A Free-Market Energy Blog

Harvard Business Review: Solar, Wind, Battery Trash Wave Ahead (negative externalities from government subsidies)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- October 27, 2021

“… solar’s production boom has left its recycling infrastructure in the dust…. The totality of these unforeseen costs could crush industry competitiveness.”

“A first step to forestalling disaster may be for solar panel producers to start lobbying for similar legislation in the United States immediately, instead of waiting for solar panels to start clogging landfills.”

“The same problem is looming for other renewable-energy technologies.”

In The Dark Side of Solar Power, (Harvard Business Review: June 2021), authors Atalay Atasu, Serasu Duran, and Luk N. Van Wassenhove bring the solar boom back down to earth. Quotations follow from the article (subtitles added):

  • Solar’s pandemic-proof performance is due in large part to the Solar Investment Tax Credit, which defrays 26% of solar-related expenses for all residential and commercial customers (just down from 30% during 2006-2019).
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SourceWatch on IER: Error Laden, Dated

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- October 26, 2021

Another erroneous description of the Institute for Energy Research (IER) from a Progressivist ‘hit-piece’ organization. This one comes from SourceWatch of the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD), self-described as follows:

The Center for Media and Democracy publishes SourceWatch to track corporations. We provide well-documented information about corporate public relations (PR) campaigns, including corporate front groups, people who “front” corporate campaigns, and PR operations.

This organization instructs readers to “check out the in-depth research from around the world by our partner projects within SourceWatch: Coal Swarm, and FrackSwarm.” But is the entry for IER well researched, up-to-date, and objectively accurate? No, no, and no.

The description (in yellow) follows with my comments/corrections:

The Institute for Energy Research (IER), founded in 1989 from a predecessor non-profit organization registered by Charles G.

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Judith Curry: COP26 “Code Red” Misleading (New Jersey data point)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- October 25, 2021

“… we need to change the focus of conversation, and here is where business leaders can take charge. Focus on a 21st century vision for electric power infrastructure, with abundant, cheap and clean electricity. Sell prosperity and thrivability as the motivations for this. Support innovation. Not greenwashing.” (Judith Curry, below)

She is perhaps the most truthful, open-minded, credentialed arbiter in the politicized climate debate. As I have previously stated:

“One plus the truth equals a majority,” the saying goes. This certainly applies to Judith Curry, a distinguished academic and professional climate scientist now retired from Georgia Tech. (For previous posts at MasterResource on Dr. Curry, see here.)

The latest from Dr. Curry comes from her presentation at a conference last week, “Energy and Decarbonization – A New Jersey Business Perspective.”…

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“Damage and Destroy” Climate Zealots’ Final Solution?

By Richard W. Fulmer -- October 21, 2021
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Mexico & Energy: Socialism for the Elite, Poverty for the Masses

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- October 20, 2021
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“The Color of Oil” (Michael Economides remembered)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- October 19, 2021
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Energy and Environmental Review: October 18, 2021

By -- October 18, 2021
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CO2 Coalition: Time for Support (Heartland Institute too)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- October 14, 2021
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Kemper Coal Gasification & Storage Plant Imploded (Obama’s climate ‘centerpiece’ bites the dust)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- October 13, 2021
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“Global Stilling” from Global Warming (latest EU/UK energy excuse)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- October 12, 2021
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