By now, people should understand the severe consequences of Net-Zero energy policies.

By now, people should know that Net-Zero policies have destroyed the economies of England and Germany, while other countries are smartly turning away from Net-Zero policies.

By now, people should understand that no “climate catastrophe” exists to justify Net-Zero mandates (see below).

However, given the number of recent approvals for Wind/Solar/BESS installations across New York and in CHQ, it seems many of our legislators and board members are ignoring reality.

Practically, Net-Zero means replacing fossil fuels with Wind/Solar/BESS. In New York, it also means eliminating Nuclear power, although Albany is now trying to dance around that particular blunder.

BESS = Battery Energy Storage Systems. Wind and Solar are useless for Net-Zero without BESS, which is another reason why Wind and Solar are our most expensive ways to deliver electricity.

Under current Net-Zero regulations, BESS will cost state consumers about $3.6 trillion every 10 years ($200,000 per person) to provide adequate backup for intermittent Wind and Solar power to avoid major blackouts.

Many people don’t know that the “Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act” (CLCPA) drives the Net-Zero mandates in New York. No politician can explain how “Climate Leadership” benefits NY residents. Nor can they tell us why “Community Protection” – which gives special privileges to favored groups — is hidden in energy regulations.

Net-Zero policies stem from Al Gore’s 2006 pseudo-science fantasy “An Inconvenient Truth.” But, 20 years later our coastal cities are not flooded. The Great Barrier Reef has not died from “bleaching,” and is now bigger and healthier than ever on record. Agricultural production continues to set records, and weather related deaths are down by 95% around the world.

Greenland is not melting away — its ice pack has been growing for 15 years. Polar bears are not starving on drifting icebergs. The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change data confirms there is no change in the frequency or severity of extreme weather events, in spite of lunatic claims by the climate-industrial complex.

Meanwhile coal consumption has exploded across the world – especially in China and India. Ironically China uses petroleum and coal-based energy to make the Wind and Solar equipment that Americans are forced to purchase because of laws like CLCPA.

Think about this: If Wind/Solar/BESS is as economical as its proponents claim, wouldn’t China keep it for themselves, instead of pouring $Billions into coal mines and spending many more billions of dollars to build new nuclear reactors?

Andrew Cuomo signed the death warrant for New York nuclear, which produced cheap, clean, reliable energy 24/7/365 and had 40 years of useful life remaining. Gov. Hochul dutifully killed the Indian Point Nuclear plant — which provided 25% of New York City’s total electrical power — and replaced it with coal-fired power from Pennsylvania, thereby increasing our carbon footprint 10%.

Around the world there are now 75 nuclear power plants under construction — 38 in China alone — but none in the U.S. However, 41 US companies have signed contracts to build future behind-the-meter Small Modular Reactor (SMR) nuclear plants over the next 10 years. US companies know they must protect themselves from the politicians.

After billions of dollars in subsidies, New York state generates only 10% of its electrical energy from Wind and Solar (NYISO). Hydro is tapped out, and cannot produce more than 16% of future demand.

To meet future demand under CLCPA regulations, and protect against blackouts during four-day periods of Dunkelflaute in New York (see below) will require around 40 times more Wind and Solar infrastructure than we now have, and hundreds of times more BESS. It’s simple math.

“Dunkelflaute” is German for “dark doldrums” – low wind and sunshine. In January, a 17-hour Dunkelflaute cost Texans $760 million in excess electricity costs. In New York we can routinely expect four-day Dunkelflaute periods. Open your wallets.

If Wind/Solar/BESS could actually replace fossil fuels, then Albany Dems would have gladly passed Senate Bill S6732, which mandates the use of Net-Zero energy sources for producing Net-Zero equipment. But they won’t let the Bill out of committee, which proves that they (Albany Dems) know that Wind/Solar/Bess is not sustainable – but they won’t openly admit their atrocious error.

Wind and Solar energy cannot produce enough energy to build even minimum Wind/Solar/BESS infrastructure, much less produce 40-times more infrastructure to meet future needs under Net-Zero, and then replace it every 12-20 years as required. Albany refuses to acknowledge this obvious reality.

Politicians who support Net Zero regulations impose enormous costs on our people and our environment.

In February NYSERDA finally admitted that CLCPA mandates will add $2.23 per gallon of gas, and increase annual natural gas costs for Upstate households by $4000 per year by 2031. But this has been known for years.

Albany obviously does not care about affordability.

It’s time to completely reject Wind/Solar/BESS, and remove the politicians who forced it on us.

Michael Dee is a Silver Creek resident and Scott Axelson resides in Jamestown.