Posts Made By: Dave Snope

Obama was just in Las Vegas where he extolled the virtues of the new solar energy plant at Nellis AFB. It was all over the news. I heard my local radio and TV reporting about this groundbreaking energy plant that pays for itself and helps stop global warming. How does this work?

The White House gives us a list of facts about the Nellis plant:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Nellis-Solar-Power-System-Tour-Nellis-Air-Force-Base-Las-Vegas-NV/
* The Nellis solar power system, completed in December of 2007, is America's largest solar photovoltaic array.
* The plant will generate more than 30 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of clean electricity annually and supply approximately 25% of the total power used at the base, where 12,000 people live and work.
* The system covers 140 acres of land at Nellis AFB, 33 acres of which are a capped landfill which has been reused for this "green" energy project. The array is made from over 72,000 solar panels which track the sun to maximize the solar renewable energy we can receive.
* It will reduce carbon emissions by 24,000 tons annually.
* Using a "first-of-its-kind" public/private partnership, this project (which cost over $100M to construct) cost the AF less than $100,000 in capital costs, yet saved Nellis over $1.2M in its first year of operation.
* The Nellis solar power system is joint venture between the U.S. Air Force; Renewable Ventures; SunPower Corporation; and N.V. Energy.
* It took over 200 workers to build the array.
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So we have something that costs over $100M to build and save over $1.2M per year. My computer-like mind says that the base investment will take over 80 years to recover. If it lasts that long. But what about operating costs? Labor, maintenance, and parts? I'm going to guess 4 workers with generous benefits and healthcare costs totaling $500K, a very small 0.5% maintenance & parts costs for another $500K, netting $300,000 in savings per year. Now our ROI is 333 years.

Of course the AF only had to pay $100K in capital costs. Now THAT's some freakonomics. Where can I sign up to get a solar plant for my house for only 1/10 of one percent of actual purchase costs?

Not a brilliant photograph but I find these birds tricky to capture. They know when you're pointing something at them and always manage to fly off just before I focus. Here is one from this morning on a eucalyptus tree. 200 F2.8 + 1.4ext.

Somebody has to post about the recent NIPCC report, it might as well be me. As summarized by John H. Hinderaker of PowerLine:

At the highest level, these are the conclusions of Climate Change Reconsidered:

The scholarship in this book demonstrates overwhelming scientific support for the position that the warming of the twentieth century was moderate and not unprecedented, that its impact on human health and wildlife was positive, and that carbon dioxide probably is not the driving factor behind climate change.

The authors cite thousands of peer-reviewed research papers and books that were ignored by the IPCC, plus additional scientific research that became available after the IPCC's self-imposed deadline of May 2006.

The book is replete with detailed statistical data and arguments of the sort that global warming alarmists refuse to engage in. It contains far too much data to summarize, but here are the "key findings" in Chapter 3, titled "Observations: Temperature Records."

* The IPCC claims to find evidence in temperature records that the warming of the twentieth century was "unprecedented" and more rapid than during any previous period in the past 1,300 years. But the evidence it cites, including the "hockey-stick" representation of earth's temperature record by Mann et al., has been discredited and contradicted by many independent scholars.

* A corrected temperature record shows temperatures around the world were warmer during the Medieval Warm Period of approximately 1,000 years ago than they are today, and have averaged 2-3ºF warmer than today's temperatures over the past 10,000 years.

* Evidence of a global Medieval Warm Period is extensive and irrefutable. Scientists working with a variety of independent methodologies have found it in proxy records from Africa, Antarctica, the Arctic, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America.

* The IPCC cites as evidence of modern global warming data from surface-based recording stations yielding a 1905-2005 temperature increase of 0.74ºC +/- 0.18ºC. But this temperature record is known to be positively biased by insufficient corrections for the non-greenhouse-gas-induced urban heat island (UHI) effect. It may be impossible to make proper corrections for this deficiency, as the UHI of even small towns dwarfs any concomitant augmented greenhouse effect that may be present.

* Highly accurate satellite data, adjusted for orbit drift and other factors, show a much more modest warming trend in the last two decades of the twentieth century and a dramatic decline in the warming trend in the first decade of the twenty-first century.

* The "fingerprint" or pattern of warming observed in the twentieth century differs from the pattern predicted by global climate models designed to simulate CO2-induced global warming. Evidence reported by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) is unequivocal: All greenhouse models show an increasing warming trend with altitude in the tropics, peaking around 10 km at roughly twice the surface value. However, the temperature data from balloons give the opposite result: no increasing warming, but rather a slight cooling with altitude.

* Temperature records in Greenland and other Arctic areas reveal that temperatures reached a maximum around 1930 and have decreased in recent decades. Longer-term studies depict oscillatory cooling since the Climatic Optimum of the mid-Holocene (~9000-5000 years BP), when it was perhaps 2.5º C warmer than it is now.

* The average temperature history of Antarctica provides no evidence of twentieth century warming. While the Antarctic peninsula shows recent warming, several research teams have documented a cooling trend for the interior of the continent since the 1970s.

