The Week That Was: 2025 05-03 (May 3, 2025)
Brought to You by SEPP (www.SEPP.org)
The Science and Environmental Policy Project

Quote of the Week: “We can always prove a definite theory wrong. Notice however that we never prove it right.” — Richard Feynman (1964)

Number of the Week: R squared of 0.018.

THIS WEEK:
By Ken Haapala, President, Science and Environmental Policy Project (SEPP)

Scope: TWTW begins with an exploration of proof of the greenhouse effect, discussing what constitutes proof of a theory in modern physics. TWTW continues with a discussion of the failings of the hockey-stick and its defenders by Donald Rapp. TWTW then brings up the Iberian Blackout and presents a power engineer’s assessment of the problems of using solar power on a national grid.

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Proof of the Greenhouse Effect: Several readers have asked, “What proof of the greenhouse effect do you have?” This question raises the critical issue of what constitutes proof of a theory (hypothesis) in modern physical sciences. Note that issue is proof of a theory, not proof of an event or fact. The answer to the question of “What proof do you have?” is NONE. However, the greenhouse theory has never been disproved. (Here, logical induction is not considered proof.)

This approach to proof stems from the history of science. For centuries certain theories of planetary motion were accepted as true but later discarded when disproven and a better theory was accepted. For example, Newtonian mechanics replaced the centuries old belief that Earth was the center of the universe. It better explained planetary motion. In turn, general relativity replaced Newtonian mechanics because it better explained planetary motion. Mercury was not keeping time according to Newtonian mechanics, although Newtonian mechanics was particularly good. (Einstein’s 1915 formula for the precession of Mercury was discovered in 1898 by Paul Gerber.)

Theories (hypotheses) must be definite, that is, testable and falsifiable. Otherwise, they are of limited value and should not be accepted. (For example, climate change is not a testable, falsifiable concept. Earth’s climate has always been changing. The issues are “what change?” and “what is the magnitude of the change?” “Is the proposed cause definite?”) The outstanding theoretical physicist, and teacher Richard Feynman gave an excellent lecture explaining the modern scientific method in “Seeking New Laws.” The lecture was the source of this week’s Quote of the Week. The lengthy lecture begins with:

“What I want to talk to you about tonight is strictly speaking not on the character of physical laws. Because one might imagine at least that one’s talking about nature, when one’s talking about the character of physical laws. But I don’t want to talk about nature, but rather how we stand relative to nature now. I want to tell you what we think we know and what there is to guess and how one goes about guessing it.

Someone suggested that it would be ideal if, as I went along, I would slowly explain how to guess the laws and then create a new law for you right as I went along.

I don’t know whether I’ll be able to do that. But first, I want to tell about what the present situation is, what it is that we know about the physics. You think that I’ve told you everything already, because in all the lectures, I told you all the great principles that are known.

But the principles must be principles about something. The principles that I just spoke of, the conservation of energy– the energy of something– and quantum mechanical laws are quantum mechanical principles about something. And all these principles added together still doesn’t tell us what the content is of the nature, that is, what we’re talking about. So I will tell you a little bit about the stuff, on which all these principles are supposed to have been working.

First of all is matter, and remarkably enough, all matter is the same. The matter of which the stars are made is known to be the same as the matter on the earth, by the character of the light that’s emitted by those stars– they give a kind of fingerprint, by which you can tell that it’s the same kind of atoms in the stars. As on the earth, the same kind of atoms appear to be in living creatures as in non-living creatures. Frogs are made out of the same goop– in different arrangement– than rocks.

So that makes our problem simpler. We have nothing but atoms, all the same, everywhere. And the atoms all seem to be made from the same general constitution. They have a nucleus, and around the nucleus there are electrons.

Feynman discusses subjects which we understand in physics and other fields that may be understandable by physical evidence and fields that are not. He discusses our understanding of the nucleus of the atom, then continues with:

Now, today although the knowledge or the theory of what goes on outside the nucleus of the atom seems precise and complete enough, in the sense that given enough time, we can calculate anything as accurately as it can be measured, it turns out that the forces between neutrons and protons, which constitute the nucleus, are not so completely known and are not understood at all well. And that’s what I mean by– that is, that we cannot today, we do not today understand the forces between neutrons and protons to the extent that if you wanted me to, and give me enough time and computers, I could calculate exactly the energy levels of carbon or something like that. Because we don’t know enough about that. Although we can do the corresponding thing for the energy levels of the outside electrons of the atom, we cannot for the nuclei. So, the nuclear forces are still not understood very well.

Now in order to find out more about that, experimenters have gone on. And they have to study phenomena at very high energy, where they hit neutrons and protons together at very high energy and produced peculiar things. And by studying those peculiar things, we hope to understand better the forces between neutrons and protons.

Well, a Pandora’s box has been opened by these experiments, although all we really wanted was to get a better idea of the forces between neutrons and protons. When we hit these things together hard, we discover that there are more particles in the world. And as a matter of fact, in this column there was plus over four dozen other particles have been dredged up in an attempt to understand these. And these four dozen other are put in this column, because they’ve very relevant to the neutron proton problem. They interact very much with neutrons and protons. And they’ve got something to do with the force between neutrons and protons. So, we’ve got a little bit too much.”

In many lectures, to both scientific and popular audiences, Feynman always stressed that no theory in physics is ever final; there are always outlying data points, which may be simply erroneous measurements, but may be the initial clues that lead to a totally new and better theory. That’s the way science works.

We don’t fully understand climate change. However, an examination of the deep-sea sedimentary rock (e.g., limestone) formed by the remains of marine organisms with skeletal structures made of calcium carbonate, such as foraminifera, falsifies the claim that carbon dioxide is the primary driver of temperature change. It is a bit player in a complex play.

Further, to our knowledge no one has proved the greenhouse effect and its influence on Earth’s temperatures wrong. Until we have superior theory on what keeps the land masses of Earth from entering a deep freeze at night, it is the one that TWTW relies on.

Unfortunately, the UN IPCC and its collaborators have adopted models that exaggerate the influence of CO2. As such, their reports may contain useful information based on physics, but their conclusions are to be discarded.

For Feynman’s lecture, see link under Challenging the Orthodoxy.

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High Sticking: Physicist Donald Rapp retired from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and has authored many books including Ice Ages and Interglacials: Measurements, Interpretation and Models; Assessing Climate Change: Temperatures, Solar Radiation and Heat Balance; and Use of Extraterrestrial Resources for Human Space Missions to Moon or Mars (Astronautical Engineering). He is not a “global warming denier.” Rapp recently authored a published essay, “Revisiting 2,000 Years of Climate Change (Bad Science and the ‘Hockey Stick’).” In it he asserts that the 20^th and 21^st century warm period is warmer than the Medieval Warm Period. The IPCC and its collaborators ignore the Medieval Warm Period. But the essay focuses on the shoddy science of the “Hockey Stick” and its defense. The abstract states:

“Near the turn of the 21^st century, several climate scientists believed that rising CO2 was the cause of observed warming and sought to support this by showing that excursions in the Earth temperature were small for the past 2,000 years, with a sudden increase in the 20th century at the same time period when CO2  emissions increased (a so-called “hockey stick” shape to the temperature vs. time plot). To do this, they employed a large number of proxies (such as tree rings) to estimate the Earth’s temperature over the last 2,000 years. Each proxy was compared to the measured temperature during the calibration period (the 20th century), and this relationship was used to convert up to 2,000 years of proxy measurements to estimated temperature. A sophisticated algorithm was used to process the large amount of data from multiple proxies into a yearly average temperature for up to 2,000 years. Unfortunately, they made several mistakes in the statistical analysis, one of which produced a significant statistical error. This error, in which they standardized the data against the mean during the calibration period (rather than the entire data set) had the effect of almost ignoring most of the proxies, while heavily weighting those few with an increase in the 20th century – thus artificially producing a hockey stick form to the plot of temperature vs. time. In addition, the innate merit of many proxies is dubious. The climate scientists involved appeared to ignore valid criticisms from outside their peer group, and they continued to claim the hockey stick result. Climate scientists also vigorously opposed any suggestion that factors other than CO2 also affected the climate. Climate scientists introduced elements of political influence into scientific discourse by actions such as loading up a thin paper with a large number of authors – publishing votes of confidence rather than scientific results.” [Boldface added]

The essay is detailed in the problems of the hockey stick. Moreover, Stephen McIntyre and Ross McKitrick were denied access to data from government funded work in the UK and the US. McIntyre and McKitrick eventually obtained some of the data, and revealed the statistical errors in the work. Recently McIntyre has obtained additional data that were dropped from the studies because the data contradicted the conclusions of the original hockey-stick paper. The false hockey-stick characteristic was featured in the Synthesis Report of the Third Assessment Report of the UN IPCC (2001)

If we are ever to resolve the issue as to the extent to which carbon dioxide emissions will increase global temperatures, analysis revealing errors is needed. See link under Seeking a Common Ground.

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The Pain in Spain: The Iberian Peninsula suffered a blackout shortly after noon, six days after press releases stated that Spain had briefly achieved 100% renewable power. The major source of that power is solar panels. Initially, an undefined “rare atmospheric phenomenon” was blamed, but the finger pointing soon followed. In Spain, the largest source of electricity from renewables is solar power, so some commentators blamed solar power. It is not clear whether the blackout was caused by factors internal to the grid or external to the grid or even whether the cause was internal to Earth or external to Earth.

An example of a cause internal to Earth that may cause an electrical disruption is a change in Earth’s magnetic field, and it is changing. An example of a cause external to Earth that may cause electrical disruption is a solar geomagnetic storm, coronal mass ejection (solar flare) such as the Carrington Event (1859). Another could be a sharp change in high energy cosmic rays hitting Earth’s atmosphere. It has been experimentally established that cosmic rays influence cloud formation. These are among the reasons that TWTW considers it premature to discuss the blackout. However, the blackout demonstrates the need for reliable electricity, and solar power adds frailty to what should be a robust system.

Just before the Iberian blackout Net Zero Watch published a report by power engineer Neil Probert of the long-established UK power engineering company Johnson & Phillips titled “Built to fail: the silent crisis in green infrastructure.” The essay articulates how solar power adds frailty to the power grid. The essay begins with:

“Over the past decade, the UK has seen a rapid deployment of renewable energy sites. Solar and wind farms are being rolled out at scale and, on the surface, it’s a clean, green revolution. But step behind the glossy headlines and you’ll find an uncomfortable truth: the power infrastructure supporting these sites is being built to a dangerously low standard.

This isn’t just about cutting corners – it’s about systemic failure in how we treat the backbone of renewable power delivery.

Real failures, real fast

At Johnson & Phillips, the power engineering firm where I am project lead, we’ve recently replaced four transformers across different solar sites – none older than five years. We’ve also had to rebuild switchboards that suffered flashovers – a short circuit in layman’s terms – due to basic design flaws. These weren’t isolated incidents. They’re becoming common.

Each case ties back to the same root cause: sites that were engineered to meet deadlines and financial models, not long-term operational resilience.

Why are they failing?

Let’s break down the key issues in simple terms:

Thermal cycling: Solar power, in particular, causes extreme day-night thermal expansion and contraction of transformers. The latter are hermetically sealed, and have thin-walled cooling fins, which expand and contract daily. While transformers are often sold as ‘zero service,’ over time, the seal integrity can fail. If that happens, positive pressure during the day can force oil out of the system, and negative pressure at night can draw in moist air, which then degrades insulation on the components, eventually leading to internal arcing.

Underspecified materials: We’re seeing widespread use of aluminum for the windings – the coils of wire around the transformer cores. These are generally chosen over copper for price, not performance, reasons. While suitable in some cases, when poorly matched with duty cycles and environment, aluminum windings can degrade quickly.

Harmonics and power quality: The inverters which convert the direct current generated by, say, a solar farm, into the alternating current used by the grid, can dump so-called ‘harmonic currents’ back into the system. These can accelerate wear on transformers and switchgear. Sites are rarely designed with mitigation of these effects in mind.

Poor design and installation: We’ve witnessed shocking layouts, cramped substations, inadequate protection settings, and cable installations that don’t stand a chance under real load.

Training and oversight: A blunt truth – some of the engineers involved in these installations are barely trained. One-week online certifications and ‘Facetube tutorials’ don’t replace a real engineering background. Yet these are the people wiring up critical national infrastructure.

Standards without enforcement: The UK, like North America, has a host of standards – ENA guidelines, BS codes, IEC rules – all meant to ensure safety and longevity. But standards are meaningless without enforcement. In many of these projects, there’s little accountability past the energization date. By the time failures start, ownership has changed hands, warranties are blurred, and the cost of replacement is someone else’s problem.

A costly cycle

These aren’t just technical problems – they’re economic time bombs. When a transformer fails on a solar site, generation stops. Mobilization, removal, repair, and retesting can take weeks. The cost isn’t just equipment – it’s lost revenue and long-term investor trust.

We’re not against renewables. We’re fully in support of them. But we are absolutely against pretending that speed and scale are enough. If we want clean energy that’s truly sustainable, we need to treat its infrastructure with the seriousness it deserves. We need to:

• specify transformers for actual duty conditions.
• build substations with 25-year thinking, not 5-year budgets.
• enforce design and commissioning standards.
• train engineers properly.

Closing thought

The Heathrow fire has reminded us that when transformers fail, the consequences can be severe. The renewable sector must take note: you don’t get grid resilience from bargain-bin engineering. If we don’t change course, today’s green dreams will become tomorrow’s infrastructure nightmares.”

Probert gives a glossary of key terms. This should be a warning to all advocating solar power or wind power. Solar power does not have the heavy rotating turbines (weighing hundreds to thousands of tons) that hydro, nuclear, coal, or natural gas combined cycle plants have. Solar power does not have the inertia to smooth out small variations in frequencies. Grid operators strive to provide a stable frequency of plus or minus 0.05 Hertz (Hz). (North America and parts of Asia use a 60 Hz system (cycles per second); the rest of the world use a 50 Hz system).

Wind turbines have significant mass but what is not stable in industrial wind is wind speed; a drop of wind speed from 10 meters per second to 9 meters per second  a 30% reduction in power. See link under Challenging the Orthodoxy.

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Changes in Washington: In addition to removing the funding of the private organization that writes the US National Climate Assessment (as discussed in the last TWTW), the administration is eliminating funding for a host of programs. Some of the programs have very ambiguous goals such as “environmental justice.” See links under Funding Issues.

