Lynne Kiesling: All in with the ‘Virtual Power Plant’ (Biden/Harris policy vs. free markets)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- October 7, 2024

“The ‘virtual power plant’ is the end-state of electricity interventionism, where government-subsidized wind, solar, and batteries–and in-home regulated (rationed) electricity use, via ‘smart meters’–replace consumer choice and taxpayer neutrality in a free marketplace.”

Lynne Kiesling has long sold herself as a freedom-loving classical liberal. Except she is the opposite when it comes to her specialty, electricity markets. This social media post is illustrative.

The “virtual power plant” is the end-state of electricity interventionism, where government-subsidized wind, solar, and batteries–and in-home regulated (rationed) electricity-use, via “smart meters”–replace consumer choice and taxpayer neutrality in a free marketplace.

Tomorrow’s post, “Free Market Electricity,” will outline the worldview of the missing-in-action alternative to Kiesling’s politically correct statism.

Appendix A: Critical Posts on Kiesling and Electricity

Electricity Statism Conference: Kiesling Rides High (June 25, 2024)

The Great Texas Blackout of 2021: Triumph of the Unreliables (February 20, 2024)

Kiesling vs.…

“Affordable, Reliable and Clean Energy Security Act” (ALEC blueprint for state legislatures)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- October 4, 2024

“The updated definition of ‘green energy’ will apply to all programs in the state that fund any ‘green energy’ or ‘clean energy’ initiatives.”

The Affordable, Reliable and Clean Energy Security Act of the American Legislative Exchange Council has just been released. ALEC model legislation, considered conservative (Republican vs. Progressive), is important for state legislatures as they debate various issues.

The short (365 word) model act follows:

Energy Security is paramount to economic growth. Energy Security that is Affordable, Reliable, and Clean leads to prosperity for our families and communities. Therefore, the following Energy Security-ARC is proposed as a common sense energy agenda for the future.

Section 1. Energy Security

Domestic Production: The fuel source must be primarily produced domestically within the United States.

Infrastructure Security: The infrastructure necessary to deliver energy to the customer should minimize reliance on foreign nations for critical materials or manufacturing.

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Rule of Law vs. Eco-obstruction

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- October 2, 2024

“[I am] worried that events like this could harm the cause to which I (and so many) have devoted my life. From a communications standpoint, the protest seemed like an even bigger mess than the soup-splattered painting.” – Michael Mann (below)

The activist climate fringe finds their cause in trouble. Their termite cause is losing to consumers who want the best energies in terms of price and reliability; losing with taxpayers who are on the hook for ‘energy transition’ bribes; losing with the public that is tired of the rhetoric, exaggeration, and now targeted inconvenience. And, losing with nature as energy sprawl accelerates with industrial wind, solar, and batteries.

Yet the anti-modern-living Deep Ecologists myopically target carbon dioxide (CO2), the green greenhouse gas, the gas of life. Turning to civil disobedience only inflames the public against a selfish fringe.…