tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034478.post4790051758067425470..comments2024-03-28T22:28:33.411-04:00Comments on Doug Ross @ Journal: IT’S DONE: Stick a Fork in the "Green Energy" MovementUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034478.post-63650556855367707502015-05-12T11:53:58.064-04:002015-05-12T11:53:58.064-04:00Your assessment of federal incentives and grants m...Your assessment of federal incentives and grants may be accurate, but the rest is mainly bunkum. This article plain wrong in so many ways: I'll pick just a few. Forget the irrelevant term 'green energy', alternative energy growth in the guise of rooftop solar is the fastest growing energy production method in the U.S. admittedly from a very low level. It gets support from liberals and Tea Party activists alike and is great for freedom of choice and jobs. But when oil state Texas has the largest wind generation capacity by a long ways (14GW, next is CA <6GW), someone should sit up and take notice. The missing factor in your story is battery storage. Millions of dollars are still being spent by private companies on battery research and we should see some impact from these efforts in a year or so. But, even without this, it has been estimated that battery costs are falling by 8% a year due to production efficiency and small chemical formula adjustments. Once cost improvements are manifest at a reasonable level (around $100 / Kwh) you can start saying goodbye to fossil fuels. Julian Simon is correct human ingenuity can find new resources: wind and solar for example; and these are also low cost and don't rely on buying the oil of unstable and politically unattractive regimes, which is propping them up. The shale revolution has been great for the economy, but as the price of oil drops a lot of potential sources become unattractive to companies and investors; then we're back to importing oil big-time. The comparison of high-tech wind turbines with wooden windmills in the middle ages is risible. In any case, the reference to the middle ages is quite tame compared with one I could make about using the stone age method of setting fire to something in order to make it move down the street! In the process, combustion engines waste around 70% of dollars spent on gas, going up in smoke, heat and noise. The survey by Edmunds.com fails to differentiate between pure electric vehicles and plug in hybrids, the latter of which ARE decreasing in popularity. Some potential buyers are putting off buying an electric car based on perceived range issues; they are waiting for new models and cars from companies e.g. Chevrolet Bolt, with huge range advances. Apart from range issues, satisfaction with electric cars is high and the reasons for (re)-buying one include the fact that they are just nicer to drive: quieter, quicker and owners just love one foot driving and being able to sail past gas stations, plugging in at night instead. The cost argument against electric cars as a result of gas price drops doesn't stack up either: you can get fuel for a few cents a gallon equivalent and you don't have the same level of service cost; forget mufflers, oil changes, filters and enjoy greatly reduced brake-part replacements by using mainly regenerative braking. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034478.post-24794907259167206592015-05-12T07:58:12.228-04:002015-05-12T07:58:12.228-04:00The Green Energy Movement was raped and gutted by ...The Green Energy Movement was raped and gutted by Democrat corruption and cronyism.<br /><br />Same with every Democrat program, city or state.<br /><br />We need watchdogs, strong laws and adequate deterrents against corruption in DC, the District of Corruption, Collusion and Crime against the Constitution and Citizens of the USA.<br /><br />It is past time to clean out the sewer in DC.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034478.post-63990453362190067412015-05-12T03:28:23.214-04:002015-05-12T03:28:23.214-04:00Rest In peace my A. Burn in H for all eternity. On...Rest In peace my A. Burn in H for all eternity. On fossil fuels no less. Nothing but rent seeking suckers. Other than that I have no strong opinions.Freedomsbellnoreply@blogger.com