Tag energy

Why Not Let Free Markets Determine Energy Policy?

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

Since Adam’s Smith’s famous metaphor of the “Invisible Hand,” economists in the classical liberal tradition have known that decentralized, competitive capitalism harnesses the self-interest of ambitious and talented individuals. Rather than using their powers to dominate others, extraordinary individuals in a free-market setting stay up worrying at night about how to please their customers.

In contrast, the government bureaucrat doesn’t have the same incentive structure.

A sophisticated critic might agree that in general, markets outperform government agencies. However, the critic could argue that this general presumption fails when it comes to energy markets, because of the threat of climate change. Here—the argument goes—capitalism’s normally efficient outcome is perverted, because businesses and consumers aren’t taking into account the impact of their actions on future generations.

Even if we accept the basic premise of “market failure,” we must balance it against the undeniable prevalence of “government failure. For example, if a cap-and-trade program ever went through, it would not be a textbook plan devised by academics. On the contrary, it would contain all sorts of loopholes and handouts of permits to favor politically connected groups.

When it comes to mundane items like restaurant meals and iPods, most people recognize the tremendous superiority of the free market versus government bureaucrats. Yet this conclusion doesn’t magically flip when we switch to the crucial area of energy. But it should because energy is so vital to our standard of living, we need to remove government interference and free entrepreneurs to serve consumers in this sector as well. Read the full story at:

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The Truth about Renewable Energy Costs Exposed

Allen Frederick 1 Comment

Facts are a stubborn thing, especially when they fly in the face of the liberal’s attempts to coherce ‘we the people’ to embrace ‘green energy’. If green energy or alternative energy sources were efficient and profitable there would be no need to force people to adopt them. But the hard truth is they are not.

Amplify’d from blog.heritage.org
Here are the prices that President Barack Obama’s  Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects for various sources of electricity per megawatt hour in 2016 (in 2008 dollars):

• Conventional coal power: $78.10
• Onshore wind power: $149.30
• Offshore wind power: $191.10
• Thermal solar power: $256.60
• Photo-voltaic solar power: $396.10

As you can see, the prices for alternative energy are at a minimum almost double the cost of conventional coal power. So what would happen if Congress mandated that utilities obtain growing percentages of their power from renewable sources of energy? A Heritage Foundation analysis of 22.5 % RES by 2025 found: 1) household electricity prices would jump 36%; 2) industry prices would rise by 60%; 3) national income (GDP) would be cut by $5.2 trillion between 2012 and 2035; and most importantly 4) RES would kill more than 1,000,000 jobs.

Renewables like hydro, wind, solar energy and biomass account for only 6% of our nation’s electricity generation. But when was the last time you saw a dam built? Take hydro-power out and renewables account for only 3% of our nation’s power. And this is after decades of existing generous renewable subsidies. If electricity created by wind and other renewables was cost competitive, consumers would use more of it without a federal law to force consumption. But renewable energy is not cost competitive, hence the need for government coercion to force the American people to buy it.

Read more at blog.heritage.org
 
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Liar in Chief: Or Chief Liar

Allen Frederick 2 Comments

Barack Obama speaking at a campaign rally in A...

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TOP 10 Lies of 2009


1. Lie: Global warming is real. It was never real except for the natural warming cycle that occurred from 1850 to 1998 when the Earth began another natural cycle, when it began to cool. The new cycle will last for several decades. This heating and cooling has more to do with the activity on the Sun then on the Earth.

2. Lie: Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a danger to humans. This is the most pernicious lie that has been put forth by environmentalists and is the basis for the global warming lie. CO2 is vital to all life on Earth as it represents for all vegetation what oxygen is for all animals. To think that breathing is hazardous to your health. How can any right thinking person actually believe this?

3. Lie: The world is running out of oil. Not even close. New reserves of oil are being found on a regular basis. And this does not include the abundance of natural gas and coal which this country possesses in great quantities. There is no substitute for oil as the basis for transportation and the many other products such as plastic for which it is the basic component. Without this vital natural resource our standard of living will decrease not increase. Lets see the wind or sun power a jet liner or even a tractor trailer.

Failure to access national reserves of oil such as that in ANWR or offshore in the U.S. continental shelf is criminal. And

4. Lie: Afghanistan is critical to the war on terror. No, sorry, all the real action is in Pakistan these days and, in the days to come, in Yemen. Few NATO members want to provide forces for action there for lack of confidence in its present government and other factors.

5. Lie: The future is in “clean energy” as opposed to “dirty” coal. Wrong again. If wind or solar energy could demonstrate any practical use beyond very small projects it would attract investment, but it does not. Dependent on unreliable factors and requiring a backup source of energy such as a coal-fired or nuclear plant, large scale applications are a huge waste of money. Nuclear energy is probably the most environmentally safe alternative to oil and coal and yet it is not even considered as a viable source of energy by this current administration, and frowned upon by environmentalists in this country and yet nuclear energy is the energy of choice for other nations around the globe.

6. Lie: The U.S. must become “energy independent.” No nation on Earth is energy independent. The U.S. has failed to encourage the building of a single new refinery since the 1970s and is failing to encourage the building of nuclear plants to meet the nation’s growing need for more electricity.

7. Lie: The government can create or “save” jobs. Wrong again. The only jobs government creates are government jobs. These are essentially managerial and often exist to justify the continued existence of government agencies that actually impede job growth or significantly interfere with the free market. Besides the government does not produce anything they can only redistribute what is being produced elsewhere. And most of that redistribution stays within the confines of the government.

8. Lie: The financial crisis is not a significant threat. An economy whose annual gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated to be $14 trillion cannot long survive a debt ceiling of $12.4 trillion as approved by Congress on December 24. That requires too much borrowing. Only less spending can ensure stability. Every homeowner knows you can not keep spending money you do not have and gain fiscal stability.

9. Lie: The United Nations is necessary for resolving international disputes. Historically the UN has repeatedly failed to stop conflicts since its inception after WWII. It has a long record of corruption and inaction. It’s a joke but no one is laughing.

10. Lie: President Obama tells the truth. Barack Obama’s first year in office demonstrated to his supporters, independents, and critics that he lies all the time about everything. The only promise he made that he is fulfilling is the transformation of the U.S. into a failed socialist economy.

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We Debate You Decide: Does CO2 Cause Global Warming?

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

Does CO2 Cause Global Warming? We Debate You Decide


You decide whom you believe. Al Gore or several climatologists. You decide if a naturally occuring gas that we exhale and plants inhale for growth could actually cause Global warming. And if the earth does warm is that really a problem? I mean what is the alternative? Another ICE AGE? How is that going to save energy or promote PLANT growth on the planet? It would appear to me that common sense dictates that God would not create a GAS CO2 which is needed to sustain life would actually be detrimental to that life. I do believe man can cause global warming but not from CO2 but from S I N.

In the end it will not be man causing global warming but God. Check this out:

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will vanish (pass away) with a thunderous crash, and the [ material] elements [of the universe] will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up. 2 Peter 3:10 (AMP)

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Chinese Set to Mass Produce ECO-Friendly Vehicle

Allen Frederick 1 Comment

Ethnolinguistic map of the People's Republic o...
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China has announced they are ready to mass produce an Eco-friendly vehicle to the world market as soon as certain Environmental issues are resolved. According to one report environmentalists are a little concerned over the amount of CO2 emissions from this new vehicle.

The internal combustion engine’s only emissions are H2O and CO2 yet the environmentalists feel the CO2 levels are too high to qualify as a truly carbon neutral vehicle. However they state it certainly is a move in the right direction.

Although not entirely carbon fuel free the engine surely out performs other internal combustion engines in its fuel efficiency. China expects to iron out the environmental issues in time to release the new models by late Spring 2009.

In other news a mid-Pennsylvania manufacturer has been working feverishly on their own bio-fuel eco-friendly vehicle. Using technology from Pennsylvania’s rich agricultural heritage, ABC manufacturing has been able to mass produce a fuel efficient mass transit vehicle that should meet stricter environmental standards currently under consideration in Congress. Representatives of the company expect good consumer acceptance of their offering. Priced thousands less than GM, FORD or Chrysler Hybrids, ABC manufacturing hopes to cash in on the economy car market with their latest offering.

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