Editorial: Let’s not dump on California

Monday, Jan. 22, 2001 | 10:20 a.m.

California is experiencing an energy crisis after its failed experiment in electric deregulation, but many around the nation aren't feeling much sympathy. Last week the Associated Press reported on the long-standing resentment that many other Western states feel toward California, the region's 800-pound gorilla, and how it seems to be coloring their view of California's plight. Even some governors and U.S. senators from the West have said that California shouldn't expect too much help during its predicament, whether it's receiving electricity from power suppliers in other states or assistance from the federal government.

California-bashing has become a spectator sport over the years, but the bottom line is that if that state's economy is hurt in any measurable way by this crisis, the rest of the nation's economy will feel the pain, too. As a next door neighbor to California, Nevada's tourist-based economy could be hit as well if California's economy slumps, since residents there might be less likely to visit here if they don't have much discretionary income. And on a more immediate level, the rolling blackouts in California temporarily shut down the CalNev Pipeline, the main supplier of gas and jet fuel to Southern Nevada. As of Friday, the power outages meant Las Vegas had just a one- to two-day supply of gasoline heading into the weekend. Fortunately that impending crisis was averted after California Gov. Gray Davis told Gov. Kenny Guinn on Friday that the CalNev pipelin e would temporarily be exempted from rolling blackouts.

Some criticized the Clinton administration for allowing the U.S. Department of Energy to order wholesale power companies to supply California with electricity during the energy crisis, but this absolutely was the right move and in the national interest. The Bush administration should continue where the Clinton administration left off, playing an active role in providing what assistance it can to California. Most of the issues facing California are long-term (building enough power plants to meet their energy needs will take years). But in those instances where the federal government can provide short-term help -- such as temporarily marshaling power sources to energy-starved California -- then it should do so.