Despite years of successful experience, dozens of studies, and increasing utility support for clean energy, urban myth holds that electricity from renewable energy is unreliable. Yet over 75,000 megawatts (MW) of wind and solar power have been integrated, reliably, into the nation’s electric grid to date. That’s enough electricity to supply 17.9 million homes.
And, as a new NRDC fact sheet published today illustrates, the electric grid can handle much higher levels of zero-carbon wind and solar power, far more than what’s necessary to achieve the relatively modest carbon emission reductions in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s plan to limit pollution from existing power plants. But first, a little background on how our nation’s electric system works.
Grid basics
The nation’s high-power transmission system is made up of three largely separate grids: one on either side of the Continental Divide (roughly) and the third in Texas. The two largest grids are further subdivided into regions managed by different regional and local utility grid operators.
Source: MJ Bradley & Associates using Ventyx Velocity
Grid operators are the air traffic controllers of the power system, managing the flow of electrons from power plants to customers across thousands of miles of transmission lines. They operate the grid under extremely detailed procedures and standards.
Planning for the next 5 minutes and the next 10 years
To ensure a reliable transmission system, grid operators think in several time frames. In the immediate seconds to hours, they run the grid according to a detailed set of economic and electrical engineering rules embedded in sophisticated computer programs. These programs dispatch power plants with the lowest operating costs first, subject to important constraints to preserve the grid’s stability and avoid blackouts.
Grid operators also plan years into the future to ensure reliability. In the same way that one would not set out to drive across the desert on a half-tank of gas, they want to ensure enough power exists and can be delivered to meet consumer demand years ahead. To do so, they identify factors that could either increase or decrease the need for more power and power lines, and then plan accordingly.
Wind and solar power have hit the big leagues
There is more renewable energy flowing through the power grid than ever before. At times, wind has supplied more than 60 percent of the total demand on some utility systems, without reliability problems. And solar power now routinely contributes 10 to 15 percent of midday electricity demand in California, which has more solar panel installations than anywhere in the country.
Source: American Wind Energy Association independent analysis based on real time data publicly available by ISOs and utilities
Accurate forecasts and advanced technologies matter
Due to more precise weather forecasts and sophisticated technologies, grid operators increasingly can predict–and control–wind and solar generation levels. Accurate predictions of wind speed and solar conditions help grid operators efficiently schedule renewable energy into the system. Using advanced and often-automatic control systems, grid operators can both increase and decrease the power output into the grid, which helps to stabilize the grid’s electrical frequency and maintain reliability.
Wind and solar need less backup power than coal, gas, and nuclear
Every power plant on the grid needs “backup” power in case something happens to prevent it from generating as much electricity as planned. PJM, in charge of most of the grid from New Jersey to Illinois, currently holds 3,350 MW of expensive, fast-acting contingency reserves 24/7 to ensure that it can keep the lights on in case a large fossil or nuclear power plant unexpectedly breaks down. In contrast, MISO – the grid operator for the middle part of the country with the most wind power in the nation – needs almost no additional fast-acting power reserves to back up its 10,000-plus MW of wind power on the system.
Why is so little backup power needed for wind and solar? In contrast to the large, abrupt, and often unpredictable changes in electricity output from coal and nuclear power plants, wind output changes tend to be gradual and predictable, especially when wind turbines are spread over larger areas. The fact that a wind farm is a collection of many smaller turbines also helps, since the failure of one has little impact on the farm’s total output.
Our grid is successfully integrating reliable, cleaner energy now and will continue to do
The power grid has always adapted to changing state and national energy trends and needs, thanks to regular operations and planning frameworks. Forty years ago grid operators learned to accommodate the sudden losses of generation that can come from integrating very large nuclear power plants into the system.
Now, as utility-scale wind and solar power rapidly expand, grid operators are successfully integrating these new resources into the grid while retiring many outdated, costly, and polluting coal plants. And they’re doing it without most Americans even noticing. Maybe that’s the best proof that wind and solar power are not just ready for the big leagues, they’re already there.
Kenz300 on Sat, 3rd Jan 2015 9:21 am
The transition to safer, cleaner and cheaper alternative energy sources continues around the world.
