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Posts from September 2014

Bird Mortality: Big Wind On Defense

By <a class="post-author" href="/about#llinowes">Lisa Linowes</a> -- September 30, 2014

“But the true intent of AWWI’s study is not about accurate mortality estimates. It’s about deflecting the avian mortality problem…. The fact is, many more birds (and bats) are dying at operating wind plants than we know, and as the turbines spread, mortality will increase. Now is not the time to relax our concern and look elsewhere. Rather, we should [demand] … that the industry be held accountable for bird mortality once and for all!”

Nobody really knows how many birds are destroyed annually in wind turbine related collisions. [1] Wind proponents have long discounted the carnage by pointing at other sources of bird mortality including cats, windows, and communications towers [2], but the issue still haunts developers.

This month, the American Wind Wildlife Institute (AWWI) released its latest analysis of bird fatalities with the focus on small passerines (commonly referred to as songbirds).…

AWED Energy & Environmental Newsletter: September 29, 2014


By <a class="post-author" href="/about#john-droz">John Droz, Jr.</a> -- September 29, 2014

The Alliance for Wise Energy Decisions (AWED) is an informal coalition of individuals and organizations interested in improving national, state, and local energy & environmental policies. Our basic position is that technical matters like these should be addressed by using Real Science. It’s all spelled out at WiseEnergy.org, which is a wealth of energy and environmental resources.

A key element of AWED’s efforts is public education. Towards that end, every 3 weeks we put together a newsletter to balance what is found in the mainstream media about energy and environmental matters. We appreciate MasterResource for their assistance in publishing this information.

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Greed Energy Economics:

The High Cost of Renewables

The societal cost of coal wildly exaggerated

‘Clean Fuels’ program is simply a hidden tax on fossil fuels

Analysis: Solar & wind power costs are huge compared to natural gas

US Senate Testimony: Reforming America’s Energy Tax Code (Nickles & Kreutzer)…

“Who Is a Libertarian?” (1955 insight for today)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- September 26, 2014

“In popular terminology, a libertarian is the opposite of an authoritarian. Strictly speaking, a libertarian is one who rejects the idea of using violence or the threat of violence—legal or illegal—to impose his will or viewpoint upon any peaceful person. Generally speaking, a libertarian is one who wants to be governed far less than he is today.”

– Milton Russell, “Who Is a Libertarian?” , The Freeman, May 1, 1955. 

A growing number of pundits and politicians from across the political spectrum, favoring both economic and social liberty from government, are identifying themselves as libertarian. A growing, sizable number of students ‘lean’ libertarian, combining fiscal conservatism with social liberalism. Students for Liberty, still in its first decade, has organized on 1,300 campuses in the U.S. and around the world.…

First City Without Water: S.A. or L.A.?

By <a class="post-author" href="/about#w_lusvardi">Wayne Lusvardi</a> -- September 25, 2014

Chevron’s Watson Likes His Industry (apologies not from the heroic oil/gas patch)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- September 24, 2014

Center for the Study of Science Expands: Cato Institute at the Forefront of the Climate, Science Debates

By Chip Knappenberger -- September 23, 2014

Faith or Reason in the Climate Debate?

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- September 22, 2014

Stop the Scare! (GIGO climate models vs. human needs)

By Willie Soon and Christopher Monckton of Brenchley -- September 19, 2014

James Hansen’s Tax-Tariff-Reparations Climate Policy

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- September 18, 2014

Are California Municipal Water Rates Too Low to Spur Conservation?

By <a class="post-author" href="/about#w_lusvardi">Wayne Lusvardi</a> -- September 17, 2014