“In my period at Cato (1990–present), “Renewable Energy: Not Cheap, Not ‘Green’“, is probably our most important Policy Analysis in the energy/environment area. Bradley’s thorough review and analysis (60 pages, 325 footnotes) was a real pushback against the viability of ‘green’ energy in theory and practice.”

– Jerry Taylor, Senior Fellow and Director, Natural Resource Studies, Cato Institute, 2012

On the fifteenth [25th] anniversary of “Renewable Energy: Not Cheap, Not ‘Green’” (yesterday’s post), I recall, with pride, a lot of hard work that went into supplying the author with information about California’s wind and solar experience.

At the time I was working in the belly of the beast, the California Energy Commission (CEC) in Sacramento. The Commission was a major proponent of all things renewable, almost to the point of fanaticism.…

Ed. note: This post excerpts energy and climate material from the Media Balance Newsletter, a fortnightly published by physicist John Droz Jr., founder of the Alliance for Wise Energy Decisions. The complete MBN for this post can be found here.

Of special interest to those who embrace Julian Simon’s vision of innovation’s unlimited potential is an article from the Max Planck Society annoucing a major advance in fusion technology.

Greed Energy Economics:
*** Cost and Reliability Implications of the Virginia Clean Economy Act
*** The high cost of the Virginia Clean Economy Act
Upstate Economy at Risk Under NYC Renewable Energy Plan
Virginia and Climate Change – Separating fact from fiction
High Electricity Prices Are Unavoidable with Solar and Wind!

Wind Energy:
*** Green energy cannot save us
Worthless Wind & Solar: Once Again Output Totally Collapses During Freezing Weather
Virginia Taking An Overdue Hard Look at Green Energy Scams
Turbine ‘torture’ for Greek islanders as wind turbines proliferate
Ohio residents challenge first-of-its kind wind farm on Lake Erie
The Sierra Club Loves Wind Turbines, Not Whales

Solar Energy:
*** Report: Solar Energy and the Threat to Food Security
Maine official warns community solar projects might not be as ‘clean’ as they suggest
Overwhelmed by Solar Projects, the Nation’s Largest Grid Operator Seeks a Two-Year Pause on Approvals
Tesla supply chain issues now extend to solar roof, stops scheduling new installation
California’s Solar-Power Welfare State
Arnold Schwarzenegger Gets a Sunburn
Homeowner calls utility on huge $1,247 bill — finds it maybe due to solar

Nuclear Energy:
*** Why nations are backing Nuclear and Gas
*** France announces a major buildup of its nuclear power program
*** TVA Unveils Major New Nuclear Program, First SMR
*** Fusion facility sets a new world energy record
Archives: Nuclear Cognition

Fossil Fuel Energy:
*** How Russia and green activists killed shale gas and paved the way for Putin’s energy war
*** Biden is disconnected from American’s reliance on fossil fuels
A Russia-Ukraine war would mean global energy shock
EU Unveils Controversial Green Label for Gas and Nuclear
Pennsylvania sent more electricity to neighboring states than any other state in 2020
Pennsylvania Power Plant Closures Would Cause Real Harm for Illusory Environmental Gains

Miscellaneous Energy News:
*** Energy is the most important issue in the world
*** Electric power reforms gain ground in Virginia
There’s a big supply problem in New York’s energy plan
How Green Energy Fantasies Can Amplify Civil Unrest
Wall Street’s Green Push Exposes New Conflicts of Interest
Are electric cars the new ‘diesel scandal’ waiting to happen?…

“There’s a long and sad history of efforts by industries and interest groups to reshape the discussion of climate science and undercut the overwhelming evidence that greenhouse gases produced by humans are leading us to global catastrophe.”

– John Schwartz, “How the Riot Ties In with Climate Disinformation.” New York Times, January 13, 2021.

With the election and transfer of power to Biden/Harris, it is climate alarmism galore. The Gods gave us the Pandemic, the landed US hurricanes, and the California wildfires for a reason–to win an election. And the Powers in the sky gave us the Capital riot to help cement the policy momentum of the ‘existential threat.’

Back to the Times‘ Schwartz. “For those of us who cover climate change for a living,” he states,

the blatant lies about election fraud that fed the mob [of January 6, 2021] felt very familiar.

Ed. note: MasterResource is closely associated with the worldview and example of Julian Simon (1932–1998). But a second influence would certainly be that of economist Ludwig von Mises (1881–1973), born on this day 140 years ago.

Below, Robert Bidinotto’s “Von Mises: A Final Salute.” Unbound! Boston: Individuals for a Rational Society 2, no. 1 (September-October 1973): 1–2 is reprinted with permission of the author.

A surprisingly fair obituary in the New York Times (October 11, 1973) follows that of Bidinotto below. I then conclude with a final observation.

“The scope and content of von Mises’ work boggle the imagination. He was easily the greatest economist of this century, and the list of his original achievements in that science rivals that of anyone since Adam Smith.”

Our age may well be labeled by future historians as “the Age of Mediocrity.”…