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China rolls out the world’s largest electric car charging network – YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkYHxiSrsHY&spfreload=10
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Pope Francis’s edict on climate change will anger deniers and US churches | World news | The Guardian
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/27/pope-francis-edict-climate-change-us-rightwing
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Solar and Wind Provide 70 Percent of New US Generating Capacity in November 2014
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2014/12/solar-and-wind-provide-70-percent-of-new-us-generating-capacity-in-november-2014
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Kenz300 on Sat, 3rd Jan 2015 9:23 am
If we are to have any hope of dealing with Climate Change we need to speed up our transition away from fossil fuels.
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Dizzying Renewable Energy Price Declines Can Help States Meet Ambitious Carbon Targets Under The EPA’s Clean Power Plan
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2014/12/dizzying-renewable-energy-price-declines-can-help-states-meet-ambitious-carbon-targets-under-the-epas-clean-power-plan
Joe on Sat, 3rd Jan 2015 9:33 am
Is is so very simple.States such as AZ,NM,CA should all have roof top solar.All the states in the central US where its windy should all have wind turbines.The East coast should all have wind turbines out to sea.The upper midwest should have wind turbines in the Great Lakes.Florida has plenty of sun for solar.
Its really a matter of politicians getting off their asses.
A 50 cent gas tax could pay for most of the new renewables.
Finally if electric cars were only half or less in weight they could go much further.Something akin to the Urbee.
Kenz300 on Sat, 3rd Jan 2015 9:34 am
Around the world the transition to alternative energy sources continues to grow……….
Utility-scale Solar Has Another Record Year in 2014
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2014/12/utility-scale-solar-has-another-record-year-in-2014
Apneaman on Sat, 3rd Jan 2015 9:35 am
It does not matter how much energy is produced if the delivery systems (Grid & Pipelines) has been left to rot for the last 35 years (deregulation).
ASCE gives it a D+
http://www.infrastructurereportcard.org/a/#p/energy/overview
US electrical grid on the edge of failure
Network analysis suggests geography makes grid inherently unstable.
http://www.nature.com/news/us-electrical-grid-on-the-edge-of-failure-1.13598
Aging US Power Grid Blacks Out More Than Any Other Developed Nation
http://www.ibtimes.com/aging-us-power-grid-blacks-out-more-any-other-developed-nation-1631086
ghung on Sat, 3rd Jan 2015 9:45 am
Yo, Joe – “Its really a matter of politicians getting off their asses.
“A 50 cent gas tax could pay for most of the new renewables.”
While we’ve taken very few credits or incentives, the new solar water heating system we installed last year qualifies for tax credits of 65% (combined state/federal- US/NC). The same would be true for PV (up to 10 kW, residential). We doubled our PV capacity and upgraded our BOS two years ago for under $1300, after credits; my labor.
Folks would be well-advised to go for it soon. Our new Congress will likely go after these credits soon.
Apneaman on Sat, 3rd Jan 2015 12:11 pm
Major U.S. Cities Face More Blackouts under Climate Change
Extreme weather is going to down the electric grid more and more often, a new study suggests
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/major-u-s-cities-face-more-blackouts-under-climate-change/
Dave Thompson on Sat, 3rd Jan 2015 1:09 pm
http://www.greenillusions.org/
Alice Friedemann on Sat, 3rd Jan 2015 3:26 pm
It’s not a problem now to handle the teensy amounts of wind power, but to get to 20% or 33% is going to be hard and perhaps impossible given today’s limited pumped hydro storage and compressed air energy storage (just 1 plant in Alabama of 110 MW).
The supergrid never happened and probably never will because of cost, too much NIMBY, and uncrossable areas, i.e. state/national parks, towns, cities, etc.
This is why Plan B has started in California with AB 2514 to force utilities to buy energy storage if it’s economically justified so that more wind and solar can be added (all of the PUC said no because it’s too expensive, except for some thermal projects which are distributed and purchased by customers).
As fossil fuels decline, California expects the grid might reach 75% wind and solar power, but that depends on energy storage devices capable of gigawatt-days of storage for when the wind isn’t blowing or sun shining.
CCST. May 2011. California’s Energy Future: The View to 2050 Summary Report. California Council on Science and Technology.
