This is one of those stories that just make "you" feel good. Because most of "you"want to be good stewards but can't afford a $50,000 subcompact.
The "most green state" charges more for charging your "green" car with a social engineering policy that some Montana folks don't want to emulate.
Cowboys are always straight shooters.
Here's the story, based on a year-long study out of Purdue University.
California has a tiered electricity rate: the more electricity you use, the higher your rate.
There is a bill in the Montana legislature that would prevent this social engineering.
Californians already pay a higher rate than "the average" in the US; about 35% higher.
"The tiered system was put in because California wanted to be green and discourage electricity consumption," said Wally Tyner, an energy economist and lead researcher on the study. "The unintended consequence is that it also discourages electric vehicles."
And it gets worse.
- A plug-in hybrid Volt would increase the average household's electrical usage 60%.
- The same principle would apply to all-electric vehicles such as the Leaf.
- Both the hybrid Toyota Prius, which doesn't need an outlet to charge, and the gas-powered Chevrolet Cobalt are more cost-effective in California; BUT,
- Oil prices would have to rise from less than $100 a barrel now to between $171 and $254 to make the Volt as economical, even after factoring in thousands of dollars in government incentives.
There was only one error in the study. These are not electric cars; these are coal-powered cars.
From Casey's Daily Dispatch
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of California...
The Governor of California is jogging with his dog along a nature trail. A coyote jumps out and attacks the Governor’s dog, then bites the Governor.
1. The Governor starts to intervene, but reflects upon the movie Bambi and then realizes he should stop because the coyote is only doing what is natural.
2. He calls Animal Control. Animal Control captures the coyote and bills the state $200 for testing it for diseases, and $500 for relocating it.
3. He calls a veterinarian. The vet collects the dead dog and bills the state $200for testing it for diseases.
4. The Governor goes to the hospital and spends $3,500 getting checked for diseases from the coyote and on getting his bite wound bandaged.
5. The running trail gets shut down for six months while Fish & Game conducts a $100,000 survey to make sure the area is now free of dangerous animals.
6. The Governor spends $50,000 in state funds implementing a “coyote awareness program” for residents of the area.
7. The state legislature spends $2 million to study how to better treat rabies and how to permanently eradicate the disease throughout the world.
8. The Governor’s security agent is fired for not stopping the attack. The state spends $150,000 to hire and train a new agent with additional special training re: the nature of coyotes.
9. PETA protests the coyote’s relocation and files a $5 million suit against the state.
Meanwhile, in Montana…
The Governor of Montana is jogging with his dog along a nature trail. A Coyote jumps out and attacks his dog.
1. The Governor shoots the coyote with his state-issued pistol and keeps jogging. The Governor has spent $0.50 on a .45 ACP hollowpoint cartridge.
2. The buzzards eat the dead coyote.
And that, my friends, is why California is broke and Montana is not.