A Free-Market Energy Blog

Stanford’s Jacobson Spins Energy Misinformation (100% renewables fantasy)

By Steve Everley -- January 7, 2016

Environmental groups frequently claim that replacing fossil fuels with renewables will lead to more job opportunities. But according to a study that those same groups frequently cite, it’s not that simple.

According to research compiled by Stanford University professor Mark Jacobson, whose recent study outlines a “roadmap” for transitioning to 100% renewable energy, replacing fossil fuels with renewable technologies like wind and solar would actually cause a net loss of 1.2 million long-term jobs.

Jacobson’s data break out the number of long-term jobs that would be eliminated by sector. In transportation, more than 2.4 million men and women would be put out of work. Over 800,000 people working to produce oil and natural gas would lose their jobs. Nearly 90,000 jobs connected to coal mining would be wiped out.…

Continue Reading

Vogtle Plant: Nuclear Power’s Failed Renaissance

By Jim Clarkson -- January 6, 2016

“The renaissance has gone bad. Nuclear power is repeating the construction cost disaster of the previous round of such building in the 1970s and 1980s.”

“The advanced designs and refined techniques [at Plant Vogtle] resulted in a mess of continuing cost overruns and schedule delays.  Now Georgia Power says all the problems are to be expected in a first-of-kind project.”

Buzz Miller, executive vice president for nuclear development at Georgia Power, wrote in the Atlanta Journal Constitution back in 2010 (September 16) in regards to his company’s Plant Vogtle nuclear expansion:

“The lessons learned at home and abroad have paved the way for a new generation of U.S. nuclear power plants that feature advanced designs, refined construction techniques, early engagement by state public service commissions, and licensing process geared to a mature technology.”

Continue Reading

Is Solar Really Renewable–and Free?

By Roy Cordato -- January 5, 2016

“It is time to stop referring to solar power as ‘renewable’ or ‘free.’ The reality is that these descriptions have no practical meaning and only serve to obfuscate the true nature of solar energy as a source of electricity. Ultimately these are propaganda words invoked by special interests in the renewable energy industry whose purpose is to color the political debate about energy policy in favor of subsidies and special privileges foisted upon taxpayers and utility customers.”

“… it is solar power’s lack of renewability when actually needed that makes it so expensive as compared to [fossil fuels].”

The answers to the two title questions are, except in the most trivial sense, no and no.

Renewable?

Solar energy is said to be renewable because, as one source puts it, it is “naturally replenished.”…

Continue Reading

AWED Energy & Environmental Newsletter: January 4, 2016

By -- January 4, 2016
Continue Reading

Happy Holidays from MasterResource

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- December 25, 2015
Continue Reading

Happy Holidays from MasterResource

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- December 24, 2015
Continue Reading

Happy Holidays from MasterResource

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- December 23, 2015
Continue Reading

Good News! ‘EPA critics throw down gauntlet in legal fight’ (E&E Greenwire on the fight ahead)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- December 22, 2015
Continue Reading

Three Cheers for Holiday Lighting!

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- December 21, 2015
Continue Reading

Wind Cronyism Wins; We Lose

By -- December 17, 2015
Continue Reading