.

May 19, 2015 3:22 pm

Doing more of the same and expecting different results is Albert Einstein’s definition of “insanity”

Bill 2
Reply to  hocuspocus13
May 19, 2015 4:14 pm
stephen
May 19, 2015 3:23 pm

Australia mate .

Gamecock
Reply to  stephen
May 19, 2015 4:50 pm

No. Australia has ten years left. At most. It has a negligible military, and it has disarmed the populace. Their protectors, Britain and the U.S., are in a race to the bottom demilitarizing. India and China seek hegemony over southern Asia. One or the other is going to take Australia, and only the other will be able to do anything about it.
Learn to speak Chinese. Quickly.

Reply to  Gamecock
May 19, 2015 8:06 pm

Just for fun, which “Chinese language” are you referring to? Pŭtōnghuà, Wú, Yuè, Mĭn Nán, Jìnyŭ, Hakka, Xiāng, Gàn, Mín Bĕi, Mín Dōng, Mín Zhōng, Pŭ-Xián, or Huīzhōu? (Just to name a few!)

Patrick
Reply to  Gamecock
May 20, 2015 12:40 am

Australia is being systematically sold to China. Migration, property, farms (And we have some VERY big farm here some are 3 million acres or more), water rights, mining resources (Coal, iron ore, liquid gas) etc etc. You name it, it will likely be owned, in part or in full, by someone or exported to someone in China.

Gamecock
Reply to  Gamecock
May 20, 2015 5:48 am

Mandarin.

Reply to  Gamecock
May 20, 2015 8:33 am

As I understand it, in India there are over 400 languages and 2000 dialects.
“Learn to speak Indian. Quickly.” … might be a bit of a challenge 🙂

Gamecock
Reply to  Gamecock
May 20, 2015 9:11 am

There are many languages in the U.S. Learn English, and you’ll get by.

MarkW
Reply to  Gamecock
May 21, 2015 2:47 pm

I remember reading about S. Africa. Seems the locals refused to learn Boer, and the Boer refused to learn any of the native dialects.
As a compromise everybody learned English.

Peter Miller
May 19, 2015 3:23 pm

Which is the worst for California? The greenies and their goofy ideas, or the drought.
Be careful what you wish for – the greenies want to live in a non-industrial society – well, good luck with that.

jorgekafkazar
Reply to  Peter Miller
May 19, 2015 3:58 pm

Last I heard, they were dumping millions of gallons of fresh water in California to protect the “Delta Smelt.” Millions more are going to leaks and breaks in the water distribution system every year. Brown is a disaster. At the present rate, California will go into bankruptcy before 2019.

Stephen Singer
Reply to  jorgekafkazar
May 19, 2015 4:05 pm

Yea, as I understand it there are less than 100 of the Delta Smelt left but still they insist on wasting lots and lots of fresh water on them.

Windsong
Reply to  jorgekafkazar
May 19, 2015 6:58 pm

At least the LA basin folks will have a “medium speed” rail line to use for their begging trips to the legislature. Probably that is what most of the ridership will be. /sarc off/

Flame
Reply to  jorgekafkazar
May 19, 2015 9:58 pm

Hollywood recently suffered FOUR water main breaks in as many days within just a few blocks of each other. Correction, one was a fire hydrant sheared off by an impaired driver. Most of the infrastructure is over 100 years old—but are they replacing it? No, all the news can talk about is building one stadium to woo back an NFL team and another stadium to coax a soccer team to stay.
And you are correct, Jorge, that the state has now made TWO major dumps of fresh water into the ocean, something like 800,000 gallons in this last dump, to protect a stupid fish!

Richard Ilfeld
Reply to  jorgekafkazar
May 20, 2015 8:19 am

A Delta smelt would probably be a delicacy enjoyed by a Florida Panther

Flame
Reply to  Peter Miller
May 19, 2015 9:24 pm

The greenies I know could never survive in a non-industrial society. They think peas grow in plastic bags already frozen and wouldn’t know how to can a jar of tomatoes if their lives depended on it—which they just might the way things are going. All of which might be beneficial for the rest of us.

Kenji
May 19, 2015 3:25 pm

Wait ! Does this mean that all the evil Co2 will now be produced in TX ? How does THAT equate to CA and Jerry Brown “saving the planet” ? Unbelievable … the fantasy world of the leftists. Oh well, I am sure Elon Musk with PROFIT a few more BILLION in “green” taxpayer subsidies.

