A Free-Market Energy Blog

Wind and Solar Are Fragile

By Steve Goreham -- December 2, 2024

“As a result of hail and other weather damage, insurance premiums for solar facilities are skyrocketing, in some cases up by as much as 400%. In addition, policy coverage is being capped at as little as $10-15 million, requiring system developers to obtain multiple policies to try to cover their projects.”

Wind and solar have been growing as a share of US electrical power generation over the last two decades. State and federal mandates and subsidies have driven the expansion of renewables because of their inherently dilute and intermittent nature. But it’s clear that renewable electricity sources have a third strike: they are fragile and prone to weather damage and destruction.

Twenty-three states now mandate Net Zero electricity by as early as 2035. Their aim is to replace coal- and gas-fired power plants with wind and solar generators.…

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Climategate Turns 15!

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- November 29, 2024

“I gave up on Judith Curry a while ago. I don’t know what she thinks she’s doing, but it’s not helping the cause, or her professional credibility.” (- Michael Mann, below)

The futile, wasteful anti-CO2 crusade is in its 37th year, dating from the hot, dry summer of 1988 when NASA scientist James Hansen sounded the alarm before U.S. lawmakers, led by Al Gore.

Last week, the United Nations Conference of Parties (COP) ended with acrimony over an unenforceable agreement pledging to transfer wealth to developing (Statist) countries for “clean” energy development.

CO2 emissions cuts? With almost all major emitters well beyond the targets set in the 2015 Paris Accord, the (also) unenforceable agreement is losing more and more every day as self-interest swamps aspirations. The recipient welfare states described COP29 as “chaotic,” “complete failure,” “optical illusion,” “stage managed,” and “paltry.”…

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Thanksgiving 2024

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- November 28, 2024
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From the 200+ authors at MasterResource to you, our readers.

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Thanksgiving is a free market holiday. ““The true meaning of Thanksgiving is the triumph of Capitalism over the failure of Collectivism in all its forms,” Richard Ebeling has written. His classic essay “Thanksgiving: A Free Market Celebration,” begins:

This time of the year is when Americans gather with their families and friends and enjoy a Thanksgiving meal together. More than 54 million Americans are travelling this Thanksgiving to find their table of celebration in remembrance of those early Pilgrim Fathers who crossed the uncharted ocean from Europe to make a new start in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

What is less appreciated is that Thanksgiving also is a celebration of the birth of free enterprise in America. The English Puritans, who left Great Britain and sailed across the Atlantic on the Mayflower in 1620, were not only escaping from religious persecution in their homeland.

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COP29: ‘Animal Farm’ Moment

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- November 26, 2024
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Energy & Environmental Review: November 25, 2024

By -- November 25, 2024
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Climate Debate on Social Media: Are the ‘Skeptics’ Winning?

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- November 22, 2024
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Al Gore: Climate Barking at COP29

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- November 21, 2024
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Alberta: CO2 is Positive!

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- November 20, 2024
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Government-enabled Nuclear: Trump Demures

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- November 19, 2024
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Trump 45 vs. Green New Deal (Trump 47 will be better)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- November 18, 2024
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