From: Spike Jones (spike66@attglobal.net)
Date: Sun Feb 11 2001 - 22:21:53 MST
> "Robert J. Bradbury" wrote:... [I am under the impression that
> the deregulation process in California State put a cap on energy
> prices there (presumably saving Spike from the consequences of the
> state's problem). There is no such cap however in Washington and
> my electricity rates are in the process of going up 30%.]
> I find it very interesting, that the Californians have a
> very nasty habit of exporting their problems to Washington
I tossed off Robert's point with a distracting riff about singalongs,
but he makes a good argument, to which I do not know the answer.
We have a curious uxtaposition of free market, state and local
government. For instance, we do welfare on a state level,
vote on power plants on a county level and kinda sorta let
free markets determine the price of gas but not electricity.
The upshot is, the economically overcooked SF Bay area
is clearly exporting its problems. San Jose is home to large
numbers of power hungry server farms. Logical place for
them because they dont really take up much expensive room,
but use a lot of power, which is subsidized! The Taxifornia
state government wont pull the plug, since they continue
to calmly collect 1.28% annual tax on all the ridiculously
overpriced Silicon Valley real estate, as well as a cool
11% income tax on all these juicy 6 digit incomes, in addition
to the 7.8% sales tax.
Santa Clara county is laughably overheated economically.
The result is there is no low-cost housing, so there are few
if any poor people. When one pays thousands per month
in taxes, one does not *care* if the power bill is 50 or 100
or 300 a month, its all down in the noise.
Consequently, Santa Clara county consistently votes to
export power plants, and the long term result is that the
cost of power goes up for everyone. Even if free markets
prevail and voters were not consulted, Santa Clara county
*still* wouldnt have power plants built on it, for the ground
is far too expensive for utilities.
Whats the fair way to determine where power plants go? spike
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