Ethan Tan on social media shared the findings of a recent, neglected study on how China’s wind and solar push is more bark than bite. “China has a lot of renewable, zero emission power gen capacity,” he writes. “But they are mainly located too far to matter.”
He quotes from “Why Wind and Solar Power is Going to ‘Waste’ in China in the Global Energy Crisis” (South China Morning Post), which summarized a study (paywall) from Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).
…The “wasted” wind and solar energy stems from inflexible grid management that continues to position coal as a stabilising source of power and stymies a clean energy expansion that could otherwise generate electricity equivalent to the needs of France, according to analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) think tank.
“The multi-decade failure of climate mitigation policies has naturally given way to adaptation, which is the free-market, government-free approach to climate policy.”
Richard Black, head of communications at Climate Analytics (Germany), is frustrated about adaptation rather than his preferred course of “drastic” cuts in CO2 (think societal upheaval). “It’s important to see the recent transatlantic aircon spat for what it was – a deliberate distraction,” he complains. Chalk up another messaging failure and more futility for the anti-CO2, anti-modern-living lobby. [1]
Rhetorical Dead Cat?
Black continues:
…Important, because it will come again. At some point soon, the mercury will rise higher still and recently-set records will be broken – driven by man-made climate change.
And, desperate to avoid a proper conversation about climate change, contrarians will once more throw the rhetorical dead cat onto the table of overheated hospital wards, parched crops and buckling railways and blame ’the left,’ ‘greens,’ ‘woke regulations’ or ‘Old Europe’ for blocking use of air conditioners or, even more dramatically, forcing them to be ‘ripped out.’
Editor Note: The Institute for Energy Research (IER) and Always on Energy Research (AOER) issued the following on Independence Day last week.
“BlueStatesHighRates.com, a new interactive index from Always On Energy Research and the Institute for Energy Research, shows that the steepest increases sit in the bluest states across the 50 states and Washington, D.C.”
WASHINGTON DC (07/04/2026) – As Americans celebrate the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding on this Independence Day, a new analysis highlights how state energy policies continue to shape the cost of keeping the lights on, starting with the original 13 colonies that declared independence in 1776. The remaining states will be added in the coming weeks.
This expanded “Blue States, High Rates” analysis spotlights the following policies:
Tom Pyle, President of the Institute for Energy Research, issued the following statement:
…Energy affordability remains a top concern for American families and businesses.