You’ve got to hand it to Obama. He sure has a good sense of humor. He’s a huge fan of clean energy and is willing to put your money where his mouth is (Solyndra, ethanol, etc.) He hates dirty coal and dirty oil. Below is a snippet from his inspirational State of the Union address, watched by 20% of the nation’s households. The other 80% were watching reruns of Honey Boo Boo and the Kardashians. He has thrown down the gauntlet. He solemnly declared to his millions of willfuly ignorant fans that since China has gone all in on clean energy, we must also.
For your reference, I’ve provided a little chart to support the Savior’s “All-In” thesis about China’s energy sources. It appears China has gone all-in with coal. I’m sure the Obamanistas would support us following China’s lead. The Savior has thus spoken. So it shall be.
“I will direct my Cabinet to come up with executive actions we can take, now and in the future, to reduce pollution, prepare our communities for the consequences of climate change, and speed the transition to more sustainable sources of energy. Four years ago, other countries dominated the clean energy market and the jobs that came with it. We’ve begun to change that. Last year, wind energy added nearly half of all new power capacity in America. So let’s generate even more. Solar energy gets cheaper by the year – so let’s drive costs down even further. As long as countries like China keep going all-in on clean energy, so must we.”
President Barack Obama
I can’t seem to find that Orange Renewable section on the graph. It must be a misprint.
archaeopteryx says:
If he indeed said these things, I hate to say it, but the Commander-in-Chief is an [expletive deleted], or just a plain ignorant. Wind “MW’s” are installed capacity, and useless at that. No real power capacity was added as the country is in a quasi-recession and there is no need for added power. Wind and solar were added ONLY because of hefty subsidies. As for China… the graph says it all, even though what Obama is probably brewing is import duties on Chinese products. What IS going on in DC? Has dope been legalized or something?
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17th February 2013 at 11:33 am
card802 says:
Obama is just confused, big surprise, and his followers listen without question.
China is “all in” on renewables. It’s just that they are all in on making the turbines that GE moved jobs offshore that the taxpayer pays for with subsidies.
China doesn’t use the windmills, they just make them for us.
There was a large wind farm installed just north of me, cost the taxpayer $250 million. The state grunts happily reported that $7 million of our dollars remained in Michigan. And yes, those little blinking lights on top of every windmill are powered by the nearby coal plant, which is scheduled to be shut down in 2015.
We’re doomed.
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17th February 2013 at 11:45 am
sangell says:
China went ‘all in’ on the manufacture of solar panels for export but its own use of solar and wind is a trend not yet in evidence. In fact, the Europeans are having to rethink their heavy commitment to green power as it is too expensive for its newly impoverished citizens to afford or its governments to continue to subsidize. It also doesn’t do much for you competitive position in the world if you power your industry with 20 cent per kilowatt power renewable power and your rivals are using 5 cent per kilowatt coal to run their power plants.
The whole renewable/green movement is a vestigial ideology left over from the 1990′s. It was a substitute philosophy for the pinkos, useful idiots and fellow travelers who had thrown their lot in with the USSR and a handy club with which to wield against capitalist economies but the so called watermelon radicals have hit a brick wall between their desire to destroy conventional energy sources and the need to provide income and jobs for the citizens of the nations they hate.
Windmills and solar arrays died on the battlefields of Eagle Ford and the Marcellus shale. They will not rise again for a generation or more.
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17th February 2013 at 11:51 am
Clownbucks says:
In defense of those who didn’t tune in, about 48% couldn’t without eventually kicking in the screens of their televisions. It was much better, much saner reading the drivel, blather and platitudes online.
His speechifi’n is sheer torture. He’s a cross between Elmer Fudd’s hunting wabbits explanation and Captain Obvious making the most inane misstatements of facts and extrapolations from Bizarro Land.
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17th February 2013 at 12:50 pm
Randa says:
If you haven’t heard Jim Garrow yet, here is an interview that is so important to hear:
http://rtr.org/vid/8341
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17th February 2013 at 12:56 pm
sangell says:
What maybe America’s greatest export, stupidity’, seems to be selling well in China though. The Chinese desire to ‘catch up’ with the West and copy our technology may also be are greatest weapon to destroy them economically.
Here is an NHK video clip detailing how China is striving to match GM’s malinvestment in the Volt with their own electric car goals ( 5 million by 2020). As Administrator’s chart reveals these ‘coal powered’ automobiles are supposed to, somehow, reduce air pollution!
