Yes, it's still the infrastructure, and while I have been absent in this space, I have been active in others...
Regretfully, while the economy has taken center stage -- as well it should -- the infrastructure has been ignored. And so, as Will Shakespeare once wrote: "By the pricking of my thumb, something wicked this way comes..."
I fear that we are headed down a bad road again -- literally and figuratively. Given the state's finances, don't expect a rescue from them or from Obama dollars. It needs to be a free market that allows for the fixes, but will Government be able to keep its paws away from the taxes and fees or command and control regulations long enough to allow for this to happen? Proabably not.
In the past I have written about the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). In California it is now set at 33%... but getting there is the trick. But wait, before we get there, we will argue some more. In fact late last year the Governor vetoed legislation that would have done this and instead issued an executive order to make this happen. See Schwarzenegger.
The legislature is throwing rocks at his order in favor of "legislative control."
Well, here's where the train wreck will come. We will argue, we will sue and we will argue some more. In the meantime? No new infrastructure and the economy, when it comes back (give it 2 years), will be needing power -- and the green power that we are wanting -- will not be there. And the conventional power that we have today will also be stressed and some will be gone... Stay tuned for part 2... I will explain why green power will fail to materlialize in time for the need and why the ocnventional power will fall off the grid...