The Secret War of the Greens Against Renewable Energy
On Jan.
28, 2009 Al Gore stated before congress that a 46,000 square mile tract of land in the southwestern desert of the United States could supply all of this nation's electrical energy.
It is refreshing that the nation's leading green is finally giving scientifically accurate numbers instead of the fantasy numbers that have long been the stock and trade of the green movement.
Technically speaking both solar and wind energy have long been viable if you ignore the colossal costs of land acquisition.
The renewable energy fans have long been ignoring these costs when they do their energy analysis.
They simply assume a nominal cost for land acquisition.
This policy is now ending as the Obama administration puts into place the long delayed solar and wind power programs.
Programs that have long been delayed not by evil and greedy corporations as popular opinion assumes but because green opposition killed these programs in their cradle.
Every time the greens take a gander at the colossal land requirements of any meaningful solar or wind power program they act as if they had been hit with a cattle prod.
The greens are favorable to renewable energy only as long as it is theoretical.
As soon as they are informed of the massive size of these projects and their inevitable impact on the environment.
They revolt.
In response to Al Gore's statement the senator from California, Dianne Feinstein informed Al Gore that the desert lands in question covered vast stretches of southern California, Nevada and northern Arizona.
Great efforts had been made by the environmental community and the government over the years to acquire these lands through donations and purchases for the express purpose of blocking the type of development that Al Gore was now proposing.
The real enemy is now emerging from the shadows.
The greens are going to have enormous problems approving any major project.
A fact that until now has never been seriously addressed.
Also hiding in the shadows is the colossal cost of acquiring these lands from private owners and the states.
I myself would have real problems agreeing to pave over the rugged beauty of the Mojave Desert with solar panels.
Which is the most critical requirement of the plan.
Not mention regulatory trifles like EIS, the Environmental Impact Statement that would arise in protecting endangered species like the Desert Tortoise and the Mojave Ground Squirrel.
Not to worry.
Hiding in the weeds is the answer.
It is called nuclear energy.
The greens will accept it only after every other option has been tried and failed.
28, 2009 Al Gore stated before congress that a 46,000 square mile tract of land in the southwestern desert of the United States could supply all of this nation's electrical energy.
It is refreshing that the nation's leading green is finally giving scientifically accurate numbers instead of the fantasy numbers that have long been the stock and trade of the green movement.
Technically speaking both solar and wind energy have long been viable if you ignore the colossal costs of land acquisition.
The renewable energy fans have long been ignoring these costs when they do their energy analysis.
They simply assume a nominal cost for land acquisition.
This policy is now ending as the Obama administration puts into place the long delayed solar and wind power programs.
Programs that have long been delayed not by evil and greedy corporations as popular opinion assumes but because green opposition killed these programs in their cradle.
Every time the greens take a gander at the colossal land requirements of any meaningful solar or wind power program they act as if they had been hit with a cattle prod.
The greens are favorable to renewable energy only as long as it is theoretical.
As soon as they are informed of the massive size of these projects and their inevitable impact on the environment.
They revolt.
In response to Al Gore's statement the senator from California, Dianne Feinstein informed Al Gore that the desert lands in question covered vast stretches of southern California, Nevada and northern Arizona.
Great efforts had been made by the environmental community and the government over the years to acquire these lands through donations and purchases for the express purpose of blocking the type of development that Al Gore was now proposing.
The real enemy is now emerging from the shadows.
The greens are going to have enormous problems approving any major project.
A fact that until now has never been seriously addressed.
Also hiding in the shadows is the colossal cost of acquiring these lands from private owners and the states.
I myself would have real problems agreeing to pave over the rugged beauty of the Mojave Desert with solar panels.
Which is the most critical requirement of the plan.
Not mention regulatory trifles like EIS, the Environmental Impact Statement that would arise in protecting endangered species like the Desert Tortoise and the Mojave Ground Squirrel.
Not to worry.
Hiding in the weeds is the answer.
It is called nuclear energy.
The greens will accept it only after every other option has been tried and failed.