Weekly Climate and Energy News Roundup

SEPP_NECoastThe Week That Was: 2014-04-26 (April 26, 2014) Brought to You by SEPP (www.SEPP.org) The Science and Environmental Policy Project

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Quote of the Week: Science is not concerned only with things that we understand. The most exciting and creative parts of science are concerned with things that we are still struggling to understand. Wrong theories are not an impediment to the progress of science. They are a central part of the struggle. Freeman Dyson  Number of the Week: 156,500 to 205,300

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9th International Conference on Climate Change

July 7 – 9 — Las Vegas, Nevada

Includes the Findings of the New Report by the Nongovernmental International Panel on Climate Change (NIPCC) Climate Change Reconsidered II, Volumes 1, 2, and 3

http://climateconference.heartland.org/

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SEPP’S APRIL FOOLS AWARD

THE JACKSON

SEPP is conducting its annual vote for the recipient of the coveted trophy, a piece of coal, The Jackson. Readers are asked to nominate and vote for who they thinks is most deserving following these criteria:

· The nominee has advanced, or proposes to advance, significant expansion of governmental power, regulation, or control over the public or significant sections of the general economy.

· The nominee does so by declaring such measures are necessary to protect public health, welfare, or the environment.

· The nominee declares that physical science supports such measures.

· The physical science supporting the measures is flimsy at best, and possibly non-existent.

The first two recipients, Lisa Jackson and Barrack Obama, are not candidates. Due to the late announcement, the voting will close on May 16. Please send your nominee and a brief reason why the person is qualified for the honor to Ken@Haapala.com. Thank you.

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THIS WEEK:

By Ken Haapala, Executive Vice President, Science and Environmental Policy Project (SEPP)

Blunders: The Quote of the Week is from Freeman Dyson’s review of the book, Brilliant Blunders: From Darwin to Einstein—Colossal Mistakes by Great Scientists That Changed Our Understanding of Life and the Universe by Mario Livio. Dyson writes: Science consists of facts and theories. Facts and theories are born in different ways and are judged by different standards. Facts are supposed to be true or false. They are discovered by observers or experimenters. A scientist who claims to have discovered a fact that turns out to be wrong is judged harshly. One wrong fact is enough to ruin a career.

 

Theories have an entirely different status. They are free creations of the human mind, intended to describe our understanding of nature. Since our understanding is incomplete, theories are provisional. Theories are tools of understanding, and a tool does not need to be precisely true in order to be useful. Theories are supposed to be more-or-less true, with plenty of room for disagreement. A scientist who invents a theory that turns out to be wrong is judged leniently. Mistakes are tolerated, so long as the culprit is willing to correct them when nature proves them wrong.

The critical issue is correcting the blunders to advance knowledge. In his book, The Great Global Warming Blunder, Roy Spencer details his view that the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and the scientists and organizations that support it, blundered by confusing cause with effect in establishing climate feedbacks from the slight amount of warming that increased atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) may cause.

Some may disagree Spencer’s views. But, as presented by Nir Shaviv and discussed numerous times in TWTW (e.g. April 12, 2014) the Climate Establishment has not advanced the knowledge of the impact on earth’s temperatures from a doubling of CO2 in 35 years. Since the 1979 Charney et al. report to the US National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences through 5 IPCC Assessment Reports, the estimate remains 1.5ºC to 4.5ºC, (3 to 8ºF), except for bump in the lower bound in 2007, since withdrawn,

The failure to advance knowledge is not from the lack of funding. According to reports to Congress from Federal government entities, since 1993 the US, alone, has spent over $35 Billion on what the government entities classify as climate science. Herein is a problem. The Climate Establishment has become a bureaucracy that cannot admit it has greatly overestimated the impact of increasing CO2. To do so would undermine the justification for the funding of the bureaucracy. See links under Seeking a common ground and http://www.sciencebits.com/AR5-FirstImpressions

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NIPCC: The latest report of the Nongovernmental Panel International Panel on Climate Change (NIPCC), Climate Change Reconsidered II: Biological Impacts, continues to receive press coverage, to include comparisons between the reports from NIPCC and from the UN- IPCC. See links under Challenging the Orthodoxy — NIPCC

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Climate Models: On the Global Warming Policy Foundation blog, David Whitehouse discusses the failure of the IPCC to discard models that clearly have no predictive value. The average of the models used greatly overestimate the increase in temperatures from additional CO2. The continued use of these models illustrates a failure in IPCC methodology – procedures. Discarding models that greatly overestimate warming would result in a significant reduction in the upper bound of climate sensitivity estimates. Such action would render many climate issues, such as species extinction, moot. The huge amounts of money provided by climate alarm would shrink, endangering many climate researchers.

Climate modelers have evaded the issue by discussing the number of years of no significant warming that are necessary before the models are shown to be invalid. Their interpretation of the issue assumes that which must be proven, is true. It is classic example of the logical fallacy petitio principii.

The right question is: what is the predictive power of the models? The answer is climate models have no predictive power. The models greatly overestimate the warming from increasing CO2. Why should the public accept IPCC reports when the IPCC relies on long-term projections from models that clearly fail in the short-term and have been failing for over a decade? The public would not trust an investment advisor with such a track record. Why should it trust the UN-IPCC or any organization with such a track record?

The insistence by the Climate Establishment that they are correct, without being able to scientifically demonstrate why they are correct, will undermine the public’s trust in science. Betraying this trust is a great disservice to science. See links under Challenging the Orthodoxy – NIPCC and Challenging the Orthodoxy.

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IPCC Challenges: Representatives of some developing countries are expressing anger at the full UN-IPCC mitigation report from Working Group III, which was released on April 15. The Summary for Policymakers was released on April 13. According to reports the anger stems from the full report classifying countries into three categories: low-level income, middle-level income and high-level income countries, rather than two categories developing countries and developed countries, which were previously used. Representatives of Bolivia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, Egypt, Venezuela, the Maldives, Bahamas, Syria, and Jordan are saying the income-based grouping of countries is not consistent with the longstanding practice of IPCC. If the effort to control CO2 emissions is successful, these countries may be subject to CO2 emissions restriction.

“Therefore, the report is giving undue emphasis on emissions from developing countries and negating the huge contribution of developed countries in causing climate change”, according to Chandra Bhushan, deputy director general of the Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment. He stated the report is an attempt “to negate historical responsibility for causing climate change and, therefore, the Working Group III report has not taken into account adequately the emissions before 1970.”

Another comment in an article discussing this issue states: The report was a dishonest attempt to divert attention from the current high level of emissions from rich countries, according to Shreekant Gupta, an associate professor in the department of economics at Delhi School of Economics and lead author of a chapter on risk and assessment of climate change policies. “IPCC is a pseudo-scientific body and its only purpose to include income-based classification is to bring attention to emerging economies like Brazil, China, India and South Africa, which are trying to lift their people out of energy poverty,” Gupta said. “It wrongly focuses on growth in emissions and not the absolute high levels of emissions or per capita emissions. SPM is totally silent on per capita emissions.”

It appears that at least one lead author of the UN IPCC report agrees with the views expressed in TWTW that the IPCC is a politically-driven, pseudo-scientific organization. See links under Problems in the Orthodoxy.

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Military-Industrial-Climate-Complex: One old joke about the Pentagon is that it is always preparing for the last war. According to reports, the Pentagon is preparing for a war on global warming/climate change. Since global warming has stopped, though it may pick-up again, and climate change has been occurring for hundreds of millions of years, it is not clear what the military strategy will be in fighting this war.

