♪ ♪
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> John: WELCOME, WELCOME,
WELCOME TO "LAST WEEK TONIGHT!"
I'M JOHN OLIVER, THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR JOINING US, JUST TIME
FOR A QUICK RECAP OF THE WEEK,
WHICH HAS BEEN BUSY.
THE HOUSE FINALLY PASSED THE BIG
INFRASTRUCTURE BILL.
ABBA RELEASED ITS FIRST ALBUM
IN 40 YEARS, SO YOU KNOW YOUR
PARENTS ARE FUCKING TONIGHT.
AND THE DEMOCRATS HAD A ROUGH
TIME IN TUESDAY'S ELECTIONS.
THEY LOST THE GOVERNOR'S RACE IN
VIRGINIA AND NEARLY LOST THE
GOVERNORSHIP OF NEW JERSEY.
BUT PERHAPS THE CLEAREST SIGN OF
JUST HOW MUCH VOTERS HAVE TURNED
ON THEM WAS THIS:
>> THE TRUCK DRIVER WITH NO
PRIOR POLITICAL EXPERIENCE HAS
DEFEATED ONE OF THE MOST
POWERFUL DEMOCRATS IN NEW
JERSEY.
>> HE IS REPUBLICAN EDWARD DURR
AND HE HAS WON THE DISTRICT 3
SENATE SEAT OVER INCUMBENT
STEVE SWEENEY, THE STATE SENATE
PRESIDENT.
>> John: OKAY, HOLD ON.
I KNOW THERE IS A LOT TO PROCESS
THERE: FROM A SURPRISE UPSET BY
A MAN WITH NO POLITICAL
EXPERIENCE, TO SOMEONE BEING
CALLED ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL
DEMOCRATS IN NEW JERSEY WHILE
LOOKING LIKE DADDY DINOSAUR FROM
"DINOSAURS."
BUT WHAT I DIDN'T NEED TO BE
TOLD IS THAT THE NAME OF HIS
VANQUISHER -- THIS MAN --
IS "ED DURR."
BECAUSE WHEN YOU LOOK LIKE THIS,
THE "ED DURR" IS VERY MUCH
ASSUMED.
I SEE THIS IMAGE AND I
IMMEDIATELY KNOW THREE THINGS:
HE'S A WHITE MIDDLE-AGED GUY.
HIS STYLE ICON IS LARRY KING.
AND HIS NAME IS, UNAVOIDABLY,
ED DURR.
THIS WAS A HUGE UPSET, AND IF
YOU'RE THINKING, "WELL, MAYBE
ED DURR SIMPLY CAPTIVATED PEOPLE
WITH HIS UNIQUE AND POWERFUL
VISION FOR NEW JERSEY," GOOD
LUCK LANDING THAT ARGUMENT.
>> ED, WHAT'S THE FIRST THING
YOU'RE GOING TO DO WHEN YOU GET
TO THE CAPITOL IN TRENTON?
>> UH, I REALLY DON'T KNOW.
THAT'S THE KEY FACTOR.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I DON'T KNOW,
SO I WILL LEARN WHAT I NEED TO
KNOW.
>> John: OH, COME ON, ED DURR.
YOU COULD HAVE ANSWERED ANYTHING
THERE.
YOU COULD HAVE SAID "I'M GONNA
LICK EVERY DOOR HANDLE" OR "GET
TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS EPSTEIN
THING" OR YOU COULD HAVE JUST
SAID, "DURR."
ANY OF WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN
BETTER THAN "I DON'T KNOW."
ALSO, WHAT'S HE WEARING THERE?
BLACK ON RED?
HE LOOKS LIKE HE'S AUDITIONING
TO BE THE NEWEST MEMBER OF
MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE.
THE ONLY TIME THAT COLOR
COMBINATION IS REMOTELY
ACCEPTABLE IS IF YOU'RE A
MIDDLE SCHOOL BOY WHO WANTS HIS
CLASSMATES TO KNOW THAT HE IS
GONNA BUY A GUN AS SOON AS HE'S
OLD ENOUGH.
AND IT IS NOT JUST DURR'S LACK
OF EXPERIENCE THAT'S TROUBLING
HERE.
HE'S COMPARED COVID MANDATES TO
THE HOLOCAUST AND TWEETED THAT
THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD WAS A
PEDOPHILE AND ISLAM IS A FALSE
RELIGION.
ALL OF WHICH SUDDENLY MAKES ME A
LOT LESS CONCERNED ABOUT THE
THINGS ED DURR DOESN'T KNOW, AND
WAY MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE
THINGS HE THINKS HE DOES.
NOW, MEANWHILE, PRESIDENT BIDEN
TRAVELED TO THE COP26 CLIMATE
SUMMIT THIS WEEK, WHERE WORLD
LEADERS MET TO TACKLE THE MOST
URGENT ISSUE OF OUR TIME, AND
BIDEN DIDN'T GET OFF TO A GREAT
START.
>> PRESIDENT BIDEN IS AT THE
U.N. CLIMATE SUMMIT IN SCOTLAND
TODAY, AND DURING TODAY'S
OPENING SESSION, YOU GUESSED IT,
HE APPEARED TO FALL ASLEEP
THERE.
>> THIS CONFERENCE IS ONE OF THE
MOST IMPORTANT MEETINGS IN
HISTORY.
>> John: YEAH.
THAT'S NOT IDEAL, IS IT?
"THIS CONFERENCE IS ONE OF THE
MOST IMPORTANT MEETINGS IN
HISTORY" IS ONE OF THE WORST
THINGS SOMEONE CAN SAY AS YOU
NOD OFF.
IT'S RIGHT UP THERE WITH
"YOU MAY NOW KISS THE BRIDE" OR
"IN ONE MILE, EXIT HIGHWAY" OR
"WELCOME TO 'LAST WEEK TONIGHT,'
I'M JOHN OLIVER."
