Quote of the Week:
“By a small sample, we may judge of the whole piece.” Miguel de Cervantes from Don Quixote
Number of the Week: 11
THIS WEEK:
By Ken Haapala, Executive Vice President, Science and Environmental Policy Project (SEPP)
Videos from the Sixth International Conference on Climate Change (ICCC) sponsored by Heartland Institute are available on the web. Go to:
http://climateconference.heartland.org/watch-…
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Expanding the Error: As nature continues her fickle ways, increasingly, observations contradict the projections of the models used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Tricks being used by alarmists to cover these inconsistencies include expanding the range of error of the observations, the projections, or both. The error range of observations can be expanded by adding data that is not rigorously collected. The error range of projections can be expanded by adding projections from models the significantly deviate from other models. The sloppier the science, the more difficult it is to statistically demonstrate the inconsistencies between observations and model projections.
When alarmists, defending the IPCC, expand error ranges in observations and / or models, they undermine the claim that the “science is settled.” In addition, these alarmist efforts falsify the claim in the Summary for Policymakers (SPM) of the Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) of the IPCC that it is more than 90% sure that human influences, namely carbon dioxide emissions, caused late 20th century warming.
Such efforts are discussed in part one of “NIPCC v. IPCC” by Fred Singer under “Challenging the Orthodoxy” and “Is Gore’s Missing Heat Really Hiding in the Deep Ocean?” by Roy Spencer under “Models v. Observations.”
A similar effort is underway as to Arctic ice coverage. In 2007, Arctic ice reached a low in the measured record, starting in 1979. Immediately, this was claimed as proof of human caused global warming with dire results to polar bears, etc. History was completely ignored. Now a study reports that “Arctic ice melt could pause in coming decades.” Although a reduction in ice is “proof” of global warming, alarmists do not recognize that an expansion in ice may negate global warming claims. Please see article under “Defending the Orthodoxy.”
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Energy Policy: This week, President Obama announced he is forging ahead with an energy policy without the help of Congress. He pointed to the mandated increases in the fleet mileage of automobiles and in heavy duty trucks, the latter a first. These announcements have been accompanied with the customary claims of saving the consumers money. Even as the government is running huge deficits, administration continues with Washington’s attitude that government knows best on how to save money. The automobile and truck industries were intimidated two years ago by Washington’s seizure of assets properly belonging to bond holders, and granting them to labor unions. These industries are meekly going along.
For two years, President Obama had a unified, highly supportive Congress that joined him in implementing an energy policy – driving up the costs of energy to the consumer. They did so in many ways – including declaring extensive areas off limits to energy development, waging a campaign against reliable, affordable electricity generated by coal, and using the Gulf oil spill as an excuse to slow down development of oil fields – even as significant discoveries were being made.
The policy includes extensive subsidies to alternative energy sources, including wind farms and solar plants, even before the critical technological issue is solved – how to store electricity on an affordable, commercial scale. As a result, electricity generated by wind and solar is expensive, unreliable, and wasteful – expensive back-up is required.
Using dubious claims of public health benefits, the EPA continues on its mission of shutting down coal-fired electrical generation. Many of the older plants could be replaced by more efficient, cleaner coal plants, but it is doubtful such plants will be permitted under the current administration’s energy policy. As a result, utilities are turning to natural gas, an alternative that did not exist several years ago because natural gas prices were too high.
The methods to extract natural gas from dense shale, which did not exist on a major scale several years ago, have changed the energy picture. Now, EPA and its environmental industry allies are seeking to control such activities. Most natural gas development activities are occurring on private lands, thus do not require extensive federal government permitting, including filing exhaustive environmental impact studies, which are subject to lengthy lawsuits from the environmental industry. Thus, EPA and others are using questionable claims as to public health issues to expand their control of developing affordable, reliable energy. Please see Article # 1 and articles referenced under “Subsidies and Mandates Forever”, “Energy Issues” and “Administration Control of Fossil Fuels.”