Anaheim. July 2014. Energy Storage System Plan. City of Anaheim, CA, public utilities department.
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Lerner, E. Aug 2014. What’s wrong with the electric grid? American Institute of Physics.
Weißbach, D., et al. April 2013. Energy intensities, EROIs, and energy payback times of electricity generating power plants. Energy. Vol 52: 1, 210–221
Barnhart, C. J., et al. (a) August 14, 2013. The energetic implications of curtailing versus storing solar- and wind-generated electricity. Energy Environ. Sci., 6, 2804.
Barnhart, C. (b) 30 Jan 2013. On the importance of reducing the energetic and material demands of electrical energy storage Energy Environ. Sci., 2013,6, 1083-1092.
DOE/PNNL. June 2012. National assessment of energy storage for grid balancing and arbitrage: phase 1, WECC. Pacific National Laboratory, Department of Energy,
DOE/EPRI. 2013. Electricity Storage Handbook in Collaboration with NRECA.
DOE ES. 2014. DOE Global Energy Storage Database. USA 20,382,700 Kw PHS, 21,372,893 total http://www.energystorageexchange.org/projects/data_visualization
EIA. June 29, 2012. Electricity storage: Location, location, location … and cost. U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Hiruit Nguyse on Sat, 3rd Jan 2015 4:54 pm
Putting it into clear current perspective:
https://flowcharts.llnl.gov/content/energy/energy_archive/energy_flow_2013/2013USEnergy.png
GregT on Sat, 3rd Jan 2015 6:05 pm
“As fossil fuels decline, California expects the grid might reach 75% wind and solar power,”
And even if California did reach 75% wind and solar generated grid power. (Which is highly unlikely) This would do nothing what-so-ever to solve a liquid fuels shortage. It would simply mean a 25% reduction of electricity usage. Fossil fuels predominantly power the transportation and industrial sectors of society. No transportation, no industrial output, no commercial, no economy, no gadgets to utilize the electric grid.
Better to start making plans for mass migrations of people, societal breakdown, and food production. The end of fossil fuels equates to the end of BAU. The electric grid included.
Makati1 on Sat, 3rd Jan 2015 6:31 pm
I believe it is Germany that has cancelled their government subsidy of “renewables” because the grid could not handle the fluctuations of the existing systems.
How are people trying to pay their bills and keep shelter over their heads going to invest in a $10K+ system for their roof top? They are likely to be trying to save enough to re-shingle their house. And, the US is about to pull the plug on any tax supported subsidies. After all, you are NOT Citibank or any of the other TBTF corporations.
Ah, yes…
http://blog.heartland.org/2014/12/germanys-energy-transformation-unsustainable-subsidies-and-an-unstable-system/
http://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Germany-to-End-All-Solar-Subsidies-by-2018.html
http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2013/03/14/germanys-green-energy-disaster-a-cautionary-tale-for-world-leaders/
And the US system is in even worse shape and many times larger.
Joe on Sat, 3rd Jan 2015 6:42 pm
The US needs to declare an emergency for new types of renewable energies.Next take all the Military that are getting paid anyway and use them to build and install the renewables.
Next put millions into thorium and light water nuclear reactors.We would already have these clean nuclear gems powering the US if it wasnt for the wants in the past of wanting uranium from traditional nuclear.
Also use every layed off fossil fuel worker to work with the Military on all this and give them jobs in renewables and nuclear.
Joe
Harquebus on Sat, 3rd Jan 2015 6:54 pm
Renewable energy generators do not return the “total” energy used in their manufacture.
“Total” includes building and maintaining infrastructure, sustaining a workforce, processing raw materials, consumables, education, power, lighting etc. etc.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/11/21/renewable_energy_simply_wont_work_google_renewables_engineers/
The day will come when kenz300 realizes the fool that he is.
GregT on Sat, 3rd Jan 2015 7:08 pm
“The US needs to declare an emergency for new types of renewable energies.”
OK Joe. But when we leave fossil fuels, or they leave us, (whichever comes first) what exactly do you believe that we would need an electric grid for? All of the stuff that we run with electricity requires fossil fuels in resource extraction, refinement, manufacturing, distribution, and maintenance. Modern industrial society is powered by fossil fuels. No fossil fuels, no industrial society, no electronic gadgets, no need for an electric grid.