THE CONFERENCE WAS FULL OF
REMINDERS, BIG AND SMALL, OF
JUST HOW SERIOUS THIS SITUATION
IS, FROM THE MASSIVE PROTESTS
OUTSIDE TO SOME OF THE DISPLAYS
WITHIN.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE TINY ISLAND
NATION OF TUVALU, WHICH MAY SOON
BE FLOODED OUT OF EXISTENCE
THANKS TO CLIMATE CHANGE,
INSTALLED THIS EXHIBIT,
DEPICTING POLAR BEARS IN
LIFE VESTS AND
A PENGUIN IN A NOOSE.
WHICH IS A STRIKING IMAGE, AND
EITHER SUGGESTS TUVALU'S PLIGHT
OR SOME KIND OF A TRAGIC
SITUATION WHERE A
GROUP OF POLAR BEARS COMMITTED A
CRIME SO HEINOUS, THEY HAD TO
KILL THE ONLY WITNESS -- AN
INNOCENT PENGUIN -- AND MAKE IT
LOOK LIKE A SUICIDE BEFORE
POPPING ON THEIR GETAWAY
LIFE VESTS AND ESCAPING TO START
NEW, HAPPIER LIVES.
IT'S ONE OF THOSE TWO THINGS.
BUT THE MAIN ATTRACTION WAS
CLEARLY THE WORLD LEADERS, MANY
OF WHOM MADE SOME BIG PROMISES,
LIKE CUTTING BACK ON COAL AND
METHANE EMISSIONS AND COMMITTING
TO ENDING DEFORESTATION.
AND CUMULATIVELY, THOSE PROMISES
COULD HAVE SOME EFFECT.
>> THE INTERNATIONAL ENERGY
AGENCY SAYS IF ALL THE PLEDGES
FROM COP26 ARE FULFILLED AS
PROMISED AND ON SCHEDULE,
GLOBAL WARMING CAN BE LIMITED TO
1.8 DEGREES.
>> John: RIGHT, 1.8 DEGREES.
WHICH SOUNDS OKAY, UNTIL YOU
REMEMBER THE SCIENTIFIC
CONSENSUS IS THAT THE RISE NEEDS
TO BE LIMITED TO 1.5 DEGREES,
AND BEYOND THAT THRESHOLD,
THERE'S A FAR GREATER LIKELIHOOD
OF DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES.
AND IT ACTUALLY GETS WORSE,
BECAUSE THAT ALREADY
INSUFFICIENT TARGET IS
PREDICATED ON EVERY SINGLE
COUNTRY LIVING UP TO ITS
PLEDGES, WHICH SEEMS VERY
UNLIKELY, BECAUSE THEIR TRACK
RECORD ISN'T GREAT HERE.
AT THE COP15 CONFERENCE 12 YEARS
AGO, RICH NATIONS PROMISED TO
CHANNEL $100 BILLION A YEAR TO
LESS WEALTHY NATIONS BY 2020 TO
HELP THEM ADAPT TO CLIMATE
CHANGE.
BUT THEY ARE NOWHERE CLOSE TO
THAT.
AND LOOK, THERE ARE THINGS IT'S
OKAY TO TAKE A DECADE ON
AND NOT DELIVER --
THE "AVATAR" SEQUELS,
FOR INSTANCE.
TAKE YOUR TIME ON THOSE,
JAMES CAMERON.
NO ONE GIVES A SHIT.
I WILL GIVE ANYONE IN THIS
AUDIENCE A THOUSAND DOLLARS IF
THEY REMEMBER EITHER OF THESE
CHARACTERS' NAMES.
EXACTLY.
AID TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE,
THOUGH, IS SOMETHING PEOPLE
ACTUALLY NEED.
THE TRUTH IS, WHILE WORLD
LEADERS MAY BE LOUDLY PATTING
THEMSELVES ON THE BACK FOR
PLEDGING A BETTER FUTURE THIS
WEEK, THE LAST DECADE OF BROKEN
PROMISES SHOULD SERVE AS A
WARNING THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP
PUSHING THEM.
BECAUSE THIS NEXT DECADE IS IT.
EVERYTHING IS ON THE LINE --
YOUR LIFE, MINE, THOSE SADISTIC
POLAR BEARS'.
ALL OF IT.
AND WE ALL NEED TO TAKE AN
ACTIVE ROLE IN WAKING WORLD
LEADERS UP -- FIGURATIVELY AND
SADLY, IN ONE CASE, LITERALLY.
AND NOW, THIS.
>> Announcer: AND NOW, PEOPLE ON
TV SAYING THINGS WRONG.
>> DR. RODRIGUEZ IS A
BOARD-CERTIFIED INTERNIST AND A
VIRALIST.
AM I SAYING THAT RIGHT?
A VIROLOGIST.
>> NOW LISTEN TO TAYLOR SWIFT'S
NEW ALBUM.
"FORKLORE."
CAN YOU HELP ME OUT?
"FORKLORE."
AM I SAYING THAT CORRECTLY?
>> YOU'RE LOOKING RIGHT HERE AT
CAPE CAN-A-VAR-AL.
AM I SAYING?
>> YOU SAID THAT RIGHT.
>> THE DIRECTOR OF WORKERS FOR
OPPORTUNITY AT THE
MACK-A-KNACK CENTER.
AM I SAYING THAT RIGHT?
>> MACKINAC, BUT THANK YOU
FOR HAVING ME.
>> THIS MORNING, A WORK OF ART
BY BANKSKY --
AM I SAYING THIS RIGHT, BANKSKY?
>> HAVE YOU NOT HEARD OF BANKSY?
>> HE PAINTED THAT ONE THING ON
THE WALLS AND STUFF.
OKAY, BANKE --
>> BANKSY.
[LAUGHTER]
>> AT AN AUCTION IN LONDON.
BANKSKY.
BANKE?
>> MOVING ON.
OUR MAIN STORY TONIGHT CONCERNS
ELECTRICITY.
IT'S LIKE OSCAR ISAAC, IN THAT
WITHOUT ITS INVOLVEMENT, NOTHING
IN MY HOUSE GETS TURNED ON.
ELECTRICITY IS SUCH AN INTEGRAL
PART OF MODERN LIFE, IT'S HARD
TO BELIEVE THAT WE USED TO HAVE
TO SELL PEOPLE ON THE IDEA OF
ELECTRIC APPLIANCES WITH ADS
LIKE THIS.
