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Tag: solar

Counting the Costs of Renewable Energy and Traditional Energy Sources

posted 3 years ago on August 26th, 2015 by 1 Comment
By Jon Sanders The rhetorical case for renewable energy seems, at its core, to be this: Why rely on traditional sources that burn expensive energy and emit carbon dioxide when you can replace them with energy freely provided by nature that emits nothing? Seems like a slam-dunk. If that were truly the choice, no doubt it would be. But unfortunately, it isn’t. Not even close. Industry advocates know that, which is why they work in concert with friendly politicians and media true believers to make the choice seem that way. Nature, economics, and simple math are their biggest obstacles. Not politics, not irrational hatred of renewable energy, not even donations from bugbear philanthropists. The renewable energy sources (wind and solar) … View Article

Georgia Dodges a Renewable Energy Bullet

posted 5 years ago on February 4th, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Robert Bryce, senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, writes in The Wall Street Journal of February 2, 2014, that for years, greens and many on the political left have insisted that widespread adoption of renewable energy will create jobs and stimulate the economy. Now, however, both the European Union and the German government have announced separately that they are rolling back aggressive subsidies and mandates for renewable energy. “The reason: staggering costs. Spain has racked up some $35 billion in debt—known as the “tariff deficit”—thanks to excessive renewable-energy subsidies. In Germany, renewable-energy subsidies are now costing German consumers and industry about $32 billion a year. The costs have become so onerous that on Jan. 21 Germany’s economy and energy minister… View Article

Imposing Renewable Energy Won’t Work

posted 6 years ago on March 7th, 2013 by Leave a Comment
(This commentary appeared in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s ‘Atlanta Forward’ of March 7, 2013) By Benita M. Dodd If at first you don’t succeed try, try again, goes the saying. Watching environmental groups eroding sound energy policy through death by a thousand cuts is a strong reminder. For years, alternative energy was promoted as preparation for “peak” oil. Domestic energy exploration was hindered to “protect the land.” Air and water pollution were cited to demonize coal. Then global warming/climate change was the reason to reduce coal and petroleum use. Policy-makers concerned about national security were urged to achieve energy independence, with no regard for how global markets operate. In this, biofuel profiteers have been complicit and protectionist. State governments were pressed… View Article

Facts on Energy

posted 6 years ago on August 29th, 2012 by Leave a Comment
The National Center for Policy Analysis reports: The Institute of Energy Research recently published Hard Facts, an energy primer that seeks to correct myths that shroud current debate surrounding energy. Domestically, the United States has enough of fossil fuels to last for centuries. In 2011, the United States produced 23 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, making it the world’s top producer. In the same year, the United States produced 5.67 million barrels of oil per day, becoming a third largest oil producer. Proved worldwide reserves of conventional oil doubled from 642 billion barrels in 1980 to 1.3 trillion barrels in 2009. The United States has 261 billion tons of coal in proved reserves, making it the most in… View Article

Energy Solutions in Pursuit of a Problem

posted 8 years ago on March 11th, 2011 by Leave a Comment
By Benita M. Dodd Georgians are nervously watching petroleum prices climb amid ongoing unrest in oil producer Libya. Under the Gold Dome, legislators are again subjected to the perennial push for home-grown alternatives to fossil fuels. Just this week, German experts took a new tack at the Capitol with a promising presentation on renewable sources of energy and their economic benefits. The temptation is great, but legislators must focus on commonsense policy that promotes cost-effective, clean energy. Germany has made remarkable inroads into renewable energy generation. Renewables have grown from 4 percent to about 10 percent of Germany’s energy portfolio over the past decade, German scientist Christine Woerlen told legislators. Not the least of the benefits, according to Woerlen, is… View Article

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