Off Peak

June 15, 2001

Forget Black Gold or Texas Tea ...

 

From Malibu to Beverly Hills, they all want a personal generator.

Remember that television show from about 20 years ago called "The Beverly Hillbillies"? A humble family from the "backwoods" hit it rich when pappy Clampett was out hunting, shot at a rabbit, but hit oil instead. Before you know it, they had "loaded up the truck and moved to Beverly. ... Hills, that is ..."

The show followed the Clampetts through many different trials and tribulations of acclimating themselves to the "good life." They bought a mansion with all the comforts a family used to cooking over an open fire could ask for-air conditioning, a modern stove and refrigerator, a pool in the backyard, a diesel-powered generator. Wait, there was no diesel-powered generator in the backyard of the Hillbillies' home, was there? Probably not, but if the show took place today, chances are, you'd see one chugging along.

With the energy crunch Californians have been facing for the last year or so, and with no immediate relief forecasted, many homeowners out West are turning to alternative solutions to keep their homes cool in the summertime.