Der Kommissar Reid Calls for Centralized Power Grid

Image from agnostic.neocon at politico

How's this for a five year plan? Harry Reid, the Democrappy Party's leading Senate Douchebag, is proposing a plan by which the federal government would take over America's power grid as part of his plan to put up renewable energy power lines that will transport our new green energy from "remote places," and that the federal government, not individual states, will determine where they would be put up, and who gets the privilege of paying for them.

Isn't that special?

I'm sure that the states won't mind having their sovereignty further eroded by a federal government that has long overstepped its constitutional bounds. Thank you Harry for giving America one more reason to force Congress to resign.

Now I'm all for increasing the use of renewable energy. It will result in cleaner air, less acid rain, and a reduction in our dependence on oil produced by countries that fund the terrorists that want to kill us. But why does Senator Reid feel that the federal government must violate the constitutionally guaranteed sovereignty of individual states, one of the bedrock principles on which our republic was founded?

Hmmm...let's take a little field trip to the good Senator's website...pack a lunch, and make sure your permission slip has been signed by your parents...everyone have a buddy? Good. Let's go explorers!

On Dirty Harry's Energy Issues page it says:

One of the largest impediments to increasing electricity generation from clean renewable sources is accessibility to transmission lines. That is why I have introduced legislation – the Clean Renewable Energy and Economic Development Act (CREEDA) – to provide additional financing options for building new transmission lines and interconnections to areas rich with renewable energy resources. By designating renewable energy zones, where natural clean resources could generate at least 1,000 megawatts of power, my bill would establish a framework for developing new renewable energy – dedicated transmission.

If I were Mr. Spock I would be raising my eyebrow while saying, "Fascinating." Now, fire up your Davis Safety Lamp because it's going to get dark and I don't want any of you to get blown up in the mine shaft that is this CREEDA bill. This PDF is for the 2007 version of this bill (I tried to find the current version, but Harry's site politely told me that this page does not exist)...I think the tard just keeps recycling it year after year (if you click on some of the links on this page you can see some Dirty Harry videos with Dirty Harry "I'm your Senator and I'm busy doin' man stuff for you because I'm the man" music...he's so...manly).

First, CREEDA is to be yet another amendment to the Federal Power Act which would, "require the President [Stupidus Caesar] to designate certain geographical areas as national renewable energy zones, and for other purposes," (if you can find what this bill means by "other purposes" you let me know...the dark side of the Force I sense).

Then there is Subpart A titled: "Regulation of Electric Utility Companies," under which we find, "Federal Transmitting Utility," which is defined in part as, "a Federal power marketing agency
that owns or operates an electric transmission facility."

So under this bill the federal government would own and/or operate power plants, because they're doing such a great job running the country...into the ground. But it gets better.

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the designation of a national renewable energy zone, a Federal transmitting utility that owns or operates 1 or more electric transmission facilities in a State with a national renewable energy zone shall identify specific additional high-voltage or other renewable electricity connection facilities required to substantially increase the generation of electricity from renewable energy in the national renewable energy zone.

So the federally owned utility then gets to decide what additional facilities must be built, and where.

‘‘(2) LACK OF PRIVATE FUNDS.—If, by the date that is 3 years after the date of enactment of this subpart, no privately-funded entity has committed to financing (through self-financing or through a third party financing arrangement with a Federal transmitting utility) to ensure the construction and operation of a high-voltage or other renewable electricity connection facility identified pursuant to paragraph by a specified date, the Federal transmitting utility responsible for the identification shall finance such a transmission facility if the Federal transmitting utility has sufficient bonding authority under paragraph (3).

In other words, if private utility companies or other investors don't pony up the money to pay for these federally mandated facilities, the Federal transmitting facility will finance the project by selling bonds...

‘‘(3) BONDING AUTHORITY.—

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In addition to any other authority to issue and sell bonds, notes, and other evidence of indebtedness, a Federal transmitting utility may issue and sell bonds, notes, and other evidence of indebtedness in an amount not to exceed, at any 1 time, an aggregate outstanding balance of $10,000,000,000, to finance the construction of transmission facilities identified pursuant to paragraph (1) for the principal purposes of—
‘‘(i) increasing the generation of electricity from renewable energy; and ‘‘(ii) conveying that electricity to an electricity consuming area.