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SEPP’S APRIL FOOLS AWARD – THE JACKSON

It is time for voting on the Annual SEPP’s April Fools Award – the Jackson. The grand prize is a large lump of coal. Last year, the deserving winner of the lump of coal was the US National Science Teaching Association. In 2023, the Association banned the CO2 Coalition from its meeting which the Coalition members paid for and were approved because the CO2 Coalition exhibit pointed out that CO2 is essential for photosynthesis which is the food source of all complex life on Earth.

There are many strong candidates for this dubious honor including leaders of US scientific agencies who signed off on questionable reports on climate change. Get your votes in by June 29 with the reason why you recommend that person for the award. The award will be announced at the 43^rd annual meeting of the Doctors for Defensive Preparedness on July 5-6. The decision of the judges is final.

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Number of the Week: R squared of 0.018. In statistics, R squared, R², is called the Coefficient of Determination. It is the proportion of the variation of the dependent variable that is explained by the independent variable. To put it differently, how much does a change in the effect (dependent variable) can be explained by the asserted cause (independent variable). How effective is change in the independent variable in explaining change in the dependent variable? Ideally it will be close to 1 (one). Anything less than one decreases the value of using the independent variable for prediction.

Donald Rapp wrote that in 2019 McIntyre and McKitrick wrote in “CLIMATEGATE: untangling myth and reality ten years later” that one of the significant omissions in the Mann et al. reports and its defense is:

“…not including the important statistical measure of validity ‘r2’ which was exceptionally small at 0.018.”

Tree rings are insignificant for explaining global warming. TWTW suspects using carbon dioxide concentrations from deep sea sediments to explain temperature change will also produce statistically insignificant results. See link under Seeking a Common Ground.

NEWS YOU CAN USE:

Challenging the Orthodoxy — NIPCC

Climate Change Reconsidered II: Physical Science

Idso, Carter, and Singer, Lead Authors/Editors, Nongovernmental International Panel on Climate Change (NIPCC), 2013

Click to access CCR-II-Full.pdf

Summary: https://www.heartland.org/_template-assets/documents/CCR/CCR-II/Summary-for-Policymakers.pdf

Climate Change Reconsidered II: Biological Impacts

Idso, Idso, Carter, and Singer, Lead Authors/Editors, Nongovernmental International Panel on Climate Change (NIPCC), 2014

http://climatechangereconsidered.org/climate-change-reconsidered-ii-biological-impacts/

Climate Change Reconsidered II: Fossil Fuels

By Multiple Authors, Bezdek, Idso, Legates, and Singer eds., Nongovernmental International Panel on Climate Change, April 2019

http://climatechangereconsidered.org/climate-change-reconsidered-ii-fossil-fuels/

Why Scientists Disagree About Global Warming

The NIPCC Report on the Scientific Consensus

By Craig D. Idso, Robert M. Carter, and S. Fred Singer, Nongovernmental International Panel on Climate Change (NIPCC), Nov 23, 2015

http://climatechangereconsidered.org/why-scientists-disagree-about-global-warming/

Nature, Not Human Activity, Rules the Climate

S. Fred Singer, Editor, NIPCC, 2008

http://www.sepp.org/publications/nipcc_final.pdf

Challenging the Orthodoxy – Radiation Transfer

The Role of Greenhouse Gases in Energy Transfer in the Earth’s Atmosphere

By W.A. van Wijngaarden and W. Happer, Preprint, Mar 3, 2023

Click to access The-Role-of-Greenhouse-Gases-in-Energy-Transfer-in-the-Earths-Atmosphere.pdf

Dependence of Earth’s Thermal Radiation on Five Most Abundant Greenhouse Gases

By W.A. van Wijngaarden and W. Happer, Preprint, December 22, 2020

https://wvanwijngaarden.info.yorku.ca/files/2020/12/WThermal-Radiationf.pdf?x45936

Radiation Transport in Clouds

By W.A. van Wijngaarden and W. Happer, Klimarealistene, Science of Climate Change, January 2025

Click to access SCC-2025-vWijngaarden-Happer.pdf

Challenging the Orthodoxy

Seeking New Laws

By Richard Feynman, part of the Messenger Lectures on “The Character of Physical Law” at Cornell University, Transcript by James Clear, Nov. 9, 1964

“Seeking New Laws”

Benny Peiser On The Climate Debate

By John Robson, Climate Discussion Nexus, Apr 22, 2025

Benny Peiser On The Climate Debate

Video

Built to fail: the silent crisis in green infrastructure

Guest Article by Neil Probert, Net Zero Watch, Apr 25, 2025

https://www.netzerowatch.com/all-news/built-to-fail-the-silent-crisis-in-green-infrastructure

Using the scientific method to debunk climate alarmism

By Tom Harris and Todd Royal, The Other Side of The Story, Feb 24, 2025

https://www.americaoutloud.news/using-the-scientific-method-to-debunk-climate-alarmism

Podcast: Interview of Ken Haapala

Was the Sky Ever Falling? Vacating the Endangerment Finding in an Age of Clarity

Join scientists and economists with a rich history of expertise in climate science and policy as they examine the flawed assumptions, politicized science, and weak statistical foundations that fueled the Endangerment Finding. May 13, 2025, 9:00 pm to 3:15 pm

Press Release Heritage Foundation, Washington, DC.

https://www.heritage.org/climate/event/was-the-sky-ever-falling-vacating-the-endangerment-finding-age-clarity

The Social Cost of Carbon: A Flawed Measure for Energy Policy

By Jonathan Lesser, National Center for Energy Analytics, Apr 23, 2025

The Social Cost of Carbon: A Flawed Measure for Energy Policy

From executive summary: As a concept, the SCC has some theoretical merit. However, it should not be used for making energy policy choices. The SCC can vary by orders of magnitude, depending on the research model. Moreover, it is often divorced from underlying scientific or economic principles, reflecting instead the assumptions and preferences of the modelers. Yet the SCC is used to justify staggeringly expensive regulations and mandates.

Updates On The Collapse Of The Climate Scam

By Francis Menton, Manhattan Contrarian, Apr 26, 2025

https://www.manhattancontrarian.com/blog/2025-4-26-updates-on-the-collapse-of-the-climate-scam

Chris Morrison On Talk TV

By Paul Homewood, Not a Lot of People Know That, Apr 30, 2025

Chris Morrison On Talk TV

Video

Defending the Orthodoxy

UN chief says energy revolution unstoppable despite US pivot

By AFP Staff Writers, United Nations, United States (AFP) April 23, 2025

https://www.energy-daily.com/reports/UN_chief_says_energy_revolution_unstoppable_despite_US_pivot_999.html

The remarks by the secretary-general came after a virtual summit of over a dozen world leaders to discuss planning ahead of the major COP30 climate meeting later this year in Brazil.

In the meeting, major-emitter China vowed to not let up in combating climate change. [Boldface added]

[SEPP Comment: In 1990, China emitted about 10% of the world’s emissions with 2.5 billion tonnes while the world total was 22.7 billion. In 2023, China emitted about 32% of the world emissions with 11.9 billion tonnes while the world emitted 37.8 billion. The report is a joke.]

https://ourworldindata.org/co2-emissions

The AGU and AMS try a desperate ploy to save their climate relevance

By Anthony Watts, WUWT, May 2, 2025

The AGU and AMS try a desperate ploy to save their climate relevance

“The National Climate Assessment is a comprehensive, rigorous integration and evaluation of the latest climate science knowledge that decision makers — from government at all levels to private enterprise — need in order to understand the world in which we live,” said AMS President David J. Stensrud.

