Clicking the Emerald Slippers, Stealing Your Money
by Christopher C. HornerNational Journal ran a piece yesterday (behind a paywall) by the German Marshall Fund’s Bruce Stokes, making the arguments that will be ratcheted up in the Senate beginning on Monday in favor of mandating windmills and solar panels: if we don’t mandate them, we not only won’t be using them but we won’t be making them either! This dire situation will leave the Chinese only themselves to sell the things to. Carry the one and you see how that harms our competitiveness.
Where to begin? At the root of this ritual case is a strange notion that being a leader in something – here, it’s windmills or solar panels – is intrinsically a desirable end. As I discuss in “Power Grab”: if we’re not the world’s windmill king…so what? It’s a windmill. It is not, as President Obama said, a new technology”, one of his rhetorical repetitions the curiosity of which should require no elaboration. Windmills are not a strategic industry. We have centuries of fossil fuels.
And after all this time windmills have come about as far as they can and will come with the possible exceptions of improvements in efficiency at the margins(solar is spectacularly worse). The laws of physics will not be repealed, the wind cannot be made to blow any more or regularly, and you will not decrease the host of very troubling NIMBY and other issues elaborated here by George Will.
Even rabid demander of such mandates, Obama’s Science Czar” (and population nut) John Holdren implicitly acknowledges the falsehood of the sales pitch that we can replace energy sources that work with windmills and solar panels. This leaves us with the principal argument in favor of these costly schemes, reported by E&E News last week as even acknowledged by Brookings Institute economist Adele Morris, as “the immediate need to reduce emissions”.
That’s about Strike Five I think, given that not only does no one say any posited emission reductions—under Kyoto, or cap-and-trade legislation – would remotely, detectably impact the climate, but the world’s most aggressive windmill and solar panel schemes have not in fact reduced emissions. Obama models Spain and Denmark are Europe’s two biggest Kyoto violators, seeing emission increases of over 40% under the treaty’s relevant period (vs. in the mid-teens for us).
These schemes have yet to result in the closure of one fossil fuel plant. That’s not for lack of trying, spending, or mandating (and the concomitant harms to competitiveness and family budgets, as I also detail in “Power Grab”). The, ahem, “backup” still has to exist, and do most of the work. This is all pain, no gain, just as would be requiring you buy two cars because the first one only runs every fifth day.
Still, we are told again in NJ that, apparently, requiring such redundant costs is good for the economy. Then comes argument made most aggressively, that failing to mandate these inefficiencies – remember, the premise includes an admission that without mandates, they will not come, saying quite a bit about their net benefits – will result in our becoming less competitive.
That’s absurd. It’s clear even in Stokes’ piece that what they’re really saying, without saying it, is that we would only become less competitive in the things we have decided not to mandate and without which mandates will not be in demand. We aren’t competitive in producing Concordes or civilian hovercraft, either. Thank goodness we left that to Europe, too.
So the final claim is the resulting failure to create jobs in these industries. Of course, even mandating windmills and solar panels would only ensure more jobs in those industries (other than installation) in China, the Philippines, and elsewhere where they are now being made due to comparative advantages. Larding on more costs of production here with renewable mandates won’t improve that situation. Which raises the most glaring in this irritating free ice cream pitch is the willful blindness to the costs of these mandates.
If you really believe that hurricanes and the Chicago Fire were good for the economy because, look, you saw how it put people to work, then the NJ article and green-jobs mantra are both compelling. But the fact that at this late hour this sort of fantasy-making remains the lead argument for demanding we leap forward to old energy technologies shows you just how dire things are, and hints at how bad they will get if the rationers succeed.
And they begin their effort to do so in the Senate, by whatever means necessary (the committee process has already been suspended by Harry Reid) on Monday.
Email this to a friend | Print |
Share on Facebook
| Tweet this
| 
Follow Us on Twitter
Subscribe via RSS
Got a Tip?
81 Comments
If they can be made for super cheap, I say go for it. Put windmills and solar panels on every rooftop of every business in every city's downtown. But they're always going to enhance the existing energy sources (fossil fuels, nuclear)–never will they replace them altogether.
It's like finding a dollar on the sidewalk every day for the rest of your life. Free money is great and every little bit helps, but you're not going to pay off your Prius' payments on $365 a year.
In my mind the only reason that GE got into the windmill game was because it picked up the wind energy business from the Enron bankruptcy for pennies on the dollar.
We must remember that much of the Glowarming Agenda was pushed to extremes by Enron in its lobbying for it all over the world to get signatures on Kyoto and its intended center for carbon credit trading where it would have made a killing just like its electricity trading with California (the state that bent over and said "Take me")
Thank you for highlighting the inefficiencies of some of the alternative energy forms that are currently being pushed by the White House and the mainstream media. We don't hear enough of the other side of the coin when it comes to the alternative energy discussion.
Although I think there is some potential here in this technology particularly for individual applications (e.g. as a supplement for power from the grid, or if utilized in those particular regions well suited to solar or wind energy), I am skeptical that a nationwide goverment push would result in anything other than another overweight publically funded money-chewing monster.
We cannot allow a windmill gap to exist between this country and the rest of the world…
I would love to hear lord Obama give that speech. What absolute tools these people are.
I think the Republicans should demand that large winmills be placed in the front yards of every congressman or senator that votes for this thing.
That would end the bill right there, good for thee, but not for me is still in full force in the halls of the corrupticians.
All of this reminds me of "Bernie Madoff ", a huge Ponzi scheme being played on all of U.S.
God Bless America
Every time I see one of these windmills I want to puke. What an utter waste of time and resources.
Some windfarms in California are shut down for 3-4 months during bird migration season. Would you buy a car that was not available 3 months of the year?
For every windmill, there must be a backup power generation source equal to the output of the wind turbine for when it is down for repair or lack of wind. That doubles the cost of KWHs again. Would you buy a car that forced you to own a back up car of the same price?
Never underestimate the tenacity or idiocy of the environmentalists. We as a people need to boycott the groups and companies the fund these idiots. All grants from the feds, states and local need to be suspended. Using our own money to front their agenda is ridiculous. that some of flows back to politicians as campaign contributions is also ridiculous. we used to be the worlds largest manufacturer of goods. now we are the worlds largest manufacturers of fairy tales and fears courtesy of the environmental movement.
It is long past time to use the liberals own rules against them. Take Kelo vs London and use that decision to build some nuclear energy, drill, and build refineries.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpucONE7WWk
This video is pretty enlightening about the faults of wind power
Well written article!
That is a really good point about emissions. Those European countries heavy into solar in theory should have much lower emissions. Good catch.
http://www.PoliticalCentrist.com News and views for independent voters
Michelle is teaching the country how wise and efficient it is to grow your own garden. (bless her little heart) So if hubby(bless his littler heart) wants to teach us how wise and efficient it is to use wind power, He should put a Wind Mill on the South lawn and use only that to power the WH. If he does that for the rest of his term and shows us the savings (and still has his hearing) I just might take it serious.
[...] » Clicking tһе Emerald Slippers, Stealing Yουr Money – Bіɡ Go… [...]
I totally agree, if they can be made at a cost effective price we should have them everywhere. I've only seen a few articles mentioning the limited down side to wind farms, like birds flying into them and rich people (like the Kennedys) not wanting to look at them. I think the only issue is their cost effectiveness. Stossel did an interview with T. Boone Pickens where they discussed the viability of wind power a month or two back, its worth watching
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha …………sigh
Everytime I drive over a speedbump in Minnesota, I wonder if it's the final resting place of Wellstone. I heard that he donated his body to safety.
[...] Clicking the Emerald Slippers, Stealing Your Money. Posted in: Economy, Government Corruption, Uncategorized ← Will Dems ‘go for [...]
I do believe even T.B.P. has given up on windmills,….and rightfully so,……….
How does one determine "cost effective price"
This concept sounds similar to "affordable housing",………another dog chasing the his tail phrase.
"We cannot allow a windmill gap to exist between this country….."
Were you thinking of George C. Scott in "Dr. Strangeglove" there Calista,..???
My son, who is an iron worker (Chicago Local 1) received his union annual report magazine.
They have pictures which show about seven workers erecting one of these silly things.
The sad part about it is these poor, monthly dues paying, lads actually believe that they will all start getting back to work like they were during the booming past twenty years,………..
and that the private sector will no longer be required.
In 1996 Bill Clinton gave away our rights and freedoms by his "President’s Council on Sustainable Development", he literally gave away the rights and freedoms the framers of the Constitution had provided. Agenda 21 is a global plan to change the way we "live, eat, learn and communicate". "Its regulation would severely limit water, electricity, and transportation and even deny human access to our most treasured wilderness areas, it would also monitor all lands and people. No one would be free from the watchful eye of the new global tracking system.
Bottomline – the Global plan is for us to live on the level of third world nations which means no box mixes or microwave meals, limited use of fuel of any kind, no air-conditioning and very little meat….
…I think these Windmills are strategically placed to either run people out of their homes or keep the areas where they've been placed free of people therefore conserved. Fishermen, loggers, farmers etc., are mandated to pay certifications, registrations, licience fees just for the “luxury” of running their business or just simply fish for pleasure. Farmers etc., can't afford the annual inspections, which have recently increased to two annually, therefore our small business' close down and the owners usually move to the city. All of this is deliberate. We're been herded off our land slowly but surely and into urban areas were we're all going to live as a “community” where we won't be permitted to drive cars, fly, or work outside the zone but live and work in the local communities. Meanwhile those who make the rules will be permitted free rein. The first thing we need to do is get rid of Clintons sneaky sustainable development council scam – then educate people on Agenda 21.
This is where our money goes..
Congratulations on your book Chris – eagerly awaiting the delivery. I've heard great things about it.
What's not to love about wind energy? It has exploded here in Texas and T. Boone Pickens' vision is a half million wind turbines in the wind corridor from Nolan County Texas up to North Dakota. What is lacking is a modern power grid infrastructure to care the power to the east and west coasts where the people are. We need a commitment to wind and a national effort to build the grid. Something along the lines of the commitment Eisenhower made to an interstate highway system.
Was it here or on another site telling us that these wind mills do not do well with high winds and in cold climates? I also remember seeing a program on TV about these issues.Therefore if these windmills have so many restrictions, what purpose will they serve and how cost efficient will they be?
Dependence on wind power for our future energy needs will only benefit the greedy blowhards.
Dependence on wind power for our future energy needs will only benefit the greedy blowhards.
I agree and I smell Alwhore behind the whole scheme.
Price = initial installation + (yearly maintenance in time and money * years of expected service given minimum maintenance) / years of service.
If yearly energy savings (kW * utility company's rate) is not significantly higher than Price, then it's not cost effective.
In laymans' terms: If you can make a windmill for 500 bucks, installable by a layman, with no parts to replace, and it works for 5 years, it costs 100 bucks per year. If my energy savings are $110 per year, then in 5 years, I've saved 50 bucks. Not worth it.
If the windmill last 10 years, saves me 150 bucks per year, then I've saved 1000 dollars over a decade. If I buy five of these for my roof, then that's $5000. Starting to get worth it, but there's still that $2500 initial investment. A toss up.
How bout one that lasts 20 years, costs 100 bucks, saves $50 in energy costs a year. Pays for itself in 2 years, and gives you pure profit for the next 18. Sign me up, I'll buy a dozen.
The only way "green" technology can be successful in the U.S is if no other country (china or india) were banned from selling their "cheaper" version in the U.S.
My company in Wisconsin is looking at buying some. In cold weather, they can "fling ice chunks" which can be dangerous to people and property. Also, at sunset and sunrise, when the sun is behind the blades it can cause a flicker effect, know to induce migraines in the Domesticated American Human.
Did you see the replies to that?
"Windmills are teh shiz! STFU oil lobbyists!"
People who don't know how to think are the single greatest threat to our nation.
[...] » Clicking the Emerald Slippers, Stealing Your Money – Big Government [...]
[...] » Clicking the Emerald Slippers, Stealing Your Money – Big Government [...]
When wind is cost effective it will develop. Until it is able, as a technology, to stand on its own, it will never be successful. Same with solar. No one in their right minds would invest their money in such technologies. However, the GEs and the Gores of the world are more than happy to use YOUR money to subsidize their positions while placing nothing of their effort on the line.
GE and Gore are the true robber barons of today and are part of the vermin crawling around on the public's dime.
Oh Mickey, Mickey, Mickey,……………
"a half a million wind turbines",………
how much area do they take up,…..
they do produce electricity 24-7,……..right????
how much electricity do they produce.,….??
that is going to have to be one hell of small area per grid system,………..ay Mickey
T.B.P. I do believe,………. has come to the realization of wind power,.
but than these fans are far more economical than than a few dozen holes in the ground.
Please respond,…….. and I promise to leave Al Gore out of the conversation,………..
I now what a sore spot that is for you.
In Texas we have plenty of space for the turbine towers. When I drive to Lubbock there are wind turbines that stretch as far as you can see. Land owners are compensated with royalties based on the amount of electricity produced. I'm told each turbine can generate about $10k a year in landowner royalties. It's just another cash crop to Texas ranchers. As for the wind corridor it has never stopped blowing yet.
If you are interested in the technical aspects google "wind power".
No, what we need is a commitment to obtain all the oil and natural gas we can from OUR shores!!! This would go along way to reducing our dependence on foreign oil. Look at what Canada is doing up at Ft. McMurray. They are extracting oil from sand and the operations are running 24/7. They cannot find enough Canadians to do the work and are importing them from around the world. I have been up there twice and have seen it for myself. We could be doing this and much more here in the U.S.
As a matter of fact, T. Boone Pickens' plan for energy independence uses domestic natural gas to power heavy trucks and equipment.
I agree. Put some windmills in the house chambers and we will have an unlimited amount of energy.
Funny thing is, most people who are against wind power (like myself) tout nuclear as the better option.
Great, we need to continue to explore for natural gas and oil here in the USA. The environuts won't even allow a single new oil refinery to be built. Without increased refining capacity new sources of oil get us nowhere.
Nuclear is a better option. But that's no reason to not consider all options (And use all options together in harmony), kind of like T Boone was talking about last year.
My point was that oil lobbyists don't like nuclear either, but they wind nuts only bashed the oil guys in the comments. Having been in the nuclear power business for 6 years, I know that there are 2 main concerns, start-up costs and what to do with the waste. Well, start-up costs are inevitable, but given the lifecycle of a nuclear plant, they really don't mean anything. With the waste, well, if we use a breeder reactor and make new nuclear weapons, we really don't need to worry about the waste.
If we want to Europeanize ourselves, I'm kind of surprised we haven't been more nuclear. France gets 70% of its energy from playing atomic bumper cars.
I'm all for the TB P plan, as he advocates getting energy from any and every source we have. Coal, oil sands, wind, nuclear, natural gas, solar…I have absolutely no problem with that. But pursuing wind and solar exclusively will never work.
Well, you know the saying, even a broken clock is right twice a day. Not everything that the Europeans do is dumb and anti-business, just the vast majority of them, lol.
[...] » Clicking tһе Emerald Slippers, Stealing Yουr Money – Bіɡ Go… [...]
Windmills and solar panels. The unicorns and pixie dust of the tree huggers. Listen carefully. THIS IS A RIP-OFF.
Chris is the hottest guy i have ever seen. Him and Elis Hennican could play brothers on tv. I love Chris….ummmm yummmy hottie!!!! Great politics, too. Pose for playgirl please….you are soooooo hottttttt.
Hell, they should put a windmill on the podium in front of our dear leader. He'll finally have a real job.
You are right. we can't even make the poysilicone in this country for solar cells. That is made in China. We have to import that. We make nothing here. Try to do the arithmetic. Solar cells make 50 millwatts of electricity per square inch. To light a 100 watt lightbulb you need 4 square feet and remember, the sun doesn't shine at night when you need the light.
Spain is into the 6th year of "going Green" and it's been a government-made disaster.
They lose 2 jobs for every 1 they create with green tech, and they already have 20% unemployment, along with a bankrupt country that will be the next Greece. The windmills and solar are so heavily subsidized by government it's making them go broke.
And, it's all based on the global warming fraud — just another example of the suffering people are gong through due to the crimes against humanity.
.
[...] Clicking the Emerald Slippers, Stealing Your Money [...]
No matter how much money and effort we waste on them, "alternative energy" sources will never produce enough energy to replace the fossil-fuel-generated energy we currently consume, let alone the amounts of energy that we will need in the future. If the Left actually believed their own scare tactics, they would be the ones fighting for a renewed and reinvigorated nuclear energy program. Don't hold your breath …
“Abundant, cheap electricity has been the greatest source of human liberation in the 20th century. Every material social advance . . . depended on the proliferation of inexpensive and reliable electricity. . . I don’t want to go back to nature. Haiti just went back to nature. People who work to end poverty and disease are fighting against nature.” ~~ Ross McKitrick, professor of economics at Canada's University of Guelp
cp,………..I believe the wm are designed to shut down in winds over 40 mph.