>> WHEN YOU STEP INSIDE THE
TOTAL ELECTRIC HOME YOU STEP
INTO AN ENTIRELY NEW CONCEPT IN
LIVING ORGANIZED AROUND ELECTRIC
CENTERS SUCH AS THIS
ENTERTAINMENT CENTER.
THE PRIDE AND JOY OF THE MAN OF
THE HOUSE IS THE WEATHER CONTROL
CENTER, A CENTER THAT PUTS YOU
IN CHARGE OF THE ELECTRIC
HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING AND
THE ELECTRONIC AIR FILTERING OF
THE ENTIRE HOUSE.
>> John: "YES, THE PRIDE AND JOY
OF THE MAN OF THE HOUSE IS, OF
COURSE, THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL
SYSTEM.
JUST INVITE ALL YOUR THERMO-BROS
OVER ON A SUNDAY, CRACK OPEN A
FEW BREWS, AND WATCH THE
TEMPERATURE FOR HOURS.
SORRY, LADIES -- YOU WOULDN'T
UNDERSTAND.
IT'S A GUY THING."
SPECIFICALLY, WE'RE GOING TO
TALK ABOUT THE POWER GRID -- THE
SYSTEM OF GENERATORS THAT
PRODUCE ELECTRICITY, AND THE
VAST LATTICEWORK OF WIRES THAT
GET IT TO OUR HOMES.
THE GRID IS SOMETHING YOU
PROBABLY DON'T THINK ABOUT UNTIL
IT GOES DOWN -- WHICH
UNFORTUNATELY, HAS BEEN
HAPPENING MORE AND MORE IN
RECENT YEARS.
>> MILLIONS OF TEXANS WOKE UP TO
COLD HOMES WHEN THE POWER GRID
FAILED.
>> THIS VIDEO SHOWS LIGHTS GOING
OUT AS PARTS OF THE POWER GRID
FAILED.
>> AND THAT POWER GRID FAILED
YESTERDAY WHEN HURRICANE IDA
RAVAGED PARTS OF LOUISIANA.
>> THE LIGHTS WENT OUT ACROSS
DOWNTOWN DETROIT, CUTTING POWER
TO 1,400 BUILDINGS.
WATCH AS THE LIGHTS GO OUT
DURING A MURDER TRIAL, THESE
LAWYERS LEFT IN THE DARK.
>> John: HOLY SHIT!
WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT DURING A
MURDER TRIAL, ONE OF TWO THINGS
IS HAPPENING: YOU'VE EITHER GOT
A POWER GRID DEEPLY IN NEED OF
REPAIR OR THE MURDER VICTIM HAS
COME BACK AS A GHOST AND IS
SEEKING REVENGE.
EITHER WAY, YOUR PRIORITIES HAVE
SHIFTED AND IT'S TIME TO FOCUS
ON A MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM.
IF IT FEELS LIKE THERE'VE BEEN
MORE OUTAGES THAN USUAL
RECENTLY, THAT'S BECAUSE THERE
HAVE.
BY ONE ESTIMATE, FROM 2015 TO
2020 THE NUMBER OF ANNUAL
BLACKOUTS IN THE U.S. DOUBLED.
THAT IS NOT GOOD FOR NUMEROUS
REASONS -- THE MOST OBVIOUS
BEING, SITTING AROUND WITHOUT
POWER FOR ANY PERIOD OF TIME
ABSOLUTELY SUCKS.
WHAT ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO DO
WITHOUT TV AND THE INTERNET?
GO OUTSIDE?
THAT'S WHERE SNAKES LIVE, YOU
IDIOT!
SO WHAT ELSE ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO
DO -- READ A BOOK?
THAT'S WHERE SNAKES SLEEP, YOU
IDIOT!
WHY DO YOU THINK WE INVENTED
KINDLES?
BUT IT'S NOT JUST INCONVENIENCE.
LOSING ELECTRICITY WREAKS
HAVOC ON EVERYTHING FROM SEWAGE
TREATMENT PLANTS TO WATER
PURIFICATION SYSTEMS, AND CAN BE
LIFE-THREATENING TO PEOPLE WHO
RELY ON MEDICAL EQUIPMENT LIKE
VENTILATORS AND POWERED
WHEELCHAIRS.
>> IT'S TRAUMATIZING, IT'S
TERRIFYING.
>> FOR TERHORST, AN OUTAGE IS
MORE THAN JUST AN EXPENSIVE
INCONVENIENCE.
>> THIS ISN'T LIKE, "I'M GOING
TO LOSE A CASSEROLE IN MY
FRIDGE," YOU KNOW?
THIS IS, "I MAY NOT BE ALIVE
TOMORROW."
>> John: RIGHT, EXACTLY.
THIS IS ABOUT MUCH MORE THAN
JUST LOST CASSEROLES ESPECIALLY
BECAUSE, LET'S BE HONEST HERE,
ALL CASSEROLES ARE SHIT.
THEY DON'T RELY ON SPECIFIC
INGREDIENTS SO MUCH AS ON
"WHATEVER'S IN SOMEONE'S HOUSE."
CASSEROLES ARE A SAD SMORGASBORD
OF OTHER LEFTOVERS DESPERATELY
COBBLED TOGETHER TO MAKE A
PATHETIC ALMOST MEAL WITH NAMES
LIKE "TUNA SURPRISE" AND
"CHICKEN I'M SORRY."
BUT TO HAVE A CASSEROLE
LEFTOVER?
THAT'S ABANDONED FOOD THAT
DIDN'T MAKE THE CUT TWO ROUNDS
IN A ROW.
I'M SORRY, BUT IF THAT IS YOUR
ONLY OPTION, THERE ARE WORSE
FATES THAN BEING DEAD.
AND WHILE THINGS ARE RIGHT BAD
NOW, THEY COULD GET A LOT WORSE
IN THE FUTURE, BECAUSE THE U.S.
HAS A GOAL OF NET-ZERO CARBON
EMISSIONS BY 2050 -- WHICH WE
MUST ABSOLUTELY MUST MEET -- BUT
ONE STUDY ESTIMATES THAT'S GOING
TO REQUIRE A 40% TO 60% INCREASE
IN PEAK ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION.