The Global Renewable Energy and Sectoral Electrification (GREaSE) Model for Rapid Energy Transition Scenarios

By James Hopeward, et al., Energies, Apr 25, 2025 [H/t Bernie Kepshire]

https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/9/2205

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Carbon Neutrality Through Green Innovations—the Role of the Renewable Energy: 3rd Edition)

Defending the Orthodoxy – Bandwagon Science

Climate change is ramping up flood risk in the Pacific Northwest: Study

By Sharon Udasin, The Hill, Apr 28, 2025

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5271426-pacific-northwest-earthquake-flood-risk-climate-change-study

Link to paper: Increased flood exposure in the Pacific Northwest following earthquake-driven subsidence and sea-level rise

By Tina Dura, et al., PNAS, Feb 27, 2025

https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2424659122

From the abstract: If a great earthquake occurred today, floodplains could expand by 90 km2 (low), 160 km2 (medium), or 300 km2 (high subsidence), more than doubling the flooding exposure of residents, structures, and roads under the high subsidence scenario. By 2100, when climate-driven sea-level rise will compound the hazard, a great earthquake could expand floodplains by 170 km2 (low), 240 km2 (medium), or 370 km2 (high subsidence), more than tripling the flooding exposure of residents, structures, and roads under the high subsidence scenario compared to the 2023 floodplain.

[SEPP Comment: Where is the evidence of climate-driven sea-level rise beyond that which has been occurring for the past 3000 years?]

Now Scientists Claim Near 20-Year Stable Arctic Sea Ice is “Unsurprising” and Predicted by Models

By Chris Morrison, The Daily Sceptic, Apr 28, 2025

Now Scientists Claim Near 20-Year Stable Arctic Sea Ice is “Unsurprising” and Predicted by Models

Link to paper: Surprising, but not unexpected, multi-decadal pause in Arctic sea ice loss

By Mark England, et al., ESS Open Archive, Mar 29, 2025

https://essopenarchive.org/doi/full/10.22541/essoar.174329135.56312606/v1

[SEPP Comment: Whatever occurs, we predicted it?]

Scientists issue dire warning after making frightening discovery in the Atlantic Ocean: ‘Sudden, wide-reaching impacts’

“The results of this study make us concerned.”

By Timothy McGill, The Cool Down (TCD), April 30, 2025 [H/t Bernie Kepshire]

Scientists issue dire warning after making frightening discovery in the Atlantic Ocean: ‘Sudden, wide-reaching impacts’

Link to paper: The Arctic Beaufort Gyre in CMIP6 Models: Present and Future

By Marylou Athanase, et al., JGR Oceans, Mar 31, 2025

https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2024JC021873

From abstract: The Beaufort Gyre (BG) is an important feature of the Arctic Ocean. By accumulating or releasing freshwater, it influences ocean properties both within the Arctic and as far as the North Atlantic. Yet, its future remains uncertain: the gyre could strengthen as sea ice declines and allows increased wind stress on the ocean, or weaken along with the Beaufort High (BH) pressure system. Here, we provide a first evaluation of the BG in historical and climate-change simulations from 27 available global climate models.

Questioning the Orthodoxy

New Study: Central Africa Was At Least 2.5°C Warmer Than Today 7000 Years Ago

By Kenneth Richard, No Tricks Zone, Apr 28, 2025

New Study: Central Africa Was At Least 2.5°C Warmer Than Today 7000 Years Ago

Link to paper: Mid- to Late-Holocene branched GDGT-based air temperatures from a crater lake in Cameroon (Central Africa)

By Guillemette Ménot, et al., Organic Geochemistry, June 2025

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0146638025000555

New Study: US And 60-90°S Temperature Trends Do Not Align With The Humans-Did-It Narrative

By Kenneth Richard, No Tricks Zone, May 1, 2025

New Study: US And 60-90°S Temperature Trends Do Not Align With The Humans-Did-It Narrative

Link to paper: Segmented linear integral correlation Kernel ensemble reconstruction: A new method for climate reconstructions with applications to Holocene era proxies from an East Antarctic ice core

By Jason L Roberts, et al., PLOS.one, Apr 2, 2025

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0318825

Peering into peer review

By John Robson, Climate Discussion Nexus, Apr 30, 2025

Peering into peer review

They may, and it may always have been one less-than-ideal reason for the traditional habit of regarding eggheads with skepticism. But the increase in such skepticism, the growing tendency to think that much of the research-industrial complex is vain, inept and elitist, is the product of major failings in the world of science, especially the problem of peer review and the famous and increasingly urgent “replication crisis”.

CCC Threaten Climate Disaster By 2050

By Paul Homewood, Not a Lot of People Know That, Apr 30, 2025

CCC Threaten Climate Disaster By 2050

The Climate Change Committee have now gone well beyond any objective assessment of climate change. Instead, their latest report belongs in the world of fantasy and disaster movies:

What Does It Cost? The Consequences of the Net Zero Energy Agenda

By Staff, Discovery Institute, Accessed Apr 29, 2025

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1FGql4hD4Y&t=3s

Video questioning recent energy policies of Oregon and Washington

An Earth Day Addendum: Environmental Justice and the Poor

By Benjamin Zycher, Real Clear Energy, April 28, 2025

https://www.realclearenergy.org/articles/2025/04/28/an_earth_day_addendum_environmental_justice_and_the_poor_1106814.html

Energy & Environmental Review: April 28, 2025

By John Droz, Jr., Master Resource, April 28, 2025

Energy & Environmental Review: April 28, 2025

After Paris!

Trump scraps US office on climate diplomacy

By AFP Staff Writers.

Washington (AFP) April 25, 2025

https://www.terradaily.com/reports/Trump_scraps_US_office_on_climate_diplomacy_999.html

Social Benefits of Carbon Dioxide

Global greening: How “CO2 pollution” is actually making Earth greener

By Ronan Connolly et al., CERES Science, Apr 30, 2025

Video

Climate Change Weekly # 541 — Earth Is Greening: Thank Climate Change

By H. Sterling Burnett, The Heartland Institute, Apr 25, 2025

Climate Change Weekly # 541 — Earth Is Greening: Thank Climate Change

The effect of additional atmospheric CO2 on dill

By John Robson, Climate Discussion Nexus, Apr 30, 2025

The effect of additional atmospheric CO2 on dill

From the CO2Science Archive

Seeking a Common Ground

Revisiting 2,000 Years of Climate Change (Bad Science and the “Hockey Stick”)

By Donald Rapp, IgMin Research, Apr 15, 2025

Click to access igmin296.pdf

Chemtrails or Contrails?

By Roy Spencer CO2 Coalition, May 1, 2025

Chemtrails or Contrails?

