Confession of an Environmentalist

[brenthutch 383]

https://wattsupwiththat.com/2023/01/10/confessions-of-an-environmentalist/
 

Most of what he is saying now is what I have been saying over the last 10+ years.  Thoughts?

(please try to get past the source and focus on the substance of what he is saying. Although I expect a massive FAILURE in this regard)

[billvon 2,396]

10 minutes ago, brenthutch said:

Thoughts?

"We’re wasting trillions of dollars on the false hope that wind and solar power are going to replace fossil fuels—oil, coal, and natural gas."  Given that it is happening, it's not a false hope.  It's a reality.

"Over the last 20 years, the world’s dependence on these fuels has declined by only three percentage points—from 87% to 84%."  Let's look at energy generation in the US, which is where Brian is from, and is most of what we talk about here.  

2000:

Coal power generation 51%
Renewables power generation 9%

2021:

Coal power generation 21%
Renewables power generation 21%

So renewables have more than doubled, and now generate as much as coal. That's real.

"Greenhouse gas emissions are a concern" Absolutely.

"States and countries that have doubled down on renewable sources face energy rationing and power blackouts."

We heard all about how California - the state with the most renewable generation - was going to have rolling blackouts last summer.  There was no way to avoid them!  Solar doesn't work at night!  Historic heatwave!  Result - no rolling blackouts.

Meanwhile, the three states with the most blackouts - Maine, West Virginia and Louisiana - are far more dependent on fossil fuels.  And we all remember the Texas blackouts, resulting in 700 deaths, which were caused by reliance on natural gas pipelines that froze.

So the facts disagree with him there.  In reality, reliance on fossil fuels kills.  If you want to save lives, the choice is clear.

This should come as no surprise.  He now works as an investment advisor who tries to get people to invest in natural gas and nuclear.  His job depends on him not understanding climate change, so no surprise that he does not.

 

 

[brenthutch 383]

27 minutes ago, billvon said:

"We’re wasting trillions of dollars on the false hope that wind and solar power are going to replace fossil fuels—oil, coal, and natural gas."  Given that it is happening, it's not a false hope.  It's a reality.

"Over the last 20 years, the world’s dependence on these fuels has declined by only three percentage points—from 87% to 84%."  Let's look at energy generation in the US, which is where Brian is from, and is most of what we talk about here.  

2000:

Coal power generation 51%
Renewables power generation 9%

2021:

Coal power generation 21%
Renewables power generation 21%

So renewables have more than doubled, and now generate as much as coal. That's real.

 

 

Unfortunately for your example, we do not live on the planet USA.  One needs to take a global view in one is to be taken seriously and in that regard renewables are not up to the task of replacing coal.

https://www.iea.org/news/the-world-s-coal-consumption-is-set-to-reach-a-new-high-in-2022-as-the-energy-crisis-shakes-markets

Though I will give you full marks for avoiding the wattsup and pregerU distraction 

Edited January 11, 2023 by brenthutch

[billvon 2,396]

13 minutes ago, brenthutch said:

Unfortunately for your example, we do not live on the planet USA.

Fortunately for me, I (and you, and Brian) DO live in the US.  The US has, traditionally, been a technological leader.  What we develop here becomes worldwide a few decades later - and what is developed in California becomes countrywide a few decades later.  And that is exactly what we are seeing today with EV's and renewables.

And you know this.  You know it would be absurd to go back 20 years and say that cellphones will never catch on because there are almost none in Africa or India.  The claim that since those places don't have a lot of renewables yet means that renewables will never catch on is just as silly.

[brenthutch 383]

4 minutes ago, billvon said:

what is developed in California becomes countrywide a few decades later.  

let’s hope not

[wolfriverjoe 1,340]

8 hours ago, billvon said:

...This should come as no surprise.  He now works as an investment advisor who tries to get people to invest in natural gas and nuclear.  His job depends on him not understanding climate change, so no surprise that he does not.

Oh please. 

He understands it perfectly well. Probably better than average.

You have to understand something quite well to lie effectively about it.