“Wind does not belong in any modern energy supply portfolio. Grids do substantial work to integrate wind volatility … Retrofitting modern technology to meet the needs of ancient wind flutter is monumentally backwards, a sure sign that pundits and politicians, not scientists, are now in charge.”
Except for hydro, renewable energy sources are inimical to any rational idea of maintaining access to energy with highly secure power capacity. Restated, wind and solar cannot produce modern power without being wholly entangled with modern power producers.
This article will focus on wind power, but similar problems affect solar.
Any chemist should know enough to understand the implications of the formula governing the way wind energy must be converted into electricity: w=1/2 rAv3, where w is power; r, air density; A, rotor density; and v is wind speed.…
Continue Reading“Senile, scientifically illiterate, grumpy old men are NOT pleased [with the arrival of Greta Thunberg to New York City and the United States].” (Andrew Dessler, August 28, 2019)
Anger, Disrespect
“The use of old, senile, scientifically illiterate men to promote climate change denial is truly a disgrace.” (Andrew Dessler, August 21, 2019)
“Who should be madder about calling people who reject climate science ‘climate deniers.’ Climate deniers, because it lumps them in with holocaust deniers? Or Holocaust deniers, because it lumps them in with climate deniers.” (Andrew Dessler, July 18, 2019)
“your puny consensus science is no match for my UNCERTAINTY MONSTER! Bwahahah!” “ma’am, this is Arbys. can I take your order?” (May 15, 2019 tweet exchange with Judith Curry)
“It’s awesome that Henri, an MIT student, misspelled [Richard] Lindzen’s name.…
Continue Reading“The PTC is the single most expensive energy subsidy in the federal tax code and is estimated to cost taxpayers about $40 billion from 2018 to 2027.” (IER, January 5, 2021)
“Special government favor to business–crony capitalism–can turn losers into winners. And the loser lobby can claim progress and even inevitability as if they really won. This is the postmodernism of energy policy today in regard to the two politically correct renewables: wind and (on-grid) solar.”
It does not end. What is not competitive and government dependent just continues that way. This is not only because the market picks winners and leaves the losers for politics. It is also because the market-driven, non-subsidized technology improves over time.
Recently, wind power federal Production Tax Credit received its 13th extension. Reported IER:
… Continue ReadingThe U.S.