A Simple, Factual, and Sensible Rebuttal to the Chemtrail Conspiracy Theory

By Anthony Watts, WUWT, Apr 30, 2025

A Simple, Factual, and Sensible Rebuttal to the Chemtrail Conspiracy Theory

Science, Policy, and Evidence

Blair Slams Starmer’s Net Zero Plans–”Doomed To Fail”

By Paul Homewood, Not a Lot of People Know That, Apr 29, 2025

Blair Slams Starmer’s Net Zero Plans–”Doomed To Fail”

Models v. Observations

ECS and the tropical Pacific temperature gradient

By John Robson, Climate Discussion Nexus, Apr 30, 2025

ECS and the tropical Pacific temperature gradient

Link to paper: Zonal Contrasts of the Tropical Pacific Climate Predicted by a Global Constraint

By Sukyoung Lee, et al., Asia-Pacific Journal of Atmospheric Sciences, July 12, 2024

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13143-024-00373-5

If they’re right, it means more La Niña trends not fewer. And the authors then ask “If this maxMEP solution has merit, a natural question is why most of the climate models are predicting El Niño-like trends.” To which they offer an answer, namely that the models are wrong. Or in the more delicate wording of the authors, include “aphysical” mechanisms. “Aphysical” here meaning wrong.

Measurement Issues — Surface

Global Climate Database Fed with Junk Data From RAF Airbase Where Helicopters Hover Over the Thermometer

By Chris Morrison, The Daily sceptic, Apr 30, 2025

Global Climate Database Fed with Junk Data From RAF Airbase Where Helicopters Hover Over the Thermometer

The Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) is one of the most important climate monitoring networks in the world. It is co-sponsored by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and numerous UN, EU and scientific bodies and its collects information that is used for scientific research within the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Ultimately, it forms the basis for promoting and implementing global Net Zero plans.

High Temperatures, Large Temperature Contrasts, and Crazy Hot Stations

By Cliff Mass, Weather Blog, May 1, 2025

https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2025/05/high-temperatures-large-temperature.html

Temperature errors are widespread, and most problematic stations are too warm.

I checked with the head of a local National Weather Service office whether there was any automatic monitoring of temperature sensor performance at local observing sites.   Software that would make all kinds of temperature quality checks, including comparison with other local sites.

Measurement Issues — Atmosphere

UAH v6.1 Global Temperature Update for April, 2025: +0.61 deg. C

By Roy Spencer, His Blog, May 2, 2025

UAH v6.1 Global Temperature Update for April, 2025: +0.61 deg. C

The Version 6.1 global area-averaged linear temperature trend (January 1979 through April 2025) remains at +0.15 deg/ C/decade (+0.22 C/decade over land, +0.13 C/decade over oceans).

Changing Weather

#LookItUp: historical extreme weather events

By John Robson, Climate Discussion Nexus, Apr 30, 2025

#LookItUp: historical extreme weather events

Link to: Dramatic weather events from 1900 to today

By Francis Carruthers, Love Exploring, May 29, 2024

https://www.loveexploring.com/gallerylist/84422/dramatic-weather-events-from-1900-to-today

Britain’s Unchanging Climate

By Paul Homewood, Not a Lot of People Know That, Apr 30, 2025

Britain’s Unchanging Climate

Changing Seas

Oceanic Warming in Two Bands, NH and SH

By Ron Clutz, His Blog, May 2, 2025

Oceanic Warming in Two Bands, NH and SH

Link to: Unexpected ocean heat patterns show NZ in extreme zone

Press Release, University of Auckland, May 2, 2025

https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/news/2025/05/02/oceans-heating-faster-in-two-bands-stretching-around-globe.html

Hiding The Decline

By Tony Heller, His Blog, Apr 26, 2025

Hiding The Decline

Over the last 100 days, sea surface temperatures and other things have been rapidly declining.

Changing Cryosphere – Land / Sea Ice

Arctic Ice: All’s Well Ending April 2025

By Ron Clutz, His Blog, May 1, 2025

Arctic Ice: All’s Well Ending April 2025

Changing Earth

Melting glaciers at the end of the Ice Age may have sped up continental drift, fueled volcanic eruptions

By Daniel Strain, Boulder CO (SPX) Apr 24, 2025

https://www.terradaily.com/reports/Melting_glaciers_at_the_end_of_the_Ice_Age_may_have_sped_up_continental_drift_fueled_volcanic_eruptions_999.html

Link to paper: Effects of glacial forcing on lithospheric motion and ridge spreading

By Tao Yuan & Shijie Zhong, Nature, Apr 23, 2025

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08846-x

Researchers solve one of Earth’s ancient volcanic mysteries

By Georgia Jiang, College Park, MD (SPX) May 01, 2025

https://www.terradaily.com/reports/Researchers_solve_one_of_Earths_ancient_volcanic_mysteries_999.html

Link did not work, unable to find paper.

Lowering Standards

When You Thought The Met Office Could Not Get Any More Dishonest!

By Paul Homewood, Not a Lot of People Know That, Apr 30, 2025

When You Thought The Met Office Could Not Get Any More Dishonest!

Communicating Better to the Public – Use Yellow (Green) Journalism?

Traditional Media Turn Complex Science Into Impending Catastrophe

By Vijay Jayaraj, CO2 Coalition, May 1, 2025

Traditional Media Turn Complex Science Into Impending Catastrophe

How Media Exploits Climate Catastrophism

By Vijay Jayaraj, American Thinker, May 2, 2025

https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2025/05/how_media_exploits_climate_catastrophism.html

Tidbits

By John Robson, Climate Discussion Nexus, Apr 30, 2025

Tidbits

No, Euronews, Europe is Not Suffering ‘Serious Impacts’ from Climate Change

By Linnea Lueken, Climate Realism, Apr 25, 2025

No, Euronews, Europe is Not Suffering ‘Serious Impacts’ from Climate Change

Communicating Better to the Public – Make things up.

Chasing 150 dragons

By John Robson, Climate Discussion Nexus, Apr 30, 2025

Chasing 150 dragons

For instance, the grisly slideshow starts with “The Rise of Unpredictable Weather Patterns” which is just silly because the unpredictability of weather was a standing joke long before the invention of television made weatherpersons the butt of it.

More Climate Litigation Silliness From Academia

By Jonathan Lesser, Real Clear Energy, April 30, 2025

https://www.realclearenergy.org/articles/2025/04/30/more_climate_litigation_silliness_masking_from_academia_1107074.html

Link to paper: Carbon majors and the scientific case for climate liability

By Christopher W. Callahan & Justin S. Mankin, Nature, Aper 23, 2025

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08751-3

Communicating Better to the Public – Use Propaganda

Climate Anxiety? Or Just Another Political Map Masquerading as Science?

By Anthony Watts, WUWT, Apr 29, 2025

Climate Anxiety? Or Just Another Political Map Masquerading as Science?

