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The Climate Debate: Ad Hominem Will Just Not Do

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- February 24, 2015

“It is time to welcome the good news about climate science–the exaggeration of warming and harm by too-hot climate models. It is past time to hurl ad hominem at those intellectuals who reject neo-Malthusians on theoretical and empirical grounds.”

“Ad hominem—is that all you got? I happen to hold my views because I believe in them. Is there something wrong with that?” Such was my response to a professor who complained about an opinion-page editorial I published in the Daily Oklahoman: “Rob Bradley: Is Sourcewatch wrong? We simple folks in Oklahoma just like to know who butters your bread.”

And another comment:

So no bias at there being your boss is Koch, huh? Sure. we TOTALLY believe you are not carrying water for the Koch brothers and that if you had a totally different opinion, you wouldn’t loose that kushy job… I have a bridge in Brooklyn you might be interested in.

Biomass: The Air Emissions Renewable (scientists want wood taken off of politically correct list)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- February 11, 2015

“Although biomass is a renewable resource, much of it is currently used in ways that are neither renewable nor sustainable.”

– Christopher Flavin and Nicholas Lenssen (Worldwatch Institute), Power Surge. New York: W. W. Norton, 1994, pp. 176–77.

“We write to raise strong concerns about the November 19th, 2014, memo from Acting Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation Janet McCabe (McCabe memo), which would credit use of woody biomass for energy with reducing emissions, when it actually increases them….  Burning biomass instead of fossil fuels does not reduce the carbon emitted by power plants. In fact, as EPA itself acknowledges, burning biomass degrades facility efficiency and increases day-to-day emissions over emissions when fossil fuels are burned alone.”

– Letter from Dr. Viney P. Aneja et al. to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, February 9, 2015 (reprinted below).

Energy for a Free Society: The American Energy Act (IER/AEA)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- January 7, 2015

Editor note: Yesterday’s post summarized The American Energy Renaissance Act of 2014, introduced by Senator Ted Cruz (R-Tx) and Representative  Jim Bridenstine (R-Ok) last year. Today’s post summarizes a model bill authored by the Institute for Energy Research/American Energy Alliance several years ago. The logic of free-market policy does not change but becomes stronger with time and change. But judge for yourself–and add (in comments) any suggestions you might have.

The Obama Administration has been implementing an anti-energy agenda since becoming President. For the last six years, Obama’s “dream ‘green’ team” has worked to increase the cost of traditional energy to reduce usage and try to make uneconomic consumer-rejected energy (wind, solar, ethanol, electric vehicles) more economic.

Even before Obama, multiple-hundred-page interventionist legislation has been signed time and again by Republican presidents.…

The American Energy Renaissance Act of 2014: Cruz/Bridenstine Revisited

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- January 6, 2015

Happy Holidays from MasterResource

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- December 23, 2014

“Peak Oil Has Arrived:” Paul Krugman on Mineral Scarcity (2010 prediction from Dr. Errant)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- December 22, 2014

“Stop These Things” (Australian website challenges a crony, anti-environmental industry)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- December 19, 2014

December 13, 1989: The NYT Got It Right on Global Warming

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- December 16, 2014

“Doubling Down on Climate Alarmism” (an editorial gets read)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- December 8, 2014

Holiday Bummer! Neo-Malthusianism (consumption, climate-free conversation decried)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- December 4, 2014