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Natural Gas Industry: The New York Times ran a several-part special on the expanding natural gas industry. The series produced the desired effect of “raising concern” about the industry, one of the bright spots in the US economy, which does not require subsidies. Now, some politicians are calling for an investigation to see if investors are being misled. Generally, most investors are far better in reading financial statements and investment projections than politicians and reporters. One of the low points of the articles was emphasizing the discovery of a report that hydraulic fracturing caused drilling fluids to seep into a household well. The report was dated 1987, long before the advent of 21st century deep drilling techniques, where the fracturing occurs far below the level of water wells, below layers of impervious rock.
This is not to say that there are not issues regarding the expanding industry. An analysis of a report from Penn State indicates that some of the assumptions may have been too rosy – not surprising.
For years, petro-chemical companies have been moving off-shore, particularly industries heavily dependent on natural gas. According to reports, Dow Chemical is expanding its facilities in the US, thanks to the resurgence of the natural gas industry. Please see articles referenced under “Oil and Natural Gas – the Future or the Past.”
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Quote of the Week – on Polar Bears: For several weeks there have been reports that wildlife biologist Charles Monnett is being investigated by the Department of Interior’s Inspector General. Monnett became famous for finding dead polar bears in the water. Polar bears are extremely strong swimmers. The dead bears immediately became a symbol of the dangers of human-caused global warming. At this time, additional comments by TWTW on the investigation would be as speculative as the science declaring polar bears, which survived the Holocene Climate Optimum, are threatened by the 20th century warming. Please see referenced article under “Problems Within the Orthodoxy.”
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Alternative fuels: Both China and India invested heavily in planting Jatropha, a succulent which many, including the Wall Street firm Goldman Sachs, proclaimed to be an excellent source for bio-fuels. According recent reports, this investment failed, spectacularly.
It has been known for some time that ethanol cannot be shipped via oil pipelines because ethanol attracts water, which can rust the pipeline. According to recent reports, ethanol fosters the growth of bacteria that cause cracking of pipelines. Please see article reference under “Alternative, Green (“Clean”) Energy.”
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Number of the Week: 11. Eleven is the reported number of truck convoys and other vehicles leaving all parts of Australia starting on August 16 and scheduled to arrive in Canberra on August 22 to protest the new tax on carbon dioxide emissions. The participants are demanding that Parliament vote “No Confidence” in the current government, forcing a new election.
ARTICLES:
For the numbered articles below please see:
1. Coal Strikes a Tough Vein Over Costs, Natural Gas
By Kris Maher, WSJ, Aug 11, 2011
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405311…
2. Japan Considers Turning to Micro Nuclear Plants
By Mitsuru Obe, WSJ, Aug 12, 2011
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405311…
NEWS YOU CAN USE:
Climategate Continued
The Guardian Is “Bemusted”
By Steve McIntyre, Climate Audit, Aug, 6, 2011
http://climateaudit.org/2011/08/06/the-guardi…
[SEPP Comment: The University of East Anglia is mired in questionable activities.]
Challenging the Orthodoxy
NIPCC v. IPCC
By S. Fred Singer, July, 2011
http://www.sepp.org/science_papers/ICCC_Bookl…
Thank you, President Klaus
During July-August, 2011, The Institute of Public Affairs, Melbourne, hosted a visit to Australia by President Vaclav Klaus of the Czech Republic.
By Bob Carter, Quadrant, Aug, 8, 2011
http://www.quadrant.org.au/blogs/doomed-plane…
SPPI Collection of Papers as of July 2011
By SPPI, Aug 3, 2011
http://scienceandpublicpolicy.org/originals/2…
Global warming is melting Al Gore’s brain
Former veep’s only defense of his bogus climate theory is potty language
By H. Leighton Steward, Washington Times, Aug 11, 2011
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/aug/…
David Suzuki insults, but won’t debate
As the climate scare fizzles, Canada’s celebrity environmentalist resorts to ad hominem attacks
By David Legates, Financial Post, Aug 12, 2011
http://opinion.financialpost.com/2011/08/12/d…
Climate Forecasting Models Aren’t Pretty, And They Aren’t Smart
By Larry Bell, Forbes, Aug. 9 2011
http://blogs.forbes.com/larrybell/2011/08/09/…
The polar bear problem
They’re thriving – and they’re hungry
By Matt Ridley, Spectator, UK, Aug 12, 2011 [H/t Aug 12, 2011]
http://www.spectator.co.uk/essays/7157198/the…
[SEPP Comment: The alarmists capitalize on ignorance of history.]
Arctic Fires and CO2 Emissions
By Patrick Michaels, World Climate Report, Aug 5, 2011
http://www.worldclimatereport.com/index.php/2…
[SEPP Comment: Another example of claims of historically unprecedented phenomena that ignore history.]
Joe Bastardi Calls Manmade CO2 Global Warming “An Obvious Fraud”
By Staff Writer, ICECAP, Aug 10, 2011
http://icecap.us/index.php/go/political-clima…
[SEPP Comment: The correlation between the Pacific Decadal and Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillations and the earth’s temperature is far greater than the correlation between carbon dioxide and temperature.]
Defending the Orthodoxy
Arctic ice melt could pause in coming decades
By Jennifer Kay, NCAR Scientist, AGU Release No. 11-27Aug 11, 2011 [H/t GWPF]
http://www.agu.org/news/press/pr_archives/201…
[SEPP Comment: The computer projections have spoken: Retreating ice, stable ice, and even advancing ice are all proof of global warming caused by human carbon dioxide emissions.]
Slowing climate change by targeting gases other than carbon dioxide
By Staff Writers, Washington DC (SPX) Aug 08, 2011
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Slowing_cli…
[SEPP Comment: Another assertion of false knowledge: “We know that recent climate change is primarily driven by carbon dioxide emitted during fossil-fuel combustion, and we know that this problem is going to be with us a long-time because carbon dioxide is so persistent in the atmosphere.”]
Questioning the Orthodoxy
Global warming – step changes driven by ENSO?
By Jens Raunso Jensen, WUWT, Aug 11, 2011
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2011/08/11/global-…
Global Warming Gomorrah In Hell: Welcome To Washington!
By Patrick Michaels, Forbes, Aug 5, 2011 [H/t Cooler Heads Digest]
http://www.forbes.com/sites/patrickmichaels/2…
New Rasmussen Poll Sends Al Gore Into Meltdown
By James Taylor, Forbes, Aug 10, 2011 [H/t Marc Morano, Climate Depot]
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamestaylor/2011/…
Questioning European Green
Worldwide CO2 emissions and the futility of any action in the West
By Ed Hoskins, WUWT, Aug 7, 2011
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2011/08/07/worldwi…
[SEPP Comment: Except for the EU, Australia, and New Zealand, the governments of few countries seem enthused about a Kyoto II.]
Problems within the Orthodoxy
Polar Bear Scientist Faces New Questions
By Nell Greenfieldboyce, National Public Radio, Aug 10, 2011 [H/t Anthony Watts, WUWT]
http://www.npr.org/2011/08/10/139276565/polar…
Models v. Observations
Is Gore’s Missing Heat Really Hiding in the Deep Ocean?
By Roy Spencer, His Blog, Aug 7, 2011
http://www.drroyspencer.com/2011/08/is-gores-…
Source of “hide the decline”? New paper finds that tree height shrinks with increased temperature
By Anthony Watts, WUWT, Aug 8, 2011
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2011/08/08/source-…
Measurement Issues
Quality Of Global Climate Surface Observing Sites
By Roger Pielke Sr, Pielke Climate Science, Aug 11, 2011
http://pielkeclimatesci.wordpress.com/2011/08…
[SEPP Comment: Taking the pioneering work of Anthony Watts, et al, world-wide.]
Biases in Antarctic weather stations reported up to 10°C
By Anthony Watts, WUWT, Aug 10, 2011
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2011/08/10/biases-…
Indictment Of The ERA-40 Reanalysis In A New Paper “Erroneous Arctic Temperature Trends in the ERA-40 Reanalysis: A Closer Look” By Screen and Simmonds 2011
By Roger Pielke Sr, Pielke Climate Science, Aug 10, 2011
http://pielkeclimatesci.wordpress.com/2011/08…
Changing Weather
Climate Includes Extreme Events – A Forecast Extreme New Zealand Weather Cold and Snow Event
By Roger Pielke, Sr, Pielke Climate Science, Aug 12, 2011
http://pielkeclimatesci.wordpress.com/2011/08…
Current drought pales in comparison with 1950s ‘drought of record’
By Farzad Mashhood, American Statesman, Aug 4, 2011 [H/t ICECAP]
http://www.statesman.com/news/local/current-d…
Changing Climate
Arctic Driftwood Re-Visited
By Steve McIntyre, Climate Audit, Aug 7, 2011
http://climateaudit.org/2011/08/07/arctic-dri…
[SEPP Comment: Discussion of the recent Danish study of the driftwood record of Arctic Ocean Sea-Ice variability which re-affirmed prior research ignored by the alarmists.]
Changing Seas
Underwater Volcano Erupts Off the Coast of Oregon
By Christine McEnrue, WeatherBell, August 11, 2011
http://www.weatherbell.com/weather-news/under…
[SEPP Comment: An example of what Ian Plimer described as our ignorance of volcanic activity – we did not know of the event until after it concluded. Unknown amounts of sulfur and carbon dioxide were emitted. Microbes living in the vents demonstrate much is to be learned about life forms in such environments.]
Changing Earth
The Sahel Is Greening
By Philipp Mueller, GWPF, Aug 12, 2011
http://www.thegwpf.org/science-news/3611-the-…
[SEPP Comment: Entirely consistent with the writings of HH Lamb who stated that during the Holocene Climate Optimum (about 5,000 to 8,000 years ago) the Sahara was wet.]
New Montana State research sheds light on South Pole dinosaurs
By Staff Writers, SPX, Aug 08, 2011
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/New_Montana…
Agriculture Issues & Fear of Famine
Manhattan Moment: Pork barrel ethanol subsidies have doubled corn prices
By Robert Bryce, Washington Examiner, Aug 11, 2011
http://washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columni…
Litigation Issues
ATI Responds to Union of Concerned Scientists’, et al, Efforts to Stop Agreement with UVA to Turn Over Michael Mann Records
Press Release, American Tradition Institute, Aug 11, 2011
http://www.atinstitute.org/ati-responds-to-un…
Cap-and-Trade and Carbon Taxes
Who are the 500 polluters?
Around 500 of the biggest polluters in Australia will be required to pay for their future pollution under a carbon pricing mechanism.
Securing a Clean Energy Future (Chapter 3)
By John Izzard, Quadrant, AU, August 8, 2011
http://www.quadrant.org.au/blogs/doomed-plane…
[SEPP Comment: Australia’s Prime Minister Gillard claims the carbon tax will apply only to the countries 500 biggest polluters. Who are they?]
ICE to shutter Chicago Climate Exchange
By Staff Writers, Reuters, Aug 8, 2011 [H/t Marc Morano, Climate Depot]
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaki…
[SEPP Comment: Sometimes promoters cannot force the market – or even force the government to force the market.]
Subsidies and Mandates Forever
White House releases first efficiency standards for heavy-duty trucks
By Andrew Restuccia, The Hill, Aug 9, 2011
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/…
EPA and other Regulators on the March
EPA set to miss deadline on ozone rules
Under Obama, the agency has delayed action repeatedly on a 2010 vow to set tougher smog standards, as critics in industry and the Republican Party argue that regulations kill jobs.
By Neela Banerjee, LA Times, Aug 9, 2011
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/natio…
Grid Operators to EPA: Strict Compliance Deadlines Could Jeopardize Reliability
By Staff Writers, POWERnews, Aug 10, 2011
http://www.powermag.com/POWERnews/3929.html?h…
New Rules and Old Plants May Strain Summer Energy Supplies
By Matthew Wald, NYT, Aug 11, 2011 [H/t Willie Soon]
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/12/business/en…
Energy Issues
White House advances its energy policy without help from polarized Congress
By Andrew Restuccia and Ben Geman, The Hill, Aug 11, 2011
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/…
ERCOT Cuts Power to Industrial Users to Avoid Blackouts
By Staff Writers, POWERnews, Aug 10, 2011
http://www.powermag.com/POWERnews/3930.html?h…
[SEPP Comment: Power shortages have serious economic outcomes. The most interesting question is ignored – how well did the Texas wind farms to perform when demand was the greatest?]
‘Energy Independence’ is a Pipe Dream
By Jeff Jacoby, Boston Globe, Aug 7, 2011
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_o…
Nuclear Fears & Responses
Japan to set up new nuclear watchdog
By Staff Writers, AFP, Aug 12, 2011
http://www.nuclearpowerdaily.com/reports/Japa…
US new nuclear build before 2012
By Staff Writers, World Nuclear News, Aug 5, 2011
http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NN_US_new_n…
[SEPP comment: A private company is hoping to start full construction of two nuclear plants in 2012. The plants will use the third generation Westinghouse AP1000 that has a fully automatic cooling system in case of accident or human error.]
China Begins Operation of Second CPR-1000 Reactor
By Staff Writers, POWERnews, Aug 10, 2011
http://www.powermag.com/POWERnews/3931.html?h…
Oil and Natural Gas – the Future or the Past?
My Excellent Journey to Canada’s Oil Sands
By Marlo Lewis, Global Warming.org, Aug 10, 2011
http://www.globalwarming.org/2011/08/10/my-ex…
Musing: Marcellus Impact Study Rests on Some Shaky Assumptions
By G. Allen Brooks, PPH & B, Aug 3, 2011
http://www.rigzone.com/news/article.asp?a_id=…
[SEPP Comment: The Penn State study of the benefits to the state of Pennsylvania from natural gas from shale may have contained overly optimistic assumptions. Certainly, as production rises quickly, prices will decline.]
Cheap Shale Gas Means Record U.S. Chemical Industry Growth
By Jack Kaskey, Bloomberg, Aug 10, 2011 [H/t GWPF]
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-10/chea…
[SEPP Comment: Another reason why many in the environmental industry are trying to stop shale gas – it is used to produce chemicals.]
New York Times vs. natural gas industry
By Talia Buford, Politico, Aug 8, 2011 [H/t Cooler Heads Digest]
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/608…
Panel Seeks Stiffer Rules for Drilling of Gas Wells
By Robbie Brown and Ian Urbina, NYT, Aug 10, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/11/us/11natgas…
Companies Seek to Export U.S. Gas in Wake of Production Boom
By Trennille Tracy, WSJ, Aug 12, 2011
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405311…
[SEPP Comment: Attempting to recover stranded assets in the form of liquefied natural gas (LNG) port facilities by exporting LNG now that US natural gas shortages are not looming as earlier projected.]
Oil Spills & Consequences
China urges US oil giant to hasten clean-up: Xinhua
By Staff Writers, AFP, Aug 11, 2011
http://www.energy-daily.com/reports/China_urg…
Administration Control of Fossil Fuels
Is Coal a Fuel of the Future?
By Donn Dears, Power For USA, Aug 12, 2011
http://dddusmma.wordpress.com/…
Obama’s war on coal
Killing jobs, causing blackouts
By William Yeatman, Aug 9, 2011
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolu…
TransCanada CEO: Oil sands will be developed with or without pipeline
By Ben Geman, The Hill, Aug 10, 2011
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/…
Alternative, Green (“Clean”) Energy
The Extraordinary Collapse of Jatropha as a Global Biofuel
By Promode Kant and Shuirong Wu, ACS, Aug 2, 2011 [H/t WUWT]
http://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/es201943…
[SEPP Comment: A classic example of governments failing to perform necessary due-diligence before embarking on costly programs to “save the planet.”]
Scientists find way to identify manmade biofuels in atmosphere
By Staff Writers, SPX, Aug 08, 2011
http://www.biofueldaily.com/reports/Scientist…
“This is particularly critical in urban areas because the majority of ethanol in the atmosphere is converted to acetaldehyde, which is highly reactive and considered to be a toxin detrimental to human health.”
Ethanol-loving bacteria accelerate cracking of pipeline steels
By Staff Writers, SPX, Aug 09, 2011
http://www.biofueldaily.com/reports/Ethanol_l…
High Energy Output From Algae-Based Fuel No Silver Bullet
By Zak Richards, SPX, Aug 11, 2011
http://www.biofueldaily.com/reports/High_Ener…
American Wind Industry Association: Circling the Wagons
By Thomas Stacy II, Master Resource, Aug 8, 2011
http://www.masterresource.org/2011/08/awea-ci…
Blowing money in the wind
By Jerry Agar, Toronto Sun, Aug 8, 2011
http://www.torontosun.com/2011/08/08/blowing-…
US fund Blackstone plans two big German wind farms
By Staff Writers, AFP, Aug 7, 2011
http://www.winddaily.com/reports/US_fund_Blac…
California Dreaming
Largest solar plant approved for Calif.
By Staff Writers, UPI, Aug 10, 2011
http://www.solardaily.com/reports/Largest_sol…
[SEPP Comment: 4,100 acres of public land, 7.45 acres used per MW when it works.]
California’s 33% Renewable Energy Goal by 2020: Form or Substance? (Part II-RECs Required)
By Ulrich Decher, Master Resource, August 11, 2011
http://www.masterresource.org/2011/08/califor…
Review of Recent Scientific Articles by NIPCC
For a full list of articles see
Deaths and Death Rates from Excessive Heat Events Have Declined in Most U.S. Cities
Reference: Kalkstein, L.S., Greene, S., Mills, D.M. and Samenow, J. 2011. An evaluation of the progress in reducing heat-related human mortality in major U.S. cities. Natural Hazards 56: 113-129.
http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2011/aug/…
Another Downside of Biofuels
Reference: Schiesari, L. and Grillitsch, B. 2011. Pesticides meet megadiversity in the expansion of biofuel crops. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 9: 215-221.
http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2011/aug/…
Floods of the Upper Midwest United States: A 75-Year History
Reference: Villarini, G., Smith, J.A., Baeck, M.L. and Krajewski, W.F. 2011. Examining flood frequency distributions in the Midwest U.S. Journal of the American Water Resources Association 47: 447-463.
http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2011/aug/…
Reconstructing Seawater pH in the South China Sea
Reference: Liu, Y., Liu, W., Peng, Z., Xiao, Y., Wei, G., Sun, W., He, J. Liu, G. and Chou, C.-L. 2009. Instability of seawater pH in the South China Sea during the mid-late Holocene: Evidence from boron isotopic composition of corals. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 73: 1264-1272.
http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2011/aug/…
“As shown in the accompanying figure, the d11B-derived pH values for the South China Sea fluctuated between a pH of 7.91 and 8.29 during the past seven thousand years, revealing a large natural fluctuation in this parameter that is nearly four times the 0.1 pH unit decline the acidification alarmists predict should have occurred since pre-industrial times.”
Health, Energy, and Climate
Cholera outbreaks ‘not caused’ by warmer seas
By Maria Elena Hurtado, SciDev.Net, Aug 10, 2011 [H/t GWPF]
http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/cholera-ou…
Environmental Industry
Merchants of Debt and Misery
By Staff Writers, ICECAP, Aug 11, 2011
http://icecap.us/index.php/go/political-clima…
Anti-nuclear groups shower federal regulators with legal challenges
By Andrew Restuccia, The Hill, Aug 11, 2011
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/…
Other Scientific News
Severe low temperatures devastate coral reefs in Florida Keys
By Beth Gavrilles, UGA Today, Aug 8, 2011 [H/t WUWT]
http://news.uga.edu/releases/article/severe-l…
UCI studies find different reasons for global methane riddle
One cites less dependency on oil, the other new farming practices
Press Release, UCIrvine, Aug 13, 2011 [H/t WUWT]
http://today.uci.edu/news/2011/08/nr_methane_…
Mars’ northern polar regions in transition
By Staff Writers, ESA, Aug 08, 2011
http://www.marsdaily.com/reports/Martian_nort…
[SEPP Comment: Not only the Arctic is changing. Proof of human caused global warming?]
BELOW THE BOTTOM LINE:
To avoid carbon debt CRP beats fields of corn and soybeans
By Staff Writers, SPX, Aug 11, 2011
http://www.biofueldaily.com/reports/To_avoid_…
[SEPP Comment: What is the carbon debt when one exhales?]
Science project closes Omaha airport terminal
By Staff Writers, AP, Aug 3, 2011
http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/index.ssf…
[SEPP Comment: The description of the science project would be interesting.]
Fred Singer will be traveling again, spreading the great news about the climate. Please see the tentative schedule below:
Aug 17-24 Erice (Sicily) Conference
Aug 25 Zurich Climate Debate and Interviews OPEN
Aug 26 -28 (Maria Alm, Austria)
Aug 29-30 Hamburg U. – Seminar and Interviews Aug 29 at 3pm-OPEN
Aug 31 DeBilt-KNMI Climate Debate
Sept 1-4 Brussels — Seminar at Fondation Universitaire Sept 1 OPEN
Sept 5-8 Talks at Civitas and IEA Sept 5 OPEN (Institute of Economic Affairs at 5pm)
Climate Discussion – Imperial College, U. of London
Sept 9-12 Paris Seminars IPGP-Jussieu and at Observatory at 2pm OPEN
Sept 13-14 Paris, Return to U.S.
For additional detail please contact Ken
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PLEASE NOTE: The complete TWTW, including the full text of the numbered articles, can be downloaded in an easily printable form at this web site: http://www.sepp.org/the-week-that-was.cfm…
Much of the world thinks of the USA in the terms of this famous quote by Winston Churchill:
“You can always count on Americans to do the right thing – after they’ve tried everything else.”
Unfortunately, as far as climate matters are concerned, Obama is proving to be the exception.
The curse of this debate and science is the tendency by both sides to ignore evidence that does not suit their preconceived ideas. And because the science is a lot less settled than some would have it, there is plenty of contrary evidence on both sides. A classic issue is the polar bear corpses. 4 found floating, presumed drowned and there is an international outcry and claims that this supports one side of the argument and that they are endangered. Thousand of bears shot by “sportsmen” over the last 3 years, nary a whisper or complaint. Hypocrisy or what?
Props to China and India for their risky investment though!
@ Peter Miller – The prioblem is that there’s a lot more “everything else” to try these days. Of course, back in Churchill’s day the Americans could well have been better at sifting out the dross and only trying the “everything elses” that had a chance in hell of working, and in that respect you may be right. The REAL issue is that this **isn’t** just manifesting itself in the area of climate policy.
A worse problem is the prevailing orthodoxy that every Republican or Conservative (in any sense of the word) is a bible-thumping creationist who is unfit to comment on anything resembling science. It’s unfortunate that many of them in the US *are* bible-thumping creationists, but it stops those who actually DO have a grasp on scientific concepts from successfully pinning down their opponents on their bullshit – if the going gets too tough, the Left simply plays the “ignorant creationist” card and derails the debate.
I would like to see the current generation of climate scientists grilled very harshly on how their models relate to the real world.
I noticed that First Solar completed their sale of the Agua Caliente PV (290 MU) facility to NRG Energy http://www.semiconductor-today.com/news_items/2011/AUG/FIRSTSOLAR_080811.html.
The CEO of NRG stated-
“Solar power is critical to transitioning our nation to having a greater emphasis on large-scale clean-energy technologies and it is going to be projects of the scale of Agua Caliente that will help us achieve this ambitious goal,” said David Crane, president and CEO of NRG Energy. “This investment significantly increases our presence in the state and benefits the residents of Arizona while providing attractive returns to NRG’s stakeholders.” last year when the deal was being developed http://www.pv-tech.org/news/nrg_acquires_first_solars_290mw_agua_caliente_solar_plant
“Agua Caliente demonstrates the extraordinary progress the US has made to achieving energy independence through public–private collaboration and technological innovation,” says Tom Doyle, CEO of NRG subsidiary NRG Solar LLC.”
“Electricity from Agua Caliente will be sold under a 25-year power purchase agreement with Pacific Gas and Electric Co, helping California to meet its renewable energy goals. At full capacity, the electricity generated by Agua Caliente will be enough to serve more than 225,000 homes. The project is expected to offset about 5.5 million metric tons of CO2 over 25 years (equivalent to taking more than 40,000 cars off the road annually).
In order to spread the benefits of going green in CA around PG&E recently noted that they will be assisting the NV economy as well-
http://www.power-eng.com/news/2011/08/1473304858/pg-e-and-sempra-generation-contract-for-150-mw-of-renewable-power.html
“First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR), one of the world’s leading producers of photovoltaic (PV) solar modules, will provide the ground mounted thin film panels and serve as the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor for the solar project.
The first 92 MW of solar panels at Copper Mountain Solar 2 are expected to be installed by January 2013, with the remaining 58 MW slated for completion by 2015. Under the terms of the contract, PG&E has the option to accelerate the commercial operation date of the second phase.
“Copper Mountain Solar 2 is another exciting step forward on our plan to construct 1,000 megawatts of additional renewable capacity by 2015,” said Jeffrey W. Martin, president and chief executive officer of Sempra Generation. “We couldn’t be more pleased to move forward with PG&E and First Solar on our third and largest solar project in Nevada, which will deliver a new supply of clean power to California consumers.”
Construction on the 1,100-acre solar plant is expected to begin inearly 2012. Copper Mountain Solar 2 will produce enough zero-emission electricity to power about 45,000 homes when fully developed.”
@ perturbed: “A worse problem is the prevailing orthodoxy that every Republican or Conservative (in any sense of the word) is a bible-thumping creationist who is unfit to comment on anything resembling science. It’s unfortunate that many of them in the US *are* bible-thumping creationists,….”
“Many”? Where, one asks, is the actual data to quantify and support this assertion? Are you really arguing that WUWT’s readership is primarily made up of secular humanists and political liberals?
@perturbed says:
August 15, 2011 at 6:28 am
(re derailing debate by playing the “bible thumper” card)
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I haven’t thumped a bible in years :o)
I think you’ve called it correctly. There is some Republican vs. Democrat or liberal vs. conservative weighting to the debate, but on the whole, there is every philisophical persuasion under the sun that has come to a skeptical viewpoint of the science behind CAGW and the demonization of “carbon.” Allowing the “bible thumper” card to be played is allowing distraction from the real issues with CAGW.