The citadel of fashionable green politics is having second thoughts about green energy, because it costs so much. Affluent Marin County, just north of San Francisco, is balking at switching over to (expensive and unreliable) green energy. Bookworm writes:

Marin County, land of holier than thou liberals, embraced the whole notion of climate change with the typical fervor rich, pampered people can apply to their pet projects. ...

Except that it's also all very expensive.  The local newspaper reports that three towns in Marin County are refusing to join the environmentalist-approved, PG&E sponsored Marin County Energy authority:

CORTE MADERA's decision to not join the Marin Clean Energy authority is hardly a surprise given the recession and uncertainties surrounding local revenue.Even with the county putting up $330,000 to cover startup costs, Corte Madera council members decided the venture is too risky.

Novato and Larkspur also have decided to stay out of the local initiative that's being touted as a major local way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

What's even more bizarre than this explosion of common sense is that the Marin Independent Journal, which is the notoriously liberal local paper, approves of the towns' caution:

If a city decides to be part of Marin Clean Energy, homes and businesses there automatically will receive their electricity from the new public power authority, which hopes to secure green electricity. PG&E will continue to deliver the power through its grid and take care of billing.

Customers can opt out and stay with PG&E. We have advocated an "opt-in" system, but supporters of Marin Clean Energy say that the business model won't work unless power customers are automatically switched. Research has shown that too few people will switch from PG&E if given a true choice. So the plan is to have government make the choice for you.