Oops: Yet Another Obama Solar DOE Project Goes Belly Up

By William Teach April 3, 2012 – 12:21 pm

The downside, other than the massive amounts of taxpayer funds wasted, is that these types of poor loans turn people off from what could be an otherwise smart move towards getting alternative energies to be competitive with fossil fuels

(Washington Post) A California solar energy company that was unable to meet a deadline for an Energy Department loan guarantee last year has sought bankruptcy protection in Delaware.

Solar Trust of America’s Chapter 11 filing on Monday listed assets between $1 million and $10 million, and liabilities between $50 million and $100 million.

Fox Nation finds a story from last year about how much taxpayers could be on the hook for

The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded a $2.1 billion loan guarantee to Solar Trust of America for a solar thermal power plant near Blythe, Calif.

The loan guarantee means the government will cover the debt Solar Power Trust of America will accrue to finance the project if it cannot pay it back to other borrowers.

Government, ie, the taxpayers.

  • The Lonely Conservative: President Obama has been out on the campaign trail saying the Republicans want to cut his investments in green companies. Well, of course they do! We can’t afford to keep dumping billions of dollars into failing companies.
  • PJ Tattler: Solar Trust. What a perfectly ironic name for this boondoggle.

Interestingly, Solar Trust actually turned down the $2.1 billion guarantee. Powerline

So the Obama administration’s proposed loan guarantee was so dumb that the prospective borrower decided not to take it! That tells you all you need to know about the Obama administration’s ability–actually, the ability of any administration–to execute an industrial policy that doesn’t fleece the taxpayers.

Don’t worry about massive layoffs, though, because Solar Trust employed a massive 9 people. Because green is creating jobs!

Read: Oops: Yet Another Obama Solar DOE Project Goes Belly Up »

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Good News! Reno Wind Turbine That Cost $21,000 Saves $4!

By William Teach April 3, 2012 – 9:51 am

I’ve always said that I’m supportive in moving towards alternative energy methods, but, when it comes to big wind farms, I’d have to admit that with each new #Fail story, I’ve moved to the “this is really idiot and should be stopped cause it’s madness” side (via Tom Nelson and The New Nostradamus of the North)

(Power Engineering) The electricity produced by NV Energy’s $46 million wind rebate program has fallen far short of expectations.

In a startling example, the city of Reno’s wind turbines — for which the city received more than $150,000 in rate-payer funded rebates — produced dramatically less electricity than the manufacturers of its turbines promised.

“These manufacturers, when they gave us the turbines, they said they were designed to be mounted on a parapet at this height, and that’s what we did,” said Jason Geddes, who runs the city of Reno’s renewable energy program. “But when we started getting actual wind flow patterns, we realized their claims were wrong.”

As first reported by the Reno Gazette-Journal , one turbine that cost the city $21,000 to install saved the city $4 on its energy bill. Overall, $416,000 worth of turbines have netted the city $2,800 in energy savings.

Of course, when we are talking about hooking up political cronies saving Gaia, cost should be no factor. There should be no cost/benefit ration. Or something like that.

Hamilton also believes equipment standards should be in place to minimize faulty turbines, some of which have fallen apart.

That’s happened both in Reno and in rural Nevada. Geddes said one of his turbines that was rated to 110 mph fell apart in a 105-mph gust.

A more catastrophic failure occurred on a farm in rural Nevada, when a large turbine spun apart only days after it was installed. No one was injured, largely because it was in a remote locale.

Well, at least they won’t be sitting there rusting. Besides, it’s Someone Else’s money: why should there be any concern? This will stop the seas from rising and swamping Nevada!

This is the folly of most “green” energy: it’s not ready for prime time, it rarely ever provides the savings it promises, not to mention coming up woefully short on providing actual power. And while Warmists tend to support in theory, there always seems to be at least one enviroweenie group that sues to block the construction. One of the only ones that is proven is hydro-electric, and these watermelons not only block the construction of more hydro-electric dams, but want existing ones torn down to save a fish.

And the above article provides the hard numbers to prove the folly of these projects.