Of course those who have stocked up on wants/needs could probably utilize stand alone power generation for decades to come, but there simply won’t be enough to go around for everyone. Besides, when our economies collapse due to fuel shortages, the last thing on people’s minds will be the latest gadget from Best Buy, they’ll be too busy trying to figure out where to get their next meal from.
Speculawyer on Sat, 3rd Jan 2015 9:18 pm
Dave Thompson . . . LOL at that Ozzie Zehner hack book. He just knew there was a market of people that WANTED to hear that. The Fox News type crowd. Some green energy things work well (Big wind turbines, residential solar PV, LED lighting, hydropower, etc.), some work OK (CFLs, concentrated solar power, tidal power, etc.), and some just don’t really work well (fuel cell cars, corn ethanol, wave power, etc.). Dismissing it all as not working just is not honest analysis, it is just following a narrative and searching for data to support it.
Anyone that says all of it is great or all of it sucks is an ideologue with a preconceived view.
Speculawyer on Sat, 3rd Jan 2015 9:25 pm
GregT, you lack imagination. Just because current society is largely (not fully) dependent on fossil fuels, that doesn’t mean we can’t change. We used to rely fully on wood, we used to rely largely on whale oil for lighting, we used to power our navies with wind. But technology changes.
And we don’t need to FULLY cut out fossil fuels. We just need to cut way back. Between solar, hydro, wind, geothermal, nuclear, biomass, etc. we can provide our energy needs. We just lack the will to do so. But we will get the will as fossil fuels get more expensive and/or climate change starts hitting us hard.
Speculawyer on Sat, 3rd Jan 2015 9:37 pm
Makati1 . . . really? Heartland.org? You are going to listen to industry funded climate change deniers? You are just trying to validate your views without looking at the objective data.
Germany has indeed cut back on their subsidies . . . why? BECAUSE THE PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL THAT PRICES FOR SOLAR AND WIND HAVE DROPPED MASSIVELY. Why have big subsidies when the prices have dropped so severely. But they are continuing to install solar & wind. And their grid is far more reliable than ours. The entire world should thank Germany for subsidizing these energy sources when they were in their infancy such that mass manufacturing scales could be reach thus pushing down prices. Germany has probably been the most progressive country in the world on these technologies and it has cost them but the rest of world has benefited massively from their good deed for humanity.
GregT on Sat, 3rd Jan 2015 10:49 pm
Spec,
Unlike you, I am not relying on an imaginary view of the future. I have done my research and I am very well aware of the kind of future that we face. We are going to change, and there is nothing that we can do to stop it. That change is not going to be voluntary, and it is not going to be pleasant. There is going to be a massive reduction in our populations if we are lucky, and if we are not so fortunate, our species is done.
If we are to have any hope of stopping the 6th mass extinction event that we have already triggered on this planet, we need to stop burning ALL fossil fuels period. Even if we do we may already be too late, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t try. CO2 is accumulative in the environment, and will remain for centuries. We are heading for a 4 to 6 degree C global mean temperature rise right now, which in all likelihood will trigger a runaway greenhouse event. Runaway greenhouse event = the end of the human race, and the vast majority of all life on Earth.
Solar, hydro, wind, geothermal, nuclear etc., are all extensions of fossil fuels. Current technologies are extensions of fossil fuel usage as well. Societal complexity is a result of excess energy. More energy=more complexity, less energy=less complexity. We do not NEED the energy that you apparently think that we do. We WANT it. There is a big difference. It is modern industrial society that needs this energy, and modern industrial society is going to go the way of the Dodo bird when that energy peters out. Modern industrial society does not run on electricity. Modern industrial society generates electricity.
Climate change IS going to hit us hard, much harder than it already has. There is about a 40 year lag time between CO2 accumulations and global mean temperature rise. We are seeing the results of our fossil fuel usage from the 70s now. If we stop burning fossil fuels tomorrow, climate change will continue to accelerate exponentially until the 2050s. We probably don’t have that long to wait though. Climate models originally predicted the first ice free summer in the Arctic by the 2070s. Now it could be as early as 2015, but most assuredly before 2025. When the Arctic ice goes, so goes a comfortable existence on the planet Earth.
