“Who Brainwashed Texas on Renewable Energy?”

“Who Brainwashed Texas on Renewable Energy?”, asks John Geesman, the former Energy Commissioner of the State of California, on the eve of a grand scale lobby effort by the fossil fuel industry in Texas (see “Town Hall” for related news). The companies are urging the Senate to make business-friendly changes to the House-passed energy and climate bill (“Waxman-Markey”), but Geesman notes that Texans now very much support renewable sources of energy. He cites research publicized in the Wall Street Journal, which indicates that wind power has lowered the price of electricity in the Lone Star State, and polls taken by conservative politicians associated with Texas Governor Rick Perry. Looking at the numbers, Geesman argues, “makes pretty damn clear just how expensive it will be to persuade ordinary Americans that down is up, hot is cold, and Energy Salvation is to be found by staying in bed with fossil fuels.” Yes, welcome to the new Texas, Mr. Geesman. Click here to read Geesman’s full post.