How To Con Your Population About Electric Water Heaters
Canada’s Environment and Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault (pictured) Xed out last Wednesday that “#DYK that in 2022, more heat pumps were shipped to BC (37,800) than natural gas furnaces (30,700)? This was a first for the province and shows us that the clean energy future is rolling in!”
No. It shows that the subsidies are rolling in; as one firm in the business puts it:
“The terms of heat pump rebates in Canada vary from program to program. They are constantly changing, providing incentives to larger groups of citizens.”
And a day later Blacklock’s Reporter informed us that:
“The federal cabinet yesterday approved $103.7 million in subsidies for homeowners who switch from natural gas furnaces to electric heat pumps, but only in British Columbia.”
The province’s Trudeau-friendly NDP government faces an election this fall and is slipping behind in the polls. And the federal NDP is propping up Guilbeault’s minority regime.
So the ‘clean’ energy future looks like more of the dirty politics past.
The grift even extends to a government-subsidized advocacy tank which says:
“Existing federal and provincial rebate programs, as well as the price of carbon, support the cost competitiveness of heat pumps.”
Which of course really means that they are not cost competitive, which is why they need rebate programs. Like, arguably, government-subsidized advocacy groups.
In keeping with which, Canary Media’s news-of-the-future section tells us “Why heat-pump water heaters could soon take off” and sure enough market forces have nothing to do with it.
Instead “New federal efficiency standards, local air quality regulations, and government incentives are spurring a shift toward the up-and-coming clean energy tech.”
The piece goes on to claim that electric water heaters are way too expensive, which makes an economist wonder why anyone would buy one even without new “efficiency” standards, the whole price system being the most amazingly efficient efficiency standard anyone could imagine, or want.
Whereas instead “A final factor spurring the popularity of heat-pump water heaters is the bevy of incentives available.” Imagine that. People like it when you throw money at them.
Until the tax bill arrives, that is… unless it gets sent to someone else.
See more here climatediscussionnexus
Header image: National Observer
Please Donate Below To Support Our Ongoing Work To Defend The Scientific Method
PRINCIPIA SCIENTIFIC INTERNATIONAL, legally registered in the UK as a company 
incorporated for charitable purposes. Head Office: 27 Old Gloucester Street, London WC1N 3AX.
Trackback from your site.
Kevin Doyle
| #
If one is entirely reliant upon an electric grid, which can be controlled by ‘Big Brother’ Government, then one is a slave to their whims.
The greatest threat to ‘Big Brother’ is independent people with gasoline and diesel engines in cars and trucks; natural gas heating and cooking; and diesel-powered electric generators.
This entire subject is not about ‘thermodynamic efficiency’, rather, it is about control.
Reply
James
| #
Apart from the initial higher cost of a heat pump, tbe other problem with them is when they break down can you find someone repair it? Changing an element in a resistive heat water heat is easy, they will tell you how to do it down at the hardware store and sell you a tool for 10 dollars plus the element. It is a little bit harder than changing a light bulb. Now swap out a compressor. Good luck with that.
Reply
Len Winokur
| #
Electric water heater? Simpler to just throw a live toaster into Steven Guilbeault’s bath.
Reply