If you want to inform yourself about the global warming debate, there is no better place to begin.

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2009/06/023730.php

By Christopher Booker

For the second time in little over a year, it looks as though the world may be heading for a serious food crisis, thanks to our old friend "climate change". In many parts of the world recently the weather has not been too brilliant for farmers. After a fearsomely cold winter, June brought heavy snowfall across large parts of western Canada and the northern states of the American Midwest. In Manitoba last week, it was -4ºC. North Dakota had its first June snow for 60 years.

There was midsummer snow not just in Norway and the Cairngorms, but even in Saudi Arabia. At least in the southern hemisphere it is winter, but snowfalls in New Zealand and Australia have been abnormal. There have been frosts in Brazil, elsewhere in South America they have had prolonged droughts, while in China they have had to cope with abnormal rain and freak hailstorms, which in one province killed 20 people.

None of this has given much cheer to farmers. In Canada and northern America summer planting of corn and soybeans has been way behind schedule, with the prospect of reduced yields and lower quality. Grain stocks are predicted to be down 15 per cent next year. US reserves of soya – used in animal feed and in many processed foods – are expected to fall to a 32-year low.

In China, the world's largest wheat grower, they have been battling against the atrocious weather to bring in the harvest. (In one province they even fired chemical shells into the clouds to turn freezing hailstones into rain.) In north-west China drought has devastated crops with a plague of pests and blight. In countries such as Argentina and Brazil droughts have caused such havoc that a veteran US grain expert said last week: "In 43 years I've never seen anything like the decline we're looking at in South America."

Read the rest at:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/christopherbooker/5525933/Crops-under-stress-as-temperatures-fall.html

It's best to let his own words do the talking. Burris is Obama's replacement Senator, appointed by indicted ex-governor Blago. How he got a seat on the Armed Services Committee is a wonder. At least he's not on the intelligence committee (I hope).



SEN. BURRIS: And to Mr. Lemnios (pronounces “Leonis”), could you explain to me in terms of the research and engineering, now, are you overseeing outsourcing contracts with universities in all the research, or do you have a staff that’s also doing the research and engineering over these weapons systems? Just give me a brief explanation on how that works.

MR. LEMNIOS: Sir, in my current position, or if confirmed?

SEN. BURRIS: If confirmed.

MR. LEMNIOS: Sir, in the — as director of Defense Research and Engineering, my critical role would be to work technology strategy across the Department of Defense; to identify those key areas where the Department needs to strengthen and drive its technology strategies, technology efforts; to work with the services in their laboratories to foster a broad set of –

SEN. BURRIS: Excuse me. You’re saying that there is — services have their own research laboratories going, with research military personnel, or outside contracting personnel?

MR. LEMNIOS: Sir, I’ve seen combinations of both. Some examples include the Naval Research Laboratory, not too far from here, which includes certainly government employees as well as some contractors on site; include the Air Force Wright-Patterson Laboratory which, again, include many government researchers and outside contractors.

SEN. BURRIS: So you would be in charge of — all those persons there would report into you. Is that correct?

MR. LEMNIOS: Sir, the laboratories report up through the service structure, and the director of Defense Research and Engineering establishes a technology portfolio across the Department in concert with the service executives across the Department.

SEN. BURRIS: And is there any outside contracting that is done — (inaudible)? Do you have to oversee awarding a contract for this project, or the Defense Department will be taking bids on that?

MR. LEMNIOS: Sir, my understanding — Senator, my understanding is that the director of Defense Research and Engineering would not be in direct — is a direct source — a source selection authority for those contracts.

But there would certainly be activities across the Department that rely upon the technical strategies that we put in place.

SEN. BURRIS: But to your knowledge, there are contracts that are awarded, but you would not have jurisdiction or — (word inaudible) — over those contracts?

MR. LEMNIOS: I wouldn’t have direct jurisdiction, direct source selection authority.


http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/06/burris-shock-discovery-pentagon-has-research-labs/#more-13800

Former Vice President Al Gore declared that the Congressional climate bill will help bring about “global governance.”

“I bring you good news from the U.S., “Gore said on July 7, 2009 in Oxford at the Smith School World Forum on Enterprise and the Environment, sponsored by UK Times.

“Just two weeks ago, the House of Representatives passed the Waxman-Markey climate bill,” Gore said, noting it was “very much a step in the right direction.” President Obama has pushed for the passage of the bill in the Senate and attended a G8 summit this week where he agreed to attempt to keep the Earth's temperatures from rising more than 2 degrees C.

Gore touted the Congressional climate bill, claiming it “will dramatically increase the prospects for success” in combating what he sees as the “crisis” of man-made global warming.

“But it is the awareness itself that will drive the change and one of the ways it will drive the change is through global governance and global agreements.” (Editor's Note: Gore makes the “global governance” comment at the 1min. 10 sec. mark in this UK Times video.)

Gore's call for “global governance” echoes former French President Jacques Chirac's call in 2000.

