California's push for electric cars and renewables threatens power grid

The state of California's aggressive push toward electric cars and renewable energies like wind and solar is threatening to strain the power grid over the next few years, causing ongoing blackouts and failures.

"California is drastically cutting our dependence on fossil fuels and cleaning our air," Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a November announcement unveiling the "world’s first detailed pathway to carbon neutrality."

But wind and solar energy are not as reliable as fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas, which means that at critical times of the greatest need, the grid might just not have what it takes to supply the need.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has tried to argue that consumers will save money with electric vehicles (EV), but research done by Fox Digital showed that the average cost of EVs was 50 cents to $4.00 more per 100 miles with EVs, assuming owners can charge them at home and not at a commercial charging station.

In September 2021, an "energy emergency alert 3" was issued because the power grid was so strained. Part of that emergency included asking electric car owners not to charge their vehicles.

Because of these constrictions, many EV owners also own traditional vehicles as well, which defeats the purpose of EVs.