[Ed. note: Julian Simon, born February 12, 1932, died four days before his 66th birthday. He would have been 82 years old today. MasterResource takes its name from Simon’s term for energy, and we publish on his oeuvre from time to time.]
Thirty-three years after its publication by Princeton University Press, The Ultimate Resource remains insightful and timely—if not timeless. Simon’s Ultimate Resource 2, published in 1996, greatly expanded upon the original, but the major themes were not changed due to the solid worldview that Simon had developed in the 1970s.]
Energy: The Master Resource
“Energy is the master resource, because energy enables us to convert one material into another. As natural scientists continue to learn more about the transformation of materials from one form to another with the aid of energy, energy will be even more important.”…
Continue ReadingCap-and-trade, carbon taxation, net social cost for carbon: all assume that increasing emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases by mankind have injurious effects that are not accounted for in private activity. But the politically incorrect is intellectually correct: CO2 emissions make life better – even possible – for people, the economy, and the ecosphere.
Cost/Benefit Analysis
Weighing risks, costs and benefits is fundamental to life. We do it every day – when walking, driving, showering, heating our homes, and using stairs, ladders and tools; and when balancing the cost of new payments versus the benefits of a better home or car. The alternative is hunkering down in a bedroom or cave – until a lightning bolt, tornado, hurricane or armed burglar disturbs our false sense of security.
That is why government agencies are required to assess the benefits and costs of proposed regulations.…
Continue ReadingThe Alliance for Wise Energy Decisions (AWED) is an informal coalition of individuals and organizations interested in improving national, state, and local energy & environmental policies. Our basic position is that technical matters like these should be addressed by using Real Science. It’s all spelled out at WiseEnergy.org, which is a wealth of energy and environmental resources.
A key element of AWED’s efforts is public education. Towards that end, every 3 weeks we put together a newsletter to balance what is found in the mainstream media about energy and environmental matters. We appreciate MasterResource for their assistance in publishing this information.
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Greed Energy Economics:
London School of Economics: Property Values do Decline
23 Texas wind project lessors sue over noise, nuisance and property value
Noise, property values factor in wind forum discussion
Renewable Energy Goals Must Be Balanced with Economic Realities
CAP counts ‘indirect jobs’ in green energy, ignores them for oil and gas
Germany to charge renewable energy facilities for their own use of electricity
Germany’s energy revolution on verge of collapse
Europe Starts To Run, Not Walk, Away From Green Economics
DOE: Making it easier to use taxpayer funds
Governor LePage is right – wind farm subsidies are poor use of government funding
High Renewable Energy Costs Damage Vermont’s Economy
Some wind projects double-dipping on US tax benefits
Be Leery of Investing in Failing Green Solutions
Duke Energy to seek reduction in payments to NC homes with solar panels
Another solar manufacturer goes under
Loss Of Production Tax Credits Brings Big Wind Chill
Fighting wind PTC expiration with Senator Wyden
Continue Reading