WHICH, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT,
DOES MAKE SENSE -- IF
WE'RE SWITCHING TO ELECTRIC
CARS, COOKING, AND HEATING, ALL
THAT ELECTRICITY IS GOING TO
HAVE TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE.
AND THE TRUTH IS, IF EVERYONE
SUDDENLY HAD AN ELECTRIC CAR
TOMORROW, THAT MIGHT BE GREAT
FOR THE PLANET BUT IT COULD PUSH
OUR GRID TO THE ABSOLUTE LIMIT.
SO TONIGHT, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE
POWER GRID, THE CURRENT STATE
THAT IT'S IN, AND WHAT WE CAN DO
TO FIX IT.
AND LET'S START WITH THE FACT
THAT WHILE I'M SAYING "GRID,"
SINGULAR, OUR SYSTEM IS ACTUALLY
MADE UP OF THREE GRIDS.
THERE'S THE EASTERN
INTERCONNECTION, THE WESTERN
INTERCONNECTION, AND THE TEXAS
INTERCONNECTION.
IT'S BASICALLY LIKE MAJOR LEAGUE
BASEBALL, IN THAT THERE ARE TWO
DOMINANT GROUPS AND THEN
ASSHOLES IN TEXAS WHO'D RATHER
MAKE UP THEIR OWN RULES.
AND IT ALL STARTED IN 1882,
RIGHT HERE IN NEW YORK, WHEN
THOMAS EDISON UNVEILED THE
COUNTRY'S FIRST CENTRAL POWER
STATION ON PEARL STREET.
INTERESTINGLY, IT WAS
THEN-EDISON'S-SOMETIME RIVAL,
NIKOLA TESLA, WHO HELPED DEVELOP
THE TECHNOLOGY ENABLING
ELECTRICITY TO TRAVEL FOR LONG
DISTANCES.
SOMETHING ALL THE MORE
REMARKABLE, GIVEN TESLA'S --
LET'S SAY ECCENTRICITIES.
>> TESLA SUFFERED FROM BIZARRE
COMPULSIONS LIKE HIS CONSUMING
NEED TO RESCUE INJURED PIGEONS
AND NURSE THEM BACK TO HEALTH.
>> HE HAS AN INFIRMARY FOR THEM
RIGHT OUTSIDE HIS BEDROOM WINDOW
WHERE HE'S TRYING TO HEAL, YOU
KNOW, SOME MIGHT HAVE BROKEN
WINGS, BROKEN LEGS.
AND IN FACT, AT ONE POINT, HE
ACTUALLY REFERRED TO ONE BIRD AS
HIS WIFE.
AND HE SAID, YOU KNOW, WHEN SHE
DIED, THE INVENTIVE SPIRIT LEFT
HIM.
>> John: OH, DID IT, NOW?
LOOK, THIS ISN'T THE POINT OF
THIS STORY, OR ANYTHING, REALLY,
BUT IF TESLA WERE ALIVE TODAY I
GENUINELY WONDER WHICH WOULD
UPSET HIM MORE, THE FACT THAT
HIS NAME'S BEEN CO-OPTED BY
HISTORY'S FIRST EDGELORD
BILLIONAIRE OR THE FACT THAT
MODERN PIGEONS HAVE GOTTEN SO
UNFUCKABLE.
LISTEN, I SAID NO.
RESPECTFULLY, THANK YOU FOR THE
ATTENTION, BUT I AM NOT
INTERESTED, PLEASE LEAVE ME AND
MY FRIENDS ALONE.
AND WHEN IT WAS BUILT, OUR POWER
GRID WASN'T JUST A TECHNICAL
MARVEL -- IT WAS A CIVIC ONE.
UNTIL THE 1930s, ELECTRICITY
WAS A LUXURY MAINLY FOR DENSE
URBAN AREAS OF THE COUNTRY.
BUT AFTER FDR CREATED THE RURAL
ELECTRIFICATION ADMINISTRATION
IN 1935, THAT BEGAN TO CHANGE.
>> THE REA WAS SET UP BY THE
PRESIDENT AND THE CONGRESS IN
1935 TO HELP FARMERS TO GET THE
POWER AND THE LIGHT AT A PRICE
THEY CAN AFFORD.
HERE IS THE FIRST THING WOMEN
ASK FOR AFTER LIGHT ITSELF.
IF YOU HAVE EVER IRONED FOR AN
HOUR, YOU'LL KNOW WHY.
AN ELECTRIC IRON MAY NOT LOOK
IMPORTANT TO A MAN, BUT IT
LIGHTENS ONE WHOLE DAY'S BURDEN
FOR A WOMAN.
>> John: "YES, DON'T WORRY,
LADIES, WITH HUBBY NATURALLY
BUSY STARING AT THE THERMOSTAT,
YOU'LL HAVE PLENTY TO DO TO
OCCUPY YOUR TIME, LIKE IRONING
HIS CLOTHES, OR TEACHING A
DIFFERENT WOMAN TO IRON HIS
CLOTHES AND, IF THERE'S STILL
TIME, PRESSING THE IRON TO YOUR
NECK JUST FOR A MOMENT, SIMPLY
TO FEEL SOMETHING.
YOU THOUGHT GETTING LIGHTS WOULD
MAKE THINGS BETTER, BUT IT ONLY
MADE THINGS CLEARER, DIDN'T IT?
DIDN'T IT?"
IN THE END, WE WOUND UP WITH
600,000 MILES OF TRANSMISSION
LINES AND AROUND 5.5 MILLION
MILES OF LOCAL DISTRIBUTION
LINES, LIKE THE ONES THAT YOU
MIGHT SEE OUTSIDE OF YOUR HOUSE,
ALL OF WHICH FORM OUR MODERN
ELECTRICAL GRID.
IT'S BEEN CALLED "THE SUPREME
ENGINEERING ACHIEVEMENT OF THE
20TH CENTURY."
WHICH IS NOT TO SAY THAT IT IS
COMPLETELY INVULNERABLE.
OF COURSE NOT.
WHEN YOU STRING WIRES IN THE
AIR, THEY'RE SUBJECT TO
INTERFERENCE FROM ALL SORTS OF
THINGS.
