As if to underline what I blogged about yesterday, my article on some of the economic issues associated with renewable energy appeared in the Albuquerque Journal today.
The basic points are twofold: Yes, PNM (to name just one New Mexico utility) is raising rates for reasons unrelated to the state’s renewable mandate, but the mandate itself will drive up prices even further by mandating more expensive solar, biomass, and so-called “distributed” technologies.
I think we need to look at eliminating ALL energy subsidies as well. I’d love to see a real accounting of the tax breaks/subsidies that are given to the oil, coal, exploration and refining companies too.
Until the public starts paying the true market price for their energy, the clean technologies don’t have a chance.