This summer, Cascade’s summer Research Associates reviewed a film produced by the Discovery Institute of Seattle and directed by Ken Peterson titled, What Does It Cost? The Consequences of the Net Zero Energy Agenda. The film looks at the ballooning and absurd cost to the economy and human flourishing of the climate agenda. The film draws heavily from a report by Jonathan Lesser and Mitch Rolling on “The Crippling Costs of Electrification and Net Zero Energy Policies in the Pacific Northwest.”
You can watch the 37-minute film at Reasonable.Energy or on the Discovery Institute’s YouTube channel.
What Does It Cost?
The Consequences of the Net Zero Energy Agenda
Film Review by Jacob Beckwith
Senior at Hillsdale College, Pre-Law Track
Ken Peterson’s recent documentary on the real cost of a net-zero energy agenda serves as a reality check on the virtue signaling and posturing so rampant among politicians in the Pacific Northwest. Mandates, when enforced, have consequences. Peterson’s film fearlessly asks the tough question: what does it cost?
The documentary walks viewers through the staggering costs—estimated in the hundreds of billions—that could impinge on families and businesses if current policies proceed unchecked. While the goal of reducing emissions might seem noble, the current path has serious trade-offs such as skyrocketing electric bills, grid instability, and a climate impact so small it would be imperceptible.
Weaving together both expert analysis with a moral appeal makes What Does It Cost? especially powerful. We have a duty to consider the economic consequences of energy policy, especially for low-income and working families. Far from being anti-environment—the film is pro-reality. As the deadlines approach for full compliance with net-zero mandates in both Oregon and Washington, taxpayers need to take 45 minutes to watch this film and fully grasp the clear and dangerous consequences of the net-zero policy agenda.
Film Review by Maxwell Powers
Senior at James Madison University, Political Science
I found the documentary What Does It Cost? The Consequences of the Net Zero Energy Agenda to be thought-provoking and well produced. In it, director Ken Peterson challenges the claims that the net zero energy agenda would be financially “manageable” and does so with carefully compiled data. Rather than dodging specific issues or relying on emotional appeal, this documentary presents the facts and argues straightforwardly against net zero proponents. The variety of interviews with experts and citations of government and private studies gave it strong credibility. The engaging cinematography held my interest throughout.
Another feature I enjoyed was how this documentary contextualized the net zero agenda within local and national politics. While laying out an argument for the economic ramifications of pursuing net zero policies, the film highlighted legislation, such as Washington Gov. Inslee’s 2019 signing of the Clean Energy Transformation Act (SB5116) which set 2030 for reaching Net Zero. Other politicians throughout the Pacific Northwest have then used such legislation as a springboard into national politics. In so doing, Peterson clearly reveals the naked political opportunism involved in claiming to pursue net zero legislation for some greater good of the environment.
Overall, this documentary provides a compelling argument against the feasibility of net zero energy. I would recommend it to any cost-conscious resident of the Pacific Northwest concerned about energy prices, as well as any young environmentalist who holds up net zero energy as a lofty goal.
Film Review by Connor Roberts
Graduate Student at Oregon State University, School of Public Policy
In Ken Peterson’s documentary, “What Does It Cost? The Consequences of the Net Zero Energy Agenda,”Peterson takes a hard look at the dire costs expected for the Pacific Northwest to achieve net zero use of fossil fuels for energy use and production. Oregon has legislated—in a foolhardy move—to go net zero carbon by 2040. In doing so, they would effectively cripple the region’s lower-income wage earners.
The documentary explores the dialogue absent on the state level—as governors and legislators from Oregon and Washington constantly posture to outdo each other with fanfare and hyperbole. They refuse to acknowledge key factors, such as cost estimates or the fact that so-called “green” energy production needs a working storage infrastructure, not currently in place. What Does It Cost? provides real and actual estimates based on research conducted on the subject. The documentary does not rely on subjective interpretations or political ideologies but on studies, analysis, and cold, hard facts. In doing so, it helps to paint a realistic picture the average viewer will find easy to understand.
Overall, Ken Peterson does a great job framing how the rising cost of green energy may be offset by the region’s high wage earners, while disproportionately harming lower-wage earners. Furthermore, the negligible return on investment from going net zero does not justify the overwhelming amount of money being spent on the project. The insignificant benefits are simply not worth it.
