Posted on 11/05/2010 6:59:06 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
There is a revolution coming that is likely to burst the green global warming bubble: the temperature trend used by the IPCC (the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) to support their conclusion about anthropogenic global warming (AGW) is likely to turn out to be fake. The situation will become clear once Virginia's attorney general, Kenneth Cuccinelli, obtains information now buried in e-mails at the University of Virginia. Or Hearings on Climategate by the U.S. Congress may uncover the "smoking gun" that demonstrates that the warming trend used by the IPCC does not really exist.
It has become increasingly clear that any observed warming during the past century is of natural origin and that the human contribution is insignificant. It is doubtful that any significant warming is attributable to greenhouse gases at all.
Once the public accepts these scientific conclusions, it should have immense consequences for policy. It will mean that the impact of rising CO2 levels is negligibly small, as has already been concluded by the NIPCC (Nongovernmental International Panel on Climate Change), a group of scientists skeptical of the U.N.-supported IPCC. It would also mean that wind energy, solar energy, and other "non-carbon" energy sources are not needed and are in fact counterproductive. It would remove the need for alternative fuels such as ethanol (which might please many true environmentalists). It would also mean that carbon trading, cap and trade, and fanciful schemes for carbon capture and sequestration would all end up in the dustbin of history.
One may expect a huge outcry and serious and protracted opposition from those who have built their careers on global warming hype and who have made investments in alternative energy or are looking for immense profits from carbon trading. Yet the scientific facts must win out in the long run -- even against the financial interests of favored groups, wind farm profiteers, ethanol refiners, carbon traders, and the investment firms and banks that have placed hundreds of billions of dollars of their clients' money into green projects.
Nothing has been learned from European disastrous experiences, it seems. As Bjorn Lomborg (a firm believer in AGW) reports, Germany led the world in putting up solar panels, funded by 47 billion in subsidies. The lasting legacy is a massive debt and lots of inefficient solar technology sitting on rooftops throughout a fairly cloudy country, delivering a trivial 0.1% of its total energy supply. Denmark's wind industry is almost completely dependent on taxpayer subsidies, and Danes pay the highest electricity rates of any industrialized nation. Spain has finally discontinued its solar subsidies as too costly; as Prof. Gabriel Calzada reports, the program actually caused a net loss of jobs.
Having successfully exploited domestic subsidies, Europeans are now looking at the United States as the new "land of opportunity." A recent example (described in the Wall Street Journal of Oct. 26, 2010) is the world's largest solar-thermal power plant, on 7,000 acres of Federal land in the desert of southern California. The $6-billion project is a venture by two German companies, and it may be eligible for a cash subsidy of nearly one billion dollars in taxpayer money. Even after these subsidies, the cost of the electricity generated will be 30 to 70 percent more expensive than electricity generated by natural gas, the dominant electricity-generating fuel in California.
In addition to direct subsidies, the companies are seeking federal loan guarantees and, no doubt, an array of benefits from the State of California. Solar Trust of America, a joint venture between Germany's Solar Millennium AG and privately held (mostly by Arab oil money) Ferrostaal AG, is awaiting approval from the Energy Department for a federal loan guarantee for the first two of its four planned units. Deutsche Bank AG and Citigroup Inc. are working with Solar Trust
Ping.
SORRY, POST GOT ACCIDENTALLY CUT OFF.
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In addition to direct subsidies, the companies are seeking federal loan guarantees and, no doubt, an array of benefits from the State of California. Solar Trust of America, a joint venture between Germany’s Solar Millennium AG and privately held (mostly by Arab oil money) Ferrostaal AG, is awaiting approval from the Energy Department for a federal loan guarantee for the first two of its four planned units. Deutsche Bank AG and Citigroup Inc. are working with Solar Trust to obtain project-equity and tax-equity investment.
The White House claims that the federal cash subsidy will create three hundred permanent jobs (at about $3 million per job!). The nature of the jobs is not specified, but one may assume that there will be much need for sweepers to remove dust and dirt from about 7,000 acres of solar mirrors. Not exactly “high-tech,” is it?
It's the seriousness of the charge, not the accuracy of the facts and even if it is not there, it doesn't mean it's not our fault.
I hate Green (color)
You are not supposed to make up your own titles.
The correct title is: “The Green Bubble is about to Burst”
This article would be a lot more useful and interesting if Dr. Singer had included some sort of data to go along with his harangue.
Likely?
bttt
And, no doubt, newly-elected Governor Moonbeam will be happy to oblige with an array of benefits paid for with money the state doesn't have and will not have in the foreseeable future.
The loonie-tune electorate in Cal-ee-for-nee-ah have NO idea what lies in store for them as fallout begins to kick in after the day of Gov. Moonbeam's immaculation.
The upside......a battery car in every garage and a windmill in every back yard.
Leni
If spending is going to be easier and taxing is going to be harder (as California just voted for in their recent propositions), how is California going to raise their revenue if :
* The budget INCREASES (as it usually does and surely will under Gov. Moonbeam )?
* They dont get the super majority they need to increase taxes ?
I can only think of the following possible scenarios :
1) Revenue grows as a result of a prosperous business climate where new companies are formed, and unemployment is very low ( which increases the tax base ).
2) Go into debt ( sell more of their state junk bonds ).
3) Ask Washington (AKA as the rest of the other states ) for help.
4) Print their own money ( OK this one was facetious, but their printing IOUs is very close to similar ).
With the regulatory burden increasing in California (they just voted down Proposition 25, which would have postponed a horrendous green energy bill ) and the strength of their unions, good luck with achieving #1.
#2 will probably be the only other card they have left to play with. But the interest theyll pay on their debt is going to be HIGH.
#3 Will happen only if the new Congress caves, and if they do, Ill keep track of every single one of the Congressmen who votes yes to the California bailout and target them for defeat in 2012.
I previously worked for a company that was a major supplier to a solar cell manufacturer, United Solar. I was a company problem solver and resolved a major league issue by studying the probkem and determining that is was an easily fixable at no cost user error on the part of the customer. I was actually upbraided by management because I didn’t find defective material to be the fault. (huh?)
I was let go a couple months later in a reorganization. It gives me great pleasure to watch Unisolar’s stock price drop from $33 to $4.50 in the last year.
I would really support ANY Green Company that could prove they can stand on their own two feet in the market without going to the tax payers to help them with their business.
But when Obama visited Solyndra a solar power company, their very existence is suspect.
And I was right. This company had been made a media darling and a huge DOE loan grant to expand manufacturing.
This is despite the fact that Solyndra has to shelve its IPO due to poor response.
The Billion Dollar Grant to other green companies like Abengoa and Abound Solar seems a continuation of this misguided policy.
The proof of these policies being proved to be bad is the fact that more and more US Solar companies are shutting down their domestic plants and outsourcing production overseas (Solyndra already admits that it cannot compete with the labor in China, which also has their solar companies ).
However, these green companies use their inability to compete as a reason to whine because it due to the lack of subsidy and support from the US government which seems to favor only certain companies.
Existing solar companies like Evergreen,Energy Conversion Devices and Sunpower are getting beaten black and blue by the low cost Asian companies.
These companies dont have a choice but to move production to lower cost locations in order to survive.
Again, I have nothing personal against ANY Green Companies out there. JUST KEEP THE HECK OFF THE TAX PAYER’s WALLETS AND SHOW US THAT YOU CAN STAND ON YOUR OWN TWO FEET.
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Thanks for the ping.
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