www.californiadroughtupdate.org/20210708-California-Water-and-Infrastructure-Report.pdf?_t=1625855290
“The trouble with the new environmental religion is that it has become increasingly pseudoscientific and Malthusian. It insists every anomalous fire is confirmation that the end is near unless we sacrifice. Recall Gov. Newsom’s tweet attacked those who oppose proposed climate actions for their high cost. But humans have reduced emissions and increased our resiliency through economic growth, not degrowth.
From “The Reason They Fear Fire As A Violation Of Nature Is Because They’re So Alienated From It,” which in the last item of this week’s report.
A Note To Readers
This week’s report mainly concentrates on the drought and the impact it is having, especially on hydroelectric generation from dams, wildfires, agriculture, and the infestation of bark beetles killing millions of trees.
The U.S. Drought Monitor reports that 33% of the state is in the most serious category of drought now– “Exceptional Drought.”
Included in the reporting on the drought is the disastrous situation in Mexico.
We have previously reported on the impact the drought is having on California agriculture, with an estimated 500,000 acres in the Central Valley already being fallowed. Some almond farmers are also ripping out significant portions of their orchards.
Related is a grasshopper infestation, as the drought has created ideal conditions for grasshopper eggs to hatch and survive into adulthood. Especially Montana and Oregon are affected by the hoppers.
‘Nearly all’ salmon could die in Sacramento River, was the warning this week from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
There are a couple of articles on wildfires, and both make the point that both in number of fires and acreage burned, this year is already worse than last year. Remember last year more than 4 million acres burned in the state, more than doubling the previous annual record.
As was reported here last year, the combination of drought and the bark beetle pest, has killed more than 130 million trees in California’s forests. Well, those damn pests have not gone away and millions of more trees are being added to count.
Also, as was reported here last week, there are thousands of illegal marijuana farms in the Mount Shasta area, with many of them having been burned to the ground in the ongoing fires. This week we have this: “Drug cartels stealing millions of gallons of water for marijuana grows in Antelope Valley: Officials”
And from today’s news, our embattled Governor,facing a recall election on September 14, finally extended the state of emergency to nine more counties today, July 8, making the total 50 of the 58 counties in the state. At the same time he advised the state’s population to voluntarily reduce water use by 15%. Even Jerry Brown had at least the courage to mandate even larger cuts. But not Newsom. Though, it must be said, that since more than 90 percent of the population consumes about 10 percent of the water used for human purposes, merely cutting, and that voluntarily, is, if you do the math, 15% of 10%. As the saying goes, “a drop in the bucket.” And do not forget, most of the farmers have been completely cut-off from water deliveries this year. So their “reduction of water use” is not 15%, but 100%.
The final item this week is from Michael Shellenberger, the environmentalist who campaigns for nuclear power and denounces the “religion” of the Malthusian environmentalists, who this week exposes the stupidity, and evil, of blaming all disasters on “climate change.” The quote at the top of this report is from his article.
Flash: Congressman Devin Nunes just introduced legislation to prevent the closing of the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant, now scheduled for closure in 2025.
Here are a few excerpts from the article by John Solomon:
California’s push for clean energy has already created hardship for consumers, from a 40% decade-long climb in electricity costs to rolling blackouts that loom as a threat every heat wave. Now the state is poised to exacerbate that crisis with plans to retire its last remaining, zero-carbon emissions nuclear plant in 2025.
The planned closure of Diablo Canyon, approved by the state in 2018, will take offline another 2200 megawatts of electricity production — nearly 10% of the state’s needs — with no ready replacement. As many as 3 million consumers could be impacted.
Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), one of the senior members of the state’s congressional delegation, told Just the News he is moving to stop the closure.
This week, he is introducing new legislation called the Clean Energy Protection Act to, among other things, prohibit California from shuttering Diablo Canyon and instead to increase its capacity
The bill would require the state to issue Diablo Canyon the permits needed to keep nuclear power operating and direct the appropriate federal agencies to issue permits to allow the plant to produce an additional 8,000 megawatts of power to ease California’s energy crunch.
Nunes’ legislation identifies a crippling potential gap in electricity generation that California could face in 2026 if Diablo Canyon closes.
