For some time now, I stood against the C.O.B. power plant they wish to build out in the Bonanza area.  It seemed like a rip off where the power would go to California, the natural gas from here and the profits going back to Chicago.  There is also the problem of increased pollution not only out in the rural landscape near by, but some believe it could even diminish (although slightly) the air quality as far away as Crater Lake.

Even our local government, I believe, have overstepped their authority in bringing the power plant to the area.  They had to extend the Enterprise zone (which if I recall correctly, is limited to 15 miles) twice to make it reach all the way to the proposed site to enable them to get a tax break for building here.  I am sure there was a reason to limit the zone to a specific distance, but they walked all over that limit and extended it to the distance they wanted anyway.

All this being said, I was not opposed to the local power plant or the two new ones they plan to locate here as much as C.O.B., as our air quality is horrible anyway (still much cleaner than I saw in Ohio though ;) ).  It has amazed me the city does not seem to show a profit from the power plant and it actually generates debt.  This last year they received (and thought the earned) $1 million in revenues, after the money was spent, an error appeared, which not only showed they did not earn the money, but actually owed $3 million.

There is talk about two more power plants sited next to the city owned plant.  The city plans to make money on taxes and providing water, but what comes to my mind is that if the city cannot make money on their own plant, how is the two new plants suppose to generate enough revenue that the city will actually make something on them when the city is losing money on their own plant?

Putting all this aside, what about the natural gas, there is supposed to be a shortage and even talks about large imports.  If there is a limited supply, why are we burning it up with these large plants not to mention the large amount of water they use?

If this was not enough, today on the front page of the Herald & News, it says the city has lost two of its contracts for power, which equates to one third of the power plants production.  The article goes on to say there is an abundance of electrical power at this time and it is a buyers market.  Is there really abundance?  How is that possible when our Pacific Power company rates are due soon to increase by 12%, if energy is so cheap that power plants cannot generate a profit and there is such abundance of power?

It seems the consumer is ripped off yet again at every turn by artificial shortages, for the sole purpose of empting our already shrinking wallets.  First we have the supposed power crisis of 2001-2002 where power rates crippled many businesses, which now the supposed crisis has been shown to be a scam where power plants where shut down for artificial reasons solely  to drive up power rates.  Follow that two years by a supposed fuel shortage, which they cannot make up their minds if caused by shortage of oil or shortage of refineries.  It makes you wonder how many refineries may have been shut down or at least they reduced their capacity to pretend there is a shortage.

So, now we are heading for a natural gas shortage.  I know there is a limited supply of oil on the planet and we will soon run dry of the easy to get oil, but there are still trillions of barrels of oil in other forms still under the surface, just not as easy to get.  We should not be fooled by the supposed world demand causing prices to climb among their other numerous excuses, based on history, to me it seems like just more frauds and I am sure even more are on the way.