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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMy Sister rightly pointed out that the chart speaks of energy consumption, not specifically how much is generated by each source. She\u2019s right! I countered with you can only consume what is available and cannot pick and choose what source the energy comes from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
She considered my point and grudgingly agreed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
I went on to say that we could shut down all of the coal, oil, natural gas power plants. My Sister said that\u2019s exactly what my niece was in favor of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Because I\u2019m the uncle that likes to stir up trouble I suggested my sister tell my niece that I was in favor of using only green energy. My Sister knows me well enough to ask, \u201cBuuuutttt???\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
I continued, \u201cTell her I\u2019m just not sure how to manage cutting my energy consumption by 80%. Do I turn off my cellphone when I\u2019m not using it? Should I turn off the internet and my computer 80% of the time? Do I not listen to anything but live music? Do I go to bed at sundown? Turn off the air-conditioning and heat? I suggested my Niece send me the specifications on the solar panels she\u2019s using because they must be more efficient than mine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
My Sister laughed, \u201cYou\u2019re so evil! I\u2019ll ask her\u2026 Probably at dinner.\u201d My sis also commented that my Niece had invested in a new iPhone but that she did so because her old iPhone wasn\u2019t holding a charge anymore. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
My sis said, \u201cI wish I\u2019d thought about the solar panel angle. That\u2019s why you should live here! You\u2019d have suggested she buy an external battery and solar panel to carry with her instead of buying a new phone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
I chuckled at the thought. My Niece would have taken a very dim view of the suggestion because it wouldn\u2019t have been convenient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Full disclosure\u2026 My Sister likes to rattle people\u2019s cages too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
I suppose I was still chewing over the conversation when I went to sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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In the dream I was living in a world where 80% of the power had been removed from the grid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Our leaders touted this as a victory because the entire country was now using 100% renewable energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
It was a true statement. Ignoring that the 80% we weren\u2019t using, shut down many aspects of the country. Shipping, Manufacturing, Hospitals, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
In the dream, I was scheduling my day to empty the water collected in my refrigerator and wishing I\u2019d opted for the drain tubes to send the ice melt to the plants. I had to carry the water not saved for drinking down stairs in a bucket to the yard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
I was annoyed because my solar panels had the capacity to power my refrigerator. In fact the panels could power all the electrical devices in my home during the daylight hours. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
A state mandate had come out saying that in the interest of \u201cCommunity Good\u201d, all of our houses had to be connected together so that those less fortunate without solar power, could benefit from those of us with solar panels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
This resulted in my house having few operable electronic devices, and my refrigerator being nothing more than an old style Ice Box. The upper shelves now contained blocks of ice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
The melt water, I hand pumped through the reverse osmosis system for drinking and cooking, the waste water from that process was carried in a bucket down to water the plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
But the ice blocks were free. They were delivered every 2 days courtesy of the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
While my lighting was generally candles and occasionally an LED lamp, the local State representative enjoyed air-conditioning, an electric vehicle, and a real refrigerator. Their holiday season lights were spectacular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
We were told this was because of the importance of the work and the burden of responsibility the local State representative shouldered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
For my part, I was anticipating being able to fire up my internet for an hour or two. By using my portable solar panel, the battery pack was finally charged. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
It took two days of moving the panel around in the sun to get the pack and my computer charged. I hoped to be able to catch up on the national news and if I was lucky, I could possibly watch a show on the computer before it and the power pack died. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Unfortunately, some of my power would have to be spent logging onto the state taxation website to pay my monthly taxes. I hoped the state site would work properly this month because I was already carrying late charges from last month. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
The State didn\u2019t accept that their site was broken, or completely down, as an excuse for not paying your monthly tax. After all, \u201cThe law was The Law.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
I\u2019d probably be okay though because it had been a very sunny month. The offset and efficiency of my solar panels was in the upper 1% of the producers in my community, so I had credit to declare and both tax months would be covered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Every household had a single electrical socket that worked. The socket was only powered during the daylight hours. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
It was a nice socket, provided by the State and wired to my Solar panels by State Technicians. The socket provided a single A\/C current outlet, there were four USB ports that allowed for charging of cell phones and tablets. Usually, the A\/C socket couldn\u2019t power the coffee pot until around noon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
While I was filling the toilet tanks with some of the waste ice water, there was a knock at the door. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
When I answered it. On my front porch there were several armed workmen. They presented me with a \u201cReallocation Order\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
The order said that 3 of my solar panels were to be removed and taken to another less fortunate person\u2019s home. It had been determined that my offset and energy production was inequitable to the rest of the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Looking toward the State representative\u2019s house, I could see workmen on his roof installing rails, cabling, and standoffs, all necessaryto accommodate additional panels\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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A car alarm sounded somewhere in the neighborhood waking me up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
It was 3am. A cool breeze was blowing through the front windows of the house. Shaking my head to dispel the dream? Nightmare? I got up and peed. Realizing I wasn\u2019t going to be able to sleep for a while, I put some ice in a glass and poured myself a stiff bourbon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
I hate having dystopian dreams! They make me cranky the next day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
The next time I\u2019m talking to my Sister, I\u2019m going to suggest that she and my Niece watch the movie Brazil<\/em>. If I recall correctly, there was some interesting retrofitting of devices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I guess the dream was brought about by a conversation I had with my Sister. She\u2019d mentioned that my Niece (her Daughter) was very Pro Green Energy and extremely left leaning. My Nice is no dummy, but she is in college, I suppose I can forgive her for being leftist. I hope she grows out … <\/p>\n