Speculawyer on Sun, 4th Jan 2015 12:35 am
Well GregT, I clearly disagree. I think you have an overly-pessimistic view of things that is probably more due to a personal ideology or narrative than based on the objective data. We’ve long faced terrible situations and have engineered solutions to them. There certainly may be problems, I don’t doubt that. There always are. But as a species we’ve faced plagues, world wars, famines, etc. and always powered through though often with great losses.
But we have the technology available to change our energy mix. We just haven’t done so because we are greedy and lazy. But when push comes to shove, we’ll eventually do the right thing.
Did you predict the current drop in oil prices? I doubt it. I suspect you believed in a narrative of rising oil prices that doomed us. But that didn’t happen did it? We are pretty resourceful. We’ve figured out how to extract a lot of oil at $100/barrel. And for now, we are going to slow down our extraction of that oil because we don’t need it so much right now. But that oil will remain in the ground and available to help power us as we shift over to other sources. The problem is that we will again be greedy and lazy and not transform like we should. But we’ll get around to it.
So do the wise things . . . reduce your energy needs. Move to renewables. And laugh at the idiots that don’t make wise decisions. But don’t fret about societal collapse, that is not happening any time soon. You are just wasting your life living in fear if you do.
GregT on Sun, 4th Jan 2015 1:23 am
Spec,
You clearly do not get it. The problems that we face are a result of our technologies. Expecting more of what is causing our problems to begin with, to fix those same problems, is irrational.
Overpopulation, environmental degradation, ocean acidification, climate change, species extinction, ozone depletion, arctic amplification, deforestation, soil erosion, water scarcity, acid rain, desertification etc., are all results of human technologies. Human exceptionalism is leading to us to human extinction. The right thing to do, is to stop doing the things that are causing all of our problems to begin with. The Earth could give a rats ass if we survive as a species or not, the Earth has all of the time in the world, we do not.
We either learn to live within the confines of the natural systems on this planet that have evolved over millions of years, recognize that those systems are paramount to our survival, and stop trying to manipulate the planet to satisfy our personal lust, self importance, and greed, or we will cause our own demise. All of the energy that we ever needed was in the form of current sunlight. Our exploitation of fossil fuels, our technologies, and our insatiable desire for even more consumer crap is completely unnecessary. And furthermore, it has eroded our spirituality, our communities, and our societies as a whole.
I am already doing the ‘wise things’ spec, because I understand that societal collapse is coming sooner rather than later. In many parts of the world it has occurred already, and it is accelerating. I have no fear of my own death, I have contemplated it, and I am at peace with it. Are you?
Makati1 on Sun, 4th Jan 2015 7:41 am
Speculiar… I think you are the one who is delusional. Another dreamer that refuses to face reality. Reality is that BAU is actually dead and is NOT going to transform in to a butterfly no matter how much you wish it to be so. 70+ years has told me where we are headed. You are fast joining Nony’s religion if you are not yet attending his church.
Makati1 on Sun, 4th Jan 2015 7:52 am
GregT, being at peace with death is the best thing that I have ever learned. I know it is inevitable, and when it happens, I will not know it is over. Only those I leave behind will experience it in memories after. I do not believe in an “after life” as that is not logical nor has any proof ever been presented to make me doubt my conviction. I have seen the hypocrisy of religion from the inside and left those delusions behind 14 years ago.
Therefore, I can face the future unafraid and actually enjoy the experience as a new adventure. I have lived under the threat of nuclear war since my birth 70+ years ago. That is nothing new. Nor is any other threat to my existence something to worry about. I am preparing for the future as much as my resources permit and then I go outside and watch the sun rise, the clouds sailing in a blue sky or the beauty of a sunset.
Best wishes in your preps.
Apneaman on Sun, 4th Jan 2015 8:52 am
Ozzie Zehner gave his Green Illusions presentation at a “Authors at Google” talk in Sept 2012. There were many Google engineers in attendance, but they had already pulled the plug on their renewable program. Ross Koningstein and David Fork, two Google engineers working on the project said “Today’s renewable energy technologies won’t save us.”
