HomeMy WebLinkAbout6/16/2020 Item 11, Handy
From:jhh <
PM
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Natural Gas Vote
The Ask
I doubt you care what I write because I assume in the current political mix your minds are made up
and fit a narrative that is immutable. Regardless I would like to ask "please do not outlaw natural gas
in future construction." However, if you must outlaw NG please link it to an (attainable) objective such
as economical storage without subsidies.
Discussion
I am deeply involved in energy efficiency now. Previously I was deployed numerous times from SLO
to the middle east to fight our nation's wars for oil. After I completed my last trip to Iraq I worked for a
solar company in order to reduce our dependence on imported energy and coal. I also was deeply
concerned about air pollution and the life cycle cost of energy. I care because I have friends and
colleagues crippled or died just so people in SLO could have hot and cold running water
(fundamentally).
This city council is untouched by war, but the US Army is a family business. My friend's children -
and soon my child - serve and potentially die so you can enjoy a great life. This life you enjoy
requires cheap energy. Not sustainable energy - cheap energy. This is what you send America's
best young adults to secure. When they go into combat it's so you can enjoy a hot shower. Definitely
NOT courtesy of sustainable energy. They go so you can enjoy a hot shower - period.
You need to make sure the bridge off coal and oil is as clean as possible. And it must be
practical. Natural gas is the bridge fuel because, frankly, California is not in a position to go all
renewables all the time. There are not enough batteries in the world to replace Diablo
Canyon. Unless maybe the USA plans to fight a war with Mexican cartels for lithium so we can have
more batteries. (yes - the largest deposits are controlled by Mexican
cartels) https://themazatlanpost.com/2019/12/13/video-lithium-is-the-new-oil-of-mexico-one-of-the-
largest-deposits-in-the-world-is-in-sonora/.
A war story
The most angry I ever got was when I say some old nasty Camaro on Johnson near French Hospital
pull away from me in a cloud of blue smoke. I remember the last clear thing I saw was a number
sticker that declared "No war for oil". I remember thinking - in 1 week I will be back in Iraq just so you
can drive a car that gets 12 mpg and spews oil out the exhaust pipe and you are going to declare "no
war for oil".
John Handy
805-709-8134
1