Link to article: America’s climate anxiety, mapped

Share of adults worried about global warming compared to the national average, 2024

By Alex Fitzpatrick, Axios, Apr 9, 2025

https://www.axios.com/2025/04/09/american-climate-change-anxiety-map

Data from: Yale Climate Opinion Maps 2024

By Jennifer Marlon, et al., Yale Program on Climate Change Communication

https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/visualizations-data/ycom-us-2024

BBC’s Hottest Evah Propaganda

By Paul Homewood, Not a Lot of People Know That, Apr 29, 2025

BBC’s Hottest Evah Propaganda

Questioning European Green

Green NGOs feel the heat

Guest Article by Pieter Cleppe, Net Zero Watch, Apr 30, 2025

https://www.netzerowatch.com/all-news/green-ngos-feel-the-heat

Link to report: Auditors: EU funding for NGOs is too opaque

European Court of Auditors, Apr 7, 2025

https://www.eca.europa.eu/en/news/NEWS-SR-2025-11

Why Are UK Electricity Prices So High? (Part 1)

By Paul Homewood, Not a Lot of People Know That, Apr 28, 2025

Why Are UK Electricity Prices So High? (Part 1)

Questioning Green Elsewhere

India-US Deal Signals Energy Sovereignty and Climate Cult’s Demise

By Vijay Jayaraj, CO2 Coalition, Apr 29, 2025

India-US Deal Signals Energy Sovereignty and Climate Cult’s Demise

Funding Issues

Trump administration dismisses scientists working on National Climate Assessment

By Rachel Frazin, The Hill, Apr 29, 2025

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5273217-trump-administration-national-climate-assessment-cuts

Rachel Cleetus, one of the experts who was working on the National Climate Assessment, told The Hill that more than 400 people had been working as volunteers on the national assessment until they received the email on Monday.

[SEPP Comment: How many came from environmental organizations?]

National Science Foundation Cancels Hundreds of Grants to Left-Wing Research Projects

By James Lynch, National Review, Apr 30, 2025

https://www.nationalreview.com/news/national-science-foundation-cancels-hundreds-of-grants-to-left-wing-research-projects

“The NSF’s mission is to promote the progress of science, advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare, and secure the national defense,” an NSF spokesperson told National Review in a statement. “It is our priority to ensure all NSF awards aim to create opportunities for all Americans everywhere, without exclusion of any groups. NSF remains committed to reviewing and funding proposals that are aligned with the agency priorities.”

As a result, NSF is terminating research projects focused on left-wing ideological concepts including “equity,” intersectionality, “latinx,” and climate change, according to a database of grant cancellations maintained by Dr. Noam Ross of rOpenSci and Harvard research scientist Scott Delaney.

GISS Gets the Boot: A Seinfeldian Saga

By Charles Rotter, WUWT, Apr 26, 2025

GISS Gets the Boot: A Seinfeldian Saga

Link to article: Trump administration cancels top NASA climate lab’s lease at Columbia University

By Andrew Freedman, CNN, Apr 24, 2025

https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/24/climate/nasa-lease-canceled-columbia/index.html

Trump Administration Finally Pulls the Plug on the Climate Fear Factory

By Charles Rotter, WUWT, Apr 29, 2025

Trump Administration Finally Pulls the Plug on the Climate Fear Factory

Time to Defund Climate Models?

By Steve Goreham, Master Resource, April 29, 2025

Time to Defund Climate Models?

There are more than 40 climate models operating across the world, with 13 of the leading models located in the US. The US models are operated by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in New York City, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Princeton, New Jersey, and the Department of Energy (DOE) in Boulder, Colorado

At the same time, NASA management cut off funding for a support contract for the 7th Assessment Report of the IPCC. NASA has been a primary contributor to previous IPCC Assessment Reports.

Trump budget proposes slashes to renewable energy, farms, EPA

By Timothy Gardner, Valerie Volcovici and Leah Douglas, Reuters, May 2, 2025 [H/t SJ Cvrk]

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/trump-budget-proposes-slashes-renewable-energy-farms-epa-2025-05-02

Among cuts to EPA’s budget are $235 million to the Office of Research and Development, leaving it with $281 million to do research required by Congress and eliminating work to advance environmental justice.

The Political Games Continue

When the Labor Party talk about “The Science” the Opposition can easily outflank and outgun them with bigger, better science

By Jo Nova, Her Blog, April 26, 2025

When the Labor Party talk about “The Science” the Opposition can easily outflank and outgun them with bigger, better science

Subsidies and Mandates Forever

Net Zero Subsidies Now Cost £26 Billion A Year–New Report Claims

By Paul Homewood, Not a Lot of People Know That, May 2, 2025

Net Zero Subsidies Now Cost £26 Billion A Year–New Report Claims

Link to report: UK Renewable Electricity Subsidy Totals: 2002 to the Present Day

By John Constable, et al., Renewable Energy Foundation (REF), Apr 28, 2025

https://www.ref.org.uk/ref-blog/390-uk-renewable-electricity-subsidy-totals-2002-to-the-present-day

From a news interview of Constable:

A Government spokesman disagreed with the REF figures used in the report and said it “ignores the benefits of clean power and significantly misleads on the cost of renewables”.

A spokesman said: “As shown by the National Energy System Operator’s independent report, clean power by 2030 is achievable and will deliver a more secure energy system, which could see a lower cost of electricity and lower bills.”

From Homewood: How REF can be “significantly misleading on the cost of renewables” is a mystery, given that REF’s numbers all come from official data

Renewable Subsidies Database

By Paul Homewood, Not a Lot of People Know That, Apr 27, 2025

Renewable Subsidies Database

EPA and other Regulators on the March

EPA canceling nearly 800 environmental justice grants

By Rachel Frazin, The Hill, Apr 29, 2025

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5273712-epa-canceling-nearly-800-environmental-justice-grants

[SEPP Comment: If a criminal is struck dead by a lightning bolt, is that environmental justice? A young child?]

Energy Issues – Non-US

Net Zero Watch warns of growing GB grid instability

Press Release, Net Zero Watch, Apr 29, 2025

https://www.netzerowatch.com/all-news/gb-grid-instability

Link to report: Blackout Risk in the GB Grid

By Kathryn Porter, Net Zero Watch, Feb 2, 2025

https://www.netzerowatch.com/all-papers/blackout-risk-in-the-gb-grid

From Porter: In the past four years, the upper operational [frequency] limit was breached around 500 times in each winter season…the number of such breaches has also been growing steadily, which is consistent with falling grid inertia…and a perception that the grid is becoming less reliable.

[SEPP Comment: The UK electricity system is becoming increasingly unstable. Large fluctuations in grid frequency – the first sign of problems – are becoming much more common. “The equilibrium point for the European network, which operates on alternating current, is at a frequency of 50 Hertz. In the USA, the reference frequency is 60 Hertz. Grid operators ensure that this frequency remains stable 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The tolerance threshold is plus or minus 0.050 Hertz.”]

https://www.energuide.be/en/questions-answers/why-does-the-electricity-grid-have-to-stay-in-balance/2136/#:~:text=In%20the%20USA%2C%20the%20reference,plus%20or%20minus%200.050%20Hertz.

What International Gas Market, Mr Miliband?

By Paul Homewood, Not a Lot of People Know That, Apr 28, 2025

What International Gas Market, Mr Miliband?

You may have seen Ed Miliband’s car crash interview with Sky the other day, where he insisted that gas prices are set internationally by petro state dictators.

Maybe he could explain why UK gas prices are five times those in the US!

Rewiring The UK–Mike Travers

By Paul Homewood, Not a Lot of People Know That, May 2, 2025

Rewiring The UK–Mike Travers

Following OFGEM’s [UK’ energy regulator] publishing of plans for a monstrously expensive upgrade of local and regional power distribution networks for Net Zero, it is worth looking again Mike Travers GWPF paper five years ago, which analysed the costs and implications:

According to OFGEM, the average customer currently pays about £100 a year for distribution. This could increase to £430.

Economic reality of Net Zero causes divisions in the Labour Party

Video by Mike Graham of Andrew Montford, Net Zero Watch, May 1, 2025

https://www.netzerowatch.com/videos/v/47cfnn6th7rxrt4n54lamdhhp85ks3

No growth in the UK economy since 2008 with the passage of the Climate Change Act of 2008

Household Energy Bills To Pay For Regional Grid Net Zero Upgrades

By Paul Homewood, Not a Lot of People Know That, May 1, 2025

Household Energy Bills To Pay For Regional Grid Net Zero Upgrades

Energy Issues – Iberian Peninsula

Pride Before The Fall

By Paul Homewood, Not a Lot of People Know That, Apr 29, 2025

Pride Before The Fall

Link to article: Spain hits first weekday of 100% renewable power on national grid

By Pilar Sanchez Molina, PV Magazine Apr 22, 2025

Spain hits first weekday of 100% renewable power on national grid

6 Days After Celebrating ‘100% Renewable Power’, Spain Blames “Rare Atmospheric Phenomenon” For Nation’s Largest Blackout In History

By Tyler Durden, Zero Hedge, Apr 28, 2025

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/spain-hit-massive-really-massive-power-blackout

Michael Shellenberger On The Spanish Blackouts

By Paul Homewood, Not a Lot of People Know That, May 1, 2025

Michael Shellenberger On The Spanish Blackouts

Days after Spain reaches 100% renewable, mass blackouts hit, due to mysterious “rare atmospheric phenomenon”

By Jo Nova, Her Blog, Apr 29, 2025

Days after Spain reaches 100% renewable, mass blackouts hit, due to mysterious “rare atmospheric phenomenon”

Blackout in Spain to cost 2-4 billion Euro, likely due to solar plants — blind and biased ABC says “cause is a mystery”

By Jo Nova, Her Blog, Apr 30, 2025

Blackout in Spain to cost 2-4 billion Euro, likely due to solar plants — blind and biased ABC says “cause is a mystery”

If only the media in Europe had mentioned the 2016 SA Electricity crisis, people in Spain would have known:

Did Over-Reliance On Solar & Lack Of Grid Inertia Cause Spain’s Blackout?

An electrical engineer told me “it’s highly likely” that Spain’s reliance on solar energy contributed to the power failure.

By Robert Bryce, His Blog, Apr 28, 2025

https://robertbryce.substack.com/p/did-over-reliance-on-solar-and-lack?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=630873&post_id=162354023&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=2960o&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email

Energy Issues — US

Energy Reality Must Replace Rhetoric

By Kim David, Real Clear Energy, April 28, 2025

https://www.realclearenergy.org/articles/2025/04/28/energy_reality_must_replace_rhetoric_1106816.html

Americans cannot afford an energy policy built on bumper sticker slogans and political soundbites. The stakes are simply too high.

Both Parties Must Act to Limit Surging Electricity Inflation

By Paul Bledsoe, Real Clear Energy, May 01, 2025

https://www.realclearenergy.org/articles/2025/05/01/both_parties_must_act_to_limit_surging_electricity_inflation_1107564.html

Both parties have major vulnerabilities on inflation right now.  Democrats lost the 2024 election in large part due to high inflation during the Biden’s years in response to the pandemic. Republicans now face voter concerns about rising costs due to new tariffs. Both have strong policy and political incentives to act.

[SEPP Comment: How do tariffs cause inflation in domestically produced energy?]

Collaborative Opportunities for a Prosperous American Energy Future

By Ray Long, Real Clear Energy, May 1, 2025

https://www.realclearenergy.org/articles/2025/05/01/collaborative_opportunities_for_a_prosperous_american_energy_future_1107568.html

Right now, Congress is considering what to do with the energy production tax credits within the Inflation Reduction Act. Our latest report, “Tax Stability for Energy Dominance,” shows that the current tax incentives have created a stable market environment that has unleashed $115 billion in new clean energy generation, supporting over 3.5 million jobs, and powering a record 170 million homes in 2024.  Maintaining certainty around these credits will lower energy costs, provide reliable electricity built on time, keep the United States competitive in the global AI race, and enable of the use of various technologies so we won’t be vulnerable to any one form of generation or its underlying fuel source.

[SEPP Comment: Lower costs of producing unreliable power does not necessary result in lower costs to consumers, who need reliable power.]

Connecticut Lawmakers Devise Plan To Saddle Taxpayers With Soaring Energy Prices

By Audrey Streb, Dailly Caller, Apr 30, 2025

https://dailycaller.com/2025/04/30/connecticut-lawmakers-plan-shift-burden-utility-taxpayers-energy-prices

“There are certain fundamental truths that we must acknowledge and act on if we want to reverse the path we are on,” [bill sponsor] Fonfara said at the conference. “If we choose to do nothing, electricity costs will continue to increase.”

[SEPP Comment: And citizens may blame us who drove energy costs up?]

TOMB: Shapiro ‘Price Cap’ Could Hike Electricity Bills

By Gordon Tomb, Delaware Valley Journal, Apr 28, 2025

TOMB: Shapiro ‘Price Cap’ Could Hike Electricity Bills

Josh Shapiro is governor of Pennsylvania.

Washington’s Control of Energy

House votes to overturn California gas car ban — again defying internal watchdog

By Rachel Frazin, The Hill, May 1, 2025

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5277186-house-vote-california-ev-mandate

However, the 246-164 vote came in defiance of the Government Accountability Office (GAO), a nonpartisan congressional watchdog that also issues legal opinions.

That office has determined that because the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) approval came in the form of a waiver rather than a rule, it is not subject to the CRA.

Return of King Coal?

Climate Change Weekly # 542 — More Ways Coal Improves the Economy and the Environment

By H. Sterling Burnett, The Heartland Institute, May 2, 2025

Climate Change Weekly # 542 — More Ways Coal Improves the Economy and the Environment

Nuclear Energy and Fears

Chernobyl Radiation Cut by 47%: Breakthrough or Overhyped

By Charles Rotter, WUWT, Apr 27, 2025

Chernobyl Radiation Cut by 47%: Breakthrough or Overhyped?

Groups Collaborate on Projects for Fusion Energy in Germany

By Darrell Proctor, Power Mag, May 1, 2025

https://www.powermag.com/groups-collaborate-on-projects-for-fusion-energy-in-germany/?utm_source=omeda&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=pwrnews+eletter&oly_enc_id=7809H6412578J0B

Government officials in the German state of Hessen (or Hesse) in March signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to support development of a nuclear fusion pilot plant, what the groups called a first-of-a-kind, or FOAK, project. German officials have said they want nuclear fusion to be a priority of the country’s energy agenda, barely two years after the country decommissioned its last three operating nuclear power plants in April 2023 at the direction of then-chancellor Angela Merkel.

Alternative, Green (“Clean”) Solar and Wind

Too much wind and solar adds to blackout risk

Interview of Andres Montford of Net Zero Watch by Ian Collins, Apr 29, 2025

https://www.netzerowatch.com/videos/v/hxrwjyhl44h283z7r5rp6w9zjd39cg

Video. Lose the whole grid in seconds. Too little inertia.

Wind And Solar Power Both Capricious and Costly

By Ron Clutz, His Blog, May 2, 2025

Wind And Solar Power Both Capricious and Costly

Why Winds During the Afternoon and Near-Calm at Night?

