Comments on: And Then A Miracle Happens!

By: Sylvia

Sylvia — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 03:44:08 +0000

Gaius, thank you — I alway appreciate reading your posts about the energy industry.

By: Mockingbird

Mockingbird — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 17:47:46 +0000

All seriousness aside, how about chaining environmentalist to stationary bicycles and they pedal for power at minimum wage. Van Jones can horsewhip any who don’t pedal at Czar Jones acceptable speed.

By: George Bruce

George Bruce — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 15:30:10 +0000

Not only are the numbers puny, and the future numbers fanciful, (to put it mildly), but none of the goo-goo greenies have yet to explain from where does the baseline power come. Baseline power is what makes the lights come on and the refrigerator stay cold when the sun don’t shine and the wind don’t blow.

By: Mwalimu Daudi

Mwalimu Daudi — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 14:35:48 +0000

The scientific illiteracy of environmentalists and the state-run media is mind-boggling. Most leftists assume that just because they know how to blog, Twitter and use a word processing program they are technological and scientific geniuses.

A quick review of “green” energy technologies is worthwhile:

1. Wind – Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Hell) blocked construction of an offshore wind power array because it obstructed his ocean view (energy for he, but not for we). Other wind power projects have drawn environmentalists’ fire because of their allegedly destructive effect on wild animals (birds).

Geothermal – some years ago it was proposed to build geothermal plants near Yellowstone to take advantage of the massive natural hotspots. Environmentalists and the media managed to kill that idea, claiming that the plants would use so much heat that Old Faithful would no longer erupt. Where does the Left get its scientific education from – Mystery Science Theater 3000?

3. Nuclear fission – one of the safest and cleanest energy sources ever developed. No one has ever died in a US nuclear power plant accident (the same cannot be said for passengers in Ted Kennedy’s car). But environmentalists and the media killed off that idea, and consider it one of their proudest achievements.

4. Active solar energy – solar cells are made using toxic, hard to dispose of chemicals. And solar cells must be replaced periodically due to weathering effects.

5. Passive solar energy – might work on a cold day if the sun is out (if not, you will freeze to death). In the summer you will be very nicely roasted (the only question is rare, medium or well-done).

5. Nuclear fusion – so far is still stuck on the drawing boards.

By: LYNNDH

LYNNDH — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 14:32:51 +0000

Well, I Cap n Trade goes through and they start closing coal plants, who knows maybe “green” will gain. But then I never could wistle Dixie.

By: Gaius

Gaius — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 13:57:02 +0000

But wind power has a theoretical maximum 30% availability (it is actually less than that in practice). So you’d actually have to triple the number of installations and still pray that the wind did not drop off (or increase too much).

And STILL have to back it up with a spinning reserve.

Wind power is a complete scam.

By: Fausta’s Blog » Blog Archive » Is the Volt “a car for idiots”?

Sat, 05 Sep 2009 13:54:13 +0000

[...] Blue Crab Boulevard looks at the green mirage. Dennis the Peasant looks at one of my favorite cars, the Volvo S80 T6 [...]

By: Fausta

Fausta — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 13:43:45 +0000

I estimate that for the US to achieve any kind of significant amount of power from wind, we would need to be installing, on the ground, at least three a day for the next 10 years. And that’s assuming each one would be fully functional and operating without interruption for that period of time.