This blog has been posting much, recently, about the unworkability of unreliable wind and solar. Now, Germany has given us a name for the problem: Dunkelflaute. Translated, the term means “the dark doldrums” or dark wind lull.
This winter, much of Europe is experiencing a wind lull. But in Germany, the problem is greatly amplified, because Germany has spent huge amounts of its citizens’ wealth on wind turbines. And now, with the dunkelflaute, Germany’s wind-generated electricity is down by 85%, causing havoc and pushing German’s energy prices to two-decade highs.
Germany’s risky reliance on wind is a result of Energiewende, German government’s effort over the last 20 years to force the country off of hydrocarbons and nuclear, and onto alt-energy. In September, a study published in the International Journal of Sustainable Energy estimated that between 2002 and 2022, the Energiewende cost German citizens $746 billion. Of that sum, more than half was spent on alt-energy production and distribution. The remainder was spent on subsidies. According to energy writer, Robert Bryce, if Germany had spent about half that sum on nuclear energy, it would have achieved greater emissions reductions than it did by chasing the mirage of alt-energy. And, with reliable nuclear electricity, Germans would not be struggling with the havoc of a dunkelflaute.
So…is this winter’s dunkelflaute changing German policy? Incredibly…no. Recently, Bloomberg reported that the German government has dropped plans for a major expansion of gas-fired power plants. Instead, the German government wants to provide an additional $17 billion in subsidies for Germany’s wind sector.
In this country, and in Pennsylvania in particular, we are blessed with tremendous oil and gas resources. How will our state legislators and Governor Shapiro handle our energy future? It doesn’t look promising. Our Governor Shapiro supports legislation that gives huge tax benefits and subsidies to wind and solar companies. And, after lower courts struck down Pennsylvania’s participation in the controversial interstate program to reduce carbon emissions (RGGI), Governor Shapiro decided to appeal to the Supreme Court, thus keeping open the pathway for RGGI and its anti-fossil fuel bias.
Why are our politicians, and especially Governor Shapiro, so ready to dunkelfl**k us? In light of the failures in Germany, we should be asking that question loudly.
Kommentare