A Free-Market Energy Blog

James Hansen: Time to Go CO2 Negative!

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- October 5, 2016

“We have at most ten years—not ten years to decide upon action, but ten years to alter fundamentally the trajectory of global greenhouse emissions.”

– James Hansen, “The Threat to the Planet.” The New York Times Review of Books (2006).

“Contrary to the impression favored by governments, the corner has not been turned toward declining emissions and GHG amounts…. Negative CO2 emissions, i. e., extraction of CO2 from the air, is now required.”

– James Hansen, “Young People’s Burden.” October 4, 2016.

Ten years ago, James Hansen predicted doom if mankind did not “fundamentally” reduce global greenhouse gas emissions in ten years. This ultimatum to the world came due this summer.

But far from raising the white flag, the father of the modern climate alarm now demands via legal action that CO2 and other GHG emissions go negative “if climate is to be stabilized on the century time scale, as a result of past failure to reduce emissions.”…

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“The Energy Crisis of the 1970s: Looking Back, Looking Ahead” (Econ 101 needed at RFF seminar)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- October 4, 2016

“Economists may not know much. But we know one thing very well: how to produce surpluses and shortages. Do you want a surplus? Have the government legislate a minimum price that is above the price that would otherwise prevail…. Do you want a shortage? Have the government legislate a maximum price that is below the price that would otherwise prevail.”

– Milton and Rose Friedman, Free to Choose (1979), p. 219.

Tomorrow (October 5, 2016), a book seminar will be held at Resources for the Future [register here] to revisit the lessons from the 1970s energy crisis. Panic at the Pump: The Energy Crisis and the Transformation of American Politics in the 1970s by Meg Jacobs will receive comments from three RFF scholars.

The Princeton historian and author usefully provides a good deal of archival documentation surrounding the ill-fated attempt by federal authorities to regulate the price and allocation of crude oil and oil products in the 1971–1981 era. …

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Energy & Environmental Newsletter: October 3, 2016

By -- October 3, 2016

The Alliance for Wise Energy Decisions (AWED) is an informal coalition of individuals and organizations interested in improving national, state, and local energy and environmental policies. Our premise is that technical matters like these should be addressed by using Real Science (please consult WiseEnergy.org for more information).

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

Some of the more important articles in this issue are:

Protection of Military Airfields from Wind Turbine Encroachment Act

Excellent: Send the Wind Developers Packing

Saskatchewan Rejects Proposed Wind Project to Protect Birds

Wind Developer Proposes Buying Out Homeowners within 3000 feet

Four Years of Misery Caused by Hoosac Wind

Another Blackout: South Australia’s Wind Energy Disaster Continues

China Stokes Global Coal Growth

Short Video: Where Your Electricity Comes From

Poem: Wind Energy in Perspective

Setting The Climate Record Straight – Theory vs.

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Peak Oil Consensus 2008: Lesson for ‘Settled’ Climate Science

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- September 29, 2016
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Hillary’s Solar Future Has a Bad Past

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- September 28, 2016
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New Nuclear: IPPs, not Utilities (a step toward market discipline)

By Jim Clarkson -- September 27, 2016
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Clinton’s Water Plan Runs Up Hill(ary) Towards Money”

By -- September 26, 2016
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Powering Countries, Empowering People: A Case Study (Part 3 of 3)

By -- September 22, 2016
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Powering Countries, Empowering People: A Case Study (Part 2 of 3)

By -- September 21, 2016
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Powering Countries, Empowering People: A Case Study (Part 1 of 3)

By -- September 20, 2016
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