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Power to the People
Author: BobR    Date: 05/13/2015 14:07:36

Energy has always been Big Business. From the wildcatters to the electrical companies that sprouted up after Edison brought light into the darkness, to refrigeration and central heat and the comfort it brings... wherever there was a demand for energy, there were businesses that became rich delivering that energy. As has always been the case, wealth brings power - a different kind of power - the kind that can influence elections, and thus legislation that affects the energy industry.

How bad is it? In Florida, you can't even say "Global Warming" if you work for the state government, or risk disciplinary action. That does not bode well for Florida as coastal cities are regularly flooding:
St. Augustine's centuries-old Spanish fortress and other national landmarks sit feet from the encroaching Atlantic, whose waters already flood the city's narrow, brick-paved streets about 10 times a year — a problem worsening as sea levels rise. The city has long relied on tourism, but visitors to the fortress and Ponce de Leon's mythical Fountain of Youth might someday have to wear waders at high tide.
[...]
Despite warnings from water experts and climate scientists about risks to cities and drinking water, skepticism over sea-level projections and climate-change science has hampered planning efforts at all levels of government, the records showed. Florida's environmental agencies under Scott have been downsized and retooled, making them less effective at coordinating sea-level-rise planning in the state, the documents showed.

It's not just Florida - all across the country we've seen an increase in extreme weather - just as climate scientists have predicted. These storms cause damage which costs money - $19 billion in damages, resulting in a loss to the economy of $227 billion. You'd think the money-concious Republicans would sit up and take notice of that. If they think adjusting our lifestyles or moving towards non-carbon-based energy sources is expensive, the cost of maintaining the status quo increases every year.

It doesn't help when the White House touts "clean coal" (oxymoron alert!), or allows drilling in the Arctic. Sure it placates his critics when he can tout that he's decreased our dependence on Middle East oil by increasing local production, but it doesn't help our environment at all - and keeping oil prices low stifles motivation to move to renewable energy sources. President Obama has tried to push for more solar and wind energy, but this increased drilling is shooting himself in the foot.

Making things interesting in the heart of coal country, former coal miner Jim Justice switched parties to run as a Democrat for governor:
Billionaire coal mining executive Jim Justice, owner of West Virginia’s famed Greenbrier luxury resort, announced on Monday he will seek the Democratic nomination for governor next year in his first bid for public office.

Justice, 64, who according to state records cited by the Wall Street Journal switched his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat in late February, has said he would take a salary of a dollar a year if elected.
[...]
“Justice supports an all-of-the-above energy approach which promotes growth in coal, natural gas and wind energy to create jobs and prepare West Virginia for the future,” it said.
[...]
Before buying Greenbrier, Justice sold his privately held Bluestone Industries coal company to a Russian-based concern for $436 million.

His career in the coal business has not been without blemish. Last summer, the Louisville Courier-Journal newspaper in neighboring Kentucky reported that mines owned by Justice had been cited for hundreds of violations of strip-mining reclamation regulations.

Has he seen the light? Does he really want to persue wind energy? Or is he a wolf in sheep's clothing? Only time will tell. Call me skeptical.

Elon Musk, however, may be the one who finally drives the nail into the coffin of carbon-based energy. The CEO of Tesla Motors is gearing up to start cranking out lithium-ion batteries on a massive scale. Besides his automobiles, he is selling energy storage for home and industry:
Powerwall, a sleek suitcase-sized lithium-ion battery designed for homeowners to store energy, comes in 7 kilowatt-hour and 10 kWh sizes. Both units are meant to be combined with solar panels. The 10 kWh home unit is designed as a source of backup power, while 7 kWh-unit can be used daily to extend the environmental and cost benefits of solar after the sun has gone down.

The units for industry are larger and store more energy. This means a business could line its roof with solar panels and possibly be off the grid completely. It means wind turbine farms and solar cell farms can stored excess electricity for use at night.

Is battery manufacturing (and mining and processing the raw materials) cleaner than carbon-based energy production? That is a concern for certain. One must look at the life of the battery, though, and how much stored energy it will deliver over its life -vs- carbon sources to get an apples-to-apples comparison. My guess is that the batteries will still come out way ahead.

Republicans have fought non-petrol/coal energy production as a favor to their benefactors. They have decried government intervention, and declared the Invisible Hand of the Free Market should determine where we get our energy. Well - the free market just got a seismic shift, care of Elon Musk. The next couple of years will be very interesting as we see how his vision progresses.
 

32 comments (Latest Comment: 05/13/2015 20:17:19 by TriSec)
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Comment by wickedpam on 05/13/2015 13:26:06
Morning

Comment by Raine on 05/13/2015 13:44:02
good morning!

Comment by Raine on 05/13/2015 13:53:53
Bad train crash in Philadelphia.

Pictures on twitter are really horrific.

Comment by BobR on 05/13/2015 14:08:23
BLOG IS POSTED!

Comment by Raine on 05/13/2015 14:20:20
I Really hope we are seeing a seismic shift!

Comment by TriSec on 05/13/2015 14:46:22
Anyone ever flown into Logan Airport? KBOS is a mere 20 feet above sea level-all it would take is a storm surge at high tide and transport to this city would be crippled. I don't think we're in denial like Florida, but it's the same Atlantic and it won't give any fucks when it floods.

Comment by Scoopster on 05/13/2015 14:52:58
Mornin all..