MarkW
Reply to  Kenji
May 19, 2015 3:49 pm

To most leftists, actually doing something to solve the problem takes a distant second to feeling self righteous because you are doing something.

jorgekafkazar
Reply to  MarkW
May 19, 2015 3:59 pm

But blowing up children would take first place.

Flame
Reply to  MarkW
May 19, 2015 9:25 pm

Very astute!

Reply to  Kenji
May 31, 2015 4:20 pm

THEY ARE USING DIESEL FUEL AND ENGINES TO GENERATE ELECTICITY TO RECHARGE ELON MUSK’S ELECTRIC CARS, WITH A NET LOSS OF ENERGY AND GAIN OF POLLUTION OVER CARS THAT JUST USE GASOLINE. That is where we are headed. The Greenies should head for the Rockies and live in caves to be in line with their mantra. BUT IT DOES TAKE A LOT MORE CO2 TO HAVE A GREEN EARTH, which is the Greenies’ contradiction.

F. Ross
May 19, 2015 3:27 pm

Oy vey!

Mike
May 19, 2015 3:29 pm

As soon as I saw “…and provinces…” I knew the dopes that run Ontario would be signers.

Mick
Reply to  Mike
May 19, 2015 7:18 pm

BC government marxists already tax you when you drive to work, so that you can pay… You guessed it. More taxes. There are green levies on everything here.
This is to lower CO2. The very molecule that causes more plant life. Ahh, life on the left coast.

Barbara
Reply to  Mick
May 20, 2015 6:19 pm

R20, Santa Monica, CA, Sept.24, 2014
“New Compact of States & Regions Launched at UN Climate Summit”
Governing Board includes:
Founding Chair, Arnold Schwartzenegger
Gregor Robertson, Vice-chair & Mayor of Vancouver
http://www.regions20.org/about/news/101-press-releases/148-new-compact-of-states-regions-launched-at-un-climate-summit

Barbara
Reply to  Mike
May 19, 2015 8:08 pm

Anyone who has followed this situation knows this has been in the works for quite sometime.
Too difficult to get this done on the federal level so the plan was to to this on a state by state or province by province basis.
Plans are to do cap-and -trade the same way.

Bubba Cow
Reply to  Ron Clutz
May 19, 2015 4:05 pm

astounding – tons of phoney digital money exchange in anti-science

Reply to  Bubba Cow
May 19, 2015 4:08 pm

A market based on the non-delivery of a non-good. What could go wrong?

Reply to  Bubba Cow
May 19, 2015 4:38 pm

Maybe ” tons of phoney digital money exchange” Bubba Cow, but my magic 8 ball says the sales of the credits will have sales tax added. Sales tax on the exchange of phony carbon credits to solve a problem that hasn’t happened in 18 years, what not for an overbearing political system to love?

emsnews
Reply to  Ron Clutz
May 19, 2015 7:57 pm

Wow, considering the ice and snow in Quebec melted only a few weeks ago. Like, 2 weeks ago.

Paul
Reply to  emsnews
May 20, 2015 4:53 am

That’s just weather. A few hot days signal climate change.

Barbara
Reply to  Ron Clutz
May 20, 2015 7:58 pm

The Climate Group, London, UK, an environmental charity
The Climate Group States and Regions
Co-Chairs and Steering Group includes:
Philippe Couillard, Premier of Quebec, 2015-2016
http://www.theclimategroup.org/what-we-do/programs/states-and-regions
Also check out the Board of Directors/Governors. Some big names!

Barbara
Reply to  Barbara
May 20, 2015 8:24 pm

The Montreal Gazette, Feb.13, 2015
“Montreal Lands Future Earth Bureau”
http://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/montreal-lands-future-earth-bureau
And:
Follow the link to Future Earth

Paul
May 19, 2015 3:44 pm

Petroleum prices are pretty low right now. Texas will be in a world of hurt over the next couple years.

MarkW
Reply to  Paul
May 19, 2015 3:57 pm

Unlike the 80’s, Texas has a very diversified economy. There are as many sectors that benefit from lower oil prices as there are that are hurt by it.

Reply to  MarkW
May 19, 2015 4:08 pm

Texas Instruments.

Mark from the Midwest
Reply to  Paul
May 19, 2015 4:08 pm

Not really, at $58 bbl Texas is in very good shape, slower growth, but hey, all those machinists and welders can work for the aerospace industry that will be gravitating toward Houston. The places that might hurt more are North Dakota and Alberta, which need something in the $70 to $75 range to support expanding production.