According to reports, retired Navy Rear Adm. David Titley co-wrote an op-ed for Fox News stating: The parallels between the political decisions regarding climate change we have made and the decisions that led Europe to World War One are striking – and sobering. The decisions made in 1914 reflected political policies pursued for short-term gains and benefits, coupled with institutional hubris, and a failure to imagine and understand the risks or to learn from recent history. In short, climate change could be the Archduke Franz Ferdinand of the 21st century.

Apparently, Adm. Titley is so concerned with climate change he has not bothered to study climate history. If he had, he would find there is nothing unusual about recent global warming/climate change and modern hurricanes, tornados, floods, droughts, etc.

On another note, the Army announced the planned development of the largest solar array on a military installation to be on Fort Huachuca, Ariz. The location in southern Arizona makes some sense. Tucson Electric Power will fund, own, maintain and operate the project, and contract with the German firm, E.ON Climate and Renewables, for the design, engineering, procurement and construction. E.ON has found that its optimism about the success of solar and wind in Germany was excessive, now it is spreading its talents. At one point E.ON declared that, with 10% market penetration, wind power would not need backup. As electricity prices soar, the German government and public are realizing the error in believing such claims.

Fort Huachuca is home of the U.S. Army Intelligence Center and the U.S. Army Network Enterprise Technology Command (NETCOM)/9th Army Signal Command. The announcement stated the facility is expected to provide 25% of the Fort’s electricity. What will the Intelligence Center and Signal Command be doing at night? What are subsidies to Tucson Electric Power? The reports did not say.

This is being done in the name of national energy security. Apparently, news of the shale oil and gas revolution has not reached the halls of the Pentagon, even though it is discussed in such staid publications as Foreign Affairs. See links under Expanding the Orthodoxy.

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Political Comment: Generally, TWTW avoids political comments such as sources of campaign financing. However, certain politicians, such Senators Boxer and Whitehouse, have belittled the religious beliefs of climate realists such as John Christy and Roy Spencer in feeble attempts to discredit their scientific testimony. These senators, and others, have embraced the promised campaign contributions of $100 Million by Tom Steyer, an ardent opponent of expansion of the Keystone pipeline.

John Hinderaker of Power Line has explored the sources of Steyer’s wealth. Steyer founded and headed, until recently, Farallon Capital Management LLC and its subsidies. Farallon is private company with limited public records. According to Hinderaker, Farallon was a major financer of the expansion of coal mines and coal-fired power plants in Australia and Asia. Certain politicians may rail against CO2 emissions but do not object to benefiting from profits derived from them. See links under Questioning Green Elsewhere.

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Number of the Week: 156,500 to 205,300. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics employment in the oil and gas extraction industry grew from a January recession low of 156,500 in January 2010 to 205,300 in January 2014. This growth of 31% in four years, 48,800 jobs, does not include the growth of tens of thousands of jobs that are occurring other industries that are benefiting from the expansion of oil and gas. This growth is occurring in areas not controlled by Washington. No wonder the environmental industry bitterly opposes modern techniques for extracting oil and gas. See links under Non-Green Jobs and http://data.bls.gov/timeseries/CES1021100001?data_tool=XGtable

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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. California’s Carbon Spending Rush

Sacramento proves that cap and trade is about income redistribution.

Editorial, WSJ, Apr 22, 2014

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303626804579507840884336078?mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%253A%252F%252Fonline.wsj.com%252Farticle%252FSB10001424052702303626804579507840884336078.html

2. Book Review: ‘A Climate of Crisis’ by Patrick Allitt

Before climate change, ‘alarmists’ and ‘deniers’ had it out over hazardous waste, acid rain, the ozone layer and rain forests.

By James Huffman, WSJ, Apr 23, 2014

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304512504579496060586409076?mod=djemMER_h&mg=reno64-wsj

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NEWS YOU CAN USE:

Science: Is the Sun Rising?

New paper finds solar UV is correlated to global mean temperature

By Staff Writer, The Hockey Schtick, Apr 22, 2014 [H/t WUWT]

http://hockeyschtick.blogspot.com/2014/04/new-paper-finds-solar-uv-is-correlated.html

Link to paper: glUV: a global UV-B radiation data set for macroecological studies

By Michael Beckmann, et al. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, Mar 27, 2014

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/2041-210X.12168/abstract

[SEPP Comment: A testable causal mechanism needs to be established.]

Commentary: Is the Sun Rising?

Svensmark’s Cosmic Theory and Cloud Cover Depictions in Little Ice Age Art.

By Tim Ball, WUWT, Apr 24, 2014

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/04/24/svensmarks-cosmic-theory-and-cloud-cover-depictions-in-little-ice-age-art/

New paper finds solar activity correlated to hydrological cycle in China

By Staff Writer, The Hockey Schtick, Apr 24, 2014

http://hockeyschtick.blogspot.com/2014/04/new-paper-finds-solar-activity_24.html

Link to paper: Imprint of long-term solar signal in groundwater recharge fluctuation rates from North West China.

By R.K. Tiwari1, and Rekapalli Rajesh Geophysical Research Letters, Apr 24, 2014

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2014GL060204/abstract

Climategate Continued

Turney in the Climategate Dossier

By Steve McIntyre, Climate Audit, Apr 23, 2014

http://climateaudit.org/2014/04/23/turney-in-the-climategate-dossier/

Turney appears to have applied the quality control lessons learned at the University of East Anglia to his planning of the Ship of Fools.

Challenging the Orthodoxy — NIPCC

Dueling Climate Reports as We Celebrate Earth Day

By H. Leighton Steward, Townhall, Apr 22, 2014

http://townhall.com/columnists/hleightonsteward/2014/04/22/dueling-climate-reports-as-we-celebrate-earth-day-n1827162?utm_source=thdaily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nl

High-profile scientists rebut climate change threat

By Peter Westmore, News Weekly, Apr 26, 2014

http://www.newsweekly.com.au/article.php?id=56559

Guest Opinion: ‘Noble lies’ damaging environmentalism

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been subjected to a barrage of catastrophic climate change forecasts. To avoid “death, injury, and disrupted livelihoods,” to quote from the recent report of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, we must make costly changes to the way we generate energy.

By Tom Harris, Herald News, Massachusetts, Apr 23, 2014

http://www.heraldnews.com/article/20140423/OPINION/140428467/2011/OPINION

People and Data Cherry-Picked For the IPCC Political Agenda

By Tim Ball, WUWT, Apr 20, 2014

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/04/20/people-and-data-cherry-picked-for-the-ipcc-political-agenda/

Challenging the Orthodoxy

7th International Non-Alarmist Climate Conference Sells Out! Yet Not A Single German Media Outlet Shows Up

By P Gosselin, No Tricks Zone, Apr 23, 2014

http://notrickszone.com/2014/04/23/7th-international-non-alarmist-climate-conference-sells-out-yet-not-a-single-german-media-outlet-shows-up/

Models Behaving Badly,

By David Whitehouse, GWPF, Apr 23, 2014

http://www.thegwpf.org/models-behaving-badly/

Scientific Evidence Not A Factor In Decisions To Ignore IPCC Global Warming Threat.

