by Katy Grimes
As Appearing in the California Globe
Timely new study shows high cost of total electrification
With Climate Week 2020 events underway in California this week, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order requiring sales of all new passenger vehicles to be zero-emission by 2035 and “additional measures to eliminate harmful emissions from the transportation sector.”
The Governor’s Executive Order also addresses “closure and remediation of former oil extraction sites.”
Newsom announced Wednesday he will aggressively move the state further away from its reliance on “climate change-causing” fossil fuels. Newsom is also expected to announce he will abolish the use of natural gas and propane appliances…
This latest “green new deal” order coincides with a newly released, state-by-state report on the capital cost associated with “electrification” for states and the nation. The report by The Energy & Environment Legal Institute, and its accompanying data spreadsheet, was authored by Tom Tanton, E&E Legal’s Director of Science and Technology Assessment.
Electrification is converting the entire economy to use electricity as a fuel.
In a California Globe interview, Tanton said the push to electrify everything is a key component of the national Green New Deal. However, his study focused solely only on the cost of energy electrification – which is almost worse given the potential costs.
He said his study is intended to open a dialogue to discuss what it will take to achieve total electrification, as well as to show that “it’s pretty damn expensive.”
“The estimate for annual energy expenses directly and indirectly paid by households will likely increase by at least $5,000 per household. Annual consumer expenditure for energy would roughly double,” the report found.