Who buys those bonds? Utility companies, local municipalities? Individuals? What if there are no purchasers, will the federal government force local communities to buy them? Since the federal government is already determining where and how this is happening for the states, who's to stop them from deciding who gets to buy the bonds?

‘‘(B) RECOVERY OF COSTS.—A Federal transmitting utility shall recover the costs of renewable electricity connection facilities financed pursuant to paragraph (2) from entities using the transmission facilities over a period of 50 years.

I suppose this means that customers who get power from these federally operated plants pay like they would to any other utility company. Who is buying the bonds again?

‘‘(C) NONLIABILITY OF CERTAIN CUSTOMERS.—Individuals and entities that, as of the date of enactment of this subpart, are customers of a Federal transmitting utility shall not be liable for the costs, in the form of increased rates charged for electricity or transmission, of renewable electricity connection facilities constructed pursuant to this section, except to the extent the customers are treated in a manner similar to all other users of the renewable electricity connection facilities.

But wait...didn't section B say that a Federal transmitting utility would recover the costs of renewable electricity connection facilities from entities that use them?

Yes it does. The exception is for individuals and entities that are customers of Federal transmitting utilities at the time this subpart is enacted.

There are no Federal transmitting utilities at this time, as defined by this bill, other than the TVA (This is the same TVA responsible for the devastating coal ash spill, caused by the failure of a containment dike maintained by...the federal government. I'm sure we'll be perfectly safe in the hands of our federal government as they wire us all up.).

The Tennessee Valley Authority serves an area of approximately 80,000 square miles.

The total area of the United States is 3,537,441 square miles. Leaving 3,457,441 miles of non-federally served utility customers. That's a lot of people who do not fall under this bill's exceptions clause.

Now of course there will still be people getting their power from privately owned utilities that utilize coal, nuclear, and hydroelectricity (the majority still get it from coal). But since Caesar Stupidus is going to carbon tax the coal industry into bankruptcy...

You'll be so tired of having cold houses from not being able to afford your electricity costs that you'll beg to buy the green energy bonds if it means you don't have to sell a kidney so you can keep your kids warm in the winter (if your municipality hasn't been forced by the feds to buy the bonds first). Why do I have a feeling that this is going to become known as "the Reid Renewable Energy Bill that Congress must pass in order to avert this crisis?"

It took a whollotta gobbledygook to tell you that you are going to pay for this project from start to finish, and then pay for the privilege of having this electricity brought to your home.

All of this to the benefit of Senator Reid's home state of Nevada that won't have to pay one dime for any of this...unless you take into account all the taxpayers, and government run utility customers in Nevada. Then he'll say, "Look at all the jobs I created for you! You should elect me yet again."

Reid, on his website says Nevada has the "potential to be the nation's renewable energy epicenter." That's great for Nevada. But wouldn't it be better for the state if Nevada based companies built and maintained these entities instead of the federal government? If I were a betting man I'd say that his political pals that invest in this project stand to get sizable kickbacks from Dirty Harry via our tax dollars. I guess that wouldn't be the case if private companies did it. Tax incentives are so much less glamorous. Oh wait...the government doesn't want to reduce taxes...we're all supposed to be broke so we make better supplicants to Caesar. I forgot.

So we're paying for TARP, Douchulus, the Irresponsible Borrower Bailout, and nationalized renewable energy, and healthcare. But don't worry...you're taxes won't go up...unless you have a job.

Bottom line? Harry Reid expects your tax dollars to fund a project that he hopes will get him reelected so he can continue to help his Caesar run the country into the ground.

Here's a better idea dipshit. Respect the sovereignty of individual states by conferring with them over where these renewable energy zones are, following the environmental guidelines you suggest so as not to despoil sensitive areas. Then allow them to determine where the lines will be run. Offer generous tax breaks to private utility companies, or entrepreneurial start-ups, who build, operate, and maintain these facilities to offset the increased costs that would otherwise be turned over to the customer.

Oh wait...I'm thinking like...an American...I'm getting sent to the "reeducation" camps...I mean other geographical zone purposes...aren't I?