By Tim Ball, A Different Perspective, Apr 20, 2014

http://drtimball.com/2014/scientific-evidence-not-a-factor-in-decisions-to-ignore-ipcc-global-warming-threat/

[SEPP Comment: The IPCC’s 24 years of failure to make correct predictions are as irrelevant to government policy as are the primary interests of the public.]

Can we deduce climate sensitivity from temperature?

By Christopher Monckton, WUWT, Apr 19, 2014

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/04/19/can-we-deduce-climate-sensitivity-from-temperature/

German Interview With Patrick Moore: Greenpeace Living “In An Absolute Dream World”…Poverty Is Biggest Threat

By P Gosselin, No Tricks Zone, Apr 25, 2014

http://notrickszone.com/2014/04/25/german-interview-of-patrick-moore-greenpeace-living-in-an-absolute-dream-world-poverty-is-biggest-threat/

Defending the Orthodoxy

It’s the End of the world as We Know It…and He Feels Fine

By Daniel Smith, New York Times Magazine, Apr 17, 2014

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/20/magazine/its-the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it-and-he-feels-fine.html

“We Are living through the ‘age of ecocide’”…

Questioning the Orthodoxy

Examiner Editorial: Governments resolved to stop global warming even if it doesn’t exist

Editorial, Washington Examiner, Apr 21, 2014

http://washingtonexaminer.com/examiner-editorial-governments-resolved-to-stop-global-warming-even-if-it-doesnt-exist/article/2547473

Why Life in the 21st Century Will Be Nasty, Brutish, and Short

By Jo Nova, Her Blog, Apr 24, 2014

http://joannenova.com.au/2014/04/why-life-in-the-21st-century-will-be-nasty-brutish-and-short/

[SEPP Comment: Discussion of David Archibald’s book Twilight of Abundance. A global cooling from a decline in solar output will cause grain-growing conditions to move south, resulting in severe shortages in the Mid-East. The two other issues are energy, the author advocates thorium reactors, and Pakistan’s continued nuclear program.]

Social Benefits of Carbon

Researchers find arid areas absorb unexpected amounts of atmospheric carbon

By Staff Writers, Pullman WA (SPX), Apr 09, 2014

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Researchers_find_arid_areas_absorb_unexpected_amounts_of_atmospheric_carbon_999.html

Greater ecosystem carbon in the Mojave Desert after ten years exposure to elevated CO2

By R.D. Evans, et al, Nature Climate Change, Apr 6, 2014

http://www.nature.com/nclimate/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nclimate2184.html

CO2 makes growing seasons longer

Elevated greenhouse gas levels, not just rising temperatures, are extending annual plants’ life cycles.

By Nicola Jones, Nature, Apr 23, 2014 [H/t Ron Sundelin]

http://www.nature.com/news/co2-makes-growing-seasons-longer-1.15081

Health Promoting Effects of Elevated C02 on Common Food Plants

By Staff Writers, CO2 Science and SPPI, Apr 15, 2014

http://scienceandpublicpolicy.org/originals/health_promoting_effects_of_elevated_c02_on_common_food_plants.html

Problems in the Orthodoxy

Climate policy targets revisited

By Richard S J Tol, VOX, Apr 25, 2014

http://www.voxeu.org/article/climate-policy-targets-revisited#.U1nwRQrxBxQ.twitter

Scientists Licking Wounds After Contentious Climate Report Negotiations

By Eli Kintisch, Science Insider, Apr 22, 2014 [H/t Toshio Fujita]

http://news.sciencemag.org/climate/2014/04/scientists-licking-wounds-after-contentious-climate-report-negotiations

‘Censored’ IPCC summary reveals jockeying for key UN climate talks

By David Stern, The Conversation, AU, Apr 23, 2014

http://theconversation.com/censored-ipcc-summary-reveals-jockeying-for-key-un-climate-talks-25813?utm_source=Weekly+Carbon+Briefing&utm_campaign=8eacb3162a-Carbon_Brief_Weekly_18_7_137_18_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_3ff5ea836a-8eacb3162a-215218249

Developing nations criticize IPCC report

IPCC report could force some developing nations, including India, to adhere to binding pollution reductions targets

By Neha Sthi, Live Mint, Apr 22, 2014 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.livemint.com/Politics/9FkqOoUn2WhyxHgdl9sHQP/Developing-nations-criticize-IPCC-report.html

After IPCC Report, What’s Next for Climate Groups

By Alan Neuhauser, US News, April 23, 2014 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/04/23/after-un-ipcc-report-whats-next-for-climate-advocates

Seeking a Common Ground

Skeptical Arguments that Don’t Hold Water

By Roy Spencer, His Blog, Apr 25, 2014

http://www.drroyspencer.com/2014/04/skeptical-arguments-that-dont-hold-water/

The Case for Blunders

By Freeman Dyson, New York Review of Books, Mar 6, 2014 [H/t Climate Etc.]

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2014/mar/06/darwin-einstein-case-for-blunders/?pagination=false

The case for blunders

By Judith Curry, Climate Etc. Apr 21, 2014

http://judithcurry.com/2014/04/21/the-case-for-blunders/

American Thinker Publishes a Stinker

By Roy Spencer, His Blog, Apr 24, 2014

http://www.drroyspencer.com/2014/04/american-thinker-publishes-a-stinker/

Can Infrared Radiation Warm a Water Body?

By Roy Spencer, His Blog, Apr 21, 2014

http://www.drroyspencer.com/2014/04/can-infrared-radiation-warm-a-water-body/

Review of Recent Scientific Articles by NIPCC

For a full list of articles see www.NIPCCreport.org

Wheat Production in a CO2-Enriched World of the Future

Reference: Wilcox, J. and Makowski, D. 2014. A meta-analysis of the predicted effects of climate change on wheat yields using simulation studies. Field Crops Research 156: 180-190.

http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2014/apr/22apr2014a1.html

Evaluating CFSv2 Seasonal Hindcasts for the Period 1983-2010

Reference: Silva, G.A.M., Dutra, L.M.M., da Rocha, R.P., Ambrizzi, T. and Leiva, E. 2014. Preliminary analysis on the global features of the NCEP CFSv2 seasonal hindcasts. Advances in Meteorology 2014: 10.1155/2014/695067.

http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2014/apr/22apr2014a2.html

The Real Human Impacts on the Corals of Almirante Bay, Panama

Reference: Seemann, J., Gonzalez, C.T., Carballo-Bolanos, R., Berry, K., Heiss, G.A., Struck, U. and Leinfelder, R.R. 2014. Assessing the ecological effects of human impacts on coral reefs in Bocas del Toro, Panama. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 186: 1747-1763.

http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2014/apr/22apr2014a3.html

Four Centuries of Reconstructed Streamflow Data for a Utah River

Reference: Allen, E.B., Rittenour, T.M., DeRose, R.J., Bekker, M.F., Kjelgren, R. and Buckley, B.M. 2013. A tree-ring based reconstruction of Logan River streamflow, northern Utah. Water Resources Research 49: 8579-8588.

http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2014/apr/22apr2014a4.html

Measurement Issues

Krypton-dating technique allows researchers to accurately date ancient Antarctic ice

Press Release, NSF, Apr 21, 2014

http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=131136&WT.mc_id=USNSF_51&WT.mc_ev=click

Ice dating from Krypton

By Anthony Watts. WUWT, Apr 21, 2014

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/04/21/ice-dating-from-krypton/

[SEPP Comment: Further explaining the link immediately above.]

