Improving U.S. energy independence
9-minute read
This Week
Improving U.S. energy independence
Improving your energy independence
Whole house fans can keep you cool for less
People will switch to climate friendly foods for better health
California still has the most electric grid battery capacity
Getting ready for summer with lots of new big utility batteries
Hay fever seasons are longer and worse because of climate change
Extreme March heat waves caused by climate change
Early drought probably means big wildfires this summer
Other brief climate news
Climate jargon explained
Contacts for Santa Cruz County
Click on the underlined links to learn more.
About me
I’m Rex Sanders, a science writer who’s lived in Santa Cruz County more than 20 years. Each week I check dozens of reliable sources for climate news that affects our County. Focused on how we can create a better future together.
Improving U.S. energy independence
Solar panels on top of destroyed buildings in Lebanon, from the article.
Analysis: What if we improved U.S. energy independence instead of fighting another war over oil and natural gas?
The total U.S. taxpayer cost of the Iran war could be $2 trillion. That’s about the bill for our crazy war with Iraq in 2011. Also fought over oil and natural gas, despite the lies told by two presidents.
Yet that war money could have bought us a lot of energy independence. We could replace wobbly-priced oil and gas with the low, steady costs of clean energy from solar power, wind power, and big utility batteries. And no more overseas wars over oil. Or “military operations” like Venezuela.
We could build enough solar farms and wind farms to replace all the dirty fuel power plants and nuclear power plants across the country. U.S. nuclear reactors use fuel imported from Russia and other countries, another big risk.
All that could create millions of skilled American jobs. Plus a lot less climate pollution and air pollution, saving even more money. Or we could have used that war money to build a lot of affordable housing. Or made college tuition free for 10 years.
Quotes: “This somewhat pie-in-the-sky thought exercise is worth doing if for no other reason than it forces us to ask, What are we doing?”
Limitations: Even if our next president stops this war quickly, we could have spent almost $1 trillion. That could have gone toward clean energy, housing, or college tuition instead.
Actions: Oppose the war peacefully. Vote for a president that won’t break promises like “I’m not going to start a war, I’m going to stop wars.”
Source: Paul Greenberg, The New Republic, 5-minute read
Improving your energy independence
Very high gas prices in Los Angeles on March 20, from the LA Times.
Analysis: Gas prices are getting close to $9 a gallon in parts of California. But you can improve personal energy independence from dramatic price changes like these caused by world events. Including extreme weather from climate change.
The U.S. is the world’s largest producer of oil and natural gas. Yet the prices are set on world markets. So prices skyrocket here when we start a war 7,000 miles away that shuts down a big chunk of global oil and natural gas.
Solar power, home batteries, and an electric car can help you avoid future price shocks, while keeping your home running during blackouts.
California monthly gasoline prices through February 2026, just before we attacked Iran, from EIA.
Average PG&E monthly utility bills increased $120 in just five years, from KQED.
You can improve home energy independence in many ways, big and small.
Buy or lease rooftop solar panels and a big home battery. Then you can use low-priced electricity both night and day. And you still have power during blackouts.
Switch to an electric or induction stove, home heater, water heater, or clothes dryer. Your gas bill can’t keep climbing if you aren’t using any. Plus the air in your home will have much less pollution.
Buy or lease an electric car and a home charger. Great deals are available on gently used EVs. No more nervously watching gas prices rise. No more waiting in gas station lines. And an electric car with built-in 120-volt outlets or “bidirectional charging” can power your house during blackouts.
If you are a renter or a homeowner, install balcony solar panels that plug into a normal outlet. Those aren’t officially allowed yet, but some people are doing it safely anyway.
Or buy a portable power station battery with a solar panel.
Example of a power station battery with a solar panel, from Anker.
Put the panel in a sunny area. Plug it into the battery. Plug your refrigerator into the battery. Then plug the battery into an electrical outlet. Totally legal. Uses PG&E electricity if it’s cloudy for too long. Lowers your electric bills. And keeps the fridge running during blackouts.
That’s another kind of energy independence. You won’t throw away food from a warm refrigerator or freezer. And you can keep important medical devices running, like an oxygen concentrator.
Quotes: “Sunlight doesn’t travel through pipelines. Wind doesn’t rely on big tankers. Energy stored in batteries can’t be blocked by military conflict. [Clean power] is liberating.”
“With the weather getting more unpredictable, with the political climate becoming more unpredictable,” said homeowner Adam Lawrence, “having [home] power security is super important.”
Limitations: We’ll need big system changes to stop depending on dirty fuels for important stuff like crop fertilizer and jet fuel.