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/movie/feature201302151300.html
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17th February 2013 at 1:16 pm
Administrator says:
We must not let China beat us in the clean energy war. LOL
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17th February 2013 at 1:32 pm
Administrator says:
China is ALL IN
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17th February 2013 at 1:33 pm
Administrator says:
China’s version of clean energy
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17th February 2013 at 1:35 pm
Eddie says:
As a prepper, I am more than willing to take advantage of the obvious arbitrage opportunity created by the global politicization of so-called Green Energy. As a result of China’s decision to undercut European and American solar panel producers, I can now buy solar panels for around $.80 per watt, which I believe is far less than the real cost of production, especially if you factor in an environmental cost, and if you realize that the cost of silver used in construction has been artificially discounted.
I do not believe that technology will bring the cost lower in the future. Instead, when the global currency reset inevitably comes some day soon, the cost here will likely rise 10X or more. That’s a guess on my part, but I’m sure enough about those fundamentals to be willing to trade on it.
Coal is, of course, what we will turn to, just like the Chinese, when push comes to shove and the oil and natural gas supply tapers off again here, which probably won’t be long. All sources of fossil fuel will be tapped and exhausted, eventually. In the face of collapse, the current sensibilities about air pollution will seem silly.
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17th February 2013 at 2:04 pm
IndenturedServant says:
“Last year, wind energy added nearly half of all new power capacity in America. So let’s generate even more.”
If he had to have his little corner of the world made to look butt fucking ugly by the thousands of wind turbines being installed in beautiful places, he might re-consider. I hate these fucking things. They also kill quite a few birds of prey including the magnificent Golden Eagle.
I_S
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17th February 2013 at 2:11 pm
Thinker says:
I think Obama was talking about the need to “go all in” like China when it comes to spending. See this report [PDF] from the liberal Center for American Progress.
“One of our most promising opportunities for U.S.-China clean energy cooperation is inward Chinese direct investment. Many Chinese companies want to come to the United States, directly invest in this country, and create jobs here. That is exactly what our economy needs, particularly in sectors such as renewable energy generation…”
He’s talking about having China invest in U.S. companies. Remember the creation of the constitution-free zones?
This is why I watch and read crap that I don’t agree with. It’s the only way to know what’s really going on. They’re going to sell this in as being good for jobs, improving the economy. Obama’s SOTU was just the beginning of the set-up.
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17th February 2013 at 2:20 pm
IndenturedServant says:
Hey Eddie,
Can you point me to some reliable sources of info and components for residential solar power systems? This is one are I have not even begun to look into as part of my preps. I have thought about purchasing panels now or in recent years but figured the technology and efficiency would improve enough to not make that smart. If prices truly are as cheap as you mention then it would be worth it .
It really does chap my ass to intentionally buy anything made in China so can you give me some idea about price/quality differences between US and Chinese made equipment?
Thanks!
I_S
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17th February 2013 at 2:50 pm
Eddie says:
Most of the US manufacturers of solar panels have been driven out of business, including Sharp, which had a long history of successful business in that field and was known for quality.
Some of the lowest cost deals right now are on panels made by now defunct US plants. It’s a little difficult to say US companies because most of the big solar panel companies are multinational. I bought some made by MX Solar, which is a European company that had a plant in the US until they closed it. MX solar is still in business, just not making panels here anymore.
Some great deals are available on Canadian produced panels.
All panels now, as far as I know, are made from individual solar cells made in China, so there is no way to avoid buying something made in China. Someone correct me if I’m wrong on this.
Which panels you buy for your personal use depends a lot on how much power you intend to generate. A sailboat runs fine on 12 volts, but for a large house with AC, 48 volts makes sense if you are going totally off-grid. Both panels and batteries can be configured in various voltages by wiring them in series and/or parallel.
Grid-tie systems make great sense economically compared to off-grid, but DIYer’s run afoul of regulations that make it nearly impossible for someone to build their own grid-tie system. For that reason I favor stand alone systems, but they require a substantial investment in batteries, which grid tie systems do not.
I do not consider myself an expert, but I am becoming an informed amateur regarding this tech, and I’d be happy to share more info with anybody who wants to shoot me an email. dr_ed@swbell.net
If you buy solar panels online, you can use admins amazon link and he will get some support which will cost you zero.I would be happy to discuss the pros and cons of buying this stuff online, too.
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17th February 2013 at 3:14 pm
IndenturedServant says:
I’m happy to do it via email but I’m sure admin would be happy to have a stand alone posting on the subject of solar power options that would reach all TPB’ers.
I_S
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17th February 2013 at 3:20 pm
Eddie says:
If there is any interest I would be glad to write a post…although I just can’t wait to be skewered by the engineers who know everything and the futurists who don’t like PVs.
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17th February 2013 at 3:50 pm
penny says:
I never understand these graphs, does this mean that china uses more hydroelectric than oil and coal? in which case they HAVE gone all in, unless your talking about some form of hydroelectric that isn’t a renewable?
