Written by Jonathan Miltimore via the Washington Examiner,
A significant power outage affected Spain and Portugal on April 28, disrupting flights, transportation, and leaving millions without electricity.
The cause of the blackout was “unclear,” as reported by the New York Times without any evidence of a cyberattack.
Officials in Spain urged citizens to avoid the roads while European leaders worked to determine the root cause of the blackout.
“We still do not have definitive information on the reasons behind this power outage,” stated Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, in a national address.
Although power was mostly restored the following day, the blackouts were still shrouded in mystery, as reported by the Associated Press.
Some analysts noted a curious coincidence surrounding the timing of the blackouts.
“Just six days prior, a major achievement was celebrated by the media,” remarked Michael Shellenberger on Substack.
“For the first time on a weekday, Spain’s national grid operated entirely on renewable energy.”
Shellenberger wasn’t alone in suggesting that Europe’s heavy reliance on intermittent energy sources like wind and solar had left its power grid vulnerable.
“There’s a strong possibility that the high volume of solar energy in the system contributed to the widespread blackout and exacerbated its impact,” stated Kathryn Porter, an independent energy consultant.
Many had foreseen this tragedy.
The infatuation of European lawmakers with “green” energy, which is not as environmentally friendly as advertised, has caused issues on the continent. Energy costs have surged, prompting several nations to eliminate energy taxes to assist struggling consumers.
Over the past decade, many countries, including Spain, started phasing out not only fossil fuels but also nuclear power.
The energy supply shortage was exacerbated by the onset of the Ukraine War. To combat the looming energy crisis, governments imposed regulations that imposed austere living conditions on Europeans.
Energy rationing, such as restrictions on hot showers and swimming pools, fueled public discontent and contributed to the 2024 “greenlash,” which saw Green parties suffer defeat across Europe.
Spain and Portugal resorted to energy rationing, with a tailored European Union agreement receiving approval from lawmakers despite resistance from certain regional authorities.
The agreement, among other things, set temperature limits for public and commercial buildings, mandated energy-efficient appliances, and accelerated renewable energy initiatives. Simultaneously, the plan included a proposal to reduce domestic gas consumption for power generation.
These actions were not isolated incidents but part of Spain’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
Net zero was always an unrealistic goal, but it proved to be profitable for politicians and their associates. Under the guise of combatting climate change, legislators funneled billions of dollars into subsidies, grants, and contracts benefiting a network of special interests, including renewable energy firms, consultancy agencies, and financial institutions.
The climate agenda is unraveling, but the repercussions of the experiment are evident. Europe’s energy infrastructure requires significant investment, while the continent still faces an energy crisis masked by historically low fossil fuel costs.
European leaders have pledged a thorough investigation into the blackout but may be hesitant to acknowledge their role in the energy disaster.
While commentators joked about net zero—”No iPhone charging, no Netflix, no Uber Eats, No Nothing!”—energy policy is a serious matter. Blackouts endanger lives.
Individuals reliant on life support rely on electricity-operated equipment. Without generators, dialysis patients face treatment interruptions. Home oxygen concentrators cease functioning, leaving individuals with respiratory issues struggling for air. Traffic lights malfunction, resulting in fatal accidents. Water pumps stop working, refrigerators lose power, causing food spoilage and illnesses.
Americans should closely monitor developments in Europe.
The same flawed incentive structure that led European lawmakers to discard reliable energy sources in favor of costly intermittent sources is present in the United States, where legislators envision a “Green New Deal” and a shift away from fossil fuels.
This isn’t to say that renewable energy has no place in the global future; it certainly does. Battery technology is advancing rapidly, and utility-scale solar energy has demonstrated significant potential.
However, the campaign to eliminate fossil fuels from economies and reshape the global economy through stringent regulations, wealth redistribution, and centralized planning was always marked by economic hubris, if not folly.
“The curious task of economics,” as Nobel Prize-winning economist F.A. Hayek noted, “is to show people how little they actually know about what they assume they can design.”
Europeans learning this lesson now find themselves powerless.
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