Comment by TriSec on 05/13/2015 15:10:36
Let us now speculate on the train wreck like they do in plane crashes...

It was going too fast!
The co-engineer crashed it!
TERRORISTS!!!
Somebody broke into the engine!
Equipment malfunction!
Why was the train rolling in that weather!?!

Ok, endrant.

Comment by Scoopster on 05/13/2015 15:19:27
Comment by Raine on 05/13/2015 15:44:21
That sounds like great news!


Comment by BobR on 05/13/2015 16:02:26

From the comments in that article was a link to this one: Unintended consequences of the solar revolution. It's somewhat right-wing alarmism, but it does make some good well-thought-out points

Comment by Scoopster on 05/13/2015 16:03:55
Squeeeeeeee



Comment by Raine on 05/13/2015 16:20:12
Quote by Scoopster:
Squeeeeeeee


!

Comment by Raine on 05/13/2015 16:22:08
Quote by BobR:

From the comments in that article was a link to this one: Unintended consequences of the solar revolution. It's somewhat right-wing alarmism, but it does make some good well-thought-out points
That was a very good read.


Comment by wickedpam on 05/13/2015 16:23:43
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Scoopster:
Squeeeeeeee


!



awww so cute XD

Comment by Mondobubba on 05/13/2015 16:47:21
http://www.airphotona.com/stockimg/images/06207.jpg



On the left, the Castillo De San Marco. On the right, the harbor for St. Augustine.

Comment by Mondobubba on 05/13/2015 16:48:46
Quote by Scoopster:
Squeeeeeeee




That is some amazing kitty jumping!

Comment by Mondobubba on 05/13/2015 16:56:35
Here is a great thing from the Guardian about sea level rise in Folrida

Philip Stoddard, the mayor of South Miami, has a particularly succinct view of the man and his stance. "Rubio is an idiot," says Stoddard. "He says he is not a scientist so he doesn't have a view about climate change and sea-level rise and so won't do anything about it. Yet Florida's other senator, Democrat Bill Nelson, is holding field hearings where scientists can tell people what the data means. Unfortunately, not enough people follow his example. And all the time, the waters are rising."

Philip Stoddard is particularly well-placed to judge what is happening to Miami. Tall, thin, with a dry sense of humour, he is a politician, having won two successive elections to be mayor of South Miami, and a scientist, a biology professor at Florida International University. The backyard of the home that he shares with his architect wife, Grey Reid, reflects his passion for the living world. While most other South Miami residences sport bright blue swimming pools and barbecues, Stoddard has created a small lake, fringed with palms and ferns, that would do justice to the swampy Everglades near his home. Bass, koi and mosquito fish swim here, while bright dragonflies and zebra lapwing butterflies flit overhead. It is a naturalists' haven but Stoddard is under no illusions about the risks facing his home. Although several miles inland, the house is certainly not immune to the changes that threaten to engulf south Florida.


I have known Mayor Stoddard for my entire life. He taught me how to hit a baseball in his parents' backyard in Chevy Chase. Phil is one of the most interesting people I have ever met.

Comment by Raine on 05/13/2015 17:11:17
Quote by Mondobubba:
http://www.airphotona.com/stockimg/images/06207.jpg



On the left, the Castillo De San Marco. On the right, the harbor for St. Augustine.

You going there in the near future?


Comment by TriSec on 05/13/2015 17:13:31
I feel like smiting my enemies today.

Comment by Scoopster on 05/13/2015 17:14:53
Comment by Scoopster on 05/13/2015 17:18:45
Comment by Mondobubba on 05/13/2015 17:35:35
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Mondobubba:
http://www.airphotona.com/stockimg/images/06207.jpg



On the left, the Castillo De San Marco. On the right, the harbor for St. Augustine.

You going there in the near future?



Prolly. I might head over to St Augustine Beach. Perhaps I will frolic in the Atlantic.

Comment by Mondobubba on 05/13/2015 18:15:44



Damnit! I need yet another irony meter.

Comment by Raine on 05/13/2015 18:16:18
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Mondobubba:
http://www.airphotona.com/stockimg/images/06207.jpg



On the left, the Castillo De San Marco. On the right, the harbor for St. Augustine.

You going there in the near future?



Prolly. I might head over to St Augustine Beach. Perhaps I will frolic in the Atlantic.
I loved visiting there.


Comment by Mondobubba on 05/13/2015 18:17:50
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Mondobubba:
http://www.airphotona.com/stockimg/images/06207.jpg



On the left, the Castillo De San Marco. On the right, the harbor for St. Augustine.

You going there in the near future?



Prolly. I might head over to St Augustine Beach. Perhaps I will frolic in the Atlantic.
I loved visiting there.


It is how you do historic preservation. The old town is really well done. St George St is quaint without being tacky.


Comment by livingonli on 05/13/2015 18:33:07
Greetings my fellow travelers.

Comment by Mondobubba on 05/13/2015 18:42:58


Happy birthday, Stevie Wonder.

Comment by BobR on 05/13/2015 18:54:17
Quote by livingonli:
Greetings my fellow travelers.



Comment by Raine on 05/13/2015 18:56:20
Quote by Mondobubba:


Happy birthday, Stevie Wonder.
I;m sorry I offended your golf buddy.


Comment by TriSec on 05/13/2015 20:17:19
Let me be clear. I hate Jorge Posada. But I hate him a little bit less today.