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Chasing Utopian Energy: How I Wasted 20 Years of My Life
Real Clear Energy ^ | June 26, 2022 | By Brian Gitt

Posted on 06/30/2022 8:59:50 AM PDT by Hojczyk

For years, I chased utopian energy. I promoted solar, wind, and energy efficiency because I felt like I was protecting the environment. But I was wrong! Feeling like you’re doing the right thing doesn’t mean you are. I just couldn’t admit it. My sense of identity was tied to my false beliefs about energy—myths that blinded me to what really does—and doesn’t—help the planet.

I started to realize that I had accepted as true certain claims about energy and our environment. Now I began to see those claims were false. For example:

I used to think solar and wind power were the best ways to reduce CO2 emissions. But the biggest reduction in CO2 emissions during the past 15 years (over 60%) has come from switching from coal to natural gas.

I used to think that the world was transitioning to solar, wind, and batteries. This, too, was false. Trillions of dollars were spent on wind and solar projects over the last 20 years, yet the world’s dependence on fossil fuels declined only 3 percentage points, from 87% to 84%.

I used to believe nuclear energy was dangerous and nuclear waste was a big problem. In fact, nuclear is the safest and most reliable way to generate low-emission electricity, and it provides the best chance of reducing CO2 emissions.

It’s now clear I was chasing utopian energy. I was using green energy myths as moral camouflage, and I was able to believe those myths as long as I remained ignorant about the real costs and benefits of different energy sources.

(Excerpt) Read more at realclearenergy.org ...


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1 posted on 06/30/2022 8:59:50 AM PDT by Hojczyk
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To: Hojczyk

Here’s another shocker, Brian: There are no unicorns..................


2 posted on 06/30/2022 9:02:20 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
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To: Hojczyk
One thing which occurs to me to question is whether Gitt is his actual name.

But then it's clear he is still concerned about CO2 emissions. So, he is definitely a Gitt after all.

3 posted on 06/30/2022 9:04:24 AM PDT by katana
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To: Hojczyk

Another liberal realizes that leftism is about appearances rather than results.

Better late than never I guess.


4 posted on 06/30/2022 9:05:04 AM PDT by DarrellZero
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To: Hojczyk

No forgiveness. Only one way, take it, demon.


5 posted on 06/30/2022 9:11:15 AM PDT by Born in 1950 (Anti left, nothing else.)
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To: Hojczyk
Feeling like you’re doing the right thing doesn’t mean you are.

Epiphany!

6 posted on 06/30/2022 9:13:17 AM PDT by viewfromthefrontier
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To: Red Badger

however there is unicorn energy.


7 posted on 06/30/2022 9:13:57 AM PDT by Kozy (new age haruspex; "Everyone has a plan 'till they get punched in the mouth.")
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What an idiot. It takes (wasting) a half hour of running the numbers to realize that it’s not happening. Not 20 years of chasing unicorns and rainbows.


8 posted on 06/30/2022 9:14:57 AM PDT by proust (All posts made under this handle are, for the intents and purposes of the author, considered satire.)
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To: katana

“But then it’s clear he is still concerned about CO2 emissions.”

Baby steps, man, baby steps.


9 posted on 06/30/2022 9:17:19 AM PDT by Boogieman
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To: Hojczyk

He sounds like a three-pack-a-day guy who finally dropped the habit after coming down with emphysema.


10 posted on 06/30/2022 9:19:17 AM PDT by Mr Ramsbotham ("God is a spirit, and man His means of walking on the earth.")
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To: Hojczyk

And the lithium mining production and waste is an environmental disaster 🤪

Libtards made things worse


11 posted on 06/30/2022 9:21:24 AM PDT by NWFree (Somebody has to say it)
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To: katana
One thing which occurs to me to question is whether Gitt is his actual name.

His first name is actually Sniveling-Rat-Faced, but he changed it just to make things easier.

12 posted on 06/30/2022 9:23:08 AM PDT by Mr Ramsbotham ("God is a spirit, and man His means of walking on the earth.")
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To: Hojczyk
1. Nuclear is good, once small reactors are mass produced, they will be cheap.
2. The threat from CO2 is vastly exxagerated.
3. Politics is much more dangerous than climate change.

13 posted on 06/30/2022 9:23:31 AM PDT by BitWielder1 (I'd rather have Unequal Wealth than Equal Poverty.)
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To: Hojczyk

How difficult is it to grasp? Wind, solar, and fairy dust just can’t meet anywhere near the demands of modern society. We can either go back to the dark ages, literally, or find a real solution.


14 posted on 06/30/2022 9:25:22 AM PDT by Telepathic Intruder
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To: Hojczyk

Utopian Energy would be cracking the code for room temperature Fusion! If that is possible.


15 posted on 06/30/2022 9:29:03 AM PDT by painter ( Isaiah: �Woe to those who call evil good and good evil,")
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To: Hojczyk

Advanced nuclear power using liquid molten salt fuels checks all the boxes. With the SCOTUS constraining the EPAs power the same constraints should be applied to the NRC. State nuclear agencies should implement their own regulatory policies that streamline the adoption of MSR breeder reactors that do not involve weapons grade fuels.

Multiple companies like Elysium Industries, Coppenhagen Atomics, and FLIBE have LIFR MSR designs that could be implemented in less than five years that would make unlimited electricity and process heat available to industries like steel production and hydrogen fuel cells. Worldwide energy costs would plumment and disinflation would improve the quality of life for everyone on the planet while removing CO2 from the atmosphere.

Energy = Prosperity


16 posted on 06/30/2022 9:29:48 AM PDT by Dave Wright
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To: Hojczyk

The first mistake this guy made was believing the nonsense that CO2 is bad.


17 posted on 06/30/2022 9:31:00 AM PDT by Organic Panic (Democrats. Memories as short as Joe Biden's eyes)
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To: proust

Careful guys. You need these guys to convince the others, because of their credibility with those others. Joe Friday never convinced a criminal they were wrong, but other criminals could do it with a glance.


18 posted on 06/30/2022 9:32:51 AM PDT by Wingy (It's nice to be nice to the nice. (Stolen from Bagster who stole it from MASH))
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To: Hojczyk

Facts are stubborn things.


19 posted on 06/30/2022 9:41:50 AM PDT by EEGator
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To: Hojczyk

“Feeling like you’re doing the right thing doesn’t mean you are. “

The Virtue Signaler’s conundrum


20 posted on 06/30/2022 9:44:03 AM PDT by Mygirlsmom (Back after a long hiatus. Now mygrandkidsgrandma)
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