Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
While Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham was in Scotland touting the need to address climate change, President Joe Biden, at the recent G-20, pleaded with other nations to increase their oil production to lower the price of gasoline.
Maybe the governor should tell the president that New Mexico could produce the extra oil if he would quit strangling energy production with his brave new government regulations.
The governor should take note at how green energy is destroying Europe. What began as an optimistic power policy in nations across that continent has led to an economic catastrophe. Europe is experiencing power shortages, lost jobs, inflation spikes and a trickle down effect that’s hurting all of society.
This economic tidal wave will certainly awash New Mexico with a similar power crisis that will cause havoc if the state doesn’t address this soon. It’s coming here. New Mexico’s Energy Transition Act or “Green New Deal” is scheduled to move the state to carbon-free power by 50% in 2030, 80% in 2040 and 100% in 2045.
The governor and progressive Democrats proudly boast of this 2019 green energy law they believe will mean cleaner power and happiness for all. Wrong. The European nations also thought that a green industrial revolution would change the world for the better. But the revolution backfired, and Europe is paying the price.
Europe has invested trillions of dollars toward renewable energy, but the great, green hope is costing big. Hundreds of fossil fuel plants have shut down after leaders touted their rosy prediction that green energy will save the continent. Wrong. The sun didn’t shine. The wind didn’t blow. And because these elements are unreliable and Mother Nature didn’t cooperate, nations have had to desperately return to coal and natural gas to generate energy.
The sad irony is that this all led to increased demand. Coal then tripled in price and natural gas rose five-fold in just the last year. The cost of soaring energy prices closed down production in many industries and had a ripple effect on manufacturing and other businesses that relied on fossil fuels. The cost of electricity is now astronomical because of the reliance on renewable energy.
When industries collapse, workers feel the pain and lose jobs. Homeowners feel the crunch as inflation skyrockets. It’s a vicious cycle that began with a “green dream” that’s turned into an economic nightmare.
Steve Pearce is chairman of the Republican Party of New Mexico. Contact him: