The Week That Was: 2013-03-23 (March 23, 2013) Brought to You by SEPP (www.SEPP.org) The Science and Environmental Policy Project
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Quote of the Week: “Most human beings have an almost infinite capacity for taking things for granted. That men do not learn very much from the lessons of history is the most important of all the lessons of history.” – Aldous Huxley
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Number of the Week: 42%
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On April 1, Fred Singer will talk on “Global Warming” to the Science Group luncheon at the Cosmos Club in Washington. For additional information and reservations please contact Ken Haapala by March 28 at Ken@SEPP.org.
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Urgent: Reviewers Needed for Climate Change Reconsidered-2
The Nongovernmental International Panel on Climate Change (NIPCC) is seeking credentialed individuals who are willing to serve as reviewers of the forthcoming NIPCC report Climate Change Reconsidered-2. Reviewers will be needed between April and August 2013 for various chapters and sub-chapters of the report. A list of topics addressed in the report, and for which reviews will be needed, can be found under the links and sub-links listed on the NIPCC Web site’s Topical Archive page. To volunteer as a reviewer, or for more information, please send an email to NIPCC_contact@nipccreport.org.
Thank you, your help in this matter is greatly appreciated.
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THIS WEEK:
By Ken Haapala, Executive Vice President, Science and Environmental Policy Project (SEPP)
The New Hockey-stick: As anticipated, statistical expert Steve McIntyre is shredding the new hockey-stick reported (in Science on March 8) by Marcott, Shakun, Clark, and Mix (Marcott-Shakun). McIntyre has found major errors and unexplained peculiarities in the methodology and treatment of data. These include truncation of data that are inconsistent with the conclusions of the study and which show a recent decline in temperatures. McIntyre reports that it is unknown if it was intentional or if the mathematical algorithm they used went awry.
Marcott-Shakun assigned different dates of the top of the cores (most recent data) from those assigned in the original studies – for example the latest year was 510 years before present in the original study becomes present (1950). Another core was dated in the original publication as 10th century but was re-dated to Marcott-Shakun to present day. There may be a rational for doing this, but it should be stated in big red letters. One commentator wrote that the Marcott’s original thesis justified some re-dating. But McIntyre reported that re-dating he is concerned with occurred after the original thesis, and Marcott-Shakun does not provide a justification for wholesale re-dating.
Due to the the re-dating, the data bases of the thesis and the Marcott-Shakun study now appear to be incompatible. Perhaps even worse, a particular class of proxies, alkenones, which account for 31 of the 73 proxy data sets, (according to McIntyre’s reconstruction) show a decline in 20th century temperatures under the dates established in the original studies. The re-dated Marcott-Shakun series show a sharp increase in temperatures for the same period.
Do doubt, more will be revealed in due time as McIntyre doggedly pursues his goal. However, editors and journalists who broadcasted the new hockey-stick, which was highly promoted by Michael Mann, should take the quote of the week seriously. Please see links under Challenging the Orthodoxy.
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When Evidence and Models Conflict: Martin Livermore wrote a thought provoking essay on what may happen if current trends continue, and nature departs significantly from climate model predictions / projections. The scientific positions of both sides may harden, until the political support for climate science can no longer be justified.
One may add that this course may be unfortunate for science in general as the public may begin to reject all scientific inquiry. However, the alarmists have added greatly to the burden, by expressing great certainty in their work, which politicians have used to pursue costly and, probably unneeded, alternatives to fossil fuels.
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NSPS: Some commentators are wondering why the EPA is letting the schedule slip for issuing final rules on New Source Performance Standards (NSPS). These new standards will include carbon dioxide emissions and effectively prevent all new coal-fired power plants without carbon capture and storage (CCS), a technology that has yet to be proven on a commercial scale. It is clear that EPA also wishes to impose similar standards on existing plants as well, but cannot do so until it issues the final rules on new plants.
Some commentators are suggesting that the EPA will relax the rules to permit high efficiency coal-fired plants; other commentators suggest that the EPA is waiting for the confirmation of Gina McCarthy to become the new administrator.
Former EPA General Counsel Roger Martella suggests there may be more at play than these two reasons. No one can request legal review of EPA’s proposed standards; the final standards must be issued before litigation can begin. The stalemate favors the EPA because no utility will start construction with the threat of impending, crippling rules. Martella thinks that the rules are legally vulnerable and the EPA is trying to make them less vulnerable. He also states that the proposed rules may be too severe for natural gas power plants, as well.
A further complication for EPA to regulate existing utilities is that the courts have ruled that EPA must rely on existing, commercially available technology. It cannot justify regulations by claiming it will drive technology.
An additional issue may be the upcoming 2014 election with the administration unwilling to totally outrage states dependent on coal-fired power plants and those with coal mining. Please see Article # 3 and links under EPA and other Regulators on the March.
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Energy Policy: According to the Investor’s Business Daily, the stimulus bill contained about $90 Billion for various alternative energy schemes. After four years, there is very little economic benefit to be shown for this expenditure of money. Expensive electricity from unreliable wind and solar is not economically beneficial. Although demonized by many in Washington, starting before and all through this time US, oil and gas production on private and state lands have soared, one of the few bright spots in the economy. President Obama recognizes this success, because he takes credit for it whenever it is opportune, although his administration tried to stop it.
In what was billed an energy speech, a week-ago, Friday, President Obama proposed an “Energy Security Trust.” Following the ways of Washington, the proposal is to tax success to give to failure. The president proposed taxing oil and gas to subsidize alternative energy schemes. Making the proposal particularly illogical is claiming it will be done in the name of energy security. The US is secure in natural gas, no imports from other continents, and North America is well on its way to oil security, especially if Washington would drop efforts to block further development, such as the Keystone pipeline expansion. US production of liquids recently surpassed imports. Please see links under Energy Issues-US and Washington’s Control of Energy.
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Alternative Energy Bankruptcies: Even recently, American politicians were insisting that America was falling behind China in the energy technology race. Solar and wind will be the success stories of the 21st century. TWTW suggested that China was not in a race to install solar and wind generation on the grid, but to sell solar and wind products to the West. With heavy government backing, Chinese solar panel manufacturers dominated the market. This week Suntech, once the world’s largest producer of solar panels, defaulted on $541 million in bonds, indicating the Chinese government, which backed it, recognizes that there is a glut of manufacturers and solar panels on the market. There is no reason to continue to fund a failing venture.
Also this week, Western Biomass Energy LLC filed for protection of bankruptcy court. Western Biomass was the first company to qualify for credits under the EPA program, certifying cellulosic ethanol for sales. Thanks to a law passed in 2007, refiners need to mix cellulosic ethanol into gasoline blends, even though commercial scale production does not exist. This further demonstrates that Washington cannot necessarily mandate or subsidize breakthroughs in technology. Someday a breakthrough may come for cellulosic ethanol, but no one knows when. The mandate was voided by the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in January 2013. EPA cannot mandate a technology that is not commercially available. A question remains: will the EPA use its power to lower the volume mandate for ethanol, which is driving up gasoline prices? Please links under Subsidies and Mandates Forever, Alternative, Green (“Clean”) Solar and Wind, and Alternative, Green (“Clean”) Energy — Other
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Number of the Week: 42%. According to Steve McIntire reconstruction of data from alkenones, which account for 31 of the 73 proxy data sets used in Marcott-Shakun, show a decline in 20th century temperatures in the original publications while Marcott-Shakun shows a sharp increase in 20th century temperatures. This, alone, calls into question their value as proxies for instrument data.
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ARTICLES:
For the numbered articles below please see this week’s TWTW at: www.sepp.org. The articles are at the end of the pdf.
1. The continuing battle over Marcott et al.
By Gordon Fulks, SEPP Guest Editorial, March 18, 2013
http://www.sepp.org/science-editorials.cfm#A82
2. Supreme Liberal Washout
The Justices unite against the trial bar and overzealous greens.
Editorial, WSJ, Mar 21, 2013
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324103504578372593347541144.html?mod=ITP_opinion_2
3. EPA Emissions Plan Faces Possible Revamp
Administration Considers Rewriting Rules as Trade Groups Say Many Plants Would Have Hard Time Meeting Limits
By Ryan Tracy and Tennille Tracy, WSJ, Mar 19, 2013
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323639604578370772219131476.html?mod=WSJ_Energy
4. BP Declines to Bid on New Gulf Drilling Leases
By Tennille Tracy, WSJ, Mar 20, 2013
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324557804578372400977454538.html?mod=WSJ_Energy
[SEPP Comment: Should a lack of integrity sanction apply to the EPA?]
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NEWS YOU CAN USE:
Climategate Continued
The angry silence
By John Brignell, Number Watch, Mar 20, 2013
http://www.numberwatch.co.uk/2013%20March.htm#silence
[SEPP Comment: Not much press coverage of Climategate 3.]
UEA CRU Lawyers Going After Tallbloke’s TalkShop
By P. Gosselin, No Tricks Zone, Mar 21, 2013
http://notrickszone.com/2013/03/21/cru-lawyers-going-after-tallblokes-talkshop/
[SEPP Comment: Lord Monckton’s suggested response is a bit provocative, though Mr. FOIA may not be a whistleblower as Monckton suggests.]
Climategate: the role of the social sciences
By Andrew Montford, Bishop Hill, Mar 22, 2013
http://bishophill.squarespace.com/blog/2013/3/22/climategate-the-role-of-the-social-sciences.html
Challenging the Orthodoxy
The Marcott-Shakun Dating Service
By Steve McIntyre, Climate Audit, Mar 16, 2013
http://climateaudit.org/2013/03/16/the-marcott-shakun-dating-service/
Hiding the Decline: MD01-2421
By Steve McIntyre, Climate Audit, Mar 17, 2013
http://climateaudit.org/2013/03/17/hiding-the-decline-the-md01-2421-splice/
[SEPP Comment: Disappearance of contradicting proxy data.]
Bent Their Core Tops In
By Steve McIntyre, Climate Audit, Mar 19, 2013
http://climateaudit.org/2013/03/19/bent-their-core-tops-in/#more-17592
The Marcott Hockey-stick: smoothing the past and getting a spike from almost no data?
By Jo Nova, Her Blog, Mar 16, 2013
Defending the Orthodoxy
Obama’s science advisers press for carbon standards
By Ben Geman. The Hill, Mar 22, 2013
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/289927-obamas-science-advisers-press-for-carbon-standards
[SEPP Comment: What physical evidence did these scientists offer that carbon dioxide is causing significant climate change?]
A lengthy weather report again affirms global warming
Editorial, Washington Post, Mar 15, 2013 [H/t David Manuta]
[SEPP Comment: The Washington Post peddling the new hockey-stick, now being crushed.]
Questioning the Orthodoxy
Von Storch/Spiegel Slam “Climate Science Hijacked By Politicians Who Claim Decisions Are Without Alternatives””
By P. Gosselin, No Tricks Zone, Mar 18, 2013
Warming Theory Doused!! World Leading Meteorologist: “Climate Is In Fact Warming Much Slower Than Anticipated”
By P. Gosselin, No Tricks Zone, Mar 17, 2013
The Feverish Hunt For Evidence Of A Man-Made Global Warming Crisis
By Larry Bell, Forbes, Mar 19, 2013
Allegations against climate scientists: the delusion gooders
By Axel Bojanowski, Spiegel, Mar 14, 2013
Even scientists are cooling on climate change
By Ann Widdecombe, Express, UK, Mar 20, 2013 [H/t GWPF]
[SEPP Comment: One of the 5 dissenters to the British 2008 Climate Change Bill paid the penalty for stating the evidence was wanting; now has reason to remind opponents that their certainty was unfounded.]
The Great Green Con no. 1: The hard proof that finally shows global warming forecasts that are costing you billions were WRONG all along
By David Rose, Daily Mail, UK, Mar 16, 2013 [H/t William Readdy]
[SEPP Comment: Some alarmists claim they were quoted out of context.]
Questioning European Green
Funding Shortfall: Germany Forced to Cancel Climate Programs
As prices for carbon emissions continue to languish, Berlin is planning to cancel some key subsidy programs aimed at increasing reliance on renewable energies. Germany and other European countries seem uninterested in fixing the problem.
By Staff Writers, Spiegel, Mar 18, 2013 [H/t GWPF]
[SEPP Comment: Great propaganda photo of condensing water vapor darkening the skies.]
New government research adds to biomass emissions controversy
By Mat Hope, The Carbon Brief, Mar 13, 2013
[SEPP Comment: Burning trees, rather than byproducts of the lumber industry produces more CO2 than burning fossil fuels.]
Climate debate cut from national curriculum for children up to 14
By Juliette Jowit, Guardian, UK, Mar 17, 2013
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/mar/17/climate-change-cut-national-curriculum
[SEPP Comment: It is unfortunate to drop the study of history of climate change, including ice ages.]
Questioning Green Elsewhere
Ten Good Reasons Not to Worry About Polar Bears
By Susan Crockford, GWPF, March 2013
http://www.thegwpf.org/content/uploads/2013/03/Crockford-Polar-Bears-3.pdf
[SEPP Comment: Would a better title be: Ten Reasons Not to Trust US Fish and Wildlife Science? Or, fill in the name of a favorite environmental pressure group for US Fish and Wildlife.]
Sir David Attenborough should check his facts on polar bears
Sir David was wrong to join the chorus on global warming
By Christopher Booker, Telegraph, UK, Mar 16, 2013 [H/t GWPF]
Adopt a polar bear? Have you seen what they do?
How did the polar bear, a vicious killing machine that is thriving, become the poster boy of climate-change alarmism?
By Rob Lyons, Spiked, Mar 20, 2013
http://www.spiked-online.com/site/article/13462/
An Hour of Darkness. Or Light!
By Alan Caruba, Warning Signs, Mar 21, 2013
http://factsnotfantasy.blogspot.com/2013/03/an-hour-of-darkness-or-light.html
Green jobs haven’t lived up to Obama’s promise
Commentary: Too often, green jobs end up costing us more
By Diana Furchtgott-Rott, Market Watch, Mar 22, 2013 [H/t ICECAP]
BLS Releases Another Phony ‘Green Jobs’ Report
Editorial, IBD, Mar 21, 2013
Garbage Collecting a Green Job? According to Government, Yes!
By David Kreutzer, The Foundry, Mar 22, 2013
http://blog.heritage.org/2013/03/22/garbage-collecting-a-green-job-according-to-government-yes/
Seeking a Common Ground
When evidence and models conflict
By Martin Livermore, Scientific Alliance, Mar 22, 2013
http://www.scientific-alliance.org/scientific-alliance-newsletter/when-evidence-and-models-conflict
My IPCC Review
By Ross McKitrick, His Blog, Submitted Nov 29, 2012
http://www.rossmckitrick.com/uploads/4/8/0/8/4808045/mckitrick_sod_review.pdf
[SEPP Comment: McKitrick hopes that the leak of the Second Order Draft of AR5 will lessen the flexibility of the lead authors to introduce major changes into the final report. One must wait to see if this is so.]
Obesity (?) of the U.S. scientific research enterprise
By Judith Curry, Climate Etc, Mar 17, 2013
http://judithcurry.com/2013/03/17/obesity-of-the-u-s-scientific-research-enterprise/#more-11294
[SEPP Comment: More on the direction of US government funded research and the irony of Bruce Alberts’ criticism the decline in funding from sequestering immediately after Science magazine, of which he is editor-in-chief, published the new hockey-stick which has significant problems.]
Communicating Better to the Public – Exaggerate, or be Vague?
The Washington Post Eilperin emissions trick
By Dave Burton, WUWT, Mar 20, 2013
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2013/03/20/the-washington-post-eilperin-emissions-trick/
[SEPP Comment: More use of propaganda photos by the Washington Post.]
Hottest summer record in Australia? Not so, says UAH satellite data
By Jo Nova, Her Blog, Mar 17, 2013
Climate Attribution Alchemy
By Roger Pielke Jr, His Blog, Mar 21, 2013
http://rogerpielkejr.blogspot.com/2013/03/climate-attribution-alchemy.html
Tom Coburn Amendment Limiting National Science Foundation Research Funding Passes Senate
By Mollie Reilly, Huffington Post, Mar 21, 2013 [H/t GWPF]
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/21/tom-coburn-national-science-foundation_n_2921081.html
[SEPP Comment: For political science research projects.]
Communicating Better to the Public – Make things up.
Report: India’s coal power a killer
By Staff Writers, New Delhi (UPI), Mar 14, 2013
http://www.energy-daily.com/reports/Report_Indias_coal_power_a_killer_999.html
Inglorious Warmists
Tedious documentary Greedy Lying Bastards
By Peter Foster, Financial Post, Mar 19, 2013
http://opinion.financialpost.com/2013/03/19/peter-foster-inglorious-%C2%ADwarmists/
[SEPP Comment: Interesting thought. Assuming Exxon, Koch Brothers, etc, spent $100 million on “climate change deniers” and various governments spent hundreds of billions, does this not demonstrate that private industry knows how to spend money effectively and government does not?]
Climate Change Could Mean 7 Times as Many Hurricane Katrinas
By Tim McDonnell, Wired, Mar 18, 2013
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/03/climate-change-more-katrinas/
Link to paper: Projected Atlantic hurricane surge threat from rising temperatures
By Aslak Grinsted, John Moore, and Svetlana Jevrejeva, Edited by Kerry Emauel, PNAS, Mar 18, 2013
http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2013/03/14/1209980110
[SEPP Comment: From the abstract: “The most extreme events are especially sensitive to temperature changes, and we estimate a doubling of Katrina magnitude events associated with the warming over the 20th century.” Why is ACE falling? Katrina was only a magnitude 3 hurricane. The damage to the city, much of it built below sea level was due to the failure of the levees.]
Measurement Issues
NOAA decadal scale rainfall trends found to be ‘wildly wrong’
Good News and Bad News
By Craig Loehle, WUWT, Mar 22, 2013
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2013/03/22/noaa-century-scale-rainfall-trends-found-to-be-wildly-wrong/
Winter Snow Melt in Greenland Grossly Over-Estimated
By Tom Yulsman, Discover, Mar 19, 2013 [GWPF]
Changing Weather
“Berlin Freezes In 100-Year Winter”…”Record Snow” Blankets Germany, Bitter Cold Grips Europe
By P. Gosselin, No Tricks Zone, Mar 22, 2013
The Mini-Ice Age has Arrived
By Allan Caruba, Warming Signs, Mar 18, 2013
http://factsnotfantasy.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-mini-ice-age-has-arrived.html
[SEPP Comment: Some in the Northeast US, who were told that the skiing industry will fail, may think so.]
Construction Of Warming-Obsessed PIK’s New €17-Million Facility Gets Shut Down…By Frost, Cold, And Snow!
By P. Gosselin, No Tricks Zone, Mar 20, 2013
[SEPP Comment: Nature showing a bit of humor.]
Changing Climate
Natural Climate Swings Contribute More to Increased Monsoon Rainfall Than Global Warming
By Staff Writers, Science Daily, Mar 20, 2013
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130320155251.htm
Link to article: Northern Hemisphere summer monsoon intensified by mega-El Niño/southern oscillation and Atlantic multidecadal oscillation
By Ben Wang, et al, PNAS, Mar 18, 2013
http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2013/03/15/1219405110
Pre-Viking tunic found by glacier as warming aids archaeology
By Alister Doyle, Planet Ark, Mar 22, 2013 [H/t Hugh Sharman]
http://planetark.org/wen/68226
New paper shows Greenland was warmer during the 1930’s and 1400’s than the present
The Hockey Schtick, Mar 19, 2013 [H/t GWPF]
http://hockeyschtick.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/new-paper-shows-greenland-was-warmer.html
Link to the paper: On the origin of multidecadal to centennial Greenland temperature
anomalies over the past 800 yr
By T. Kobashi et al, Climate of the Past, Mar 8, 2013
http://www.clim-past.net/9/583/2013/cp-9-583-2013.pdf
[SEPP Comment: Perhaps more important than the headline, is that solar forcing, and other natural forcings are discussed in the paper.]
Study Predicts Lag in Summer Rains Over Parts of US and Mexico
By Staff Writers, New York NY (SPX), Mar 19, 2013
Link to study: The Future of the North American Monsoon
By Ben Cook & Richard Seager, Lamon-Doherty Earth Observatory, No Date
http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/res/div/ocp/glodech/research10futureANM.html
[SEPP Comment: Changing . rainfall patterns and amounts have been a problem for ranchers and farmers without irrigation since the area was first settled by native Americans over 1,000 years ago.]
UI study of Midwest finds increase in heavy rainfalls over 60 years
by Gary Galluzzo
Ames IA (SPX) Mar 20, 2013
Link to the paper: Changing Frequency of Heavy Rainfall over the Central United States
By Gabriele Villarini et al, Journal of Climate, Jan 2013
http://journals.ametsoc.org/doi/abs/10.1175/JCLI-D-12-00043.1
Changing Seas
The tide ebbs on another climate myth
By John Happs, Quadrant, Mar 19, 2013
http://www.quadrant.org.au/blogs/doomed-planet/2013/03/the-tide-ebbs-on-another-climate-myth
Changing Earth
Amplified Greenhouse Effect Shifts North’s Growing Seasons
By Kathryn Hansen for NASA Earth Science News
Greenbelt MD (SPX) Mar 14, 2013
http://www.seeddaily.com/reports/Amplified_Greenhouse_Effect_Shifts_Norths_Growing_Seasons_999.html
[SEPP Comment: Probably as much to do with carbon dioxide enhancement promoting photosynthesis at the latitudes where the sun is at a low angle as with temperatures. Increased carbon dioxide also enhances the ability of plants to cope with stress such as temperatures and drought, all of which is ignored in the article in favor of alarmism.]
Unable to locate link to paper.
Review of Recent Scientific Articles by NIPCC
For a full list of articles see www.NIPCCreport.org
Microevolution in Alaskan Pink Salmon in Response to Warming (19 Mar 2013)
Reference: Kovach, R.P., Gharrett, A.J. and Tallmon, D.A. 2012. Genetic change for earlier migration timing in a pink salmon population. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 279: 3870-3878.
http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2013/mar/19mar2013a1.html
Simulating the North Atlantic European Regional Climate (19 Mar 2013)
Reference: Keeley, S.P.E., Sutton, R.T. and Shaffrey, L.C. 2012. The impact of North Atlantic sea surface temperature errors on the simulation of North Atlantic European region climate. Quarterly Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society 138: 1774-1783.
http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2013/mar/19mar2013a2.html
Problems of CMIP5 Climate Models with Tropical Low Clouds (19 Mar 2013)
Reference: Nam, C., Bony, S., Dufresne, J.-L. and Chepfer, H. 2012. The ‘too few, too bright’ tropical low-cloud problem in CMIP5 models. Geophysical Research Letters 39: 10.1029/2012GL053421.
http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2013/mar/19mar2013a3.html
Given such findings, it seems more than odd that leaders of numerous nations are forging ahead with energy policy prescriptions for halting global warming – which has been non-existent for close to two decades now – based on climate change projections derived from mathematical models harboring acknowledged problems that are supposedly overcome by compensating errors.
Land-Falling Tropical Cyclones of Southern China’s Guangdong Province (20 Mar 2013)
Reference: Zhang, Q., Zhang, W., Lu, X. and Chen, Y.D. 2011. Landfalling tropical cyclones activities in the south China: intensifying or weakening? International Journal of Climatology 32: 1815-1924.
http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2013/mar/20mar2013a2.html
Once again we have another study that provides no evidence for the climate-alarmist claim that rising global temperatures are leading to more frequent and more intense tropical cyclones in yet another part of the world. In fact, Zhang et al.’s findings provide evidence for the fallacy of that baseless claim.
Cap-and-Trade and Carbon Taxes
Eco taxes are nonsense if the earth isn’t warming
GREEN taxes have already added at least £100 a year to household energy bills and successive governments have viewed the threat of global warming and rising CO2 levels as a as a means of brow-beating the public while making them pay for the privilege.
Editorial, Express, UK, Mar 18, 2013 [H/t GWPF]
Beware the Carbon Tax
By Marita Noon, Townhall, Mar 17, 2013
Subsidies and Mandates Forever
Valero Says Ethanol Blending Costs To Double or Triple This Year
By Alison Sider, WSJ, Mar 20, 2013
Think ethanol is environmentally friendly? Think again
By William Shughart, Miami Herald, Mar 12, 2013
http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/03/12/3281243/think-ethanol-is-environmentally.html
Congressional oversight needed on Wind PTC rulemaking
By Staff Writer, Industrial Wind Action Group, Mar 19, 2013
http://www.windaction.org/faqs/37779
Unplug the electric subsidies
Billions more still won’t make customers buy toy cars
Editorial, Washington Times, Mar 18, 2013
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/mar/18/unplug-the-electric-subsidies/
[SEPP Comment: Electric cars are a fad for the upper middle class. Subsidizing them with tax credits makes no economic sense.
EPA and other Regulators on the March
Senate Democrats Urge Obama to Amend EPA’s GHG Rules for New Coal Plants
By Staff Writer, Power News, Mar 21, 2013
http://www.powermag.com/POWERnews/5481.html?hq_e=el&hq_m=2638998&hq_l=6&hq_v=5e660500d0
Former EPA general counsel Martella discusses legal impacts of new power plant rule delay
Transcript by staff, EETV, Mar 20, 2013
http://www.eenews.net/tv/transcript/1656
IETA’s Forrister discusses future of EPA air regulations for new and existing sources
By Staff, Transcript, EETV, Mar 19, 2013
http://www.eenews.net/tv/transcript/1655
Energy Issues – Non-US
Will Methane Hydrates Fuel Another Gas Boom?
Energy-hungry Japan extracts natural gas from deep-sea methane hydrates, but it’s not clear whether the “flammable ice” makes economic and environmental sense.
By Martin LaMonica, MIT Technology Review, Mar 15, 2013 [H/t GWPF]
http://www.technologyreview.com/news/512506/will-methane-hydrates-fuel-another-gas-boom/
UK promises shale gas tax breaks, public benefits
By Karolin Schaps and Sarah Young, Reuters, Mar 20, 2013 [H/t GWPF]
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/03/20/uk-britain-budget-shale-idUKBRE92J0V520130320
Energy return on investment – which fuels win?
By Mat Hope and Ros Donald, The Carbon Brief, Mar 20, 2013
http://www.carbonbrief.org/blog/2013/03/energy-return-on-investment-which-fuels-win
Link to the article: How to Measure the True Cost of Fossil Fuels [Preview]
By Mason Inman, Scientific American, Mar 30, 2013
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=how-to-measure-true-cost-fossil-fuels
[SEPP Comment: Difficult estimates of the energy efficiency of energy production.]
Energy Issues — US
As Gas Prices Spike, Obama Recycles Failed Policies
Editorial, IBD, Mar 19, 2013
http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials/031913-648589-obama-peddles-same-failed-green-policies.htm
In 2009, Obama used the economic crisis as an excuse to pump $90 billion into grants, loans and tax credits for solar panel companies, battery makers, electric car startups, wind turbines and the like.
As today, he promised that this “investment’ would create new sources of energy, new jobs, and lower energy costs.
An Energy Security Trust That Will Keep the Nation Moving and Growing for Decades
By Marita Noon, Energy Tribune, Mar 19, 2013
http://www.energytribune.com/75124/an-energy-security-trust
[SEPP Comment: The administration’s energy security plan is unneeded and possibly destructive.]
The Best Energy Policy
By Donn Dears, Power for USA, Mar 22, 2013
http://dddusmma.wordpress.com/2013/03/22/the-best-energy-policy/
[SEPP Comment: An authoritarian energy policy dictated by Washington is unlikely to produce the best energy policy.]
US oil production set to surpass imports
By Ben Geman, The Hill, Mar 20, 2013
Link to the report: U.S. crude oil production on track to surpass imports for first time since 1995
By Staff Writers, EIA, Mar 20, 2013
http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=10451#
Transportation Study Reveals Deep Cuts to Petroleum Use and Carbon Emissions
By Staff Writers, Golden CO (SPX), Mar 21, 2013
[SEPP Comment: Smaller cars, more public transportation, and Biofuels.]
Market Investment Outpace/Outperform Federal ‘Clean Energy’ Investment (GHG reductions without social cost)
By Tom Tanton, Master Resource, Mar 20, 2013
http://www.masterresource.org/2013/03/private-ghg-reducing-investment/#more-24772
[SEPP Comment: A difference between private and government investment is that if private investment fails, the investors, not the taxpayer, pays costs. This is one reason why private investment groups usually have far greater experience in evaluating the quality of the investment. Yet, often they still make major mistakes.]
Insight Into Smart Meters
By Donn Dears, Power for USA, Mar 19, 2013
http://dddusmma.wordpress.com/2013/03/19/insight-into-smart-meters/
Washington’s Control of Energy
Why Is White House Stalling Energy Measures?
By Rep. Matt Salmon, IBD, Mar 21, 2013
Obama defends green energy push after budget cuts
By Staff Writers, Argonne, Illinois (AFP), March 15, 2013
http://www.solardaily.com/reports/Obama_defends_green_energy_push_after_budget_cuts_999.html
[SEPP Comment: Ignoring the obvious, the nation does not need expensive, unreliable green energy.]
Did Obama Just Block Keystone?
By Stanley Kurtz, National Review, Mar 16, 2013
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/343182/did-obama-just-block-keystone-stanley-kurtz
Obama’s Plans for the Suburbs: And How to Stop Them
By Stanley Kurtz, National Review, Mar 18, 2013 [H/t Timothy Wise]
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/343242/obamas-plans-suburbs-and-how-stop-them-stanley-kurtz
Return of King Coal?
First U.S. Ultrasupercritical Power Plant in Operation
By Sonal Patel, Power Magazine, Feb 1, 2013
http://www.powermag.com/coal/5307.html
[SEPP Comment: Four years of litigation! Thanks to the EPA, it may be the last.]
Oil Spills, Gas Leaks & Consequences
‘Dirty blizzard’ in Gulf may account for missing Deepwater Horizon oil
By Staff Writers, Tallahassee FL (SPX), Mar 20, 2013
[SEPP Comment: The choice of words invokes emotional appeal. If it is naturally occurring, is it dirty?]
Nuclear Energy and Fears
Second new US reactor in a week underway
By Staff Writers, WNN, Mar 15, 2013
http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NN_Second_new_US_reactor_under_way_1503131.html
Second round of SMR funding announced
By Staff Writers, WNN, Mar 13, 2013
http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NN-Second_round_of_SMR_funding_announced-1303134.html
Is Small Nuclear Reactor R&D Fleecing the Public?
By Geoffrey Styles, Energy Tribune, Mar 18, 2013
http://www.energytribune.com/75099/is-small-nuclear-reactor-rd-fleecing-the-public
Britain gives green light to new nuclear plant
By Staff Writers, London (AFP), March 19, 2013
http://www.nuclearpowerdaily.com/reports/Britain_gives_green_light_to_new_nuclear_plant_999.html
Chinese HTGR fuel plant under construction
By Staff Writers, WNN, Mar 21, 2013
http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/ENF-Chinese_HTGR_fuel_plant_under_construction-2103134.html
Alternative, Green (“Clean”) Solar and Wind
Some basic facts about wind energy, It doesn’t work
By Bill Guderson, Washington Times, Mar 16, 2013 [H/t William Readdy]
Hiding the slaughter
Big Wind hides evidence of turbine bird kills – and gets rewarded. Here’s how they do it.
By Jim Wiegand, Canada Free Press, Mar 18, 2013
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/53864
Suntech Default Signals Chinese Solar Industry Consolidation
By Ehren Goosens & Justin Doom, Bloomberg, Mar 18, 2013
[SEPP Comment: Putting a positive spin on an overblown industry.]
Abengoa and BrightSource To Build World’s Largest Solar Power Towers
By Staff Writers, Seville, Spain (SPX), Mar 20, 2013
[SEPP Comment: Does not mention capital costs, thus one cannot determine what is meant by cost-competitive. Predictable is important, but it is not the same as reliable 24 hours a day, seven days a week.]
Storing the Sun for a Rainy Day
By Staff Writers, Dusseldorf, Germany (SPX), Mar 20, 2013
http://www.solardaily.com/reports/Storing_the_Sun_for_a_Rainy_Day_999.html
[SEPP Comment: Who would have thought that the storage of electricity would be a problem?]
Alternative, Green (“Clean”) Energy — Other
Corn Ethanol Fuels Riots
By Walter Russell Mead, Via Media, Mar 20, 2013 [H/t Timothy Wise]
http://blogs.the-american-interest.com/wrm/2013/03/20/corn-ethanol-fuels-riots/
[SEPP Comment: And the Navy is shifting to Biofuels to assure world stability.]
Senate rejects amendment gutting military biofuels program by 40-59 vote
By Zack Colman, The Hill, Mar 20, 2013
[SEPP Comment: There is a difference between investing in R & D for a technology, and spending money trying to force a non-existent technology. A fuel that costs at least 6 time the prevailing rate insolates against changing fuel prices?]
First Commercial Cellulosic Ethanol Plant in US Goes Bankrupt
By Robert Rapier, Energy Tribune, Mar 20, 2013
http://www.energytribune.com/75180/first-commercial-cellulosic-ethanol-plant-in-us-goes-bankrupt
[SEPP Comment: So much for government subsidies and regulations forcing creation of new technology.]
Alternative, Green (“Clean”) Vehicles
Greener cars could slash US pollution by 2050: study
By Staff Writers, Washington, March 18, 2013
http://www.oilgasdaily.com/reports/Greener_cars_could_slash_US_pollution_by_2050_study_999.html
Carbon Schemes
A Real Carbon Solution
By Joe Nocera, NYT, Mar 15, 2013
[SEPP Comment: Saving the climate?]
California Dreaming
Los Angeles Moves to Eliminate Reliance on Coal-Powered Energy
Summary by Staff Writers, NCPA, Mar 21 2013
Link to article: L.A. moves to eliminate reliance on coal-powered energy
By Kate Linthicum, LA Times, Mar 19, 2013
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-no-more-coal-20130320,0,4523042.story
[SEPP Comment: Forget the costs to the public, our motives are environmentally pure, say the politicians.]
A Green Politician Sees Black Gold In A Blue State
Editorial, IBD, Mar 18, 2013
Health, Energy, and Climate
Autism rates said to skyrocket, but based on flawed evidence
By Staff Writers, ACSH, Mar 21, 2013
http://www.acsh.org/autism-rates-said-to-skyrocket-but-based-on-flawed-evidence/
Environmental Industry
Anti-Energy Ideology: Where Eco-Imperialism Meets Vulture Environmentalism
By Paul Driessen, Master Resource, Mar 21, 2013
http://www.masterresource.org/2013/03/eco-imperialism-meets-vulture-environmentalism/
Sierra Club: Thy Name is Hypocrisy (natural gas for and against)
By Steve Everley, Master Resource, Mar 18, 2013
http://www.masterresource.org/2013/03/sierra-club-hypocrisy/#more-24751
Greenpeace Inc.
The $336 Million-a-Year Multinational Organization Turns its Focus to the U.S. and Global South
By Matthew Nisbet, The Public Square, Mar 15, 2013 [H/t GWPF]
http://thebreakthrough.org/index.php/voices/the-public-square/greenpeace-inc/
Other Scientific News
Great white sharks bite off far more than believed: study
By Staff Writers, Sydney (AFP), March 21, 2013
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Great_white_sharks_bite_off_far_more_than_believed_study_999.html
[SEPP Comment: Reliance on one study, no matter how accomplished, can mislead a field for decades. Replication is vital.]
Life Deep Within Oceanic Crust Sustained by Energy from Interior of Earth
By Staff Writers, Science Daily, Mar 14, 2013 [H/t Jo Nova]
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130314144340.htm
Highly effective communities of bacteria in the world’s deepest oceanic trench
By Staff Writers, Copenhagen, Denmark (SPX), Mar 22, 2013
Link to paper: High rates of microbial carbon turnover in sediments in the deepest oceanic trench on Earth
By Glud, et al, Nature Geoscience, Mar 17, 2013
http://www.nature.com/ngeo/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/ngeo1773.html
‘Bizarre Bacteria’ in Lake Vostok Study Likely a Contaminant
By Aaron L. Gronstalfor Astrobiology Magazine, Moffett Field CA (SPX), Mar 15, 2013
Other News that May Be of Interest
Lockheed’s Patented Perforene™ Filter: Sea Water to Clean Drinking Water Game-Changer
By 3MT, Third Millennium Times, Mar 19, 2013
[SEPP Comment: Could this become the “magic” filter to convert sea water into drinkable water at a low cost?]
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BELOW THE BOTTOM LINE:
U.S. oil production is booming. Here’s the catch.
By Brad Plumer, Washington Post, Mar 19, 2013
[SEPP Comment: For years economists have railed against the US trade deficit. Now, this expert claims that hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas will harm the nation because the subsequent reduction of the trade deficit is bad.]
Man creates car that runs on liquid air
By Staff Writers, London (UPI), Mar 17, 2013
http://www.oilgasdaily.com/reports/Man_creates_car_that_runs_on_liquid_air_999.html
[SEPP Comment: A new concept in a high compression automobile.]
Immigration reform — for the climate
Immigrants come to the U.S. determined to make a new life. So often they’re more open to the kind of changes we’ll need to deal with climate change.
By Bill McKibben, Los Angles Times, Mar 14, 2013 [H/t Timothy Wise]
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“Do doubt, more will be revealed in due time …”
No doubt, one meant to write “no doubt.”
Hey Anthony, will we see another update on the sun soon? I’m curious what direction the sunspot graph is headed.
Like a faithful watchdog that has become rabid and turned on its owners, the EPA must be put down and replaced with a more moderate agency with the nation’s wellbeing in mind.
“The Nongovernmental International Panel on Climate Change (NIPCC) is seeking credentialed individuals who are willing to serve as reviewers of the forthcoming NIPCC report Climate Change Reconsidered-2.”
I hope all the appropriately qualified people who frequent WUWT throw their hat in the ring, the world needs you to keep them honest.
Reblogged this on gottadobetterthanthis and commented:
While SEPP probably has already had more hits on this information than my blog will ever add, and WUWT gives it far more exposure, this is important. Lots of good information here. Also, I agree with R Barker. EPA is a rabid dog that has turned on us. It must be put down. We must have reasonable regulation and monitoring, but EPA has become antihuman. It must be ended.
Transportation Study Reveals Deep Cuts to Petroleum Use and Carbon Emissions: SEPP Comment: Smaller cars, more public transportation, and Biofuels – No not biofuels – Natural Gas
“this course may be unfortunate for science in general”
There can be little doubt that the collapse of the CAGW scare will have serious consequences for science in general. A lot of politicians and media figures have invested their credibility in CAGW. They will be looking for a scapegoat to save their own reputations, and that means blaming scientists. Scientactivists like Mann and Hansen are likely to become the fall guys for all the damage done by the idiot politicians.
Keep m coming. The insanity of the green brigade needs to be exposed. Thanks for all the links again. The tide is turning. Skeptics will prevail!
In his Guest Editorial in TWTW about the New Hockey Stick (The continuing battle over Marcott et al), Gordon J Fulks (PhD (Physics)) opens by saying:
“Technical fields, whether they be climate science or physics or meteorology or medicine or engineering or law, require some measure of training and competence. Practitioners are supposed to know more than just some of the technical jargon. That is why many are licensed. The public needs to be protected from charlatans. In many fields, it is illegal to claim expertise if you have none.
Unfortunately, it is impractical to license scientists because our field is so broad. Hence, we use education as the rough equivalent, because that is the first requirement in most licensing processes.”
I agree with Dr Fulks that training and competence are very important in technical fields, I think an enquiring mind is ultimately more useful. In my own field of electronics, I’ve known many who had the pedigree (completed requisite training) yet were essentially worthless, while many who started out as dabblers ended up masters.
I must respectfully disagree, totally, about licensing: history shows us that contrary to popular argument, licensing is not for the protection of the public from charlatans: it is about protecting someone’s rice bowl from honest competition. At least, I haven’t found a reason other than that, yet, though they often sound very plausible until you sort through the rationalizations and semantics.
I don’t mean to accuse, so please excuse me but Dr Fulks’ premise seems to be based in elitism: as if only those with a certain pedigree should be allowed to comment, or ask questions, or try to answer them. If this wasn’t his meaning, my apology for misunderstanding. But elitism of the sort that comes to my mind reading this is the philosophy of the political-activists claiming to be scientists who are behind AGW. It is Phil Jones and Michael Mann in the Climategate emails conspiring to prevent the work of other researchers from being published, for what I’m sure they thought were the best of reasons. We should avoid that sort of mindset. In fact, we must avoid that mindset. It is antithetical to the scientific method.
Scholars have taught me, and I believe it, that completing a course of study is not the finish line, it’s the starting gate. Scholars also taught me that the path I took is not the only path to knowledge, and to not criticize the path others have taken. We should listen to what others have to say without prejudice, and evaluate it on it’s merits (As a talisman against elitism, a very wise man once told me, ‘Son, let us not be too impressed with our own accomplishments, hear?’). You never know who might have the best idea.
Dr Fulks discusses the phenomenon of those who, in their responses to posts, do indeed appear to be trying to pass as having expertise they do not, most likely cutting and pasting information from web-searches in order to appear knowledgeable. A large part of his editorial is about how credentials in science, like a degree, should be used as licenses to screen these people out. Yet even he notes that, like licensing, it’s not perfect. I agree. And like licensing, it’s a terrible idea, chilling original thought that doesn’t arrive wrapped in acceptable colors. An incompetent will out; and will be tuned out, eventually, degree or not. Just as someone who hangs out a shingle as a plumber but doesn’t know anything about it will develop a reputation as someone not to call. A license doesn’t protect a customer. Knowing the reputation of your plumber does. A writer’s degree doesn’t guarantee a good idea. Our own acumen allows us to recognize those. Sometimes.
Many otherwise very intelligent people have become so blinkered by their belief in a particular theory that their opinions within their “field of expertise” are worthless: their responses are dogmatic, and no longer based in scientific enquiry or critical thought. This is a pitfall in science; history is replete with examples.
Science pursues answers. It doesn’t stop to admire them or preen. And to pursue answers, we must ask questions. Seems to me the greatest discoveries in science have been due to how a question was asked. Ernst Rutherford had the unparalleled record of teaching/mentoring 9 Nobel laureates in Physics (his own was in Chemistry, to his amusement). His genius was in tossing off research projects like party favors. He had a mind full of questions. His perspective seemed not to see what is, but to ask what he didn’t see. A trait he shared with Richard Feynman, another brilliant man and incredibly talented individual, and not only in Physics.
Science is not elitist; we should take care that we are not, either Regardless our pedigree, anyone may ask a question. And there’s no rhyme, reason or law which says that we must first have a degree to try to answer them, either…a fact which has annoyed the doctrinaire in their ivory towers since before Socrates, I’m sure.
(In memory of M. Leon Foucault, the ultimate amateur, and his pendulum—for proving a principle that “scientists” were previously only able to assume, enraging the “professionals” by understanding full well what he’d done, and then having the gall to explain it mathematically to them when they could not, even with their own reproductions of his proof in front of them)
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This is a bit naive, don’t you think? Just say that the global climate fell by 1K in the next month and kept on going down. Hansen, Mann et al wouldn’t miss a beat. They would call it proof of man-made climate change.