Well, supposedly. Hard to argue since the earth has been slowly warming up for thousands of years, so they say. Well, there have been some interruptions such as back in the 1700’s when a sudden cool down occurred. But it’s mostly warming up. In fact, global weather and warming is pretty much accepted as a real thing. More real for some than for others. And of course, this “warming” has now become a political event.

I wondered a few times last winter just where this global warming is located. This wondering occurred as I walked down the hall of my 95-year-old house. Yep, in spite of insulation and furnaces and new windows, I wondered as I shivered. Yes, I know the Islands West of Hawaii such as Majuro, are getting inundated as their beaches flooded out. And I’m aware that the sea levels are up some on the East Coast but like all of you, I live a long way from Fiji or New York.

All of this makes a perfect storm for politicians. You can’t really prove them wrong as they hand down “edicts” that change our lives with the force of law. No one has even had the chance to actually question these studies as to whether they are fact or opinion. Last week some unknown “someone” decreed that very shortly and for our own good, the USA will no longer be able to manufacture and/or use anything but electric powered vehicles. And they put dates on when gas-powered vehicles production must cease. It’s like almost immediately. Saving the planet from global warming, they said.

Now this has instantly caused Democrats and Republicans to choose up sides on whether this is a good idea, a must thing for our survival or just another bad idea from liberal politicians. To go all electric on an almost instant basis requires some rather vast changes in our way of life. But here are the real problems concerning the survival of our species and our way of living.

One is the production of vast numbers of batteries. Production of batteries even for the small number of electrics in service is already creating astounding damage to pristine areas of Alaska, Canada and Peru. Mining of destructive zinc and other minerals is already underway. This excavation of minerals already has resulted in devastating damage to the earth in these affected and often pristine areas. The need for more is called infinite. Plus, the mass shipping by sea of said minerals to China and then on to Japan promises much more pollution— smokey oil powered ships.

But let’s not dwell on these unsurmountable problems alone, but let’s look at the real source of power called for here. Electricity. This form of energy and its properties, how it is created, and its ranges and limits are very well defined by Ohms Law. No mystery here. Physics and all that. Except there is. Electricity is created out of energy from things such as lightning, wind, solar, dams or by boiling water to power steam engines which turn dynamos. People have tried to “rediscover” windmills and the electrical energy from high dams. But these same “scientists” also promote tearing down our hydroelectric dams to aid wildlife. Some conflict. And we put these folk in charge?

But let’s get to the chase. What happens in 2033 as these millions of electric cars hit the streets? Step up our sources of power? For sure. But how? Windmills are ugly and are already a little bit politically incorrect. But and besides, their generators are said to be good for 20 years and then they have to be pulled and “worked.” To install a freshly rebuilt generator costs in excess of one million dollars (10 years ago). An existing nightmare already. Each wind farm creates the maintenance need for something akin to a new on-site industry, just to keep it going.

What about our worn-out and obsolete power grid? Are we ready to spend the billions needed to bring it up to par? Can we even keep it up without all these new power sucking cars and trucks? It’s already over extended! We think that big 60K BTU air conditioner pulls a lot of amps wait till you get that new electric Chevy hooked up in your garage. Yes, maybe you can afford this, but will your neighborhood wiring grid be able to support this new and unplanned load?

And if our power companies can get their hands on these billions of dollars needed to bring your wiring (grid) up to “snuff” how can and with what do we create this new electricity? We’re about already “tapped” out. These same “earth savers” are the same ones who have already outlawed coal powered electric plants and are looking menacingly like at the oil and gas fired electric plants. Mention atomic energy and they fall over in a faint. Solar? Not actually, I guess they think they can pass a law somehow or other legislating the electricity into existence. Electric cars and trucks? Maybe sometime. But if we think it’s going to happen over the next 10 years or, so we’re on a ship captained by fools.

Be sure and go to church next Sunday. With our leadership in Washington, we may need a great miracle to bail us out. Or something.

Wayne Bullard, DPh cwaynebullard@gmail.com