Read: Good News! Reno Wind Turbine That Cost $21,000 Saves $4! »

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Obama Weighs In On Possible Mandate Ruling With Typical Pomposity

By William Teach April 3, 2012 – 9:19 am

It’s hard to believe this guy was ever a Constitutional teacher…..well, maybe the constitution of Russia or Venezuala. But, then, it’s hard to believe someone with so little real world experience who authored no legislation would be elected President

(Fox News) President Obama, employing his strongest language to date on the Supreme Court review of the federal health care overhaul, cautioned the court Monday against overturning the law — while repeatedly saying he’s “confident” it will be upheld.

The president spoke at length about the case at a joint press conference with the leaders of Mexico and Canada. The president, adopting what he described as the language of conservatives who fret about judicial activism, questioned how an “unelected group of people” could overturn a law approved by Congress.

“I’m confident that the Supreme Court will not take what would be an unprecedented, extraordinary step of overturning a law that was passed by a strong majority of a democratically elected Congress,” Obama said.

Unprecedented would be creating a “right” to kill the unborn. But not overturning laws passed by Congress as unconstitutional, which is partly what the Supreme Court’s mandate is, per that pesky Constitution.

As to “a strong majority”, it passed by a whopping 10 votes on a party line vote in the Senate, thanks to what would be considered bribes out here in the private sector. The vote in the House was 219-212, the bare majority needed to pass, with 34 Democrats joining every Republican in voting against. Just because Congress votes in a law doesn’t make it Constitutional.

Red State points out

Look, I’m not here to debate the finer points of Marbury v. Madison with anyone, but the fact remains that since that decision was handed down over 200 years ago, it has not exactly been “unprecedented and extraordinary” for the Supreme Court to overturn laws passed by Congress (no matter the size of the majority). In fact, it happens all the time. That is the entire point of the doctrine of judicial review, first announced in Marbury and affirmed without serious challenge ever since.

The court has shot down many federal, state, and local laws many times. Consider from 1935, Schechter v. United States, in which “The court unanimously invalidated the National Industrial Recovery Act on the grounds that it delegated excessive authority to the president and regulated businesses that operated wholly within individual states.”

Anyhow, Obama continued on with his bloviations

“I’m confident that this will be upheld because it should be upheld,” Obama said, describing the law as “constitutional.”

Hard to believe this guy has even read the Constitution, much less taught the subject. But, then, for Liberals, the constitution is a living, breathing document which should be stretched and changed to fit the narrative.

“It must be nice living in a fantasy world where every law you like is constitutional and every Supreme Court decision you don’t is ‘activist,'” he said in a statement. “Many of us have been arguing for nearly three years that the federal government does not have the power to dictate individuals’ purchasing decisions. After a national debate on the subject, more than two-thirds of Americans agree that the Obamacare insurance mandate is unconstitutional.”

If Obama wants to campaign against the Supreme Court, if they invalidate, at a minimum, the Mandate, well, go for it, Champ. That won’t end well.

Crossed at Right Wing News and Stop The ACLU.

Read: Obama Weighs In On Possible Mandate Ruling With Typical Pomposity »

Posted in Barry Obama, Constitution, Healthcare | 1 Comment | Trackback URL

New Study Confirms No Warming In Past 15 Years

By William Teach April 2, 2012 – 4:13 pm

This comes from a press release by David Whitehouse, featured over at Climate Realists

New UK Met Office global temperature data confirms that the world has not warmed in the past 15 years.

Analysis by the GWPF of the newly released HadCRUT4 global temperature database shows that there has been no global warming in the past 15 years – a timescale that challenges current models of global warming.

The graph shows the global annual average temperature since 1997. No statistically significant trend can be discerned from the data. The only statistically acceptable conclusion to be drawn from the HadCRUT4 data is that between 1997 – 2011 it has remained constant, with a global temperature of 14.44 +/- 0.16 deg C (2 standard deviations.)

The important question is whether 15 years is a sufficient length of time from which to draw climatic conclusions that are usually considered over 30 years, as well as its implications for climate projections.

The IPCC states that anthropogenic influences on the climate dominated natural ones sometime between 1960 – 80.The recent episode of global warming that occurred after that transition began in 1980. The world has warmed by about 0.4 deg C in this time. Whilst we live in the warmest decade of the instrumental era of global temperature measurement (post-1880), and the 90s were warmer than the 80s, the world has not got any warmer in the last 15 years.

So, despite worldwide CO2 going up, the trend is essentially flatlined. So much for the Warmist’s vaunted computer models. Read the whole thing, and check the graph.

Read: New Study Confirms No Warming In Past 15 Years »

Posted in Collapsing Science, Global Warming | 3 Comments | Trackback URL

If All You See…

By William Teach April 2, 2012 – 1:00 pm

…is a field that should be full of wind turbines, you might just be a Warmist

The blog of the day is Conservatives4Palin.

Read: If All You See… »

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Warmists Now Link Broadband With Their Fascistic Cult

By William Teach April 2, 2012 – 11:30 am

Yet another thing they plan on ruining by draping the banner of globull warming over it

(Reuters) Geneva, 2 April 2012 - Broadband can help transition the world towards a low carbon-economy and address the causes and effects of climate change, according to a new report just released by the Broadband Commission for Digital Development.

The Broadband Bridge: Linking ICT with Climate Action is the result of work conducted by the Broadband Commission Working Group on Climate Change, chaired by Hans Vestberg, President and CEO of Ericsson and comprising several members of the Commission, representing industry, international organizations, and NGOs.

The report aims to raise awareness of the pivotal role information and communication technology (ICT), and particularly broadband networks, can play in helping creating a low carbon economy of the future, and highlights the importance of public private partnerships in accelerating change. It is based on interviews, case studies and supporting material from more than 20 leaders and experts in the field.

Hmm, seems that what they are looking for is more taxpayer money. But, here’s where it goes off the rails

“Addressing climate change implies completely transforming our way of life, the way we work, the way we travel, shifting our model of development to a fairer, more sustainable model to ensure our survival. We need to put at stake all the resources available to us, and mobilize the political will to turn discussions and negotiations into agreements and actions,” said ITU Secretary-General Dr Hamadoun Touré.

Building on the agreements achieved at the 2011 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP-17), the report emphasizes the kind of transformative solutions that are enabled by broadband. It provides practical examples of how broadband can contribute to reducing greenhouse gasses (GHGs), mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change, and promoting resource efficiency, while at the same time building more prosperous and inclusive societies.

If that immediately reminds you of communist and fascist propaganda, well, it should. This is what Progressives, a political model which is basically a fascistic (the Soviet “communism” system was basically fascistic, too) with a smattering of totalitarianism, want: a complete change, usually for their own benefit, while screwing others.

Read: Warmists Now Link Broadband With Their Fascistic Cult »

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Bummer: GOP “Emasculating” Obama Renewable Energy Efforts

By William Teach April 2, 2012 – 8:39 am

In other words, Joe is upset that the GOP refuses to appropriate funds that can be used to scratch the backs of rich Obama campaign donors

(Washington Times) More investment in “green” technology is shaping up to be a cornerstone of President Obama’s re-election effort, and the administration’s No. 2 man on Sunday accused Republicans of standing in the way of wind, solar and other renewable sources of energy.

“They’re emasculating all the efforts to deal with renewable energy,” Vice President Joe Biden said Sunday in a prerecorded interview on CBS‘ “Face the Nation.”

“They have no policy,” he said of Republicans, including the GOP presidential hopefuls who increasingly are making more U.S. oil and gas drilling a major campaign theme.

Let’s hope that the Obama campaign does make “green” energy a cornerstone, because then the GOP and it’s presidential contender can point out all the massive fail within their efforts. Solyndra, Chevy Volt, Fisker, Tesla, Abound Solar, A123 Systems, the administrations green energy jobs program, their weatherization program, and more, all massive failures. What should have, and could have, been a wise policy meant to push America towards the energy of the future was simply political payback, run poorly, and ended up being a huge waste of money.

And, on Friday at a campaign event in Vermont, Obama said

Obama additionally said he wants to “double down” on the money he has already put into solar and wind power, biofuels and electric batteries.

“Let’s double down on clean energy that has never been more promising — solar and wind and biofuels, and energy efficiency, electric batteries,” he said.  “That’s what we need to be investing in.”

This was a big speech about redistributing Other People’s wealth. Good think Obama didn’t use several huge jets to fly from DC to Vermont, and drive around in huge convoys with gas guzzling SUVs and limos.

(Graphic from Political Clown Parade)

Read: Bummer: GOP “Emasculating” Obama Renewable Energy Efforts »

Posted in Barry Obama, Democrats, Elections, Energy, Joe Biden | 1 Comment | Trackback URL

CBC Calls For More Governmental Restrictions In Wake Of Trayvon Martin Shooting

By William Teach April 2, 2012 – 8:20 am

Never let a good crisis go to waste

(The Hill) In the wake of the slaying of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin, House Democrats are drafting legislation designed to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

The lawmakers want to adopt tougher rules for neighborhood watch programs, eliminate certain state gun laws, rein in racial profiling and require an examination of racial disparities nationwide.

The Democrats behind the legislation – all members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) – say the steps might have prevented last month’s fatal encounter between Martin, 17, an unarmed African-American walking home from a convenience store in Sanford, Fla., and George Zimmerman, 28, a Latino neighborhood watch volunteer carrying a 9mm handgun.

What if Zimmerman’s narrative ends up being the correct one? What then, CBC? What they are essentially doing is politicizing a tragedy to put more control in the hands of the federal government, reducing the power of the States, as well as providing some talking points for the individual CBC members re-election campaign. It’s also a typical politician move: one incident happens, time to freak out and pass lots and lots of legislation.

On Friday, CBC leaders did just that, introducing a resolution urging the repeal of “Stand Your Ground” laws in Florida and any state with a similar statute.

The resolution – sponsored by CBC Chairman Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) and Florida Democratic Reps. Corrine Brown, Alcee Hastings and Frederica Wilson, all members of the CBC – refers to Martin’s killing  as a “crime,” condemns “the inconceivable fact that his killer remains free” and claims “racial bias led to the use of deadly force.”

Let’s say Zimmerman goes to trial: his lawyers can easily argue that there is no chance he will be afforded his Constitutionally guaranteed “impartial jury” thanks in part to this improper non-binding resolution.

Perhaps the CBC should be more concerned with the crime that is occurring within inner city Black communities. Perhaps they should be more concerned with a notion among many Black youths that getting good grades in school is “too white.” Perhaps they should be more concerned with inner city Blacks having few prospects for escaping poverty and joining gangs. Perhaps they should be more concerned with the notion that Democrats being soft on crime creates a situation where Stand Your Ground is needed.

Crossed at Right Wing News and Stop The ACLU.

Read: CBC Calls For More Governmental Restrictions In Wake Of Trayvon Martin Shooting »

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Warmists: It’d Be Awesome If Everyone Became Shorter

By William Teach April 1, 2012 – 4:33 pm

Funny stuff

(Treehugger) Short people simply take up less space. They fly economy and don’t feel squished. They eat happy meals and don’t feel hungry. And as Randy Newman correctly points out, “They got little cars that go beep, beep, beep.” The differences can be huge. The study continues:

A way to reduce ecological footprints, then, would be to reduce size. Since weight increases with the cube of length, even a small reduction in, e.g., height, might produce a significant effect in size, other things being equal (To reduce size, one could also try to reduce average weight or average weight and height, but to keep the discussion simple, we shall use just the example of height). Reducing the average US height by 15 cm (six inches) would mean a mass reduction of 23% for men and 25% for women, with a corresponding reduction of metabolic rate (15%/18%), since less tissue means lower nutrients and energy needs.

The post is tagged with “April Fools”, but, does anyone think the Warmists are kidding?

Read: Warmists: It’d Be Awesome If Everyone Became Shorter »

Posted in AGW Idiocy, Global Warming | 6 Comments | Trackback URL

If All You See…

By William Teach April 1, 2012 – 1:00 pm

…is warming caused snow, you might be a Warmist

Sorry, nothing special for April Fool’s Day, because I highlight Warmist foolishness pretty much every day.

The blog of the day is Scared Monkeys.

Read: If All You See… »

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