A WEBSITE THAT TRACKED
DISRUPTIONS FOUND THAT THERE'VE
BEEN OVER 600 OUTAGES CAUSED BY
SQUIRRELS, OVER 200 BY BIRDS, 53
BY RACCOONS, AND A NUMBER OF
OTHERS CAUSED BY EVERYTHING FROM
SNAKES TO SLUGS.
AND LET ME JUST QUICKLY SAY
HERE, KUDOS, SLUGS.
OUT OF EVERYTHING ON THAT LIST,
YOU'RE THE ONES I
UNDERESTIMATED.
THE NICEST THING I CAN SAY ABOUT
YOU IS THAT ON YOUR BEST DAY YOU
LOOK LIKE SASSY POOP -- BUT YOU
REALLY SHOWED US SOMETHING BY
DISRUPTING OUR POWER.
SO ONCE MORE, SLUGS --
KUDOS.
BUT IT'S NOT JUST ANIMALS THAT
CAN WREAK HAVOC.
THERE'VE ALSO BEEN MULTIPLE
BALLOON-BASED DISRUPTIONS, AND
IF YOU'RE WONDERING HOW ON EARTH
A BALLOON COULD CAUSE A POWER
OUTAGE, THE ANSWER IS LIKE THIS:
>> OH, SHIT!
OH!
>> [LAUGHS]
[EXPLOSION]
>> John: EXCELLENT.
NOT ONE SINGLE NOTE.
I HOPE NO ONE STANDING THERE WAS
HURT, BUT HONESTLY, EVEN IF
SOMEONE WAS, IT WOULDN'T BE A
DEALBREAKER FOR ME.
BUT DISRUPTIONS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN
AN ISSUE FOR THE POWER GRID.
WHAT MAKES IT ESPECIALLY
VULNERABLE NOW IS A COMBINATION
OF TWO KEY FACTORS.
THE FIRST IS OLD AGE.
MOST POWER LINES WERE
CONSTRUCTED IN THE '50s AND
'60s WITH A 50-YEAR
LIFE EXPECTANCY, WHICH THEY'RE
CLEARLY NOW WELL PAST.
AND THE SECOND IS
CLIMATE CHANGE, MEANING
THERE'S NOW MORE
DANGER POSED BY EXTREME WEATHER,
LIKE HURRICANES, TORNADOES, AND
ABNORMALLY HOT OR COLD
TEMPERATURES.
AND THAT COMBO OF OLD EQUIPMENT
AND NEW CLIMATE THREATS HAS BEEN
DISASTROUS.
THE MASSIVE CAMPFIRE IN
CALIFORNIA A FEW YEARS
AGO HAPPENED BECAUSE THERE WAS A
DROUGHT IN THE AREA, MAKING IT
ESSENTIALLY A TINDERBOX.
AND IN INTENSE WINDS, SOME
PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT
FAILED, AND FOR A PRETTY
INFURIATING REASON.
>> THIS IS THE HOOK THAT KILLED
84 PEOPLE.
>> THAT GROOVE TOOK ABOUT
98 YEARS TO WEAR IN.
IT'S NOT A DEFECT.
THESE HOOKS ARE WHAT ARE HOLDING
THE ELECTRICAL LINES OFF THE
GROUND, AND PG&E'S DECISION WAS
SIMPLY JUST TO LET THESE THINGS
HANG UNTIL THEY BROKE.
>> WHEN THIS OLD HOOK DID BREAK,
THE POWER LINE MADE CONTACT WITH
THE METAL TOWER, SHOWERING THE
GROUND IN SPARKS.
THAT'S HOW PG&E STARTED THE
CAMPFIRE.
>> Joh YEAH.
AND LET THAT BE A LESSON TO YOU.
YOU CAN'T JUST KEEP SOMETHING
TO KEEP WORKING FOREVER.
PG&E BASICALLY TOOK THE SAME
APPROACH TO THEIR EQUIPMENT
AS DEMOCRATS DID WITH
RUTH BADER GINSBURG.
AND IN BOTH CASES, IT DIDN'T END
WELL.
SO BASICALLY, WE'VE GOT A
POWER GRID BUILT IN THE
20TH CENTURY THAT'S NOT EQUIPPED
TO DEAL WITH THE NEEDS AND
STRESSES OF THE 21ST.
AND IF YOU'RE THINKING, "WELL,
OKAY, LET'S UPGRADE IT THEN."
YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
BUT THAT'S ALSO A MASSIVE
UNDERTAKING.
BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF
FIXES, BOTH SMALL AND HUGE, THAT
THE POWER GRID BADLY NEEDS.
THE SMALL ONES, WE DON'T HAVE
TIME TO GET INTO TONIGHT -- LIKE
INVESTING IN MICROGRIDS AND
WEATHERPROOFING, AS WELL AS
BETTER STORAGE CAPABILITIES, SO
EXCESS POWER WE GENERATE DOESN'T
GO TO WASTE.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON THE
HUGE ONE HERE.
BECAUSE OUR SHIFT TO RENEWABLE
ENERGY IS GOING TO REQUIRE A
FUNDAMENTAL SHIFT IN WHAT OUR
GRID LOOKS LIKE.
ONE OF THE FEW BENEFITS OF
FOSSIL-FUEL PLANTS IS THAT YOU
CAN PUT THEM ANYWHERE -- THAT'S
WHY MOST ARE LOCATED NEAR
DENSELY POPULATED AREAS, CLOSE
TO THE PEOPLE THEY SERVE.
BUT YOU CAN'T JUST REPLACE EVERY
COAL PLANT WITH A WIND FARM,
BECAUSE THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY
WHERE THE WIND IS STRONGEST, AND
THAT FACT ALONE CHANGES
EVERYTHING.
>> THIS IS A MODEL CREATED BY
PRINCETON, MAPPING OUT POSSIBLE
PLACES IN THE CONTINENTAL U.S.
WHERE WIND AND SOLAR PROJECTS
COULD, IN THEORY, BE BUILT.
ASIDE FROM SOME OFFSHORE WIND
FARMS, IT'S MOSTLY IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE U.S.