Clean air: Fewer sources for self-cleaning

By Staff Writers, Julich, Germany (SPX), Apr 22, 2014

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Clean_air_Fewer_sources_for_self_cleaning_999.html

Link to paper: Missing Gas-Phase Source of HONO Inferred from Zeppelin Measurements in the Troposphere

By Xin Li et al. Science, Apr 18, 2014

http://www.sciencemag.org/content/344/6181/292.abstract

Changing Weather

What a winter – media instead focuses on bogus UN IPCC model fiction and the hollywood ignorati

By Joseph D’Aleo, ICECAP, Apr 17, 2014

http://icecap.us/index.php/go/joes-blog/what_a_winter/

Tornado season so far may be the slowest in a century

By Anthony Watts, WUWT, Apr 21, 2014

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/04/21/tornado-season-so-far-may-be-slowest-in-a-century/

Tornado Op-Ed in the WSJ

By Roger Pielke Jr, His Blog, Apr 25, 2014

http://rogerpielkejr.blogspot.com/2014/04/tornado-op-ed-in-wsj.html

Link to WSJ Article: The Decline of Tornado Devastation

Despite what you might have heard about ‘extreme weather events,’ damage and loss of life from twisters is in retreat.

By Roger Pielke Jr, WSJ, Apr 24, 2014

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303603904579495581998804074

Uncertain if the link will work for those without a subscription

Changing Climate

Today’s Antarctic region once as hot as California, Florida

By Staff Writers, New Haven CT (SPX), Apr 23, 2014

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Todays_Antarctic_region_once_as_hot_as_California_Florida_999.html

Link to paper: Pronounced zonal heterogeneity in Eocene southern high-latitude sea surface temperatures.

By Peter M.J. Douglas, et al. PNAS,

http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2014/04/16/1321441111.abstract?sid=416fb7a8-dbf3-43d0-9dba-8b4bbcf0c1a0

[SEPP Comment: This is not news to geologists who are skeptical about human caused global warming.]

Air temperature influenced African glacial movements

By Staff Writers, Hanover NH (SPX), Apr 19, 2014

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Air_temperature_influenced_African_glacial_movements_999.html

[SEPP Comment: During the last glaciation.]

Changing Seas

Slowing sea level rise

By Judith Curry, Climate Etc. Apr 24, 2014

http://judithcurry.com/2014/04/24/slowing-sea-level-rise/

New paper finds natural Pacific Decadal Oscillation controlled Myanmar climate during 20th century

By Staff Writer, The Hockey Schtick, Apr 23, 2014

http://hockeyschtick.blogspot.com/2014/04/new-paper-finds-natural-pacific-decadal.html

Link to paper:

The climate of Myanmar: evidence for effects of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation

By Rosanne D’Arrigo, and Caroline C. Ummenhofer, International Journal of Climatology, Apr 4, 2014

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/joc.3995/abstract

Claim: Odds of storm waters overflowing Manhattan seawall up 20-fold, new study shows

By Anthony Watts, WUWT, Apr 23, 2014

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/04/23/claim-odds-of-storm-waters-overflowing-manhattan-seawall-up-20-fold-new-study-shows/

[SEPP Comment: The claimed odds are highly suspicious. What if the 1938 Long Island hurricane had hit New York City under the same tidal conditions as Sandy?]

Most Of The World’s Coastal Population Is In Fact Personally Experiencing Very Little Sea Level Rise

Sea Level As We Experience It

By Ed Caryl, No Tricks Zone, Apr 22, 2014

http://notrickszone.com/2014/04/22/most-of-the-worlds-coastal-population-is-in-fact-personally-experiencing-very-little-sea-level-rise/

Corals use multiple tricks to adapt to hotter seas

Genes and physiological acclimation contribute equally to heat resistance.

By Amanda Mascarelli, Nature, Apr 24, 2014

http://www.nature.com/news/corals-use-multiple-tricks-to-adapt-to-hotter-seas-1.15104

Study predicts sea levels in India will rise only 1.57 inches over next 100 years

By Staff Writer, The Hockey Schtick, Apr 21, 2014

http://hockeyschtick.blogspot.com/2014/04/study-predicts-sea-levels-in-india-will.html

Link to newspaper article: Mean sea level along Mumbai to rise by 4 cm in 100 yrs: Study

By Anjali Lukose, Indian Express, Apr 25, 2014

http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/mean-sea-level-along-mumbai-to-rise-by-4-cm-in-100-yrs-study/99/

[SEPP Comment: Questionable!]

Changing Cryosphere – Land / Sea Ice

Current ice conditions don’t bode well for Beaufort Sea polar bears

By Susan Crockford, Polar Bear Science, Apr 18, 2014

http://polarbearscience.com/2014/04/18/current-ice-conditions-dont-bode-well-for-beaufort-sea-polar-bears/

[SEPP Comment: The ice may be too thick for breeding ringed seals to maintain their breathing holes. With no seal pups to eat, what will bears do?]

My interview with CNS News: “Alaskan Polar Bears Threatened…By Too Much Spring Ice”

By Susan Crockford, Polar Bear Science, Apr 25, 2014

http://polarbearscience.com/2014/04/25/my-interview-with-cns-news-alaskan-polar-bears-threatenedby-too-much-spring-ice/#more-4945

New paper finds Alpine glaciers were of similar size during the Medieval Warm Period

By Staff Writer, The Hockey Schtick, Apr 22, 2014 [H/t GWPF]

http://hockeyschtick.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/new-paper-finds-alpine-glaciers-were-of.html

Link to paper: Little Ice Age climate reconstruction from ensemble reanalysis of Alpine glacier fluctuations

By M. P. Lüthi, Cryosphere, Apr 14, 2014

http://www.the-cryosphere.net/8/639/2014/tc-8-639-2014.html

Changing Earth

Earth Week: Bark beetles change Rocky Mountain stream flows, affect water quality

What happens when millions of dead trees, killed by beetles, no longer need water?

By Cheryl Dybas, NSF, Apr 21, 2014

http://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=130951&WT.mc_id=USNSF_1

Un-Science or Non-Science?

Florida is ‘Ground Zero’ for sea level rise

By Staff Writers, Miami Beach, United States (AFP), April 22, 2014

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Florida_is_Ground_Zero_for_sea_level_rise_999.html

[SEPP Comment: How did the undisturbed limestone and coquina rock get above sea level? Answer: sea levels higher in the past, without human caused CO2.]

Is Global Warming a Giant Natural Fluctuation? (Op-Ed)

By Shaun Lovejoy, Live Science, Apr 22, 2014 [H/t Tom Sheahen]

http://news.yahoo.com/global-warming-giant-natural-fluctuation-op-ed-013715546.html

[SEPP Comment: The author dismisses past warming periods during the Holocene as taking too long. What would he say to the warming after the Younger Dryas? Early 20th century warming without much CO2?]

Lovejoy Global Warming Paper 100% Wrong to Omit Previous Natural Warm Periods Say Friends of Science

By Staff Writers, ICECAP, Apr 21, 2014

http://icecap.us/index.php/go/joes-blog/lovejoy_global_warming_paper_100_wrong_to_omit_previous_natural_warm_period/

[SEPP Comment: See link immediately above.]

The Empire of the Viscount Strikes Back!