By Cliff Mass, Weather Blog, Apr 25, 2025

https://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2025/04/why-winds-during-afternoon-and-near.html

Tariff Timing Trouble: America’s AI Power Surge Collides With a 3,500% Solar Duty

By Brandon Owens, Real Clear Energy, April 29, 2025

https://www.realclearenergy.org/articles/2025/04/29/tariff_timing_trouble_americas_ai_power_surge_collides_with_a_3500_solar_duty_1107061.html

[SEPP Comment: Author assumes solar can deliver 99.99% reliable electricity, at Midnight?]

Green Delusion: Solar Panels are a “One Off” Investment

By Eric Worrall, WUWT, Apr 27, 2025

Green Delusion: Solar Panels are a “One Off” Investment

On Wind: Bearing failures in wind turbines are a major cause of downtime in energy production for unplanned maintenance, repairs, and replacements. This failure type is a primary cost and results in higher operations and maintenance (O&M) costs for the energy operator and in higher utility bills for the customer. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL) Gearbox Reliability Database (GRD) shows that 76 percent of gearboxes failed due to bearings, while 17 percent failed due to gear failures. [11] This shows the importance of reliable bearings and gearboxes for wind-turbine operations to the economy and society.

[SEPP Comment: For offshore wind add salt spray to the mix.]

Leverage Trump’s Tariffs: Japan Should Phase Out Chinese Solar and Pivot to U.S. Energy Imports

By Taishi Sugiyama, Real Clear Energy, April 29, 2025

https://www.realclearenergy.org/articles/2025/04/29/leverage_trumps_tariffs_japan_should_phaseout_chinese_solar_and_pivot_to_us_energy_imports_1107066.html

Maine’s floating wind program takes another hit

By David Wojick, CFACT, Apr 28, 2025

https://www.cfact.org/2025/04/28/maines-floating-wind-program-takes-another-hit

Alternative, Green (“Clean”) Energy — Other

British Politicians, Green Energy Company Accused of Polluting a Mississippi Town

By Eric Worrall, WUWT, Apr 27, 2025

British Politicians, Green Energy Company Accused of Polluting a Mississippi Town

“Drax Group operates a power plant in Selby, North Yorkshire, that generates electricity by burning wood pellets. Many of these are sourced from forests in the US and shipped to the UK.

Activists from Gloster in Mississippi, where Drax runs a wood pellet factory, say pollution from its plant has caused health issues for people nearby, including heart disease, cancer and respiratory problems.”

PAC Slam Biomass Sector For Marking Own Homework

By Paul Homewood, Not a Lot of People Know That, Apr 27, 2025

PAC Slam Biomass Sector For Marking Own Homework

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has just released a devastating indictment of UK Government policies regarding the burning of wooden pellets at Drax and other biomass plants.

Brink Of Extinction – More And More Companies Rejecting Costly Hydrogen Technology

By P Gosselin, No Tricks Zone, May 2, 2025

Brink Of Extinction – More And More Companies Rejecting Costly Hydrogen Technology

“Instead of progress, disillusionment dominates. The EU in particular – especially Germany – is increasingly being criticized for its costly projects,” reports German online Blackout News. “Companies are pulling out”.

Hydrogen Projects Awarded CfDs

By Paul Homewood, Not a Lot of People Know That, May 1, 2025

Hydrogen Projects Awarded CfDs

The prices of up to £257.99/MWh compare to current wholesale prices of around £80/MWh

Hydrogen Buses Off Road Because There Is No Hydrogen

By Paul Homewood, Not a Lot of People Know That, Apr 26, 2025

Hydrogen Buses Off Road Because There Is No Hydrogen

Alternative, Green (“Clean”) Vehicles

Another pile of flaming tax dollars, ho hum

By John Robson, Climate Discussion Nexus, Apr 30, 2025

Another pile of flaming tax dollars, ho hum

The announcement was smothered in consultant-speak:

“CAMI is making operational and employment adjustments to balance inventory and align production schedules with current demand”.

I.e. we made a lot of junk we can’t sell. Well, you have to keep those subsidies coming:

California Dreaming

Another refinery closure in California increases the state’s dependency on China

By Ronald Stein and Mike Umbro, America Out Loud News, Apr 28, 2025

https://www.americaoutloud.news/another-refinery-closure-in-california-increases-the-states-dependency-on-china

California’s Water & Energy Future

By Edward Ring, What’s Current? Accessed May 1, 2025

https://mailchi.mp/calpolicycenter/whats-current-issue-7860259?e=cd9fa89d1e

Contrary to the perception spread by its opponents, desalination is cost-effective, energy efficient, and can be deployed at a massive scale. Total worldwide desalination capacity is estimated to be 28-million-acre feet per year. As for energy consumption, if the 2.0 gigawatts of power generated by the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant were used for desalination, it would be enough to produce 5-million-acre feet of fresh water per year.

Time to End the Tyranny of the California Coastal Commission

By Janet Levy, American Thinker, Apr 30, 2025

https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2025/04/time_to_end_the_tyranny_of_the_california_coastal_commission.html

Autonomous, quasi-judicial agencies like the CCC are meant to remain apolitical and humane rather than punitive in their duties. But across the U.S., many such agencies are anything but. The CCC could well qualify as one of the worst.

Health, Energy, and Climate

Chemical in plastics linked to 350K heart disease deaths: Research

By Sharon Udasin, The Hill, Apr 29, 2025

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5272810-plastics-chemicals-phthalates-heart-disease-deaths-research

Link to paper: Phthalate exposure from plastics and cardiovascular disease: global estimates of attributable mortality and years life lost

By Sara Hyman, et al., eBioMedicine, The Lancet, Apr 28, 2025

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/ebiom/article/PIIS2352-3964(25)00174-4/fulltext

From Findings: In 2018, an estimated 356,238 deaths globally were attributed to DEHP exposure, representing 13.497% of all cardiovascular deaths among individuals aged 55–64. Of these, 349,113 were attributed to the use of plastics.

[SEPP Comment: How many deaths can be attributed to breathing?]

BELOW THE BOTTOM LINE

Bloomberg’s $87 Trillion Carbon Fantasy: When Climate Modeling Meets Magical Thinking

By Charles Rotter, WUWT, May 2, 2025

Bloomberg’s $87 Trillion Carbon Fantasy: When Climate Modeling Meets Magical Thinking

Net Zero In Europe

By Tony Heller, His Blog, Apr 30, 2025

Net Zero In Europe

Spain and Portugal have achieved Net Zero, and the UK is working to catch up with them.

[SEPP Comment: Great aerial photo of a black Iberian Peninsula, it looks like North Korea.]

Claim: Climate Apathy is Outpacing the Climate Crisis

By Eric Worrall, WUWT, Apr 26, 2025

Claim: Climate Apathy is Outpacing the Climate Crisis

Link to paper: Binary climate data visuals amplify perceived impact of climate change

By Grace Liu, Nature Human Behaviour, Apr 17, 2025

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-025-02183-9

Dogs Cause Hurricanes, Tornadoes And Droughts

By Tony Heller, His Blog, Apr 28, 2025

Dogs Cause Hurricanes, Tornadoes And Droughts

[SEPP Comment: Domesticated animals damage the environment, but wild ones do not?

NO ARTICLES THIS WEEK