76-19-B7
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Blackout
TranscriptI've been waiting for information on one facet of the big blackout story in New York and finally have it. I'll be right back. Utility companies, more than some other industries, are vulnerable to charges of villainy and so it was no surprise that Consolidated Edison in New York would be pilloried for the recent blackout in Fun City. To hear some tell it, you'd think the company planned the whole thing. The attacks were made more bitter than usual by the looting that broke out in several neighborhoods. Of course, those with no charity whatsoever for Con Ed, as it is dubbed, played the sorrowing parent where the looters were concerned. Our ambassador to the United Nations even seemed to have the attitude that "Stealing is something everyone does when the lights go out." The Brooklyn district attorney has released some figures which contradict those bleeding hearts who saw the looters as just hungry people who had a chance to eat for a change. It seemed that 48% were regularly employed, many by the city itself. 41% were in anti-poverty or educational programs funded by government. Fewer than 10% were on welfare. The hunger excuse doesn't hold up either when you see a breakdown of the looter's targets. There was that automobile dealer that lost 50 cars, 39 furniture stores, 20 drug stories, 17 jewlery stores, 10 clothing stores and only 6 grocery stores. The looters had an appetite, but not for food. But to get back to Con Ed, I kept wondering when if ever someone would look back down the last few years to see whether consumer minded politicians might have put thumbs down on requests by the company to expand or upgrade its facilities. After all, a utility isn't exactly a free agent. Yes it is a privately-owned, profit-making business, but it is also a government regulated monopoly, controlled by politically appointed commissioners. Victor Reizel, the noted columnist and expert on labor affairs did look back over the years and found that a 'Yes' several years ago instead of a 'No' could have made the blackout impossible. Con Ed made application to build a hydroelectric generating plant on the banks of the Hudson near West Point. The company explained the need and the possibility of power shortages unless the plant was built, but environmentalists would have none of it. First, it would mar the scenery. Con Ed replied to that with plans to put it completely underground. Opponents said the concrete tube bringing the water from the river to the turbines would still be visible. Then fishermen got into the act and said the warm water returning to the river would interfere with and reduce the striped bass in the Hudson. Con Ed volunteered to build and maintain a fish hatchery to keep the river stocked. This too was turned down, which adds to the suspicion that we have an element in this country that just doesn't want any additional power plants, period. And all their environmental complaints are excuses to hide their real purpose. Had that generating plant been built there would probably have been no blackout, no looting, no small merchants wiped out in the Big Apple. Con Ed still has the plans for the underground plant and the fish hatchery even though scientists now say the maximum loss of striped bass would be less than five percent. Who really was the villain on that July night? This is Ronald Reagan. Thanks for listening. |
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