By Christopher Monckton, WUWT, Apr 23, 2014

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2014/04/23/the-empire-of-the-viscount-strikes-back/

[SEPP Comment: More on the Lovejoy paper.]

Some Coral May Be Resistant to Climate Change, Researchers Say

By John Roach, NBC News, Apr 24, 2014 [Clyde Spencer]

http://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/some-coral-may-be-resistant-climate-change-researchers-say-n88351

“If that is true, then perhaps corals around the world have a slightly longer period of time before global ocean warming completely does them in. … As the oceans warm, they will pick up some of the slack, but we don’t know what the limits of that are. We don’t know when they are going to get maxed out,”

Wildlife response to climate change is likely underestimated

By Staff Writers, Amherst MA (SPX), Apr 24, 2014

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Wildlife_response_to_climate_change_is_likely_underestimated_999.html

[SEPP Comment: The conclusions are not supported by the observations.]

Lowering Standards

The BBC’s great confidence trick

By Andrew Montford, Bishop Hill, Apr 19, 2014

http://bishophill.squarespace.com/blog/2014/4/19/the-bbcs-great-confidence-trick.html

So the BBC persists in the great confidence trick that it plays on the public, refusing to define the “science” that is alleged to be settled.

Celebrating bad science

By Andrew Montford, Bishop Hill, Apr 20, 2014

http://bishophill.squarespace.com/blog/2014/4/20/celebrating-bad-science.html

[SEPP Comment: To bureaucrats in the Climate Establishment, Mr. Mann’s hockey stick will never be retired as can be seen in this photo of the President of Yale with the Chairman of the IPCC.]

Is Asian Pollution Intensifying Pacific Storms? Separating the Hype from Reality.

By Cliff Mass, Weather Blog, Apr 20, 2014

http://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2014/04/is-asian-pollution-intensifying-pacific.html

[SEPP Comment: A global warming supporter expressing the scientific shortcomings of a paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).]

Delusions Climatic & Otherwise @ the New York Times

By Donna Laframboise, NFC, Apr 22, 2014

http://nofrakkingconsensus.com/2014/04/22/delusions-climactic-otherwise-the-new-york-times/

Communicating Better to the Public – Exaggerate, or be Vague?

Running Out of Time

Editorial, NYT, Apr 20, 2014

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/21/opinion/running-out-of-time.html?hp&rref=opinion

Earth Day 2014: Why the public isn’t warming to the climate change debate

By Karlyn Bowman and Jennifer K. Marsico, Forbes, Apr 17, 2014

http://www.aei.org/article/politics-and-public-opinion/polls/earth-day-2014-why-the-public-isnt-warming-to-the-climate-change-debate/

One in Four in U.S. Are Solidly Skeptical of Global Warming

By Lydia Saad, Gallup Politics, Apr 22, 2014 [H/t WUWT]

http://www.gallup.com/poll/168620/one-four-solidly-skeptical-global-warming.aspx

RAHN: The global-warming apocalypses that didn’t happen

The defining moment for climate change has come and gone, again

By Richard Rahn, Washington Times, Apr 21, 2014

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/apr/21/rahn-the-world-did-not-end/#.U1Xk_D2fKAk.gmail

Communicating Better to the Public – Make things up.

No One Cares How Many Predictions Earth Day Founders Got Wrong

By Chriss Street, Breitbart, Apr 22, 2014

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Peace/2014/04/22/No-One-Cares-IF-Earth-Day-Founders-Got-it-Wrong?utm_source=e_breitbart_com&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Breitbart+News+Roundup%2C+April+23%2C+2014&utm_campaign=20140423_m120098647_Breitbart+News+Roundup%2C+April+23%2C+2014&utm_term=More

[SEPP Comment: A list of false predictions by those many consider to be prophets.]

Renewable Lies

By Seldon B. Graham, Jr., American Thinker, Apr, 24, 2014 [H/t Timothy Wise]

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2014/04/renewable_lies.html

Why climate deniers are winning: The twisted psychology that overwhelms scientific consensus

There’s a reason why overwhelming evidence hasn’t spurred public action against global warming

By Paul Rosenberg, Salon, Apr 19, 2014

http://www.salon.com/2014/04/19/why_climate_deniers_are_winning_the_twisted_psychology_that_overwhelms_scientific_consensus/

[SEPP Comment: What physical evidence? The author cannot be bothered to honestly state the position of most skeptics.]

Communicating Better to the Public – Use Propaganda on Children

Common Core’s Climate Indoctrination

By James Rust, Master Resource, Apr 21, 2014

http://www.masterresource.org/2014/04/common-core-climate-indoctrination/

Climate Brainwashing of Children: a rough guide to spotting it happening.

By John Shade, Climate Lessons, Apr 15, 2014 [H/t GWPF]

http://climatelessons.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/climate-brainwashing-of-children-rough.html

Climate Change: A Warming Planet

By Staff Writers, National Park Service, No Date [H/t David Kreutzer]

http://www.nps.gov/npsa/forteachers/a-warming-planet.htm

Expanding the Orthodoxy

$3 Mil for Philippine Project to Combat Global Warming in Pacific Rim

By Staff Writers, Judicial Watch, Apr 17, 2014 [H/t Timothy Wise]

http://www.judicialwatch.org/blog/2014/04/3-mil-philippine-project-combat-global-warming-pacific-rim/

[SEPP Comment: Spreading tax money around. Part of the $22.5 Billion in FY 2013 expenditures?]

“Climate Change War” Is Not a Metaphor

The U.S. military is preparing for conflict, retired Navy Rear Adm. David Titley says in an interview.

By Eric Holthaus, Slate, Apr 18, 2014

http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2014/04/david_titley_climate_change_war_an_interview_with_the_retired_rear_admiral.single.html

Largest solar array on U.S. military installation to be developed

By U.S. Army News Release, US Army, Apr 17, 2014

http://www.army.mil/article/124009/Largest_solar_array_on_U_S__military_installation_to_be_developed/

Questioning European Green

More Germans Getting Their Power Cut Off Because They Can’t Afford Paying Sky-High Green Electric Bills

By P. Gosselin, No Tricks Zone, Apr 19, 2014

http://notrickszone.com/2014/04/19/more-germans-getting-their-power-cut-off-because-they-cant-afford-paying-sky-high-green-electric-bills/

Will the wind in Spain blow slower on the plain?

By Matthew Wall, BBC, Apr 21, 2014 [H/t Scientific Alliance]

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-27032797

[SEPP Comment: The industry feels it is being punished for its success in taking subsidies that are bleeding the government’s coffers dry.]

Questioning Green Elsewhere

The Epic Hypocrisy of Tom Steyer

By John Hinderaker, Power Line, Apr 20, 2014 [H/t Rick Phelps]

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2014/04/the-epic-hypocrisy-of-tom-steyer.php

Putting People First on Earth Day

By Anthony J. Sadar, American Thinker, Apr 22, 2014

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2014/04/putting_people_first_on_earth_day.html

The Rise and Fall of Earth Day, a Day No One Notices Anymore

By Patrick J. Michaels, CATO, Apr 22, 2014

http://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/rise-fall-earth-day-day-no-one-notices-anymore

Greenbait

By Andrew Montford, Bishop Hill, Apr 23, 2014

http://bishophill.squarespace.com/blog/2014/4/23/greenbait.html

[SEPP Comment: On an upcoming book by Ian Plimer.]

“Happy Earth Day” (Julian Simon 25th anniversary essay speaks to us today)

By Robert Bradley Jr., Master Resource, April 22, 2014

http://www.masterresource.org/2014/04/simon-happy-earth-day/

Happy Earth Day

By Steven Hayward, Power Line, Apr 22, 2014

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2014/04/happy-earth-day-3.php

In observance of the ‘green holy day’ Earth Day: The science of economics versus the religion of environmentalism

By Mark Perry, AEIdeas, Apr 20, 2014

http://www.aei-ideas.org/2014/04/in-observance-of-the-green-holy-day-earth-day-the-science-of-economics-versus-the-religion-of-environmentalism/

Paul Krugman’s Solar Delusions

Solar’s getting cheaper, but it can never be a big reducer of carbon emissions.

By Robert Bryce, National Review, Apr 22, 2014 [H/t Timothy Wise]

http://www.nationalreview.com/article/376236/paul-krugmans-solar-delusions-robert-bryce

The Richer We Get, The Greener We’ll Become

By Matt Ridley, The Times, Via GWPF, Apr 21, 2014

http://www.thegwpf.org/matt-ridley-the-richer-we-get-the-greener-well-become/

Non-Green Jobs

Labor Shortage Threatens to Bust the Shale Boom

By Isaac Arnsdorf, Dan Murtaugh and Jack Kaskey, Bloomberg, Apr 17, 2014 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-04-17/midnight-welding-picks-up-slack-that-imperils-shale-boom.html

[SEPP Comment: This is bad? Many other parts of the country would like to have this problem.]

Environmental groups cringe as some trade unions support oil and gas drilling, pipelines

By Kevin Begos, AP, Apr 20, 2014 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.startribune.com/business/255929381.html

In 2008, LIUNA members worked about 400,000 hours on such jobs; by 2012, that had risen to 5.7 million hours.

Litigation Issues

€2.2 billion owed to German nuclear utilities

By Staff Writers, WNN, Apr 15, 2014

http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NP-2point2-billion-owed-to-German-nuclear-utilities-1504141.html

Cap-and-Trade and Carbon Taxes

Green Taxes May Doom Britain’s Energy-Intensive Industry

Brian Groom, Andy Sharman and Alex Barker, Financial Times, Via GWPF, Apr 21, 2014

http://www.thegwpf.org/green-taxes-may-doom-britains-energy-intensive-industry/

Subsidies and Mandates Forever

China carbon cash party over as U.N. credit stream dries up

By Stian Reklev and Kathy Chen, Reuters, Apr 22, 2014 [H/t GWPF]

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/04/22/china-carbon-idUKL3N0N725A20140422

The government giveth and the government taketh away…

By Martin Livermore, Scientific Alliance, Apr 25, 2014

http://scientific-alliance.org/scientific-alliance-newsletter/government-giveth-and-government-taketh-away

Wind Industry Produces Little Energy, Lots Of Hot Air

Editorial, IBD, Apr 22, 2014

http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials/042214-697939-wind-industry-in-trouble-despite-massive-subsidies.htm?p=full

Exelon’s Von Hoene discusses impact of wind energy incentives on nuclear’s competitiveness

By Staff Writers, EETV, Apr 24, 2014

http://www.eenews.net/tv/videos/1816/transcript

Obama launches measures to support solar energy in US

By Staff Writers, Washington (AFP), April 17, 2014

http://www.solardaily.com/reports/Obama_launches_measures_to_support_solar_energy_in_US_999.html

State of wind energy 2014: Desperately seeking subsidies

By Marta Noon, Midland Reporter-Telegram, TX, Apr 25, 2014 [H/t Cooler Heads]

http://www.mrt.com/business/oil/top_stories/article_73d62216-cc99-11e3-a9ab-0019bb2963f4.html

EPA and other Regulators on the March

‘EPA Caught!’

By Charles Battig, American Thinker, Apr 19, 2014

http://americanthinker.com/blog/2014/04/epa_caught_.html

EPA’s Downward Revision of Cellulosic Target Reminds Us (again) That Government Can’t Create Viable Green Energy Industries

By William Yeatman, Global Warming.org, Apr 23, 2014

http://www.globalwarming.org/2014/04/23/epas-downward-revision-of-cellulosic-target-reminds-us-again-that-government-cant-create-viable-green-energy-industries/

EPA chief: Fighting climate change is top priority

By Laura Barron-Lopez, The Hill, Apr 22, 2014

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/204027-epa-chief-fighting-climate-change-is-top-priority

Fracking for bigger budgets,

By Benjamin Zycher, The Hill, Apr 21, 2014

http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/economy-budget/203892-fracking-for-bigger-budgets

Farm Bureau pledges to fight EPA’s water rule

By Timothy Cama, The Hill, Apr 22, 2014

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/204096-farm-bureau-pledges-to-fight-epas-water-rule

China’s Pollution Battle

Coal’s continuing dominance in Chinese energy supply makes clean-air campaign an uphill battle

By Gerard Burg, South China Morning Post, Apr 25, 2014 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1496542/coals-continuing-dominance-chinese-energy-supply-makes-clean

[SEPP Comment: By adopting western pollution control devises on coal-fired power plants, China can significantly clean the air in the cities without reducing coal consumption.]

China Takes On Pollution With Biggest Changes in 25 Years

By Staff Writers, Bloomberg, Apr 25, 2014 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-04-24/china-enacts-biggest-pollution-curbs-in-25-years.html

[SEPP Comment: Does not mention if CO2 is considered a pollutant.]

60% of China underground water polluted: report

By Staff Writers, Beijing (AFP), April 23, 2014

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/60_of_China_underground_water_polluted_report_999.html

[SEPP Comment: Much of the water in developed countries is too “polluted” to drink without treatment.]

China says massive area of its soil polluted

By Staff Writers, Beijing (AFP), April 17, 2014

http://www.seeddaily.com/reports/China_says_massive_area_of_its_soil_polluted_999.html

Energy Issues – Non-US

Europe Braces For Gas Showdown With Russia As Japan Restarts Its Nuclear Power Plants

By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, The Daily Telegraph, Via GWPF, Apr 23, 2014

http://www.thegwpf.org/europe-braces-for-gas-showdown-with-russia-as-japan-restarts-its-nuclear-power-plants/

Baltic states lead push to cut Russia gas reliance

By Monika Scislowska and Jari Tanner, AP, Apr 25, 2014 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-2612906/Baltic-states-lead-push-cut-Russia-gas-reliance.html

Poland Pushes Coal on Europe as Putin Wields Gas Weapon

By Ladka Bauerova, Bloomberg, Apr 24, 2014 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-04-23/poland-pushes-coal-on-europe-as-putin-wields-gas-weapon.html

How Britain is wasting its real shale gas potential

By Benny Peiser, City A.M. Apr 24, 2014 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.cityam.com/article/1398365112/how-britain-wasting-its-real-shale-gas-potential

Putin’s Achilles heel: oil and gas

By Eric Reguly, The Globe and Mail, Apr 24, 2014

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-magazine/putins-soft-underbelly/article18124303/?cmpid=rss1

Security blanket

By Andrew Montford, Bishop Hill, Apr 24, 2014

http://bishophill.squarespace.com/blog/2014/4/24/security-blanket.html

Energy Issues — US

High-Voltage Transmission Lines to Act as Antenna in First-of-its-Kind NASA Space-Weather Project

By Lori Keesey for Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD (SPX), Apr 25, 2014

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/High_Voltage_Transmission_Lines_to_Act_as_Antenna_in_First_of_its_Kind_NASA_Space_Weather_Project_999.html

[SEPP Comment: A step towards securing the grid from solar storms – coronal mass ejections?]

Earth Day: Hail Fossil Fuels, Energy Of The Future

By Mark Perry, IBD, Apr 21, 2014 [H/t Timothy Wise]

http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials-brain-trust/042114-697802-earth-day-fossil-fuels-will-remain-main-energy-source.htm

Why Destroy The Grid?

By Donn Dears, Power For USA, Apr 16, 2014

http://dddusmma.wordpress.com/2014/04/26/why-destroy-the-grid/

America’s power grid at the limit: the road to electrical blackouts

By Steve Goreham, Communities Digital News, Apr 23, 2014

http://www.commdiginews.com/life/americas-power-grid-at-the-limit-the-road-to-electrical-blackouts-15826/

[SEPP Comment: Natural gas is not stored as conveniently as coal, which can be stored at the coal-fired plants. The net effect of shutting down coal-fired plants is less flexibility when resources are strained.]

DOE to Open $4B More in Loan Guarantees for Renewables, Energy Efficiency Projects

By Sonal Patel, Power News, Apr 17, 2014

http://www.powermag.com/doe-to-open-4b-more-in-loan-guarantees-for-renewables-energy-efficiency-projects/?hq_e=el&hq_m=2871176&hq_l=24&hq_v=5e660500d0

Report: US not ready for Arctic drilling

By Laura Barron-Lopez, The Hill, Apr 23, 2014

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/204199-report-us-not-ready-for-arctic-drilling

Link to Report: Oil Spill Clean Up in U.S. Arctic Waters Requires Increased Infrastructure to Use Full Range of Response Methods

By Staff Writers, National Research Council, Apr 23, 2014

http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=18625

Washington’s Control of Energy

How Obama Shocked Harper as Keystone’s Frustrator-in-Chief

By By Edward Greenspon, Andrew Mayeda, Rebecca Penty and Theophilos Argitis, Bloomberg, Apr 25,2014

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-04-24/how-obama-shocked-harper-as-keystone-frustrator-in-chief.html

Stalling On Keystone Shows President Couldn’t Care Less

By Lawrence Kudlow, IBD, Apr 25, 2014

http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials-perspective/042514-698491-obama-panders-to-tom-steyer-delays-keystone.htm?p=full

From ‘Prudent’ to ‘Shameful,’ Latest Keystone Delay Irks Both Sides of the Aisle

Despite calls for the shovel-ready jobs and GDP boost to get moving, State Department defends kicking the can.

By Bill Straub, PJ Media, Apr 23, 2014 [H/t Timothy Wise]

http://pjmedia.com/blog/from-prudent-to-shameful-latest-keystone-delay-irks-both-sides-of-the-aisle/

Obama Seeks To Delay Keystone Pipeline To Death

Editorial, IBD, Apr 21, 2014 [H/t Timothy Wise]

http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials/042114-697793-obama-finds-new-reason-to-delay-big-job-creating-pipeline-project.htm

Oil and Natural Gas – the Future or the Past?

The United States of Gas

Why the Shale Revolution Could Have Happened Only in America

By Robert A. Hefner III, Foreign Affairs, Via GWPF, May/June 2014

http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/141203/robert-a-hefner-iii/the-united-states-of-gas

A story of ice and fire: how methane hydrates could change the world

By Gabriel Camus, Energy Post, Apr 23, 2014 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.energypost.eu/story-ice-fire-methane-hydrates-change-world/

[SEPP Comment: The claim of methane release from Arctic warming is questionable.]

Welcome to the Revolution

Why Shale Is the Next Shale

By Edward Morse, Foreign Affairs, May/June 2014 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/141202/edward-l-morse/welcome-to-the-revolution

When Oil Spiked In 2008, IBD Told The Country Why

Editorial, IBD, Apr 24, 2014

http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials-perspective/042414-698323-ibd-didnt-sit-idle-when-oil-prices-spiked.htm?p=full

How to avoid water wars between ‘fracking’ industry and residents

By Staff Writers, Phys.org, April 23, 2014

http://phys.org/news/2014-04-wars-fracking-industry-residents.html

Link to paper: Regional Variation in Water-Related Impacts of Shale Gas Development and Implications for Emerging International Plays

By Meagan Mauteer, et al. Environmental Science & Technology, Mar 31, 2014

http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es405432k

[SEPP Comment: It is largely a local issue.]

Sinopec leads China’s shale gas revolution with successful drilling

Drilling at Chongqing field is significant but now the industry needs to try to emulate the United States’ fracking success in recent years

By Eric Ng, South China Morning Post, Apr 24, 2014 [H/t GWPF]

http://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/1495391/sinopec-leads-chinas-shale-gas-revolution-successful-drilling

Return of King Coal?

Coal and the IPCC

By Dave Rutledge, Climate Etc. Apr 22, 2014

http://judithcurry.com/2014/04/22/coal-and-the-ipcc/

Nuclear Energy and Fears

ScienceShot: Some Birds Thrive in Chernobyl’s Radioactive Glow

By Thomas Summer, Science, Apr 25, 2014 [H/t Toshio Fujita]

http://news.sciencemag.org/biology/2014/04/scienceshot-some-birds-thrive-chernobyls-radioactive-glow

Tiny power plants hold promise for industry under scrutiny, new global nuclear chief says

By Lori Hinnant, AP, Apr 17, 2014

http://www.newser.com/article/afa46fdecb3f4bb385ac4af63c0dcb3e/tiny-power-plants-hold-promise-for-industry-under-scrutiny-new-global-nuclear-chief-says.html

IPCC calls for energy transformation

By Staff Writers, WNN, Apr 17, 2014

http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/EE-IPCC-calls-for-energy-transformation-170414JC.html

[SEPP Comment: The nuclear industry should know by now it is not included in the green definition of alternative energy.]

Alternative, Green (“Clean”) Solar and Wind

AWEA’s Kiernan discusses impact of utility evolution on wind industry

Transcript by Staff Writers, EETV, Apr 16, 2014

http://www.eenews.net/tv/videos/1813/transcript

“Utilities are, you know, use wind energy as kind of a fundamental energy source for them. So we’re part of the grid right there with utilities.”

[SEPP Comment: The sentence makes no sense. Wind is not a base-load energy source. It is unreliable. The comment is another example how the wind industry distorts language to plead for subsidies.]

Pakistan plans huge desert solar park to fight energy crisis

By Staff Writers, Badaiwani Wala, Pakistan (AFP) April 20, 2014

http://www.solardaily.com/reports/Pakistan_plans_huge_desert_solar_park_to_fight_energy_crisis_999.html

Cape Wind’s unlucky 13 years

By Audra Parker, Cape Cod Online, Apr 21, 2014 [H/t ICECAP]

http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20140421/OPINION/404210315

[SEPP Comment: Green energy is great, but not in my swimming pool.]

Can Europe’s grid take on its offshore power?

By Staff Writers, Wind Energy, Apr 24, 2014

http://social.windenergyupdate.com/offshore-wind/can-europe%E2%80%99s-grid-take-its-offshore-power?utm_source=e-brief2404&utm_medium=email&utm_content=2404&utm_campaign=WEU&gator_td=%2f0rLPhSguM7q9sv0KhB3Mlefd8ZttcMJenwfYkM2g3bLx9RBn1ZUHrFLX1wQe2dlXPqmruMtfl6uW1eSCI%2f1tHaM3pElIowVLosvk%2b1f%2bCTf%2boljqBEOl5bUrO5ycFA6kO8%2bRCOCvrgO8%2fllKfXhbiXFiA3SHuWOArntk9pY%2f3cc79pXDVJvfHYhsvv7iy6w%2feYUBmCNIAy%2fjva52d6SJQccCZBCkqyEJ6yhypff%2fdM%3d

Alternative, Green (“Clean”) Energy — Other

Only the Right Kind of Hydroelectricity Need Apply

By Peter Wilson, American Thinker, Apr 19, 2014 [H/t Timothy Wise]

http://www.americanthinker.com/2014/04/only_the_right_kind_of_hydroelectricity_need_apply.html

Study: Fuels from Corn Waste Not Better than Gas

By Dina Cappiello, AP, Apr 21, 2014 [H/t Paul Redfern]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_BIOFUELS_GLOBAL_WARMING?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2014-04-21-04-02-59

U.S. to fund cutting-edge renewable energy programs

By Daniel J. Graeber, Washington (UPI), Apr 17, 2013

http://www.biofueldaily.com/reports/US_to_fund_cutting-edge_renewable_energy_programs_999.html

U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said existing loan guarantee projects helped fund programs that are now commonplace in the U.S. renewable energy portfolio.

“We want to replicate that success by focusing on technologies that are on the edge of commercial-scale deployment today,” he said in a statement Wednesday.

[SEPP Comment: Has the heard of the failures Spain, Germany, the UK?]

Carbon Schemes

Backdoor Carbon Taxation in Saskatchewan

By Sierra Rayne, American Thinker, Apr 22, 2014 [H/t Timothy Wise]

http://www.americanthinker.com/2014/04/backdoor_carbon_taxation_in_saskatchewan.html

Health, Energy, and Climate

Study: Global Warming Enhances Output and Health, Helps Poor

By Matthew Vadum, NewsMax, Apr 22, 2014 [H/t Timothy Wise]

http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/global-warming-climate-change-NCPA/2014/04/22/id/567032/

Oh Mann!

Climate scientist’s privacy victory may prove a loss for journalists

Court ruling limits access to public information in Virginia

By Alexis Sobel fits, The Kicker, Apr 23, 2014 [H/t Cooler Heads]

http://www.cjr.org/the_kicker/climate_scientists_privacy_vic.php

Environmental Industry

We Need A New Earth Day To Correct The Old One

By Edward Calabrese, IBD, Apr 21, 2014 [H/t Cooler Heads]

http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials-perspective/042114-697790-we-need-a-new-earth-day.htm

Other Scientific News

Diet and cancer: little evidence of a direct link

By Staff Writers, ACSH, Apr 22, 2014

http://acsh.org/2014/04/diet-cancer-little-evidence-direct-link/

Other News that May Be of Interest

BPA now A-OK?

By Staff Writers, ACSH, Apr 21, 2014

http://acsh.org/2014/04/bpa-now-ok/

Five Anthropogenic Factors That Will Radically Alter Northern Forests in 50 Years

By Staff Writers, Columbia MO (SPX), Apr 22, 2014

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Five_Anthropogenic_Factors_That_Will_Radically_Alter_Northern_Forests_in_50_Years_999.html

[SEPP Comment: According to the article less than 5% of the forests in the northern quadrant of the US are more than 100 years old. The forests were logged for building material and (biomass) energy, now considered a renewable fuel?]

Giant lasers could control the weather

By Brooks Hays, Orlando, Fla. (UPI), Apr 19, 2013

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Giant_lasers_could_control_the_weather_999.html

[SEPP Comment: Will this enrage the Environmental Industry?]

Significant baseline levels of arsenic found in soil throughout Ohio are due to natural processes

By Staff Writers, Richland WA (SPX), Apr 22, 2014

http://www.seeddaily.com/reports/Significant_baseline_levels_of_arsenic_found_in_soil_throughout_Ohio_are_due_to_natural_processes_999.html

[SEPP Comment: Will the EPA order that the soils of Ohio be removed?]

New report calls U.S. a ‘rising star’ of global manufacturing

By James Kelleher, Reuters, Apr 25, 2014

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/25/us-usa-manufacturers-costs-idUSBREA3O0AW20140425

[SEPP Comment: In spite of actions in Washington.]

The Pacific’s Salmon Are Back — Thank Human Ingenuity

Geoengineering could turn our long-barren oceans into a bounty.

By Robert Zubrin, National Review, Apr 22, 2014 [H/t Timothy Wise]

http://www.nationalreview.com/article/376258/pacifics-salmon-are-back-thank-human-ingenuity-robert-zubrin

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BELOW THE BOTTOM LINE:

Earth Day – A Time to Reflect on Greenland’s Destruction

By Roy Spencer, His Blog, Apr 22, 2014

http://www.drroyspencer.com/2014/04/earth-day-a-time-to-reflect-on-greenlands-destruction/

[SEPP Comment: A bit of humor.]

Going nuts? Turkey looks to pistachios to heat new eco-city

By Staff Writers, Ankara (AFP), April 18, 2014

http://www.biofueldaily.com/reports/Going_nuts_Turkey_looks_to_pistachios_to_heat_new_eco-city_999.html

PRUDEN: Putting the ‘pee’ in Portland

No reservoir of good will in Oregon water supply

By Wesley Pruden, Washington Times, Apr 21, 2014

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/apr/21/pruden-in-portland-a-bureaucracy-unbound/

Too funny. Roy Spencer invented [co-developed] satellite temperature analysis, gets called “a blogger”

By Jo Nova, Her blog, Apr 23, 2014

http://joannenova.com.au/2014/04/too-funny-roy-spencer-invented-satellite-temperature-analysis-gets-called-a-blogger/

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wws
April 28, 2014 4:34 am

Woke up this morning to the sad news about the Arkansas tornadoes. Of course, it’s not really a surprise; the same thing happens somewhere in tornado alley every year about this time. But it does point out why it’s a mistake to make too much of this year having a slow start to the tornado season; the season wasn’t canceled, it was just delayed by about 3 weeks, and now its started.
I do believe it’s one more piece of evidence pointing to something we already knew – this winter was a full 3 weeks longer than average, across almost the entire continental US. (excepting California, of course)
One predictive test that can help determine if this view is accurate – if this view is true, then Tornado season will continue strong through the month of June, and much of the country will have a cooler and wetter June. I’t’ll be an interesting spring and summer to watch.

Chuck Nolan
April 28, 2014 4:44 am

“The right question is: what is the predictive power of the models? The answer is climate models have no predictive power. The models greatly overestimate the warming from increasing CO2. Why should the public accept IPCC reports when the IPCC relies on long-term projections from models that clearly fail in the short-term and have been failing for over a decade? The public would not trust an investment advisor with such a track record. Why should it trust the UN-IPCC or any organization with such a track record?”
———– my bold and italics ———-
The public doesn’t.
The public know nothing about the IPCC, its workings or its purpose or its powers.
The public has never read a report, not one.
The public only pays for the report and all the money grubbing it allows.
The right question is why do governments and scientists promote the IPCC?
cn