on March 09, 2019

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In The Tank (ep181) – IL Progressive Tax, Cali County Bans Solar Farm, Gov Steals Dog for Tax Debt

Written by Isaac Orr

Hello! This week's episode of In the Tank is a doozy. We talk about the exodus from the Land of Lincoln as they propose to make it even more expensive to live there, we talk about local opposition to solar and wind projects in California, and we chat about the German government's decision to seize and sell a dog because the owner was behind on their taxes. https://soundcloud.com/user-694711047/in-the-tank-ep181-il-progressive-tax-cali-county-bans-solar-farm-gov-steals-dog-for-tax-debt...

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on March 08, 2019

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HF 1956: MN Green New Deal Denies Role for Nuclear and Large Hydro

Written by Isaac Orr

in Energy

The Governor's lip-service to nuclear power appears to be a bait-and-switch. Nuclear is ok, just not existing nuclear or new nuclear....

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on March 04, 2019

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Walz Embraces Energy-Illiterate Green New Deal for Minnesota

Written by Isaac Orr

in Energy

DFL Governor Tim Walz is making Mark Dayton look downright moderate. Just this morning the newly-elected governor held a press conference stating his goals for making Minnesota's electricity sector 100 percent free of carbon dioxide emisisons by 2050. Walz's Minnesota Green New Deal is straight out of the radical, energy-illiterate playbook. This policy, which would require Minnesota electric facilities to use only carbon-free energy resources by 2050, would cause massive increases in electricity prices for no measurable environmental benefit. Governor Walz should actually ‘follow the science,’ and realize this proposal is all pain and no gain for Minnesota’s families and communities....

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on March 04, 2019

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Xcel Blames Snow Cover for Poor Performance of Solar Panels During Polar Vortex

Written by Isaac Orr

in Energy

Xcel Energy representatives recently stated that the company's solar panels only produced 8 to 10 percent of their potential output because of snow cover. Xcel Energy posted a profit of $1.1 billion in 2017, and you're telling me they can't pay a high-schooler to scrape off their solar panels for a little extra cash?...

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on March 03, 2019

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Why Renewables Can’t Save the Planet

Written by Isaac Orr

in Energy

The following article was written by Michael Schellenberger, an environmentalist and advocate for nuclear power: When I was a boy, my parents would sometimes take my sister and me camping in the desert. A lot of people think deserts are empty, but my parents taught us to see the wildlife all around us, including hawks, eagles, and tortoises. After college, I moved to California to work on environmental campaigns. I helped save the state’s last ancient redwood forest and blocked a proposed radioactive waste repository set for the desert. In 2002, shortly after I turned 30, I decided I wanted to dedicate myself...

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on March 02, 2019

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In The Tank (ep180) – $100+ Trillion Green New Deal, Solar Panel Waste, Medicare for All, Min Wage

Written by Isaac Orr

in Energy

Hello! In this episode of In the Tank, we talk about Medicare for All, the latest in the Green New Deal saga, solar panel waste, and American Experiment economist John Phelan joins the podcast to discuss the follies of the minimum wage. https://soundcloud.com/user-694711047/in-the-tank-ep180-100-trillion-green-new-deal-solar-panel-waste-medicare-for-all-min-wage...

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on March 01, 2019

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Xcel Was Caught Short By Arctic Cold

Written by Isaac Orr

in Energy

The story below from the Star Tribune summarizes a meeting held yesterday at the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC), which was held to determine how well Minnesota’s utility companies weathered the polar vortex that brought bitter cold temperatures to our state at the end of January. In short, it was not a good day for Xcel Energy....

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on February 28, 2019

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Watch It Live at 1pm! Minnesota Utilities Testify on Polar Vortex in Front of MN Public Utilities Commission

Written by Isaac Orr

in Energy

Want to learn more about the impact of the polar vortex on the energy system in Minnesota? Watch live as Xcel Energy's gas division, Centerpoint Energy, and Great Plains Gas talk about the impact of the bitter cold on natural gas supplies, with Minnesota electric utilities and grid operators to follow....

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on February 28, 2019

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Grid Operators Confirm: Wind Didn’t Work During Polar Vortex

Written by Isaac Orr

in Energy

The energy world is buzzing today after the Midcontinent Independent Systems Operator (MISO) released a report stating the wind didn't show up to work during the polar vortex that swept Minnesota on January 29 and 30. Electricity output from wind plummeted due to low wind speeds and because it was "too cold" for the wind turbines to operate. That being said, why on Earth would DFL lawmakers in St. Paul propose legislation mandating more wind turbines? Here are a few choice excerpts from media outlets covering the story with some of my own commentary sprinkled in. From E&E News: "As residents of the Twin Cities awoke...

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on February 27, 2019

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Minnesota is Number One! In Expensive and Inefficient Community Solar Installations

Written by Isaac Orr

in Energy

The Minnesota Department of Commerce is celebrating the fact that our state has more inefficient, and incredibly expensive Community Solar installations, than any other state in the country. These installations are paid $125 to $135 per megawatt hour of electricity produced, which is four times more than the cost of electricity from coal-fired power plants and twice the cost of electricity from utility-scale solar. Only the Commerce Department, which opposes building Line 3 because it doesn't think our state will need oil in the future, could be so utterly clueless about energy....

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