ANOTHER STUDY FOUND THAT THESE
STATES HAVE MOST OF THE WIND AND
SOLAR POTENTIAL, YET THE PEOPLE
LIVING THERE WOULD ONLY MAKE UP
30% OF THE ELECTRICITY DEMAND.
IN A DECARBONIZED FUTURE, WE'RE
GOING TO NEED TO GET ELECTRICITY
FROM HERE TO HERE.
>> John: RIGHT, AND YOU PROBABLY
DON'T EVEN NEED ME TO TELL YOU
WHY THIS IS GOING TO BE AN
UPHILL BATTLE, BECAUSE AS SOON
AS YOU SAW THAT GRAPHIC AND
REALIZED UPDATING THE GRID
WAS GOING TO REQUIRE A
PRINCETON RESEARCHER TELLING
A MIDWESTERN FARMER, "WE NEED TO
BUILD SOMETHING IN YOUR BACKYARD
SO SOMEONE IN CALIFORNIA CAN
POWER THEIR ELECTRIC CAR," YOU
ALREADY CALLED THE NEXT EIGHT
ELECTION CYCLES FOR REPUBLICANS.
BUT THERE'S ACTUALLY SOME GOOD
NEWS HERE, BECAUSE WE'VE ALREADY
MADE CONSIDERABLE PROGRESS IN
BUILDING OUT RENEWABLE ENERGY
POWER SOURCES.
LAST YEAR, FOR THE FIRST TIME
EVER, RENEWABLES LIKE SOLAR,
WIND, AND HYDROPOWER ACCOUNTED
FOR THE LARGEST PORTION OF NEW
GENERATING CAPACITY.
AND THAT IS GOOD NOT JUST FOR
CONSUMERS, BUT IN MANY CASES,
FOR THE COMMUNITIES WHERE THOSE
FACILITIES ARE BUILT.
IN 2019, WIND ENERGY PROJECTS
ALONE PROVIDED $706 MILLION IN
LAND LEASE PAYMENTS TO RURAL
LANDOWNERS.
SO ENTIRE TOWNS AND AREAS CAN
BENEFIT FROM THE MONEY AND THE
JOBS RENEWABLES CAN BRING -- AS
THIS MAYOR IN WYOMING CAN
ATTEST.
>> MY PERSONAL BELIEF IS IT
PROVIDES MONEY, IT PROVIDES
JOBS, TAXES.
AND THEN I LOOK AT THE TOWNS
THAT THEY'RE BY AND JUST THINK
OF WHAT PEOPLE HAVE THAT THEY
WOULDN'T HAVE HAD.
A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE, POLICE
CARS, THOSE KIND OF THINGS.
WHEN I LOOK AT A WIND FARM, ALL
I THINK ABOUT IS CHA-CHING.
>> John: AND THAT'S GREAT.
THOUGH, TO BE CLEAR, WHEN YOU
LOOK AT A WIND FARM, YOU CAN'T
THINK "CHA-CHING," BECAUSE
THAT'S THE CASH REGISTER NOISE.
I KNOW YOU'RE TRYING TO MAKE A
DIFFEREN TPOINT, BUT THIS IS
IMPORTANT TOO.
WIND FARMS GO "FWHOOOM.
FWHOOOM.
FWHOOOM."
THAT'S HOW WIND FARMS GO.
A CASH REGISTER GOES
"CHA-CHING,"
A SOLAR FARM GOES "TSSSSSS,"
A CAT ON THE DAY EVERYONE FORGOT
ITS BIRTHDAY GOES "ME-OW,"
A HORNY CARTOON WOLF GOES
"AWHOOGA," AND, AGAIN,
WIND FARMS GO, "FWHOOOM.
FWHOOOM.
FWHOOOM."
JUST SO WE'RE CLEAR ABOUT HOW
THINGS GO.
SO THE PHYSICAL GENERATION OF
RENEWABLE ENERGY ISN'T REALLY
THE PROBLEM.
THE KEY ISSUE IS THE
TRANSMISSION OF IT -- BASICALLY,
HOW DO YOU GET THAT ENERGY FROM
WHERE IT'S MADE, LIKE A WIND
FARM IN WYOMING, TO WHERE IT'S
NEEDED, WHICH COULD BE A
THOUSAND MILES AWAY?
AND THAT BRINGS US TO
TRANSMISSION LINES, BECAUSE THEY
ARE AT THE ABSOLUTE HEART OF OUR
GRID, AND WE ARE GOING TO NEED A
LOT MORE OF THEM.
PARTLY BECAUSE, DUE TO THE
LIMITATIONS OF OUR AGING
TRANSMISSION INFRASTRUCTURE, IN
SOME PLACES, WE ACTUALLY HAVE
MORE ELECTRICITY THAN WE HAVE
THE CAPABILITY TO TRANSPORT.
FOR INSTANCE, IN VERMONT, THEY
HAD TO PUT A MORATORIUM ON NEW
SOLAR AND WIND PROJECTS BECAUSE
THE TRANSMISSION LINES COULDN'T
CARRY ANY MORE ELECTRICITY.
SO BUILDING OUT NEWER, HIGHER
CAPACITY LINES IS CRUCIALLY
IMPORTANT.
BUT SO FAR, WE HAVEN'T DONE
NEARLY ENOUGH.
AND THAT IS FOR A COUPLE OF
REASONS.
AND THE FIRST BIG ONE IS
LOCATION.
STRINGING POWER LINES OUT ACROSS
THE COUNTRY IS A LOGISTICAL
NIGHTMARE.
UNLIKE INTERSTATE GAS LINES,
WHICH ONLY REQUIRE APPROVAL FROM
THE FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY
COMMISSION, WITH POWER LINES,
YOU MUST SECURE THE
BUY-IN FROM MULTIPLE STATE AND
LOCAL AGENCIES IN EVERY STATE
YOU PASS THROUGH, ALONGSIDE ALL
THE INDIVIDUAL LANDOWNERS WHOSE
PROPERTY YOU NEED TO USE.
AND LOOK, THERE ARE LEGITIMATE
REASONS FOR PEOPLE TO NOT WANT
POWER LINES IN THEIR BACKYARD --
FOR INSTANCE, IF IT DISRUPTS
THEIR FARMING OPERATION OR GOES
THROUGH ENVIRONMENTALLY
PROTECTED AREAS OR
CULTURAL OR SACRED SITES FOR
NATIVE AMERICANS.