On November 20, 2000, then French President Chirac said during a speech at The Hague that the UN's Kyoto Protocol represented "the first component of an authentic global governance."

http://www.climatedepot.com/a/1893/Gore-US-Climate-Bill-Will-Help-Bring-About-Global-Governance

Simply take the raw data from thermometer readings and apply a 'sophisticated' computer model that adjusts it upwards over time. Then spread it around to the media and politicians to give them the disaster predictions that they crave, and get more grant money for you. Everybody's happy! Errr, except for scientific ethics and credibility.


http://cdiac.ornl.gov/epubs/ndp/ushcn/ts.ushcn_anom25_diffs_urb-raw_pg.gif

MUMBAI, India — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton opened a three-day visit to India on Saturday by urging India not to repeat American mistakes in contributing to global pollution, and she passionately defended U.S. demands for help in fighting terrorism.

"We acknowledge now with President Obama that we have made mistakes in the United States, and we along with other developed countries have contributed most significantly to the problem that we face with climate change," she said. "We are hoping a great country like India will not make the same mistakes."

She was referring to Obama's statement in Italy earlier this month that the U.S. had "sometimes fallen short" of its responsibilities in controlling its carbon emissions.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g3lGTbp2KLrD4mzkA_ebmlLJFg7wD99GR47G1


You have to give her credit, she's always had the courage to put political gain before truth. As global climate continues to cool for the last 10 years, and carbon emissions continue to defy all data measurements that try to find a causal relationship to global warming (only a few discredited computer simulations carry the water), Hillary must know that the emperor has not clothes and time is running out on the charade.

The South and Midwest have been experiencing record-low temperatures, turning summer topsy-turvy.

"It's more like spring or fall," Weather Channel lead meteorologist Chris Dolce said Monday.

Atlanta saw a record low of 61 degrees early Monday. And the daytime was much more pleasant than the usual 90 and humid, Dolce said.

Anniston, Ala., woke up Monday to a crisp 55 degrees. Crossville, Tenn., dipped to 52. Dubuque, Iowa, recorded 49 degrees.

Meteorologist Gary Goggins of the National Weather Service in Birmingham, Ala., turned off his air conditioner and opened his windows Monday morning.

"If you stood outside long enough, you'd need a light jacket," he said.

The normal low temperature in Birmingham this time of year is 70 degrees and the normal high is 93, Goggins said.

But early Monday morning, the temperature at Birmingham Airport was 59, breaking a record of 60 set in 1947. The temperature never climbed above 83 — 10 degrees lower than normal. Montgomery's chill hit 59, breaking by four degrees the record 63 set in 1923, Goggins said.

Record low temperatures Monday:

Alabama
Anniston/ 55
Birmingham/ 59
Huntsville/ 56
Mobile/ 64
Montgomery/ 59
Muscle Shoals/ 56
Tuscaloosa/ 59

Georgia
Athens/ 60
Atlanta/ 61
Augusta/ 61
Columbus/ 64
Macon/ 61

Illinois
Moline/ 50
Springfield/ 52

Iowa
Burlington/ 53
Cedar Rapids/ 50
Dubuque/ 49

Kentucky
Jackson/ 53
London/ 54

Misssissippi
Hattiesburg/ 63
Meridian/ 59

Missouri
Columbia/ 56

Tennessee
Chattanooga/ 59
Crossville/ 52
Jackson/ 56
Knoxville/ 60

Source: The Weather Channel

Another of Obama's "experts" put in charge of change. Here are his bonafides:

In March 2009, President Barack Obama named Jones to be his so-called “Green Jobs Czar.” Jones’ formal title is “Special Advisor for Green Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation” for the White House Council on Environmental Quality.

Jones says that he first became politically radicalized in the aftermath of the deadly April 1992 Los Angeles riots which erupted shortly after four L.A. police officers who had beaten the infamous Rodney King were exonerated in court. “I was a rowdy nationalist on April 28th,” says Jones, who is black, “and then the verdicts came down on April 29th. By August, I was a communist.”

Jones was arrested during the L.A. riots and spent a short time in jail. “I met all these young radical people of color,” he recalls, “I mean really radical: communists and anarchists. And it was, like, ‘This is what I need to be a part of.’ I spent the next ten years of my life working with a lot of those people I met in jail, trying to be a revolutionary.”

By the late 1990s, Jones was a committed Marxist-Leninist-Maoist who viewed police officers as the arch-enemies of black people, and who loathed capitalism for allegedly exploiting nonwhite minorities worldwide. He became a leading member of Standing Together to Organize a Revolutionary Movement (STORM), a now-defunct Bay Area Marxist-Maoist collective that was staffed by members of various local nonprofits, a number of whom had ties to the Ella Baker Center.

In the early 2000s, Jones and STORM were active in the anti-Iraq War demonstrations organized by International ANSWER, a front group for the Marxist-Leninist Workers World Party. STORM also had ties to the South African Communist Party and it revered Amilcar Cabral, the late Marxist revolutionary leader (of Guinea-Bissau and the Cape Verde Islands) who lauded Lenin as “the greatest champion of the national liberation of the peoples.” (In 2006 Van Jones would name his own newborn son “Cabral” -- in Amilcar Cabral’s honor.)