{"id":585317,"date":"2021-07-07T14:36:07","date_gmt":"2021-07-07T18:36:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=585317"},"modified":"2021-07-07T14:36:08","modified_gmt":"2021-07-07T18:36:08","slug":"energy-expert-debunks-aocs-suggestion-to-immediately-turn-off-puerto-ricos-coal-power","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/energy-expert-debunks-aocs-suggestion-to-immediately-turn-off-puerto-ricos-coal-power\/","title":{"rendered":"Energy Expert Debunks AOC\u2019s Suggestion To Immediately Turn Off Puerto Rico\u2019s Coal Power"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fenergy-expert-debunks-aocs-suggestion-to-immediately-turn-off-puerto-ricos-coal-power%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=585317&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/fb_image-3069.jpeg?w=1200&amp;h=800&amp;ixlib=react-9.0.3\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span>An energy policy expert debunked suggestions from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) to close down the coal plant that produces 20% of Puerto Rico\u2019s electricity.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>As reported by <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/watch-aoc-proposes-shuttering-coal-plant-that-provides-20-of-puerto-ricos-electricity\"><span>The Daily Wire<\/span><\/a><span>, Ocasio-Cortez stated during a recent hearing of the House Natural Resources Committee that it would be possible to shutter AES Puerto Rico\u2019s coal plant in Guayama immediately \u201cwhile keeping the lights on and preventing price increases on the island.\u201d She largely relied upon testimony from Ruth Santiago \u2014 a lawyer and trustee from renewable energy group <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/earthjustice.org\/news\/press\/2019\/ruth-santiago-joins-earthjustice-board-of-trustees\"><span>Earthjustice<\/span><\/a><span> \u2014 to justify her claims.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The vast majority of Puerto Rico\u2019s power comes from coal, petroleum, natural gas, and other fossil fuels. Only 2.5% presently comes from renewable energy sources.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/industrialprogress.com\/about\/\"><span>Center for Industrial Progress<\/span><\/a><span> Founder and President Alex Epstein \u2014 who testified before the House Natural Resources Committee \u2014 tried to tell Ocasio-Cortez that rapidly pushing the island into unreliable green energy solutions \u201cwould make Puerto Rico into truly a consistently third-world country.\u201d&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>After the hearing, Epstein released a \u201crespectful refutation\u201d <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=yJhaBWa66AY\"><span>video<\/span><\/a><span> to more thoroughly debunk Ocasio-Cortez\u2019s assertions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cI don\u2019t know how to say this delicately, but I really do think every sentence you and that witness said is demonstrably false,\u201d Epstein told the lawmaker.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\" readability=\"3.6571428571429\">\n<p lang=\"und\" dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/xz6XZLekyn\">pic.twitter.com\/xz6XZLekyn<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Alex Epstein (@AlexEpstein) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AlexEpstein\/status\/1411406123328950273?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 3, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span>Epstein first contrasted Ocasio-Cortez\u2019s claim that those against shuttering the coal plant were making \u201cchicken little\u201d arguments with her famous declaration that \u201cthe world is going to end in twelve years if we don\u2019t address climate change\u201d \u2014 which, as Epstein noted, is \u201c<\/span><i><span>actually<\/span><\/i><span> a chicken little view.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\" readability=\"3.6571428571429\">\n<p lang=\"und\" dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/GEbWyHDF9z\">pic.twitter.com\/GEbWyHDF9z<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Alex Epstein (@AlexEpstein) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AlexEpstein\/status\/1411406155994132480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 3, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span>\u201cI do believe CO2 emissions impact climate, but we have to look at how much,\u201d said Epstein, citing the fact that global temperatures have only risen by one degree over the past 170 years and that climate-related deaths decreased by 98% during the last century.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cIt is a <\/span><i><span>truly <\/span><\/i><span>existential threat if you threaten the energy supply,\u201d he countered. \u201cWe\u2019ve seen that a little bit in California, even more in Texas this year where it\u2019s not a livable environment if the electricity isn\u2019t on \u2014 and people in Puerto Rico live with that on a daily basis.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Epstein then urged Ocasio-Cortez to retract her assertion that there would be \u201cno adverse impacts\u201d \u2014 \u201cno reliability issues, no shortage of megawatts, no vulnerability to hurricanes\u201d \u2014 from closing down AES Coal.