Authors@Google: Ozzie Zehner – Green Illusions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6uVnyjTb58
Google Engineers Explain Why They Stopped R&D in Renewable Energy
http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/google-engineers-explain-why-they-stopped-rd-in-renewable-energy
What It Would Really Take to Reverse Climate Change
Today’s renewable energy technologies won’t save us. So what will?
http://spectrum.ieee.org/energy/renewables/what-it-would-really-take-to-reverse-climate-change
As for Germany, their green dream, Energiewende, is not working out so well.
Germany’s Energy Poverty: How Electricity Became a Luxury Good
http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/high-costs-and-errors-of-german-transition-to-renewable-energy-a-920288.html
Why Germany’s Nuclear Phase Out is Leading to More Coal Burning
http://theenergycollective.com/robertwilson190/328841/why-germanys-nuclear-phase-out-leading-more-coal-burning
Will Germany really phase out nuclear by 2021?
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/plugged-in/2014/03/16/will-germany-really-phase-out-nuclear-by-2021/
Speculawyer on Sun, 4th Jan 2015 4:13 pm
“I have no fear of my own death, I have contemplated it, and I am at peace with it.”
“GregT, being at peace with death is the best thing that I have ever learned.”
You guys should reflect on those statements. They show how your views are not based on objective analysis of the facts but are instead based on your own doomer-death-cult mentality. Hey, if that is the way you want to live . . . fine. But don’t think you have some special knowledge about the fate of civilization. You don’t. Can you tell me how it will all collapse? No, you can’t. And if we dig back a few months I’m sure we could find all sorts of statements that don’t match up with the current oil surplus.
But hey, go and cherry-pick links that feed your doomer mentality. You can also find links telling you about ever-lasting life from Jesus, reincarnation, or 72 virgins from Allah. That doesn’t make any of them true.
Mankind will definitely face challenges in the future . . . but we’ve survived world wars, famines, plagues, etc. We’ll deal with reduced fossil fuel availability. We’ve got lots of options nuclear, solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, etc.
If you are 70+, I’m not surprised you’ve got the doomer affliction. Lots of people start feeling resentful knowing that they’ll die in the not too distant future and they are bitter that the party will go on without them. So they conjure up these doomer scenarios that will take down the rest of humanity. Sounds like you are really not at peace with death, IMHO. Perhaps once you get past this resentment causing doomerism, THEN you will really be at peace with death. Good luck!
GregT on Sun, 4th Jan 2015 4:27 pm
“You guys should reflect on those statements.”
If you don’t understand what we are talking about, there is no point in trying to explain it to you spec.
Your fears are very apparent in your above post. You are lashing out. I am looking at our reality objectively, and I have no fears about where we are heading. Sadness, yes. Fear, no.
GregT on Sun, 4th Jan 2015 4:40 pm
Oh, and while we’re at it, every single one of us is going to die in the not so distant future. Life is not a party spec, and it will most assuredly will go on without us. As individuals, or as a species, that is the choice that we are now faced with.
Makati1 on Sun, 4th Jan 2015 5:27 pm
GregT, Speculiar is denying his mortality. Must be a youngster who thinks he will live forever. Actually, I came to grips with that fact decades ago and being 70 doesn’t make it any more real or imminent. There were numerous times in those years when death could have happened. Auto accidents, military accident, falls, etc. My family are all long lived persons and I probably have at least 20 more years if I don’t do something stupid. That is more than he can say as his ignorance is already showing.
And, just because we “doomers” see that the future is not going to be butterflies and honey does not mean we have a death wish. It means we are intelligent, rational adults that are doing something to prepare for what we believe is coming.
But you know that. Maybe he an Nony will see it someday, but I doubt it. Some never grow up. Especially spoiled Americans.
GregT on Sun, 4th Jan 2015 5:43 pm
GregT, Speculiar is denying his mortality.
Yes Makati, that is very obvious. I also came to terms with my own mortality decades ago. The first time as a teenager. I have come close to my own death more than once. I have also had a loved one die in my arms. Not something that I would wish on anyone, but an experience that changed my life for the better. If that can possibly make any sense.
Makati1 on Sun, 4th Jan 2015 9:26 pm
GregT, what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger. Nothing like a white phosphorus mortar round landing a few hundred yards from your position to make you see your mortality. I never saw so bright an umbrella of death before that incident in the 70s.