It was on this site there was an article about their being practically non-functional in
the Minnesota climate. The fiberglass blades became too brittle in the cold winter
temps.
some farmers from North of Lubbock have attended a meeting held by a company who claims
to want to lease their land for construction of windmill farms @ $2600.00 / unit / yr. Do you have
a source for your "$10K a yr landowner royalty royalties"?
BR,…………"greedy blowhards"………..with the initials of TBP?
Good good info Chile………Love the profs quote.
Anybody that believes they can meet America's electrical power demands for today and tomorrows growth with windmills and solar cells are delusional. Electrical power is generated with large turbines, period. At the present, the Unites States should be building at a minimum, of at least 10/15 new nuclear power plants per year, that to just replace aging and existing plants. All older fossil fueled power houses should be upgrading. However, none of this will ever happen unless government gets out of the way.
[...] » Clicking the Emerald Slippers, Stealing Your Money – Big Government [...]
Something I dont get is this, why is our government more afraid of eco-idiots than people across the pond that want us dead. Although I am with you, screw both groups and drill off our own shores and lets use our own resorces.
As for wind and solar, talk about outdated crap. Wind isnt consistant, and most equipment doesnt hold well, produces low power, and still isnt green by any means. Solar, equally as bad in terms of consistance (weather), and produce little power, and just like wind, their cost to power production is horrid. Im fine with solar on satillites and few work buildings, and wind is just white junk that makes eye sores of our great plains.
Curse you- you EVIL Laws of Thermodynamics & Economics! You've foiled my beautiful plans for world domination once again!!!!!! I'll get you for this, if it's the last thing I do!!!
It appears to me that this is being on top simply for the sake of being on top. Sort of some kind of busy work project? The Eco-Nuts seem to be really good at stuff like that.
I was told that at a party by a farmer who had forty of them on his property. We were standing underneath one in his backyard while he described his relationship with the power company.
You mean like during the middle of the day when there is a lack of wind?
I've driven by the largest windfarm in the U.S., which is Texas and never more than 50% of them have been turning at the same time during each of 4 passes through this 10 mile stretch on IH-10.
Wrong, have you driven along IH-10 and observed that 10 mile stretch of wind turbines? Likely not.
Let your voices be heard at GlennBeckNation.coms patriot poll.
Oh yes, the Mine Shaft Gap argument is still alive.
that goes for everything they vote for, they never have to experience the result of their horrible decisions.
We need accountability.
What's your point?
[...] » Clicking the Emerald Slippers, Stealing Your Money – Big Government [...]
When they show me a landscape solar light that can outshine my Bic, then maybe the tech has been successful.
The US has lots of natural resources, and the citizens should not have to have the elites shut them down!
Obama's EPA, already placed over 80 bans on coal mining in Pa., WV and Ky…the citizens are furious…our elec. bill more than doubled in Nov.
Now the AEP has gone back asking for another 35% increase in rates….we cannot afford this. The AEP did say it was due to an increase in coal….well duh…..if we aren't allowed our own coal…of course prices are going to rise!
I retired from one of the biggest Caterpillar dealers…if our elite keep this up, we will see jobs lost, not just in coal mining, oil drilling but all those connected with them!
Somehow, someway…the elites have got to go!
[...] » Clicking the Emerald Slippers, Stealing Your Money – Big Government [...]
Websites we think you should visit…
[...]although websites we backlink to below are considerably not related to ours, we feel they are actually worth a go through, so have a look[...]……
Awesome website…
[...]the time to read or visit the content or sites we have linked to below the[...]……
minecraft skins Thanks erstwhile solon for sharing this online. I sure darling every bit of it….
Thanks erstwhile solon for sharing this online. I sure darling every bit of it….
invest liberty reserve I think this is one of the most important information for me. And i’m glad reading your article. But should remark on some general things, The website style is great, the articles is really great : D. Good job, cheers…
I think this is one of the most important information for me. And i’m glad reading your article. But should remark on some general things, The website style is great, the articles is really great : D. Good job, cheers…
You must be logged in to post a comment.