3 Ridiculous Things About Donald Trump Forcing A Coal Power Plant To Stay Open

Steve Hanley reported last night on the Trump administration — in particular, the US Department of Energy led by a fossil fuel billionaire — forcing a utility company in Michigan to keep a super old coal power plant open. Notably, the utility had a new fossil gas power plant built to replace this coal power plant, making the mandate from the US Department of Energy absurd. But there are three more things about this news that are even more ridiculous, and inspired me to write this article. (Or, more appropriately, I should say that it enraged me too much to skip writing this article.)

Global Warming When It Suits Us

You’re not allowed to talk about global warming (aka global heating) in Trump’s White House. You’re not allowed to write about it or acknowledge its existence. It’s not real, it’s a “Chinese hoax.” (Why it’s a Chinese hoax, I’m not really sure — I guess because they decided to lead on cleantech climate solutions while the US twiddled its thumbs and spread misinformation.) All climate solutions are considered bad by the Trump administration, and they do their best to muddy strongly established science that has been clear about global warming and climate change for decades.

BUT — when it suits the administration, they’re allowed to acknowledge that it’s expected to be a hotter than usual summer and declare emergency powers in response. That’s the rationale for keeping this old, polluting coal power plant open — that it’s going to be so hot, emergency level hot, that they might need the extra power.

I’m sorry, but that just pissed me off. Deal with the problem appropriately. Don’t keep one of the oldest, dirtiest power plants running and cause more global heating.

Big Government King Powers

Republicans are supposed to be all about a hands-off government ideology. They’re supposed to be keeping government from sticking its nose in your business. So, why is it doing something so abnormal, so unusual, so weird and forcing a utility company in Michigan to not retire a dirty, costly power plant that no one needs open?

This is more like Big Government communist behavior than the things right-wing troll campaigns normally call commie leftist policy. This is truly federal government overreach that serves no good purpose and leads to a less efficient, more costly market.

Cost People More Money

Speaking of cost, this power plant is expensive to run. It’s been priced out of the market. And forcing Consumers Energy to keep the power plant open is going to cost electricity ratepayers in Michigan and 14 other states more money! “[Dan Scripps, the chair of the Michigan PSC] said the cost to keep the old plant operating, even for 90 days, will cost ratepayers in 15 states a lot of money in the form of higher utility bills,” Steve writes.

“The grid operator hadn’t asked for this; the utility hadn’t asked for this; we as the state hadn’t asked for this. We certainly didn’t have any conversations with the (Energy Department) in advance of the order, or since,” Scripps told CNN. “I can say with a pretty high degree of confidence that we’re looking at multiple tens of millions of dollars at the low end. I think there’s a range between there and the high end of getting close to $100 million.”

Nice. So, the Trump is also increasing monthly costs for Americans in this case.

Brilliant Idiocy

So, the Trump administration is using the excuse of global heating (but without referencing that) to implement a hugely Big Brother interference in the market to raise electricity bills for millions of Americans. Brilliant. Brilliant idiocy.