Kenz300 on Mon, 5th Jan 2015 8:29 am
“Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good”
The world is making progress in its transformation away from fossil fuels…..
Every day wind, solar, wave energy, geothermal and second generation biofuels made from algae, cellulose and waste continue to grow in use. Their cost continues to drop and the efficiency continues to increase making them more competitive with fossil fuels..
More cities are looking to move away from the automobile and to a more diverse mix of transportation options. Walking paths, bicycle paths and mass transit are making a growing impact on cities around the world. Cities have begun to realize that relying only on autos leads to too much congestion and pollution.
Energy efficiency efforts continue to grow. Autos have gone from averaging 12 mpg to 40 mpg. Electric vehicles are now being produced by every major auto maker. Electric vehicle technology continues to improve.
Can we do more…. YES….
Should we do more….. YES…
If we are to have any hope of dealing with Climate Change we need to speed up our transition away from fossil fuels and to a more sustainable renewable energy society..
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Restored Forests Breathe Life Into Efforts Against Climate Change
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/24/science/earth/restored-forests-are-making-inroads-against-climate-change-.html?emc=edit_th_20141224&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=21372621
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The fossil fuel industry and their right wing radio and faux noise supporters are doing all they can to slow any progress on alternative energy use. The top 1% want it all.
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Outfoxed • Rupert Murdoch’s War on Journalism • FULL DOCUMENTARY • BRAVE NEW FILMS – YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P74oHhU5MDk&list=PL18E94D79CF7CB44D&index=1
Speculawyer on Mon, 5th Jan 2015 1:52 pm
Yes, you got me. I think I’m immortal. I’m a god. *rollseyes*
No, I’m mortal and so are all of us. And according to the best known cosmology, so is the entire universe which will eventually die in thermodynamic heat death.
But in my time here, I will enjoy it. Life *is* a party. A celebration of matter become conscious. I have a limited time and I’ll spend it well. I’ll do my work. I’ll educate my child (and other young people) to the best of my ability. I’ll enjoy some hockey games. I’ll vote for people that advocate policies which I feel are best for humanity. I’ll knock back a few drinks and laugh at jokes. I’ll go for a run with my dog. I’ll see good movies. I’ll advocate for solar PV, big wind, LED lighting and EVs. I’ll live and strive to make the world a better place.
You guys seem dead already. Whine about doom and cherry-pick data to meet your doom narratives. You must be real fun at parties.
If you think things are so bad, why not try to make things better instead of just sit around and whine about it? Seems like a sad way to live out your life. Good luck with that.
GregT on Mon, 5th Jan 2015 2:50 pm
Spec,
I have two very well adjusted adult children, that both have good careers. Our daughter is getting married in Mexico this spring and so far there are over 120 people coming down to join us.
I have travelled extensively around the globe, and still do so. New Zealand the year before last and Hawaii twice in 2014. I am an avid outdoorsman, I enjoy hiking, backpacking, camping, hunting and fishing. I still PLAY hockey at 55 years of age. I am a ski instructor, a pilot and a great deal of my work is in promoting energy efficiencies, and alternate energy infrastructure. My wife and myself are gourmet cooks, and routinely have groups of people over for dinner parties. I don’t GO to movies anymore, I prefer to watch them in my own home theatre. The last I counted I have over 300 DVDs and blue ray disks. I play the guitar, the piano, the trumpet, the Ukelele, and I sing. My favourite alcoholic beverage is Rum, but I am know for making a wicked Crantini. My dog recently died, and we will be getting a new one when we move to our farm this coming spring. I have two PV systems installed already. One on my house, and one in my RV. We plan to get as much off of the grid as possible when we move, and plan to install a PV system at the farm, as well as micro-hydro. I was the first person that I know to install CFLs in all of the fixtures in my home, and I have been upgrading to LED as they have become available. I have always strived to do my best to make the world a better place, and have many friends that routinely come to me for consultation.
None of this changes the reality that we face. You can choose to ignore it all you like, but it is not going to help anything. I am not sitting around whining about what is coming down the pipeline spec. Unlike you, I have identified the challenges, come up with a game plan, and I am doing something about it.
If you choose to not face reality, that is your choice. For me, that is what I find sad.