[dr_lew]

Hey, good question! The logic is this, that the solar power absorbed and re-radiated is huge compared to human power consumption. The presumed or inferred ill effect of fossil fuel usage is purely a side effect of the energy consumed, as it depends on the release of CO2 into the atmosphere. The increased CO2 putatively causes a shift in the “average” temperature at the earth’s surface required to sustain the re-radiated power at a level equal to the absorbed power, which is not affected by the CO2.

Also, when we absorb solar power with solar cells, we are not necessarily absorbing more power than would be absorbed by the ground obscured by the solar array. We are just USING the power as it is “degraded” entropically. This is allowed.

If you want to be a wild-eyed Global warming denier, you should focus on the systematics of atmospheric CO2. This is what I do, but I haven’t figured it out yet.

[Gondring]

ping

[agere_contra]

If you want to be a wild-eyed Global Warming denier

I doubt that anyone on FR denies Global Warming (or Global cooling, or Ice Ages, or Interglacials, etc)

It's Anthropogenic Global Warming that is spurious.

[Colorado Doug]

Also, when we absorb solar power with solar cells, we are not necessarily absorbing more power than would be absorbed by the ground obscured by the solar array.

Looking outside at all of the white snow covering the ground and then seeing my dark solar panels, I would have to respectfully disagree. Even in the summer, working in the shade under the panels, it's much hotter than ambient. The ground is much lighter and more reflective than the panels.