“Set thermostats to 78 degrees or higher to reduce air conditioner use, avoid using large appliances and charging electric vehicles.”

Last month, California regulators passed a motion to approve strict rules that ban the sale of gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035. The measure is historic in the fact that it is the first in the US and one of the first of its kind in the world.

“This is monumental,” California Air Resources Board member Daniel Sperling said. “This is the most important thing that CARB has done in the last 30 years. It’s important not just for California, but it’s important for the country and the world.”

According to CNN, the board’s new rules would also set interim quotas for zero-emission vehicles, focusing on new models. Starting with 2026 models, 35% of new cars, SUVs and small pickups sold in California would be required to be zero-emission vehicles. That quota would increase each year and is expected to reach 51% of all new car sales in 2028, 68% in 2030 and 100% in 2035. The quotas also would allow 20% of zero-emission cars sold to be plug-in hybrids.

Though this government interference in the market is being touted as a move toward zero emissions, the idea that electric vehicles are zero emissions is a farce from the start. Although the battery-powered car itself doesn’t produce any emissions, the power plant that generates the electricity used to charge those batteries certainly does.

Only if the power sources come from solar, wind, or nuclear would they be considered low emissions. And, given the fact that California is set to irresponsibly shut down their nuclear plants by 2025, this means that only 25 percent of their energy would come from wind or solar. The remaining energy comes from fossil fuels.

Californians can’t all drive zero emissions vehicles if only 25 percent of them can charge them with zero emissions.

Even now, with the nuclear plant currently producing and 60 percent of their power still coming from fossil fuels, California can’t keep up with the electric vehicle demand it currently faces. In fact, on Wednesday, officials told owners of electric vehicles — not to charge them.

Thanks to an expected heat wave in the state, the California Independent System Operator, the state institution under California’s Energy Commission, has told residents not to charge their cars — to conserve energy, of course.

“During a Flex Alert, consumers are urged to reduce energy use from 4-9 p.m. when the system is most stressed because demand for electricity remains high and there is less solar energy available,” the release said. “The top conservation actions are to set thermostats to 78 degrees or higher to reduce air conditioner use, avoid using large appliances and charging electric vehicles, and turn off unnecessary lights.”

While this is only a recommendation, it comes with a threat. If residents don’t abide by the above demands, the state will begin turning off their power.

“Lowering electricity use during that time will ease strain on the system, and prevent more drastic measures, including rotating power outages,” officials said.

If the grid can’t support the current electric vehicle demand which sits around 16% of all new vehicles in the state, how will it be able to keep up with demand when 100% of residents are forced into electric cars in the future?

The short answer is, it won’t.

The decision completely lacks common sense, which is why Elon Musk — who became a billionaire selling electric cars — says civilization would collapse without oil and gas.

“At this time, we actually need more oil and gas, not less,” Musk said Monday during an energy conference in Norway, according to Bloomberg, adding that he’s not someone to “demonize” the fossil fuels.

Musk doesn’t lack the common sense of those who think that banning your way to a green world is an effective solution and admits that although we still need fossil fuels, “we must have a clear path to a sustainable energy future” — and that future includes nuclear power.

“If you have a well-designed nuclear plant, you should not shut it down — especially right now,” Musk said.

“Countries should be increasing nuclear power generation! It is insane from a national security standpoint & bad for the environment to shut them down,” Musk recently tweeted. And he’s right.

Yet here we are, watching California ban gas cars while shutting down nuclear power and already telling residents they can’t charge their vehicles which they will soon be forced to purchase.

Article posted with permission from Matt Agorist