written 23 October 2022
published 30 October 2022
One of the illusions of capitalism is externalized costs; hidden real costs that aren't included in the price, expecting someone else to pay them. A variation is ignoring future costs not calculated into present prices.
For example, our house was built in 1979 with the required insulation of R-11 in the walls, R-15 above the ceiling, and a large heating/cooling forced air system. This minimal insulation reduced the initial housing cost, but requires decades of increasingly expensive energy costs to heat and cool. A friend built a house in Cotati with R-50 walls and R-100 roof, for an extra 10% in construction costs. During the recent very high heat, the house stayed at 75° with no cooling, and requires almost no heating during the coldest part of winter. This a life-long energy savings, and doesn't contribute any atmospheric carbon dioxide. Despite a higher initial cost, it is cheaper when life time operating costs are considered. This kind of future planning and whole systems thinking is over looked by our cultural obsession with short term "low costs".
Babcock Ranch, Florida, developed in 2006 about 15 miles east of downtown Fort Myers, is an example of applying whole systems thinking at a community scale. The planned community of around 5,000 people was designed with extreme weather conditions in mind. All of the electricity cables and phone lines throughout the community were buried underground so wind, falling trees and blowing debris will never take down power lines. The utility company, partnered with developers, built and operates a 75MW solar array as part of the community, using large concrete poles to connect the ranch to the rest of state. In March 2018, a 10MW storage battery was added, making the Babcock Ranch Solar Energy Center the largest solar-plus-storage project operating in the U.S at the time.
While this initially costs more, the benefits recently became obvious. Hurricane Ian gusted over 150 mph, dropped feet of rain, and buffeted Babcock Ranch for over 10 hours. Throughout the storm they never lost power, water, or internet, the only area of Southwest Florida to be that fortunate.
The extensive power outage created by Hurricane Ian shows our traditional energy infrastructure system is ill-equipped to handle worsening weather events amid the growing climate crisis. This is only going to become more catastrophic. Syd Kitson, founder of Babcock Ranch, told EcoWatch, “These storms are getting more violent, they’re more frequent. I think what towns need to think about and municipalities should be thinking about is how do we start. You have to start somewhere. So, maybe start with the infrastructure.”
While preparing for future weather extremes is important, to have any chance of long-term climate viability, we must also stop making the climate issue worse. In the last few centuries, humanity has increased atmospheric carbon dioxide by 50 percent, and half of that increase occurred in just the last 30 years! Even if we eliminated further emission today, there is a 15 year lag between CO2 content and the manifested temperature increase, so we have a significant change already "baked in".
Yet we are still adding more CO2 every day, increasing the risk of exceeding critical tipping points that could lead to complete economic disaster, a massive externalized cost. To avoid this, we must hit zero emission by 2040. The Federal and California governments have committed to this goal.
We can all take steps to help. In Mendocino county, outside of Ukiah city limits, Sonoma Clean Power offers an option called EverGreen, which provides 100 percent renewable power for an extra premium of $0.025/kWh. Any SCP customer can sign up by calling 855-202-2139 or go to: https://sonomacleanpower.org/evergreen-sign-up-request.
In the City of Ukiah, the municipal power company now offers a similar 100 percent clean power option for $0.022/kWh. The City will purchase more renewable power through their provider, NCPA. This is open to all Ukiah power customers, but participation must be requested. Call 707-463-6228. When the first menu comes up, press 1, and at the next menu, press 4. Have your utility account number ready (in the upper left-hand corner of your bill). Leave a message with your name, phone number, utility account number, and a request to participate in the new 100 percent renewable energy program. You will be signed up with no further effort. Your descendants will thank you.
