Our first ever post about energy poverty in the old U S of A is thanks to an unlikely source of mainstream fun and games: CNN.
Interestingly, and pleasantly, the article we present below does not resort to the oft-employed approach of twisting and turning the subject inside out and upside down to somehow weave criticism of fossil fuels and deification of renewables into the story. Probably because even CNN realises that the stark, confronting energy poverty numbers they present will not be improving anytime soon, suggesting that massive amounts of additional, cheap energy are required.
And not even CNN seems willing to go down such a rabbit hole, which inevitably leads to the realisation that, given the unreliable nature of renewables and their massive land use and raw materials requirements, only huge amounts of unrestricted and untaxed fossil fuels, or a nuclear revolution, and most likely a combination of both, will solve such crises.
And this is the US, the shining beacon, where a certain level of slack and social security exists.
The developing world and it’s 3 billion citizens in hardcore, subsistence level energy poverty need such solutions yesterday.
KEY QUOTE:
Outstanding energy bill debts remain at very high levels. For example, in California, families are overdue on about $1.9 billion in utilities bills. In New York, it’s $1.3 billion, in Massachusetts it’s $630 million and in Georgia it’s $79 million. Many of the families will have to enter into potentially onerous repayment plans, and those who cannot repay their utility debts will be faced with power shutoffs.
ARTICLE / SOURCE:
Primate v. Climate 
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