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\" readability=\"3.6571428571429\">\n<p lang=\"und\" dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/zBdSMwrJng\">pic.twitter.com\/zBdSMwrJng<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Alex Epstein (@AlexEpstein) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AlexEpstein\/status\/1411406157252489217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 3, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span>According to Epstein, Ocasio-Cortez was misrepresenting a Siemens study and its conclusions: \u201cOne thing to note about this report\u2026 it has a lot of different scenarios \u2014 I think a couple dozen scenarios \u2014 and all of the scenarios involve keeping that coal plant open until at least 2027. This report has nothing to do with shutting down the plant \u2018tomorrow.\u2019 It does not say that that\u2019s doable, it doesn\u2019t entertain that that\u2019s doable.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Epstein then pointed Ocasio-Cortez toward a 2019 statement from Siemens that debunked a similar misinterpretation of their study. As Epstein explained: \u201cSometimes, we say something and we\u2019re sort of right and sort of wrong. And this is just a case where what you said is 100% wrong.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>On the claim that solar could immediately replace the shuttered coal plant, Epstein stated that it would be \u201can absolute death sentence for countless people,\u201d which would lead to an even larger \u201cexodus from Puerto Rico than has already happened\u201d and economic deprivation for remaining residents.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\" readability=\"3.6571428571429\">\n<p lang=\"und\" dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/zBdSMwrJng\">pic.twitter.com\/zBdSMwrJng<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Alex Epstein (@AlexEpstein) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AlexEpstein\/status\/1411406157252489217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 3, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span>As with the Siemens report, Epstein noted that a National Renewable Energy Laboratory study \u2014 which Ocasio-Cortez also cites to support her claims \u2014 merely explores the idea of rooftop solar gradually replacing some nonrenewable energy sources: \u201cIt is not at all saying you can shut down the coal plant tomorrow\u2026 none of them say remotely anything like what you were saying or what, unfortunately, and I think really despicably, Ruth Santiago indicated they were saying.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Epstein told The Daily Wire that he has unfortunately not heard from Ocasio-Cortez\u2019s office. Nevertheless, he expressed concern that \u201cthere is a real chance the Democrats on the House Natural Resources Committee will get this plant shut down on a disastrous timetable.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201c<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/walsh-i-raised-100k-to-fix-aocs-abuelas-home-the-money-was-rejected-heres-what-that-tells-us\"><span>Abuela<\/span><\/a><span>\u201d \u2014 Ocasio-Cortez\u2019s grandmother \u2014 lives in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/article-9676791\/AOCs-aunt-says-Trump-NOT-blame-lack-aid-struggling-island.html\"><span>Arecibo<\/span><\/a><span>, a town 40 miles west of San Juan. Whether Abuela\u2019s home is powered by coal remains unclear.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span>The Daily Wire is one of America\u2019s fastest-growing conservative media companies and counter-cultural outlets for news, opinion, and entertainment. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/subscribe\"><i><span>member<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An energy policy expert debunked suggestions from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) to close down the coal plant that produces 20% of Puerto Rico\u2019s electricity.As reported by The Daily Wire, Ocasio-Cortez &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2314185,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/fb_image-3069.jpeg?w=1200&h=800&ixlib=react-9.0.3","fifu_image_alt":"Energy Expert Debunks AOC\u2019s Suggestion To Immediately Turn Off Puerto Rico\u2019s Coal Power","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-585317","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/fb_image-3069.jpeg?w=1200&h=800&ixlib=react-9.0.3","fifu_image_alt":"Energy Expert Debunks AOC\u2019s Suggestion To Immediately Turn Off Puerto Rico\u2019s Coal Power","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/585317","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=585317"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/585317\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2314185"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=585317"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=585317"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=585317"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}