OTHER OBJECTIONS ARE SIMPLY
AESTHETIC.
THE FACT IS, HIGH-VOLTAGE LINES
CAPABLE OF CARRYING MORE
ELECTRICITY REQUIRE BIGGER
TOWERS THAN THEIR PREDECESSORS,
AND SOME PEOPLE JUST DON'T WANT
TO SEE THEM.
IT'S SUCH AN ISSUE THAT SOME
COUNTRIES HAVE ACTUALLY MADE
EFFORTS TO BEAUTIFY THEIR
TOWERS.
IN HUNGARY, THEY DECIDED TO
BUILD ONES THAT LOOK LIKE
JESTERS.
IN ICELAND, THEY'VE PROPOSED
THESE DESIGNS FOR A PROJECT
CALLED "LAND OF GIANTS."
AND IN ARGENTINA, THERE IS
"COLOSO," THE GIANT TRANSMISSION
LINE ROBOT.
AT NIGHT, COLOSO LIGHTS UP AND
CAN EVEN SMILE AND WINK.
AND, LOOK, I GET THE SMILE
PART -- YOU WANT COLOSO TO COME
OFF AS FRIENDLY SO CHILDREN
AREN'T TERRIFIED OF THE GIANT
ELECTRIFIED ROBOT WITH GLOWING
MONSTER EYES -- BUT WHY DOES IT
NEED TO WINK?
WHAT IS IT TRYING TO
COMMUNICATE?
IS IT COMING ON TO US?
BECAUSE I FEEL THE SAME WAY
ABOUT COLOSO AS I DO ABOUT THAT
PIGEON -- NEVER IN A MILLION
FUCKING YEARS.
NO, THANK YOU.
PLEASE STOP LOOKING AT ME LIKE
THAT.
IT'S MAKING ME UNCOMFORTABLE.
IT'S MY FRIEND'S BIRTHDAY.
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO GIVE HER A
NICE EVENING.
ALTHOUGH I WILL KEEP THE
LONG ISLAND ICED TEA.
THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT.
AND THE THING IS, LOCAL
OPPOSITION CAN BE VERY EFFECTIVE
IN KILLING TRANSMISSION LINE
PROJECTS.
A FEW YEARS BACK, A COMPANY
PROPOSED PLANS TO BUILD 16 MILES
OF NEW LINES THROUGH
PENNSYLVANIA.
BUT LOCAL LANDOWNERS FORMED A
GRASSROOTS GROUP TO PUSH BACK,
EVEN RELEASING VIDEOS LIKE THIS
ONE TO DETAIL THEIR OBJECTIONS:
>> I UNDERSTAND EVERYBODY NEEDS
ELECTRIC AND EVERYBODY HAS TO
HAVE ELECTRIC.
I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE WITHOUT
ELECTRIC.
BUT FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, YOU
KNOW, THIS IS ONLY GOING TO HELP
PEOPLE IN WESTERN PA,
MARYLAND, AND VIRGINIA.
AND WHAT'S IT DO?
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, I CHOSE TO
LIVE HERE, AND THEY CHOSE TO
LIVE THERE.
SO DON'T MAKE YOUR PROBLEM MY
PROBLEM.
THAT'S -- THAT'S HOW I FEEL.
>> John: OKAY, I MEAN,
THAT IS A LITTLE MADDENING.
THE MIRRORED SUNGLASSES DON'T
HELP, BUT IT'S MORE THAN THAT.
BECAUSE I DO GET "I DON'T WANT
THIS ON MY LAND," BUT TO MAKE
YOUR ARGUMENT "I DON'T WANT THIS
HERE IF IT'LL HELP HELP SOMEONE
OVER THERE"
MAKES YOU SOUND LIKE A DICK.
ALSO, IF WE DON'T UPGRADE THE
GRID, ABSOLUTELY EVERYONE IS
GOING TO HAVE PROBLEMS,
INCLUDING YOU.
IT'S LIKE SAYING, "DON'T MAKE
YOUR PROBLEM MY PROBLEM" WHEN
YOUR NEIGHBOR'S YARD IS FULL OF
BEARS.
SURE, BUT WHEN IT GETS OVER THAT
FENCE, GUESS WHAT?
IT'S YOUR FUCKING PROBLEM NOW
TOO.
AND WHEN YOU CONSIDER ALL THE
HURDLES TRANSMISSION PROJECTS
HAVE TO CLEAR, IT'S NO WONDER IT
CAN TAKE UP TO A DECADE TO GET
NEW ONES APPROVED, IF THEY'RE
APPROVED AT ALL.
AND THIS CAN MAKE IT HARDER TO
BRING RENEWABLE ENERGY ONTO THE
GRID IN THE FIRST PLACE.
FEWER THAN A QUARTER OF PROPOSED
ENERGY PROJECTS, LIKE SOLAR AND
WIND, ACTUALLY EVER MAKE IT TO
COMMERCIAL OPERATION BECAUSE OF
TRANSMISSION HURDLES.
AND THAT IS REALLY NOT GOOD.
NOW, THE SECOND BIG OBSTACLE TO
OVERCOME HERE IS COST.
BECAUSE THE TRUTH IS, THIS WON'T
BE CHEAP.
ONE STUDY PROJECTS DECARBONIZING
OUR POWER GRID COULD COST $2.5
TRILLION OVER THE NEXT DECADE.
TO PUT IT MILDLY, NOT EVERYONE
IS ON BOARD WITH SPENDING THAT
MONEY.
WHEN CONGRESS WAS CONSIDERING
THE CLEAN FUTURE ACT -- A BILL
THAT WOULD, AMONG OTHER THINGS,
PROVIDE FOR EXPANDING OUR
TRANSMISSION SYSTEM --
REPRESENTATIVE BILL JOHNSON
ABSOLUTELY REFUSED TO ENTERTAIN
THE NOTION THAT IT COULD
POSSIBLY BE WORTH IT AND WOULD
NOT BACK DOWN.
