a few words about energy (the annual "it won't work" post)

This essay by Robert Bryce is a good primer on why the push for "renewable energy" and the denigration of coal power is economically illiterate bullshit that ignores the realities of power consumption here in the U.S. As Ace and Neo-neocon noted, this is pretty much building on what Steven Den Beste was saying back in 2002: it won't work. Solar and wind power are just too unreliable to provide baseload electricity for the nation, and they don't scale up very well. Which is to say, if you want a coal plant or a nuclear reactor plant to generate an extra couple of megawatts, you make it a little bigger. Try that with a field of wind turbines, and you need a hell of a lot more wind turbines. As for solar, quite aside from the lack of sun at night, it too takes up an assload of space because the energy density is so low.

We could, of course, put solar power satellites in orbit and beam the power back to the surface, but I'm sure the Greens would have problems with that, too. *shrug* Anyway, this is important information to be aware of, and it can't be repeated too often.

a few words about energy (the annual "it won't work" post)

This essay by Robert Bryce is a good primer on why the push for "renewable energy" and the denigration of coal power is economically illiterate bullshit that ignores the realities of power consumption here in the U.S. As Ace and Neo-neocon noted, this is pretty much building on what Steven Den Beste was saying back in 2002: it won't work. Solar and wind power are just too unreliable to provide baseload electricity for the nation, and they don't scale up very well. Which is to say, if you want a coal plant or a nuclear reactor plant to generate an extra couple of megawatts, you make it a little bigger. Try that with a field of wind turbines, and you need a hell of a lot more wind turbines. As for solar, quite aside from the lack of sun at night, it too takes up an assload of space because the energy density is so low.

We could, of course, put solar power satellites in orbit and beam the power back to the surface, but I'm sure the Greens would have problems with that, too. *shrug* Anyway, this is important information to be aware of, and it can't be repeated too often.

And furthermore, STFU.

Erick Erickson writes what may be the definitive smackdown on David Frum, Rod Dreher, and the other "moderate" Republicans who were so butthurt by Rush Limbaugh's speech at CPAC last week. Slightly more amusing (and possibly more accurate in a magical-realism sense), T. Coddington Van Voorhees VII opines on the sad state of the GOP. (The Other McCain)

And furthermore, STFU.

Erick Erickson writes what may be the definitive smackdown on David Frum, Rod Dreher, and the other "moderate" Republicans who were so butthurt by Rush Limbaugh's speech at CPAC last week. Slightly more amusing (and possibly more accurate in a magical-realism sense), T. Coddington Van Voorhees VII opines on the sad state of the GOP. (The Other McCain)

random amusement

If you're not following rorschachsdiary, you're missing a daily dose of funny.

Also, I got infracted on the Goonfleet forums for replying to guys who thought 60 seconds was enough for sex with "UR DOING IT WRONG". :D

random amusement

If you're not following rorschachsdiary, you're missing a daily dose of funny.

Also, I got infracted on the Goonfleet forums for replying to guys who thought 60 seconds was enough for sex with "UR DOING IT WRONG". :D