Actions: Do what you can when you can afford it. Even a little bit helps. Like keeping your fridge running during blackouts with a power station. If you have room, leave the fridge plugged into the battery, and the battery into a power outlet. Automatically keeps the refrigerator running when the power goes out.
Source: Kristina Zagame, Energy Sage, 9-minute video
Whole house fans can keep you cool for less
A whole house fan in the ceiling of a home, from the article.
Whole house fans in the ceiling suck cooler outdoor air into a home through open windows. And they cost much less to run than air conditioners or heat pumps.
They work best when outdoor temperatures cool off at night. After the fan cools your house down, turn it off and close the windows first thing in the morning. That keeps things cooler the rest of the day. It worked great at a friend’s house during hot Sacramento summers. You need to cool off at night to prevent heat illness.
Some models are loud. And all of them can suck in toxic wildfire smoke, pollen that causes allergies, and air pollution from nearby highways.
Whole house fans cost about $2,000 installed, fancier ones up to $6,000. Some attach to existing heating and cooling systems. They could work well in many parts of Santa Cruz County. Especially during heat waves and hotter summers caused by global overheating.
Julia Johnson, SF Chronicle, 4-minute read
People will switch to climate friendly foods for better health
Healthy, climate-friendly foods, from the article.
A large survey found that most people will switch to climate friendly diets for better health. Including “cooking a plant-rich or vegetarian meal.” They want foods that reduce climate pollution, but won’t switch just for that. Their biggest influencers are scientists, university professors, and chefs. But not governments or celebrities.
So eat healthy because scientists said so. And feel better knowing your new diet also helps with climate change.
Tove Malmqvist, Trellis, 2-minute read
California still has the most electric grid battery capacity
Chart of electric grid battery growth including California, Texas, and Arizona, modified from the article.
But Texas isn’t far behind, and grew much faster last year than our state. And Arizona is growing fast too, more than doubling last year. Big utility batteries continue falling in price, and they are one of the fastest ways to add clean power to the grid.
How? When there’s too much solar power or wind power, electric grid operators will shut some down, wasting electricity. Big batteries can store that for later use, often replacing dirty energy from natural gas or coal.
Dan McCarthy, Canary Media, 2-minute read
Getting ready for summer with lots of new big utility batteries
Large battery farm in the California desert, from BLM.
Our electric grid operator, California ISO, is already getting ready for high electricity use this summer from air conditioning. Their forecasters say we’ll have a pretty hot one.
But we’re in better shape after adding a lot more big utility batteries last year. They supply power on hot evenings when air conditioners keep cooling but solar power is dropping. And the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant is running again, after month-long shutdowns of each reactor last year for maintenance. Nuclear power plants need long shutdowns every year or two.
Let’s hope for no widespread power outages this year! The proposed big utility battery near Watsonville would help Santa Cruz County.
California ISO, 3-minute read
Hay fever seasons are longer and worse because of climate change
County pollen levels were medium-high this past month, from pollen.com.
Pollen from trees and other plants causes hay fever allergies. But pollen levels are getting worse, and pollen seasons are changing, because of climate change. Especially in the Western U.S., including Santa Cruz County. So if you get hay fever, you could be suffering sooner and longer.
This year my hay fever started more than 2 months early. If you get hay fever, keep checking local pollen counts on web sites like pollen.com. Take an antihistamine that works for you. Try wearing an N95 mask outdoors, and using a HEPA air purifier at home, especially where you sleep.
You can help by voting for climate-friendly politicians at every level of government, from school boards to President. And ask everyone you know to do the same.
Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 3-minute read
Extreme March heat waves caused by climate change
California map for March 20 shows dark red almost everywhere, meaning climate change certainly caused extra-high temperatures, from Climate Central.
Fast peer-reviewed science says that our record-breaking March heat wave was definitely caused by climate change. And for most of California, Climate Central used other methods that said temperatures 20 to 30 degrees above normal were definitely caused by global overheating.
Soon we’ll discover the damages, like:
How many people died or went to hospitals from heat illness.
How much costs went up for air conditioning and similar cooling.
How much this hurt our food supply while costing us more.
How much this dried up water sources from groundwater to reservoirs.
How much snow melted very early in the Sierra, shortening ski seasons and risking water shortages for the rest of California.
How much forests and other wildlands dried out, which will probably cause worse wildfires soon.
Climate change is here now, not far off in the future. We must expect a lot more crazy weather like this. And all of us get to figure out how to adapt, including governments, companies, you, and I.
From many sources including: AP News, CNN, Scientific American, and Yale Climate Connection, 4 to 8 minute reads.
Early drought probably means big wildfires this summer
Drought outlook map through June 30, modified from the National Weather Service.
Despite a few record-breaking winter storms that dumped rain and snow, California is headed for an early drought. We also had record-breaking heat waves in March. They rapidly melted almost all that snow, and dried out the soil, trees, and bushes. All caused by climate change. We might get some rain and cooler temperatures in April that could reduce the problems a little.
The current drought outlook shows much of Northern California will be drying out by the end of June, with high confidence.
The National Weather Service warns: “Drought is likely to persist and expand over the West due to: a low snowpack, early onset of snowmelt, record heat in mid to late March, and an increased chance of below-normal precipitation and above-normal temperatures during April-May-June”
And early drought probably means big wildfires this summer. Looks like Northern California is more likely now, but we’ll see.
If you live in the forest or nearby, start preparing your home and family. Wherever you live, get ready for a smoky summer. Dig out those N95 masks. Replace the filters in your HEPA air purifier. And look for places like libraries, shopping malls, and community centers where you can escape the heat and smoke for a while.
Aidin Vaziri, Anthony Edwards, SF Chronicle, 3-minute read
Anthony Edwards, SF Chronicle, 4-minute read
Other brief climate news
The world added a huge, record-breaking amount of solar power and wind power last year. They are the fastest-growing electricity sources in history. Ember, 2-minute read
Soccer fans and players shoot for climate goals as heat waves and wildfire smoke hurt the sport. Yale Climate Connections, 1-minute read
“Eco-chaplains” can help you with climate grief for many religions and spiritual beliefs. Or even none. Yale Climate Connections, 5-minute read
Sign-ups start April 1 for free wood chipping at many county homes in the forest. Helps reduce climate-polluting wildfires! Resource Conservation District, 3-minute read
County workshop on rising seas, also called sea level rise, at Simpkins Swim Center meeting room, Thursday, March 26, 5:30 pm. Santa Cruz County, 1-minute read
Climate jargon explained
Balcony solar power: Plug-in solar panel that can hang from a balcony railing
Battery farm: Many big utility batteries in one location
Big utility battery: Utility-sized rechargeable battery designed that stores clean electricity for later use, also called a battery energy storage system or BESS
Clean energy: Cheaper energy from the sun, wind, dams, or underground heat, that creates very little air pollution or climate pollution
Climate action: Any action that helps reduce climate change or adapts to it
Climate change: Long-term changes to Earth’s weather caused by climate pollution, including global overheating and too much ocean acid
Climate friendly: Better for our climate than other choices
Climate grief: Sense of loss after suffering from climate change, or worrying about it
Climate pollution: Gases in the air that trap the Sun’s heat and cause climate change, mainly carbon dioxide and methane, also called greenhouse gases or carbon pollution
Dirty energy: Expensive energy from coal, oil, or natural gas, that creates air pollution and climate pollution
Dirty fuel: Coal, oil, gasoline, diesel, propane, or natural gas that creates air pollution and climate pollution, also called fossil fuel
Electric grid: How most places get electricity, using power plants, storage, substations, and overhead power lines
Electric vehicle (EV): Any kind of vehicle that runs on an electric motor and a large rechargeable battery, including cars, trucks, trains, and boats
Global overheating: Rapid increase in worldwide temperatures starting around 1970, also called global warming
Heat pump: Two-way air conditioner that can cool or heat a building, heat a hot water tank, or boil water for factories
Heat wave: Days or weeks of unusually hot weather
Natural gas: Fuel pumped from underground, almost all methane, that adds climate pollution when it leaks, and when it’s burned for power or heat
Nuclear power plant: Power plant using a nuclear reactor to make electricity
Nuclear reactor: Makes power using mined uranium while creating radioactive waste that’s dangerous for thousands of years
Rising seas: Increase in sea level caused by global overheating that melts glaciers and expands seawater, also called sea level rise
Rooftop solar power: Solar panels mounted on a roof, supplying electricity
Solar farm: Large land area covered with solar panels
Solar power: Clean electricity made from sunlight, mostly using solar panels
Wind farm: Group of wind turbines in one area
Wind power: Clean electricity made from wind blowing through wind turbines
More at climatejargon.com
Contacts for Santa Cruz County
City council: Watsonville, Scotts Valley, Santa Cruz, or Capitola, depending on where you live
County supervisors
County Resource Conservation District
Regional Transportation Commission (SCCRTC)
Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) and PG&E
State Assembly: Gail Pellerin, Dawn Addis, or Robert Rivas, depending on where you live
State Senate: John Laird
California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), Air Resources Board (CARB), and Energy Commission (CEC)
Governor Gavin Newsom
U.S. Congress: Jimmy Panetta or Zoe Lofgren, depending on where you live
U.S. Senate: Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff.
Unrelated advice
We can change the world.
Rearrange the world.
It’s dying. To get better.
Graham Nash, from a song that’s shockingly current 55 years later: