{"id":281746,"date":"2023-10-03T20:01:26","date_gmt":"2023-10-03T18:01:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=281746"},"modified":"2023-10-03T20:01:30","modified_gmt":"2023-10-03T18:01:30","slug":"the-irony-of-green-charging-stations-the-harris-ranch-tesla-supercharger-station","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=281746","title":{"rendered":"The Irony of \u201cGreen\u201d Charging Stations: The Harris Ranch Tesla Supercharger Station"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
Aerial photo of supercharger Tesla station at the Harris Ranch in California. (Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Watts Up With That?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Charles Rotter<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/cowboystatedaily.com\/2023\/09\/30\/largest-ev-charging-station-in-the-world-uses-diesel-powered-generators\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Touted as the world\u2019s largest charging station with a whopping 98 charging bays, one would expect this facility to be the epitome of green energy. After all, back in 2017, Tesla\u2019s CEO Elon Musk proudly declared that all Superchargers in the automaker\u2019s network were transitioning to solar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cOver time, almost all will disconnect from the electricity grid,\u201d he confidently posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.https:\/\/cowboystatedaily.com\/2023\/09\/30\/largest-ev-charging-station-in-the-world-uses-diesel-powered-generators\/<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

But as it turns out, the reality is quite different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cSuperchargers charge vehicles up to the 80% sweet spot in as little as 20 minutes, but to provide that kind of power for nearly 100 bays takes something solar can\u2019t provide \u2014 diesel generators.\u201dhttps:\/\/cowboystatedaily.com\/2023\/09\/30\/largest-ev-charging-station-in-the-world-uses-diesel-powered-generators\/<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s right. Diesel generators. The very antithesis of the clean, green energy that Tesla and other electric vehicle (EV) proponents have been preaching about. Investigative journalist Edward Niedermeyer made the startling discovery that these diesel generators were conveniently tucked away behind a Shell station. And when reporters from SF Gate tried to ascertain just how much of the station\u2019s electricity came from these generators, Tesla remained conspicuously silent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cThe station isn\u2019t connected to any dedicated solar farms, which means that absent the diesel generators, the station is powered by California\u2019s grid.\u201dhttps:\/\/cowboystatedaily.com\/2023\/09\/30\/largest-ev-charging-station-in-the-world-uses-diesel-powered-generators\/<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Now, let\u2019s take a moment to ponder the implications of this. According to the U.S. Energy and Information Administration, as of June 2023, natural gas supplied nearly 5,000 megawatt hours of electricity in California, while non-hydroelectric renewables provided about 7,250 megawatt hours. So, even if we give Tesla the benefit of the doubt and assume that the Supercharger station occasionally draws power from the grid, it\u2019s still not entirely \u201cgreen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But wait, there\u2019s more. Energy analyst David Blackmon, author of \u201cEnergy Transition Absurdities,\u201d points out that the Harris Ranch station isn\u2019t an isolated case. He recalls a Whole Foods in Houston that had installed a charging station, which, to his amusement, took up prime parking real estate and even displaced several handicap spaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cHe said there were diesel generators behind the store and whenever someone was using the chargers, the generators would kick on.\u201dhttps:\/\/cowboystatedaily.com\/2023\/09\/30\/largest-ev-charging-station-in-the-world-uses-diesel-powered-generators\/<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s almost comical, isn\u2019t it? The very establishments that tout their commitment to sustainability and a cleaner future are, in reality, relying on the same \u201cdirty\u201d energy sources they publicly condemn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blackmon further highlights the lack of foresight in the current energy transition, especially as the demand for EVs grows. The retirement of a coal-fired power plant in Kansas had to be postponed to cater to the energy needs of an under-construction EV battery factory. As Blackmon aptly puts it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cThese stories illustrate well the lack of thought going into the demands that will be placed on the grid with increasing amounts of electric vehicle adoption.\u201dhttps:\/\/cowboystatedaily.com\/2023\/09\/30\/largest-ev-charging-station-in-the-world-uses-diesel-powered-generators\/<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

State Sen. Cheri Steinmetz, R-Lingle, echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the unreliability of wind and solar energy to meet the growing energy demands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cAdding the load required for electric vehicles and the transportation network to support them would exacerbate the looming shortages we already face in the near future if energy policies are not reformed,\u201d Steinmetz warns.https:\/\/cowboystatedaily.com\/2023\/09\/30\/largest-ev-charging-station-in-the-world-uses-diesel-powered-generators\/<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Blackmon also sheds light on the impracticality of Musk\u2019s vision to power charging stations solely with solar energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u201cIf that\u2019s what he wants, then he only wants the chargers to work six to eight hours a day. If they\u2019re purely powered by solar, there\u2019s just no way out of that,\u201d Blackmon states.https:\/\/cowboystatedaily.com\/2023\/09\/30\/largest-ev-charging-station-in-the-world-uses-diesel-powered-generators\/<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Musk\u2019s ambitious claims have often been met with skepticism. From promises of powering the world with a small patch of the Sahara Desert to the assertion that Superchargers would disconnect from the grid, many of these pledges remain unfulfilled. Energy expert Alex Epstein even debunked Musk\u2019s Sahara claim, estimating that the cost of creating a reliable grid using batteries would be a staggering $590 trillion, excluding transmission infrastructure costs. And let\u2019s not forget that these batteries have a lifespan of a mere decade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In conclusion, the Harris Ranch Tesla Supercharger station serves as a stark reminder of the challenges and contradictions inherent in the current energy transition narrative. The current execution of the so-called energy transition leaves much to be desired. We need to approach the energy policy with realism, acknowledging the limitations of current technologies and the indispensable role of traditional energy sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cActions speak louder than words.\u201d And in this case, the diesel generators behind the world\u2019s largest charging station are speaking volumes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HT\/Ralph G<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From Watts Up With That? By Charles Rotter https:\/\/cowboystatedaily.com\/2023\/09\/30\/largest-ev-charging-station-in-the-world-uses-diesel-powered-generators\/<\/a> Touted as the world\u2019s largest charging station with a whopping 98 charging bays, one would expect this facility to be the epitome of green energy. After all, back in 2017, Tesla\u2019s CEO Elon Musk proudly declared that all Superchargers in the automaker\u2019s network were transitioning to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121246920,"featured_media":281751,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","_crdt_document":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"That\u2019s right. Diesel generators. The very antithesis of the clean, green energy that Tesla and other electric vehicle (EV) proponents have been preaching about. ","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[691818655,691823266,691823267,691823268],"class_list":{"0":"post-281746","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"hentry","7":"category-uncategorized","8":"tag-diesel-generators","9":"tag-green-charging-stations","10":"tag-harris-ranch","11":"tag-tesla-supercharger-station","13":"fallback-thumbnail"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/0tesla-superstation-10-1-23.webp?fit=2048%2C1152&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paxLW1-1bii","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":237043,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=237043","url_meta":{"origin":281746,"position":0},"title":"Global Holiday Chaos: Long Queues as Tesla Drivers Overwhelm Charge Points","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"12\/31\/2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Tesla owners\u2019 fury at Christmas electric car chaos: Drivers demand more charging stations after the UK\u2019s 6,712 rapid charge points for 420,000 electric vehicles leaves people waiting for THREE HOURS","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/image-976.png?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/image-976.png?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/image-976.png?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/image-976.png?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":236687,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=236687","url_meta":{"origin":281746,"position":1},"title":"Tesla owners forced to wait in three-hour queues during Christmas car-charging chaos","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"12\/29\/2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Members of the \u201cTesla Owners Club UK\u201d took to Facebook to vent their frustration at the queues at Tebay, which they said were up to three hours long.","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/image-913.png?fit=1200%2C752&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/image-913.png?fit=1200%2C752&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/image-913.png?fit=1200%2C752&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/image-913.png?fit=1200%2C752&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/image-913.png?fit=1200%2C752&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":296220,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=296220","url_meta":{"origin":281746,"position":2},"title":"The Chicago Deep Freeze has created a \u201cTesla Graveyard\u201d","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"01\/17\/2024","format":false,"excerpt":"The problem appears to be the Teslas are not charging, even when they are connected to a working charger.","rel":"","context":"In \"Chicago\"","block_context":{"text":"Chicago","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=chicago"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/0Screenshot-2024-01-17-165153.png?fit=1200%2C629&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/0Screenshot-2024-01-17-165153.png?fit=1200%2C629&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/0Screenshot-2024-01-17-165153.png?fit=1200%2C629&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/0Screenshot-2024-01-17-165153.png?fit=1200%2C629&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/0Screenshot-2024-01-17-165153.png?fit=1200%2C629&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":350729,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=350729","url_meta":{"origin":281746,"position":3},"title":"Death Valley Temperatures, Part II: Thoughts from William T. Reid","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"11\/09\/2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Since he has done extensive investigation into some implausibly hot temperatures reported in Death Valley, I asked Bill Reid to comment on my previous blog post where I maintain that the world record 134 deg. 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F is Biased ~10 deg. Too High","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"11\/09\/2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Over the years, a few commentators have have argued that the world record highest temperature of 134 deg. 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Those who own electric vehicles may feel good about their perceived CO2 reductions, but that good feeling rapidly disappears in real life in many cases when these crappy cars leave\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/image-369.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/image-369.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/image-369.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/image-369.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/image-369.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/281746","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/121246920"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=281746"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/281746\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":281753,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/281746\/revisions\/281753"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/281751"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=281746"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=281746"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=281746"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}