Commentary by Samuel Strait – September 7, 2022 One is supposed to think that government policies are for the benefit of all that are governed by those policies, but as we have seen lately that clearly hasn't been the case for "Green Energy". With massive failures in European Countries exposed in those countries by recent world developments of the importance of not moving to new technologies, in this case energy providers, until a sensible transition from the old can be successfully provided. Countries like Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and many others in the European Union are learning a bitter lesson this year with the complete collapse of their transitions from fossil fuels to solar and wind, or "green energy" platforms which cannot replace fossil fuels by any measurable standard. The idea that unreliable green energy is in any way ready to allow countries or even states like California to transition to 100% renewable energy sources at this stage, or even in the next 12 to 15 years is the stuff of fairy tales. Both the counties mentioned and California, are learning in no uncertain terms that the green revolution remains many years in the future. Unfortunately this is something those in charge in Sacramento have yet to learn. State wide flex alerts have appeared on cell phones every where in the state, informing power users to cut back on their power usage. Thermostats are to be set higher, air conditioning to be reduced, and EV's not to be recharged during peak usage hours. And this was known as the "Golden State", a place where dreams were to be realized. A place where the State's government and its obsession with "climate change" cannot keep the lights on. While many other states in this country also are experiencing these issues, fossil fuel recovery and the energy sources to produce electricity have been severely hampered by government policies that have jumped on a wagon that is headed for a cliff. As in Europe, climate change obsessions have created the inability of countries to heat and cool homes and businesses, power electric vehicles, and generally keep the economy moving forward. When will government ever learn that through out history major transformations in technological development cannot be legislated into being. The world's population did not go from horse and carriage over night, but over many years. The transition from fossil fuels to some more reliable source of energy will likely take many years. Wind and solar power are hardly a suitable step forward and are unlikely to be more than a momentary diversion occupying time which will slow the development of what will eventually take the place of our current form of power production. Just as power cannot be produced when the sun doesn't shine, wind turbines do not produce power when the wind doesn't blow. Storage problems to correct those shortfalls are but a distraction from pursuing something that is both reliable and inexpensive. Until that science emerges, fossil fuels will continue, and should continue, to power the world's homes, transportation, and businesses. Otherwise it will be a step back in time where the technological advances of today will have to be put back on the shelf for many of the world's populations. EV's for all Californians are but the fantasy's of those that can afford them. With only a bit over 10% of the State's vehicles currently powered solely by electricity, getting to 100% by 2035 will be a legendary under taking. Converting the State's electric grid to entirely renewables faces a similar up hill battle as only a fraction of the power produced is renewable, something unlikely to change any time soon. Californians need to realize that this movement towards renewables is more like following the "pied piper" than sensible governing policy. As articles about the failures of wind turbines and solar panel fires increase, clearly those difficulties coupled with their unreliability should send a powerful message to those that remain fixed on the notion that we have moved past relying on fossil fuels and can claim any sort of successful transformation. Climate change, if in fact it is as serious as we have been led to believe, will have to be taking a back seat to fossil fuels, if it is in fact the case that those in power wish to benefit those who rely on government to continue to maintain their current standard of living.