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17th February 2013 at 3:50 pm
Administrator says:
penny
The hydroelectric portion is only a sliver. 95% of their power is from coal and oil, with coal being the largest portion by far.
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17th February 2013 at 3:55 pm
flash says:
..nothing to see here…just testing the water….now move along.
http://freebeacon.com/bear-bombers-over-guam/
Bear Bombers Over Guam
Russian nuclear bombers circle Guam
BY: Bill Gertz
February 15, 2013 4:04 pm
Two Russian nuclear-armed bombers circled the western Pacific island of Guam this week in the latest sign of Moscow’s growing strategic assertiveness toward the United States.
The Russian Tu-95 Bear-H strategic bombers were equipped with nuclear-tipped cruise missiles and were followed by U.S. jets as they circumnavigated Guam on Feb. 12 local time—hours before President Barack Obama’s state of the union address.
Air Force Capt. Kim Bender, a spokeswoman for the Pacific Air Force in Hawaii, confirmed the incident to the Washington Free Beacon and said Air Force F-15 jets based on Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, “scrambled and responded to the aircraft.”
“The Tu-95s were intercepted and left the area in a northbound direction. No further actions occurred,” she said. Bender said no other details would be released “for operational security reasons.”
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17th February 2013 at 3:56 pm
Administrator says:
Eddie
If you register I can make you a contributor. Or you can just send me a post and I’ll put it up for you.
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17th February 2013 at 4:00 pm
Thinker says:
Penny, this may be a better way for you to look at it:
Further data: http://www.eia.gov/countries/cab.cfm?fips=CH
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17th February 2013 at 4:08 pm
IndenturedServant says:
@Eddie,
Don’t worry about the skewering. The only people who regularly get skewered are those who bring nothing to the table or those who deride those that do.
I know that Chicago999444 was looking into generator options for her apartment so you’ll have something to offer that many have not considered. Who knows, you might provoke a lurking PV expert into contributing.
I_S
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17th February 2013 at 4:53 pm
AWD says:
We have more gas. It’s a 2009 graph, but I doubt much has changed.
I wonder what China does with all that coal slag. Probably turn in into pet food and pharmaceuticals and sell it back to us.
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17th February 2013 at 5:09 pm
llpoh says:
Just read where Fairbanks winter air is most probably world’s worst. Wood-fired smoke hangs low to the ground and creates hug smog issue. So all is not a bed of roses in Alaska afterall. Strike Fairbanks from my list of potential Doomsteads. Damn, the list is growing really short.
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17th February 2013 at 5:19 pm
Administrator says:
llpoh
The air outside in Fairbanks during the winter doesn’t matter. No one goes out into -20 F weather unless they’re nuts like AKAnon.
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17th February 2013 at 5:21 pm
Eddie says:
I’ll put something together on PVs and send it along.
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17th February 2013 at 5:27 pm
llpoh says:
Admin – good point. But nonetheless, I still ain’t moving to Alaska:
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17th February 2013 at 5:32 pm
Administrator says:
AKAnon walking from his front door to his truck
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17th February 2013 at 6:07 pm
Novista says:
Aw, don’t ya know coal can be modified?
PM Julia the Red gave us a carbon tax to cool the planet and the land of oz exports its eeevil coal to China where it is transformed into born-again virgin clean energy.
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17th February 2013 at 8:21 pm
Anonymous says:
NEXT 40 years…
Nate Hagens, former editor of The Oil Drum and former Lehman Brothers vice president, about a future economy without growth and an environment suffering climate change. Nate Hagens asks whether ultimately – contrary to our animal nature – we are willing and able to plan for future generations by reducing our own energy consumption and economic growth.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ujX5mFvmEf0#t=270s
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17th February 2013 at 9:51 pm
prtrb'd says:
Home Power magazine is a great resource for DIY alternative energy solutions. The best stand alone battery storage system that I’ve used is the HUP solar one, still strong after 15 years. Used solar elec panels can be a great deal, just do your homework before buying…
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17th February 2013 at 8:22 am
Christopher A. Haase » Blog Archive » OBAMA: CHINA – “ALL IN ON CLEAN ENERGY” says:
[...] Please continue reading at: http://www.theburningplatform.com/?p=49338 [...]
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17th February 2013 at 11:07 am
Urge Obama To Say ‘No’ To Dirty Coal!; Stop the Coal Rush Rip Off, Start the Clean Energy Revolution | Sunset Daily says:
[...] Obama: China – “All in on Clean Energy” (theburningplatform.com) [...]
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17th February 2013 at 9:41 am