Mark Luhman
Reply to  Mark from the Midwest
May 19, 2015 6:19 pm

Actuality $58 bbl a barrel work for the Bakken also. In McKenzie county the price would have to drop to less than $27 bbl to become uneconomic. For those who don’t know the Bakken in in North Dakota and McKenzie county is the largest county in the North Dakota and it is in the heart of the Bakken. Just got back from their last week, and yes it has slowed down, rig count is halve of what it was. That just might give the frackers time to catch up.

May 19, 2015 3:47 pm

What BS! They can declare it but they cannot do it. Maybe if they went all nuclear, but we know that won’t happen. They can trash what left of their economy in the attempt tho.

Bernie
May 19, 2015 3:52 pm

Texas’ ERCOT grid delivers almost 100% of the state’s electricity demand. Its oil and gas fields produce a net energy export, but imports more than half of its coal. Even so, they have 13 GW of wind capacity, amounting to around 15%, in this state that is not well known for green politics as is California. I believe they trust wind at 12% and 30% onshore and offshore respectively.

Reply to  Bernie
May 19, 2015 4:51 pm

Yes, but. Texas wind is subsidized and mispriced. See our recent post at CE. Texas has plentiful natural gas. Not using it for CCGT evidences a minor case of Californiaitis. No bragging rights.

toorightmate
Reply to  ristvan
May 19, 2015 5:48 pm

Is Californian wind greener than Texan wind?

Reply to  ristvan
May 21, 2015 4:25 am

Wouldn’t that depend on the subsidies? Do more, or less, subsidies make for greener wind power?

MarkW
Reply to  ristvan
May 21, 2015 2:49 pm

Don’t know about green, but for a few years back in the 70’s, CA wind was often brown.

Bruce Cobb
May 19, 2015 3:55 pm

We are witnessing epic, historic worldwide stupidity. In future years, students will scratch their heads in wonder at will be known as the stupidcene.

Bruce Cobb
Reply to  Bruce Cobb
May 19, 2015 3:57 pm

Come to think of it, the Idiocene has a better ring to it.

jorgekafkazar
Reply to  Bruce Cobb
May 19, 2015 4:03 pm

In future years, students will scratch their armpits and say, “Oook! OOK-OOK-OOK!! Eeep! Eeep!”

TobiasN
Reply to  jorgekafkazar
May 19, 2015 6:33 pm

You underestimate Common Core. Any student that says that by themselves will be reprimanded. It will be groups. One will go Oook! the next will go “OOK OOK OOK” . The third one, the one being treated for ADD, will forget to say EEEP! but be given an A anyway.

H.R.
Reply to  jorgekafkazar
May 19, 2015 6:37 pm

In future years, students will scratch their armpits and say, “Oook! OOK-OOK-OOK!! Eeep! Eeep!”
The smart ones, will. Gotta repeat back what the professors are teaching or you’ll fail the course. Some things never change ;o)

May 19, 2015 4:02 pm

Let’s hope the USA elects someone with some sense in 2016 so that the entire country doesn’t go down the path that California is now taking.

Philip Arlington
Reply to  kamikazedave
May 19, 2015 11:06 pm

It won’t. The Republicans are mad too, but in different ways.
The USA will only turn the corner when Americans stop blaming the other lot for the decline which continues regardless of which party is in power (which probably isn’t going to happen).

May 19, 2015 4:07 pm

So is California going to go to war with China to stop them from increasing the output of Plant Food? If not – what California is doing “don’t mean nothin.”

Chip Javert
Reply to  M Simon
May 19, 2015 7:57 pm

CA no longer has water for plants, so plant food seems irrelevant.

Brian H
Reply to  Chip Javert
May 21, 2015 10:03 am

Actually, more CO2 enables plants to use less water per unit growth. Leaf stomata can be fewer to drive transpiration and circulation. “Make plants more water-efficient; maximize CO2 output!

coaldust
May 19, 2015 4:09 pm

California, Rest In Peace.

FTOP
Reply to  coaldust
May 19, 2015 6:18 pm

+10 for the RHCP allusion

kadaka (KD Knoebel)
Reply to  coaldust
May 19, 2015 7:57 pm

California, Rest In Peace.
Now don’t forget to stake the heart, cut off the head and stuff it with garlic, burn the remains, and scatter the ashes over moving water. Just in case.

hunter
May 19, 2015 4:12 pm

The signatories to this worthless agreement actually think they can control the weather.
“Foolish”, “Hubris”, “Banality”, “Folly” do not begin to properly describe how pathetic these political hacks are.