>> WHETHER THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
ARE STUCK PICKING UP THIS TAB
VIA HIGHER TAXES OR RATE
INCREASES ON THEIR UTILITY
BILLS, CAN YOU HONESTLY SAY THAT
THEY'LL BE RECEIVING A RETURN ON
THEIR INVESTMENT?
>> AS YOU LOOK AT THE
COST-BENEFIT FOR THE HEALTH AND
SAFETY OF COMMUNITIES --
>> NO, WHAT'S THE RETURN ON
INVESTMENT?
WHAT IS THE RETURN ON
INVESTMENT?
THEY'RE MAKING A MONETARY
INVESTMENT WITH THEIR TAXES OR
THEIR RATE INCREASES.
WHAT IS THE RETURN ON THEIR
INVESTMENT?
>> SO THE RETURN ON THE
INVESTMENT IS ACCESS TO CLEAN
ENERGY.
IT'S ACCESS TO --
>> NO, THAT'S NOT A RETURN ON
INVESTMENT.
A RETURN ON INVESTMENT IS A
MONETARY THING.
THAT'S WHY YOU MAKE AN
INVESTMENT.
>> John: OKAY, A FEW THINGS:
ONE, SHUT UP.
TWO, IF YOU HAD LET HER TALK FOR
MORE THAN TWO FUCKING SECONDS,
SHE MIGHT HAVE TOLD YOU MANY
STUDIES HAVE FOUND THAT IT IS
COST-EFFECTIVE.
FOR INSTANCE, A FEDERAL LAB
LOOKED INTO EXPANDING
TRANSMISSION LINES ACROSS THE
COUNTRY AND FOUND THAT SUCH A
PROJECT COULD RETURN UP TO $2.50
IN BENEFITS FOR EVERY DOLLAR OF
COST.
WHICH IS, AS AN ASSHOLE MIGHT
PUT IT, A RETURN.
A RETURN ON A FUCKING
INVESTMENT.
BUT SET THAT ASIDE.
SET ASIDE ALSO THAT BLACKOUTS
CAN COST US A LOT OF MONEY, AS
THE PEOPLE OF TEXAS WILL TELL
YOU, AFTER WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM
EARLIER THIS YEAR.
THERE ARE ALSO MANY BENEFITS
HERE THAT AREN'T PURELY
MONETARY.
A CLEANER GRID HELPS COMBAT
CLIMATE CHANGE, MEANING THAT
MAYBE YOUR GRANDKIDS WON'T DIE
IN WEEKLY LAVA HURRICANES.
WHICH DOES SEEM PRETTY
WORTHWHILE.
FRAMING THIS PURELY A MATTER OF
NET PROFIT SO WEIRD.
IT'S LIKE SAYING,
"WHAT'S THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT
IN FUNDING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT?
HOW MUCH MONEY DO WE MAKE OFF
THAT?"
WELL, TECHNICALLY NONE, BUT IF
YOUR HOUSE IS ON FIRE, SOMEONE
WILL COME WITH A HOSE PUT IT
OUT.
PLUS WE GET THOSE SEXY
FIREFIGHTER CALENDARS FULL OF
OILED-UP FIRE HUNKS.
SO WE GET TO BE SAFER AND
HORNIER.
I'D CALL IT A WIN-WIN.
AND LOOK, I ADMIT, THIS IS GOING
TO REQUIRE A LOT OF COMPROMISE
AND FLEXIBILITY FROM ALL OF US.
BUT THERE ARE WAYS TO OVERCOME
THE HURDLES I'VE DESCRIBED.
WHEN IT COMES TO TRANSMISSION
LINE LOCATION, WE CAN EASE
PEOPLE'S CONCERNS.
NOT NECESSARILY BY GOING FULL
CREEPY COLOSO HERE.
WE DON'T HAVE TO BE WINKED AT.
BUT WE CAN MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE
COMPENSATED FAIRLY FOR THE USE
OF THEIR PROPERTY, OR PLACE
LINES, TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE,
ON ALREADY "DISTURBED LANDS"
LIKE ALONG RAILROADS AND
HIGHWAYS.
AND WHEN IT COMES TO COST, WE'RE
FINALLY MAKING SOME PROGRESS.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL THAT
PASSED THE HOUSE THIS WEEK
DEVOTES OVER $65 BILLION TO
IMPROVE THE POWER GRID WITH A
PORTION GOING DIRECTLY TO
TRANSMISSION UPGRADES AND
EXPANSION.
IT IS A GOOD START WHILE ALSO
BEING NOT NEARLY ENOUGH.
BUT THE KEY THING GOING FORWARD
HERE MIGHT BE TO START THINKING
ABOUT THIS DIFFERENTLY THAN WE
CURRENTLY ARE.
'CAUSE FOR TOO LONG, WHENEVER
WE'VE EXPERIENCED BLACKOUTS,
WE'VE TENDED TO THINK OF IT AS
"THE POWER GRID FAILING."
BUT TRUTH IS, IT'S NOT FAILING
US, WE'RE FAILING IT BY ASKING
IT TO DO SOMETHING IT WASN'T
DESIGNED TO DO IN CONDITIONS IT
WASN'T DESIGNED TO HANDLE.
SO WE NEED TO ACT BOLDLY AND
QUICKLY, AS IF BOTH OUR LIVES
AND OUR SHITTY CASSEROLES
DEPEND ON IT.
AND IF WE DO THIS, IF WE MANAGE
TO PROPERLY UPGRADE OUR POWER
GRID, IT WILL GENUINELY BE ONE
OF THE BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS
OF THE 21ST CENTURY AND ONE
DEFINITELY WORTH CELEBRATING.
PERHAPS, I DON'T KNOW, WITH SOME
BALLOONS!
YOU KNOW?
BALLOONS ARE ALWAYS FUN, AREN'T
THEY?
OH, SHIT.
[EXPLOSION]
OH, SHIT.
OH, NO.
HOLD ON.
I'M OKAY.
THAT'S OUR SHOW.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING, WE
WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
GOOD --
[BALLOON POPS]
FUCK!
GOOD NIGHT.
THANK YOU, THAT'S IT.
I'M GOING TO GO THIS WAY.
OVER HERE?
WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK.