Weekly Climate and Energy News Roundup

Quote of the Week:
You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him find it within himself. – Attributed to Galileo

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Number of the Week: 14

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THIS WEEK:
By Ken Haapala, Executive Vice President, Science and Environmental Policy Project (SEPP)
SEPP / VA-SEEE FORUM: October 22 from 11 am to 1 pm. SEPP and VA-SEEE will be hosting a Forum in Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University. Topics include Fred Singer’s latest research on the failure of IPCC models, UN and US efforts to control local land use, energy issues, climate change myths and distortions, benefits of carbon dioxide, EPA litigation, and the changing winds on Capitol Hill. For further details please see:
http://www.sepp.org…
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Please Note: Due to the Forum, next week’s TWTW will be brief.
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The False Dilemma: This week, James Hansen of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies (NASA-GISS) complained that well financed global-warming skeptics are better at public relations than the scientists advocating global warming. He explained that this is the reason the public is being swayed not to support the drastic action he demands must be taken to prevent global warming. As Joe D’Aleo of ICECAP points out, Hansen’s lament is contrary to the facts: “No James, you haven’t failed because of poor communication. You have failed because your richly financed, pseudo-science is being seen for what it is – a failure.”

With his dramatic testimony before the US Congress on global warming in July 1988, Hansen captured the great attention from the media and galvanized a movement that spent tens of billions of dollars on global warming, much of it through taxpayer funded government agencies. His dire predictions and absolute certainty in these predictions may have been partly responsible for changing the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) from a possible scientific organization into an advocacy organization. Apparently, Hansen is incapable of introspection in order to understand what went wrong. The earth has refused to follow his extreme predictions and his certainty in them. Further, the public is beginning to tire from the hyperbole – extreme exaggeration.
The late Steven Schneider famously stated that scientists have a choice, to rigorously pursue science or to be effective, politically. There is no question which direction Hansen took. But Schneider’s choice is a false dilemma. Some who vigorously followed Hansen’s choice are beginning to discover that they are no longer being considered either scientists or effective. As exemplified by some of the candidates in the US presidential campaign, more politicians are willing to question the science. Of course, these politicians are being attacked as anti-science, but the process is exposing the great deficiencies in climate science. Please see links under “Communicating Better to the Public – Exaggerate?”
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Advocacy Science: On her web site, Judith Curry has posted, with comments, excerpts from two articles that warn of the dangers of scientists becoming political advocates of a particular cause. Unfortunately the articles are behind a pay wall. What is at issue is scientific integrity and credibility, which affects all scientists.
On his web site, Lubos Motl asks if different scientific disciplines should have different confidence levels in the accepted results of models and testing. An article by Charles Hooper points out the reasons why he considers that the climate models are misleading.
This type of controversy has been missing in climate science. Previously, those who dared to question global warming science have been shouted down. Yet, Climategate and major revelations of failures in the science, particularly in the models, have provoked more open discussion of these failures. It is only with such discussion that climate science will advance from a closed discipline to a meaningful science. Please see links under “Seeking a Common Ground.”
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EPA Endangerment Finding: The above discussion applies to EPA’s finding that greenhouse gases (GHG), particularly carbon dioxide (CO2), endangers public health and welfare. EPA declares great certainty in the IPCC’s science, a certainty that is unjustified. As discussed in last week’s TWTW, the EPA claims the models have been validated, a claim that even the IPCC does not make. The models have not been validated. Also, EPA claims that the totality of the scientific evidence allows it to assert that it is 90 to 99% certain that human caused climate change threatens public health and welfare.
To buttress the IPCC science, EPA uses reports from the National Research Council and the US Global Change Research Program (USGCRP). As with the EPA technical support document, these reports are also based on the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report (AR4). As stated by Roger Pielke, Sr, on the subject of global warming, the National Research Council is an advocacy group. Further, the announcement for public comment on the 2012 to 2021 Strategic Plan of the USGCRP starts with the assumption that the science is settled making it yet another advocacy group. Please see links under “Expanding the Orthodoxy” and “Communicating Better to the Public – Exaggerate?” The latest EPA filing can be found at: http://rfflibrary.files.wordpress.com But be warned, it is many pages of legalese.
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Spencer-Braswell: On his web site, Roy Spencer continues to post the latest research that he and Braswell are conducting on the dual nature of clouds. One characteristic is the changing of clouds as a response to temperature changes, a feedback. The other characteristic is the changing of clouds causing changes in temperatures, a forcing. The research is prompted by challenges by Andrew Dessler, and others. Perhaps this research, and exchange, will lead to a better understanding of this vital component of climate change, a component that is largely ignored. Please see links under “Spencer-Braswell.”
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Solar and Wind: Solid data on the performance of specific wind farms and solar arrays is difficult for independent researches to obtain, but it is becoming generally recognized that, due to the need for back-up, both forms are far more costly for the electricity generated than traditional sources, such as, coal and natural gas. Yet, one of the justifications for subsidizing solar companies is to bring down the costs of solar panels to make photovoltaic solar (PV) cost competitive.
David Bergeron, the president of a solar company in sunny Tucson, Arizona, reports that based on the estimates of levelized costs made by the Energy Information Administration, PV is not competitive in Tucson with coal, the primary source for electricity on the grid – even if the solar panels are free! However, PV is highly suitable for off the grid, isolated uses.
Since electricity generated by wind power is significantly more expensive than coal generated electricity, one the major justifications given by promoters and governments for switching to wind is that wind power will drastically reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Actual data supporting this claim is virtually non-existent. One study from Colorado contradicted the claim. Because wind power is erratic, it needs back-up that can come on-line very quickly, and the actual decrease in CO2

emissions, when wind is substituted for coal and natural gas, is quite small.
There are two new reports, one from the Netherlands and one from Ireland, that also contradict the claim that wind power replacing fossil fuel sources for electricity generation will result in significant reductions in CO2 emissions. Both studies show that, absent of hydroelectric for back-up, the reduction in CO2 emissions is minimal.
Please see links under “Questioning European Green” and under “Alternative, Green (“Clean”) Energy.”
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Ozone Hole: Last week, NASA produced an excited press release on the opening of an Ozone Hole over the Arctic. The alarmist tone has been rebutted by Tim Ball. Please see links under “Changing Earth – and Atmosphere.”
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Sad Day for Australia: A tax on carbon dioxide emissions has passed the lower house of the Australian Parliament and is expected to pass the upper house. This is being declared as a great victory for Prime Minister Gillard who, while campaigning for election, declared she would not support carbon dioxide taxes. It will be interesting to see if voters remember her promises in the next election. This vote is an example of how governments will use the false fear of global warming / climate change to justify increases in taxes. Please see links under “Cap-and-Trade and Carbon Taxes.”
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Number of the Week: 14. That is the reported number of deep water drilling rigs that have left the Gulf of Mexico since the administration instituted its policy of not issuing permits on a timely basis. The rigs cost up to $1,000,000 per day to operate, and independent companies cannot afford to let them stand idle. And people complain that Washington does not have an industrial policy!

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ARTICLES:
For the numbered articles below please see this week’s TWTW at:
http://www.sepp.org…
The articles are at the end of the pdf.
1. Chemistry’s Cinderella Story
A Nobel winner who challenged dogma.
Editorial, WSJ, Oct 10, 2011
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405297…
2. Emissions Plan Sparks Concerns
By Alessandro Torello, WSJ, Oct 13, 2011
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405297…
[SEPP Comment: Horrors! Penalizing foreign airlines may prompt retaliation.]

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NEWS YOU CAN USE:
Science: Is the Sun Rising?
Solar changes help create cold northern winters
Fluctuations in ultraviolet light can set up frigid, snowy conditions
By Alexandra Witze, Science News, Oct 10, 2011 [H/t Joe Bast]
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/33…
Commentary: Is the Sun Rising?
Met Office wakes up to solar influence on climate
By Paul Hudson, BBC, Oct 12, 2011 [H/t GWPF]
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/paulhudson/2011/10…
Challenging the Orthodoxy
IPCC Mischaracterizes Precipitation Changes
By Patrick Michaels, World Climate Report, Oct 11, 2011
http://www.worldclimatereport.com/index.php/2…
Cloud Formation: Study Shows Insoluble Dust Particles Can Form Cloud Droplets that Affect Global and Regional Climate
Press Release, Georgia Tech, Oct 13, 2011 [H/t Anthony Watts, WUWT]
http://gtresearchnews.gatech.edu/insoluble-du…
Defending the Orthodoxy
Laying The Blame For Extreme Weather
By Staff Writers, SPX, Oct 12, 2011
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Laying_The_…
Extreme weather is always possible, after all. But with warmer oceans, such events are easier to create. “We’re loading the dice in favor of extreme weather events,” said Trenberth.’
[SEPP Comment: Yet contrary to what IPCC lead author Trenberth states, cold climates tend to produce the most severe weather events.]
Changes in rainfall patterns are projected for next 30 years
By Staff Writers, SPX, Oct 12, 2011
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Changes_in_…
[SEPP Comment: No doubt, the extent and direction is determined by the model chosen.]
Questioning the Orthodoxy
Lifetime of Human Climate Forcings
By Roger Pielke Sr. Pielke Climate Science, Oct 14, 2011
http://pielkeclimatesci.wordpress.com/2011/10…
[SEPP Comment: There are human activities that cause change in local and regional climate that have a long term effect. Building cities is one such activity.]
The phony ‘consensus’ on climate change
Editorial, Daily Herald, Utah, Oct 9, 2011 [H/t Craig Idso]
http://www.heraldextra.com/news/opinion/artic…
[SEPP Comment: Craig Idso noted that he never said what he was quoted of saying.]
Questioning European Green
Electricity in The Netherlands .
Windmills increase fossil fuel consumption & CO2 emission.
By C. le Pair, Oct 7, 2011 [H/t John Droz, Jr.]
http://www.clepair.net/windSchiphol.html…
Wind energy in the Irish power system.
Fred Udo, Oct 5, 2011 [H/t John Droz, Jr]
http://www.clepair.net/IerlandUdo.html…
Making Wind Farms Obsolete
By Matt Ridley, GWPF, Oct 14, 2011
http://www.thegwpf.org/uk-news/4102-matt-ridl…
Euro Bank: Wind policy ‘direction’ needed
By Staff Writers, UPI, Oct 10, 2011
http://www.winddaily.com/reports/Euro_Bank_Wi…
[SEPP Comment: We need to keep the subsidies and feed-in tariffs (surtaxes) high.]
Expanding the Orthodoxy
Public Comment Open On The United State Global Change Research Program Strategic Plan 2012-2021
By Roger Pielke, Sr, Pielke Climate Science, Oct 10, 2011
http://pielkeclimatesci.wordpress.com/2011/10…
Pielke’s Comment: “The Plan starts with an assumption that they already know the direction of climate change in the coming decades. It does not read as a balanced science plan. I encourage readers of my weblog to submit comments.”
Executive Order 13575-Establishment of the White House Rural Council
By Barrack Obama, Office of the Press Secretary, The White House, June 9, 2011 [H/t Kris Allen]
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/20…
[SEPP Comment: The word “sustainable” rural communities in Section 1, is a clear term for asserting further Federal government control over rural life. Also, under this administration “safeguarding natural resources” implies denial of productive use.]
Report to lay groundwork for Bingaman’s ‘clean energy standard’
By Andrew Restuccia, The Hill, Oct 12, 2011
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/…
[SEPP Comment: Another term for expensive and economically destructive mandates.]
Problems within the Orthodoxy
EU sets conditions for signing up to Kyoto II
By Staff Writers, Reuters, Oct 10, 2011 [H/t Jo Nova]
http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle08….
Ambitions in check on global climate deal
By Staff Writers, AFP, Oct 8, 2011
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Ambitions_i…
UN climate talks ‘stupid, useless and endless’ – Maldives
By Staff Writers, AFP, Oct 13, 2011
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/UN_climate_…
[SEPP Comment: The governors of the Maldives are tired of waiting for the big bucks promised to them by the UN if they became the poster child of the threat of global warming.]
Seeking a Common Ground
Advocacy science and decision making
By Judith Curry, Climate Etc. Oct 13, 2011
http://judithcurry.com/2011/10/13/advocacy-sc…
“Partisan groups lobbying for preferred outcomes have a long history of the selective use of information to support predetermined conclusions. This is acceptable in politics, but not in science.”
Should different disciplines require different confidence levels?
By Lubos Motl, Blogspot, Oct 14, 2011
http://motls.blogspot.com/2011/10/should-diff…
[SEPP Comment: A provocative, but somewhat technical analysis.]
Predicting Our Demise
By Charles L. Hooper (Hoover Visiting Fellow), Oct 7, 2011 [H/t Timothy Wise]
Climate change models are misleading and unhelpful in forecasting future temperatures.
http://www.hoover.org/publications/defining-i…
[SEPP Comment: Uncertainty in the climate models must be clearly stated.]
Communicating Better to the Public – Exaggerate?
Global warning: climate sceptics are winning the battle
Father of the green movement says scientists lack PR skills to make public listen
By Michael McCarthy, The Independent, Oct 11, 2011
[SEPP Comment: Over two decades of hyperbole have had an impact – but not the one Hansen desired.]
Hansen: A failure to communicate. ICECAP: No! A failed science
By Joe D’Aleo, ICECAP, Oct 11, 2011 [H/t Marc Morano, Climate Depot
http://icecap.us/index.php/go/political-clima…
Advocacy By The National Research Council
By Roger Pielke Sr, Pielke Climate Science, Oct 12, 2011
http://pielkeclimatesci.wordpress.com/2011/10…
“It is clear that the National Research Council has elected to be an advocate on a particular perspective with respect to climate, and the human role, rather than serving as a facilitator which permits the assessment of the diversity of scientifically supported viewpoints on this issue.”
Will Warmists Face Justice for their Deceptions?
By Alan Caruba, Warning Signs, Oct 8, 2011
http://factsnotfantasy.blogspot.com/2011/10/w…
America’s Worst Wind-Energy Project
Wind-energy proponents admit they need lots of spin to overwhelm the truly informed.
By Robert Bryce, National Review, Oct 12, 2011
http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/279802…
[SEPP Comment: What to say when the truth hurts: “During the webinar, Justin Rolfe-Redding, a doctoral student from the Center for Climate Change Communication at George Mason University, discussed ways for wind-energy proponents to get their message out to the public.”]
Communicating Better to the Public – Make things up.
Planetary Rights
By Martin Livermore, Scientific Alliance, Oct 13, 2011
http://www.scientific-alliance.org/scientific…
Models v. Observations
A new leaf turns in carbon science
By Staff Writers, SPX, Oct 11, 2011
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/A_new_leaf_…
The global rate of photosynthesis may be occurring at a rate 25% greater than the models estimate and the El Nino-Southern Oscillation may be a regulator of the oxygen atoms found in CO2.
Future Forests May Soak Up More Carbon Dioxide Than Previously Believed
By Staff Writer, ScienceDaily, Oct. 13, 2011
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/…
[SEPP Comment: Similar to above, but for US forests. Supports the extensive work of Sherwood, Craig, and Keith Idso.]
Spencer-Braswell
I’ve Looked at Clouds from Both Sides Now – and Before
By Roy Spencer, His Blog, Oct 8, 2011
http://www.drroyspencer.com/2011/10/ive-looke…
Our GRL Response to Dessler Takes Shape, and the Evidence Keeps Mounting
By Roy Spencer, His Blog, Oct 12, 2011
http://www.drroyspencer.com/2011/10/our-grl-r…
Changing Weather
Early Season Snowfall Records Broken In United States
By Mark Dunphy, Irish Times, Oct 7, 2011 [H/t Fran Manns]
http://www.irishweatheronline.com/news/atmosp…
Changing Climate
Luminous grains of sand determine year of historic storm flood
By Staff Writers, SPX, Oct 13, 2011
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Luminous_gr…
[SEPP Comments: During the Little Ice Age, the Low Countries experienced more fierce storms from the North Sea than they have experienced during modern warming.]
Britain Faces A Mini ‘Ice Age’
By Laura Caroe, Express, UK, Oct 10, 2011 [H/t ICECAP]
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/276516/Br…
Changing Seas
The Baltic Sea contributes ca

rbon dioxide to the atmosphere
By Staff Writers, SPX, Oct 12, 2011
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/The_Baltic_…
[SEPP Comment: What to do? Tax the Sea or mandate the emissions to be less?]
Changing Sea Ice
Arctic Sea Ice Continues Decline, Hits Second Lowest Level
By Patrick Lynch, SPX, Oct 05, 2011
http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Arctic_Sea_…
[SEPP Comment: States differences in definition between sea ice extent and sea ice area. The Aug 13, 2011 TWTW linked to research that stated Arctic sea ice may have disappeared between 6,000 and 8,500 years ago. This reinforces previous studies indicating the same.]
Rapid Loss of Arctic Ice: But Where is the Warming?
By Chip Knappenberger, Master Resource, Oct 11, 2011
http://www.masterresource.org/2011/10/rapid-l…
Changing Earth – and Atmosphere
NASA Leads Study of Unprecedented Arctic Ozone Loss
By Staff Writers, JPL, Oct 04, 2011
http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/NASA_Leads_…
[SEPP Comment: Another alarmist story from NASA, see article below.]
Holes in the Recent Arctic Ozone Hole Story
By Tim Ball, His Blog, Oct 10, 2011
http://drtimball.com/2011/holes-in-the-recent…
Agriculture Issues & Fear of Famine
Energy, food security to dominate Rio+20: envoy
By Staff Writers, AFP, Oct 13, 2011
http://www.seeddaily.com/reports/Energy_food_…
[SEPP Comment: National or international control of energy would greatly contribute to food insecurity.]
Feeding the World While Protecting the Planet: Global Plan for Sustainable Agriculture
By Staff Writers ScienceDaily, Oct. 12, 2011
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/…
[SEPP Comment: Don’t let them eat meat.]
The Political Games Continue
Critical Minerals Ignite Geopolitical Storm
By Staff Writers, SPX, Oct 12, 2011
http://www.solardaily.com/reports/Critical_Mi…
House votes to delay EPA ‘boiler’ regulations
By Josiah Ryan, The Hill, Oct 13, 2011
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/1…
House votes to blunt EPA rules on coal ash
By Pete Kasperowicz, The Hill, Oct 14, 2011
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/1…
Cap-and-Trade and Carbon Taxes
Green Europe Imperiled by Carbon Collapse
By Kari Lundgren and Stefan Nicola, Bloomberg, Oct 9, 2011 [H/t Hugh Sharman]
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-09/gree…
“If the Eurozone crisis continues that will lead to an extremely low carbon price and it makes it difficult to invest in low-carbon generation.”
[SEPP Comment: Changing the term “invest” to “waste” would be more accurate.]
Carbon tax bill passes
By David Wroe, Sydney Morning Herald, Oct 12, 2011
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-cha…
” … nine out of 10 households receiving some assistance to adjust with this reform.”
[SEPP Comment: A new tax to expand government revenues is called a reform.]
Australia parliament passes divisive carbon tax
Australia’s lower house of parliament has narrowly passed a bill for a controversial carbon tax.
By Staff Writers, BBC News, Oct 12, 2011
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-…
[SEPP Comment: The BBC calls emitters of carbon dioxide polluters. The terrible decision of the US Supreme Court that termed carbon dioxide a pollutant, contrary to language, logic, and science, is being used around the world.
There is a free lunch!!
By Jo Nova, Her Blog, Oct 14, 2011
http://joannenova.com.au/2011/10/there-is-a-f…
Subsidies and Mandates Forever
The Department of Energy Should Not Be the Green Banker
By Nicolas Loris and Jack Spencer, Heritage, October 6, 2011
http://www.heritage.org/Research/Reports/2011…
Attention all passengers: this plane is flying on abattoir waste
By Reiner Gatermann, European Energy Review, Oct 6, 2011
http://www.europeanenergyreview.eu/site/pagin…
“The main obstacle currently holding back the growth of the market are lack of demand and high price. Still, the world’s number one producer of aviation biofuels, Neste Oil from Finland, is confident that the market will start to grow now that airlines will be included in the EU’s Emission Trading Scheme from 2012 onwards.”
[SEPP Comment: The market for this money-pit in the air would be great if governments provide enough subsidies and mandates.]
EPA and other Regulators on the March
Judge orders EPA to pay up for malicious prosecution
By Daniel Popeo, Washington Examiner, Oct 8, 2011
http://washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columni…
Interior Department reviewing allegations in delta smelt case
By Bettina Boxall, LA Times, Oct 13, 2011
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/20…
[SEPP Comment: Aftermath of a federal judge severely questioning the credibility of the testimony of Department of Interior scientists.
The EPA’s Benefit/Cost Jihad on U.S. Electric Utilities
By Garrett Vaughn, Master Resource, Oct 10, 2011
http://www.masterresource.org/2011/10/epa-ben…
[SEPP Comments: EPA cost-benefit analysis makes no sense whatsoever.]
States press for delay of EPA mercury rule
By Ben Geman, The Hill, Oct 11, 2011
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/…
[SEPP Comment: EPA is claiming its regulations are beneficial to the economy by creating jobs. Yet such regulations increase the cost of electricity and lower the disposable income of the consumers. These regulations become

are form of surtax on electricity consumers. The claimed health benefits are statistical abstractions rather than established prevention of disease.]
25 States Ask Federal Court to Delay EPA Utility MACT Rule
By Staff Writers, Power News, Oct 12, 2011
http://www.powermag.com/POWERnews/4087.html?h…
EPA Eases SO2, NOx Limitations for Some States Under CSAPR
By Staff Writers, POWERnews, Oct 12, 2011
http://www.powermag.com/POWERnews/4084.html?h…
DOE Stops Short of Delegating Transmission Siting Authority to FERC
By Staff Writers, POWERnews, Oct 12, 2011
http://www.powermag.com/POWERnews/4090.html?h…
Energy Issues
New England Grid Faces Myriad Challenges Amid Changing Power Sector Landscape
By Staff Writers, POWERnews, Oct 12, 2011
http://www.powermag.com/POWERnews/4091.html?h…
White House feels pressure on oil pipeline
State Department OK doesn’t sway greens
By Tim Devaney, Washington Times, Oct 6, 2011
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/oct/…
Keystone XL pipeline is the wrong target for protesters
Editorial, Washington Post, Oct 10, 2011
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/keysto…
[SEPP Comment: Unusual for the Washington Post.]
Oil and Natural Gas – the Future or the Past?
Utica Shale May Be Its Own Energy Game-Changer
By Jon Hurdle, AOL Energy, Oct 7, 2011 [H/t Warren Wetmore]
http://energy.aol.com/2011/10/07/utica-shale-…
Administration’s Control of Oil and Gas
EPA Warns of Oil Threat
By Donn Dears, Power For USA, Oct 14, 2011
http://dddusmma.wordpress.com/2011/10/14/epa-…
Return of King Coal?
Mountaintop coal mining moves a step ahead
By Staff Writers, UPI, Oct 7, 2011
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Mountaintop…
[SEPP Comment: Another defeat for EPA’s self-proclaimed expansion of authority. As with all mining, the process can be ugly, but the major issue is reclamation.]
Oil Spills & Consequences
BP paid $7 bln in Gulf disaster claims: executive
By Staff Writers, AFP, Oct 13, 2011
http://www.energy-daily.com/reports/BP_paid_7…
Coast Guard: Sunken rig is not the source of the Gulf sheen
By Tom Fower, Fuel Fix, Oct 10, 2011 [H/t The Hill]
http://fuelfix.com/blog/2011/10/10/coast-guar…
[SEPP Comment: Oil slicks were seen in the Gulf long before ships used or carried oil. Is it time to penalize nature?]
Filipino captain in N.Z. sea pollution crisis charged
By Staff Writers,Tauranga, New Zealand (AFP) Oct 12, 2011
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Filipino_ca…
[SEPP Comment: It will be interesting to ascertain the actual extent of the “crisis.”]
Nuclear Energy and Fears
Clean-up in Fukushima
By Staff Writers, World Nuclear News, Oct 5, 2011
http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/RS_Clean_up…
Finnish EPR Project Delayed Again
By Staff Writers, Power News, Oct 12, 2011
http://www.powermag.com/POWERnews/4088.html?h…
[SEPP Comment: Already three years late, this is a third generation design for enhanced safety by automatic cutoff and greater containment in case of overheating.]
Green light for nuclear expansion in Britain: minister
By Staff Writers, AFP, Oct 11, 2011
http://www.nuclearpowerdaily.com/reports/Gree…
Site selected for new Finnish plant
By Staff Writers, WNN, Oct 5, 2011
http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NN-Site_sel…
Alternative, Green (“Clean”) Energy
Solar Power Cost: Don’t Forget Intermittency (energy economics 101)
By David Bergeron, Master Resource, Oct 12, 2011
http://www.masterresource.org/2011/10/solar-p…
Backers: Solar plant generates at night
By Fuentes De Andalucia, Spain, UPI, Oct 7, 2011
http://www.solardaily.com/reports/Backers_Sol…
“The average cost per watt delivered is high compared to wind and geothermal energy, she noted, but only slightly more expensive than more traditional forms of solar energy.”
[SEPP Comment: What about the cost compared with coal, etc?]
Wind, solar farm finance at record in Q3-report
By Staff Writers, Reuters, Oct 13, 2011
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/13/cle…
Solyndra Redux?
Editorial, IBD, Oct 13, 2011
http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Arti…
USC’S biomass plant debacle
How the university’s green dream went bust as it put $20 million into power plant that now sits idle after three ‘potentially lethal accidents’ and a host of other problems
By Wayne Washington, McClatchy Newspapers, Oct 8, 2011 [H/t Anthony Watts, WUWT]
http://www.thesunnews.com/2011/10/08/2433284/…
California Dreaming
California lists flame retardant as a carcinogen
By Staff Writers, LA Times, October 12, 2011
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/20…
[SEPP Comment: California must be the most dangerous state to live in the US. Many major stores have warning signs that assert chemicals sold there are “known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.”]
Review of Recent Scientific Articles by NIPCC
For a full list of articles see
http://www.NIPCCreport.org…
Tropical Cyclones: The Models Project More of Them in Our Future, or is it Fewer
Reference: Villarini, G., Vecci, G.A., Knutson, T.R., Zhao, M.

and Smith, J.A. 2011. North Atlantic tropical storm frequency response to anthropogenic forcing: Projections and sources of uncertainty. Journal of Climate 24: 3224-3238.
http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2011/oct/…
Droughts of Southwestern North America: Past and Present
Reference: Woodhouse, C.A., Meko, D.M., MacDonald, G.M., Stahle, D.W. and Cook, E.R. 2010. A 1,200-year perspective of 21st century drought in southwestern North America. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 107: 21,283-21,288.
http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2011/oct/…
The Roman Warm Period at Lake Silvaplana, Switzerland
Reference: Stewart, M.M., Larocque-Tobler, I. and Grosjean, M. 2011. Quantitative inter-annual and decadal June-July-August temperature variability ca. 570 BC to AD 120 (Iron Age-Roman Period) reconstructed from the varved sediments of Lake Silvaplana, Switzerland. Journal of Quaternary Science 26: 491-501.
http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2011/oct/…
Interannual Variability of 20th-Century Climate in CMIP3 Models
Reference: Scherrer, S.C. 2011. Present-day interannual variability of surface climate in CMIP3 models and its relation to future warming. International Journal of Climatology 31: 1518-1529.
http://www.nipccreport.org/articles/2011/oct/…
“Aggregated over very large regions, the author finds that ‘hardly any robust relations exist between the models’ ability to correctly represent Interannual Variability and the projected temperature change'”.
Health, Energy, and Climate
There are good studies, bad studies… and then this
By Staff Writers, ACSH, Oct 11, 2011
http://www.acsh.org/factsfears/newsID.3069/ne…
Act Now! Make Money From Global Warming
By Willis Eschenbach, WUWT, Oct 9, 2011
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2011/10/09/act-now…
Environmental Industry
Terence Corcoran: The ‘ethical oil’ road to global trade war
Ezra Levant’s concept of ethical oil abandons the principles of free trade
By Terence Corcoran, Financial Post, Oct 12, 2011
http://opinion.financialpost.com/2011/10/12/t…
[SEPP Comment: Absurd concepts follow absurd claims by the environmental industry.]
Other Scientific News
Every Chromatogram Tells a Story
Technique detects the multitude of chemical compounds in oil
By Lonny Lippsett, Oceanus, Oct 12, 2011
http://www.whoi.edu/oceanus/viewArticle.do?id…
Measuring Billions of Elusive Neutrinos Flowing Through the Earth
By Staff Writers, SPX, Oct 10, 2011
http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Measuring_B…
Rethinking connection between soil as a carbon reservoir and global warming
By Staff Writers, SPX, Oct 11, 2011
http://www.seeddaily.com/reports/Rethinking_c…
Southern California’s tectonic plates revealed in detail
By Staff Writers, SPX Oct 11, 2011
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Southern_Ca…
Long-Lost Lake Offers Clues to Climate Change
By Greg Hand, SPX, Oct 13, 2011
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Long_Lost_L…
[SEPP Comment: The study is interesting. But to suggest that the disappearance of a temporary lake that was formed during the great ice melt at the end of the last Ice Age will provide clues to our future climate is stretching it.]
The Strange Rubbing Boulders Of The Atacama
By Staff Writers, SPX, Oct 13, 2011
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/The_Strange…
Other News that May Be of Interest
China says 100 mln [million] farmers to move to cities by 2020
By Staff Writers, AFP Oct 10, 2011
http://www.seeddaily.com/reports/China_says_1…
[SEPP Comment: Once they see the bright lights of the city, it’s hard to get them back on the farm. This was a common lament in the US in the early part of the 20th century. It led to the belief that bringing electricity to rural areas would stop the urban migration. It didn’t.]
Jeremy Rifkin: wrong and wronger
Anti-capitalist ­author’s track record of error remains unblemished
By Peter Foster, Financial Post, Oct 11, 2011
http://opinion.financialpost.com/2011/10/11/p…

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BELOW THE BOTTOM LINE:
Columbus blamed for Little Ice Age
Depopulation of Americas may have cooled climate
By Devin Powell, Science News, [H/t Best of the Web]
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/33…
[SEPP Comment: According to Michael Mann, cited in the article, the Little Ice Age did not exist. Although not uniform throughout the world, significant research indicates the Little Ice Age may have started about 200 years before Columbus sailed; thus, the causal relationship is somewhat difficult to establish.]
Global warming to bring back Black Death?
By Steve Milloy, Canada Free Press, Oct 13, 2011
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/…
Al Gore Now a Great Lakes Expert
By Russ Harding, Mackinac Center, Oct 14, 2011
http://www.mackinac.org/15876…