Reply to  hunter
May 19, 2015 4:14 pm

It is more ambitious than controlling the weather. They intend to control the climate of the planet. Ask them what the thermostat should be set at. Vacant stares.

nigelf
Reply to  M Simon
May 19, 2015 5:43 pm

Don’t worry too much, this Liberal cancer we currently have here in Ontario will be gone in the next election…along with the cap and trade scam.

Mark from the Midwest
May 19, 2015 4:15 pm

If you read the Reuters article it says that the details to achieve the goal will be “hammered out over the next year.” Let’s see how many times the signatories “delay” their goal, provide industrial waivers to attract or retain employers, and generally waffle and squirm.

Fanakapan
May 19, 2015 4:16 pm

Dont worry Cousins, we know from the wit of Churchill that ”Americans will always do the Right Thing, but not until they have tried every other alternative” 🙂

Philip Arlington
Reply to  Fanakapan
May 19, 2015 11:09 pm

He was influenced by a sentimental attachment to his mother. Besides far less evidence of the folly of Americans has accumulated in his day. Almost everything good that ever happened to the US was down to blind luck.

Doonman
May 19, 2015 4:17 pm

Article 1, Section 10 of the US constitution reads in part:
No state shall, without the consent of Congress,…, enter into any agreement or compact with another state, or with a foreign power,…
So the agreement can be readily ignored.

MarkW
Reply to  Doonman
May 19, 2015 5:46 pm

It was never anything more than a self congratulatory press release anyway.
Kind of like the last two international climate conferences.

David L. Hagen
May 19, 2015 4:18 pm

~ 100,000/year leaving California in 2011, half to Texas.

MarkW
Reply to  David L. Hagen
May 19, 2015 5:47 pm

Bad for California, worse for Texas.

Resourceguy
Reply to  MarkW
May 20, 2015 1:55 pm

That’s too simplistic. Colo. gets a lot of the bad actors.

TomR,Worc,Ma,USA
Reply to  David L. Hagen
May 19, 2015 7:26 pm

Texas will be a blue state in no time at all. Just like all the Massholes headed to NH, to beat the taxes and then voting democrats into office, who then raise taxes.
Idiocine era , indeed.

Catcracking
May 19, 2015 4:20 pm

As a skeptic of many things I read, I wonder how accurate the claims are of this article.
Anyone aware of the facts that could correct the claims.
http://www.utilitydive.com/news/what-a-50-renewables-mandate-means-for-california/398684/
In moving to a 50% by 2030 renewables mandate, California leaders want more of what they got from their 33% by 2020 standard.
“Numbers on the existing 33% target are still coming in, but getting to just over 15% renwables from 2002 to 2012 added 196,000 jobs, a 20% increase, according to analysis from clean energy think tank Next 10. At the same time, the state’s overall economy was adding jobs at a 2% rate.
By the middle of 2014, according to the group, the state was at 23% renewables, its average residential electricity bill had dropped 4% from 1990, and its average industrial electricity bill had dropped 57%.
The state’s three dominant investor-owned utilities (IOUs) are making progress as well, with all of them “on track to meet the RPS requirement of 25% renewables by 2016 and are well-positioned to meet the 33% requirement by 2020,” according to the California Public Utilities Commission Q4 2014 RPS report.
That all sounds like good news, but California lawmakers think they can do better. In January, Gov. Jerry Brown (D) called on state lawmakers to boost the RPS to 50% by 2030, and two bills to do so are making their way through the heavily-Democratic state legislature. Now a new report from a reputable consulting firm finds that the 50% mandate, while ambitious, could mean significant economic growth for the state, and major changes for its utilities. “

Mark from the Midwest
Reply to  Catcracking
May 19, 2015 5:01 pm

Can’t speak to all the details, but California has, historically produced 20% of its electricity from hydro, so it was already close to the 25% goal before they even started. It’s the increment that’s going to doom them. Hydro is tapped out in the western states. Much of California Power comes from coal fired generation in Southern Utah and parts of Arizona. It comes in, I believe, on Grid Path 46, that massive collection of high tension wires that transits the southern deserts. I’m sure they could not even re-develop the infrastructure to manage power into L.A. by 2030 if they don’t leverage those inbound transmission lines, and existing distribution capability, that alone is a 15 to 20 billion dollar nightmare in a state that’s already going broke. Fortunately the last of my bonds on all this come due in 2022, thanks Dad for timing it perfectly.

Reply to  Catcracking
May 19, 2015 5:04 pm

You omit a detail. In 2005, the year before the initial renewable mandate, California electricity cost $0.1163/kwh. In 2014, half way to 2020, it cost $0.1718/kwh. Neighboring Arizona was $0.1158. All average rates from EIA. Self inflicted California wound. We may be seeing Darwin in action.

David A
Reply to  Catcracking
May 19, 2015 5:11 pm

“By the middle of 2014, according to the group, the state was at 23% renewables, its average residential electricity bill had dropped 4% from 1990”
Wow, been here all my life, and that is nothing but nonsense.

kakatoa
Reply to  David A
May 19, 2015 7:00 pm

The advisory panel for the CA RPS study said this over a year ago-
“Higher RPS requirements at the 50-percent level would likely additionally increase electricity rates in 2030 by a wide range, compared to the expected rates based roughly on current policies and plans: the estimated increases were from 9 percent to 23 percent, depending upon the scenario under base case assumptions. The range was 3 percent to 36 percent under different sensitivity analyses, depending upon scenarios that changed combinations of variables. These estimated rate increases in 2030 were above and beyond the already-higher rates assumed to occur by then in the base case (which are estimated to be 47-percent higher than today’s rates).” Reference-
https://ethree.com/documents/Advisory_Panel_Report_on_the_CA_RPS_Study_FINAL_1-2014.pdf
The AVG non care residential price of a kWh is around $.20 from CA’s three private service providers today. Given the overcapacity issues noted in the RPS report- https://ethree.com/documents/E3_Final_RPS_Report_2014_01_06_with_appendices.pdf it sounds like I should consider going back in time and heating our place with wood. Trying to figure out what my cost allocations will be for my future usage from PG&E is not something I am looking forward to doing. At the moment the marginal price, Tier 3, for a kWh is around $.27 from PG&E.

Ashby Manson
Reply to  David A
May 19, 2015 7:19 pm

Yeah, maybe baseline rates have dropped, but if you run a toaster you’re over the baseline. The tiered system has resulted in energy prices that are significantly higher in reality. $500 a month in single family modest house not unusual in summer.

Tom J
Reply to  Catcracking
May 19, 2015 5:29 pm

The state’s overall economy adding jobs at a 2% rate means nothing. Yearly productivity enhancements can be on the order of 1-2% or more. Coupled with any increase in the number of residents due to immigration and other factors a 2% increase in jobs could actually translate into a net loss. More importantly, what is the unemployment rate and the labor participation rate. I find it impossible to believe a state could regulate its way to prosperity.

LordCaledus
Reply to  Tom J
May 19, 2015 6:05 pm

Frankly 2% is a rounding error, not an improvement.

BFL
Reply to  Catcracking
May 19, 2015 5:41 pm

Too bad you aren’t a skeptic of the greenie think tanks……

Grant
Reply to  Catcracking
May 19, 2015 5:55 pm

I have a business and electricity is $.22+ a KWH, way up from 5 years ago when it ran about 15.

Reply to  Grant
May 21, 2015 2:17 pm

You are benefitting (sic) from the Global Warming Solution Plan. There is no Globalwarming as CO2 Rises, but shut up and be happy you are paying somebody who says it is. They must be well intentioned, yes?

Catcracking
Reply to  Catcracking
May 19, 2015 7:46 pm

Thanks for the input on the price of electricity in California. I did not believe the article and suspected some miss information for those who do not fact check.
BFL, I assume you are talking to me, I am extremely skeptical about green energy and global warming based on a lot of data and personal knowledge of green energy failures and gross claims.
That’s why I raised the question about suspicious claims which was sourced in real clear politics.

Alcheson
Reply to  Catcracking
May 20, 2015 12:18 am

Catcracking, as a resident of CA I can tell you those are Gruber/Progressive statistics. My electric bill has skyrocketed over the past five years. Tier 4 electricity rates are 39c a kwh, tier 3 rates are 27c. I am now installing a solar panel system, which the math says will end up costing me about 24c a kwh (includes interest on the loan to pay the panel price) but sure beats 39c a kwhr. They heavily subsidize the base Tier 1 rate by drastically raising the prices on the other tiers and then use this Baseline rate for their propaganda that you are more than happy to spread. With a recent lawsuit however, this practice MIGHT be coming to an end soon, as the utilities MAY no longer be able to charge a customer more than it costs… thus they will NOT be able to subsidize the tier 1 rate by overcharging 90% of their customers.

Jim G1
May 19, 2015 4:20 pm

“The years passed, mankind became stupider at a frightening rate. Some had high hopes the genetic engineering would correct this trend in evolution, but sadly the greatest minds and resources where focused on conquering hair loss and prolonging erections.” Idiocracy The time is now in California.

FTOP
Reply to  Jim G1
May 21, 2015 2:56 pm

Time to start watering the crops with salty energy drinks?

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