on January 08, 2019

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Peter Foster: Another Report Reluctantly Admits that ‘Green’ Energy is a Disastrous Flop

Written by Isaac Orr

Despite being the beneficiaries of billions of dollars in subsidies, wind and solar compose just a tiny fraction of overall energy use in the United States. The pie chart below is from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, and it shows that oil, natural gas, coal, and nuclear power provide far more of our energy than wind and solar, which together account for about 3 percent of our total energy consumption....

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on January 07, 2019

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Want “Carbon Free” Electricity? Promote Hydroelectric Power

Written by Isaac Orr

in Energy

Did you know that the Next Generation Energy Act (NGEA), Minnesota's law that requires the state to obtain 25 percent of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030, explicitly prohibits counting electricity generated from large hydroelectric sources to measure compliance with the law? However, hydroelectric power is more desirable than wind and solar because it is more affordable, more reliable and more permanent....

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on January 06, 2019

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If Pelosi is so Concerned About Climate Change, Why Does She Oppose Yucca Mountain?

Written by Isaac Orr

in Energy

According to an article in Politico, Nancy Pelosi called climate change the "existential threat of our time" during her opening address as the new speaker of the House, and said Congress must "put an end to the inaction and denial of science that threaten the planet and the future. If Pelosi believes climate change is an existential threat to human existence, how can she also oppose building a permanent repository for nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain? After all, nuclear power is the only source of electricity we have that is both available 24/7 and emits zero carbon dioxide emissions. In fact, despite the billions squandered...

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on January 05, 2019

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Yes, It’s True, You Are Turning Into Your Parents

Written by Isaac Orr

in Energy

The following article was originally published in the Star Tribune. With so many family gatherings this time of year, many of us notice that our siblings are turning into our parents — and that some of our partners’ and friends’ kids are turning into their parents. It’s no illusion. As scientists have learned from “nature vs. nurture” studies on twins and adoptees, we humans become more like our biological parents and other family members as we get older. This is a little scary. It’s not that we don’t love the anxious relative who can’t enjoy a holiday dinner because her stuffing wasn’t perfect,...

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on January 04, 2019

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Xcel Energy Property Taxes Soar 131.6 Percent Since Minnesota Began Mandating Renewable Energy – Ratepayers are Stuck with the Bill

Written by Mitchell Rolling

in Energy

We at American Experiment often write about how wind and solar energy cause nearly every aspect of the energy grid to be more expensive, but one aspect of this story we have not yet covered is the role wind and solar play on increasing property taxes. Property taxes constitute approximately 6 percent of your electric bill, as utility companies are allowed to pass these expenses directly on to their consumers. As property taxes rise, so does the amount you pay for electricity each month. As renewable energy sources increase on the grid, so do the property tax expenses that ratepayers are stuck...

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on January 01, 2019

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Ringing in the New Year with The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly for Energy and Environmental Policy for 2019

Written by Isaac Orr

in Energy

Happy New Year, everyone! You may or may not be recuperating from last night's events, but here is a short post on the upcoming, good, bad, and ugly happenings for energy and environmental policy in 2019. The Good: PolyMet PolyMet's NorthMet mining project has cleared all of the regulatory hurdles needed at the state level, leaving a wetlands permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as the final remaining substantive approval. Thankfully, we have a President in the White House who understands the importance of mining and will not delay the project as long as possible in the regulatory morass, like...

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on December 31, 2018

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For Iron Range 2019 Can’t Get Here Soon Enough

Written by Tom Steward

in Energy

It's already a Happy New Year before 2019 even officially arrives on the Iron Range, where they've already seen glimpses of what the future will bring. After years of bureaucratic hold-ups and red tape, northern Minnesota stands on the cusp of an economic boom from a new generation of environmentally responsible mining. The Star Tribune highlighted the breakthrough on the front page of the Sunday edition that's read by hundreds of thousands statewide. “We’ve been talking for years about how to get ready,” said Biwabik Mayor Jim Weikum. “It’s been hard to keep people’s spirits up. You want people to be excited...

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on December 31, 2018

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Twin Metals Keeps On Winning, Despite Best Efforts of Urban DFL

Written by Isaac Orr

in Energy

Minnesota is home to the world's largest undeveloped deposits of copper, nickel, and platinum group elements, and developing these mineral resources will be a massive boost to the economy of our state. While the PolyMet mine has received the necessary permits from the state, the proposed Twin Metals mine has been the ire of urban liberals and environmentalists who do not want to see the mine developed. Fortunately, according to an article in MinnPost, the Trump administration has other ideas and has taken several concrete steps to support the project. The Obama administration blocked new mineral leases for Twin Metals in 2016,...

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on December 30, 2018

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Could You Power Your Home With A Bike? Not Even Close

Written by Isaac Orr

in Energy

I have a bike trainer in my basement, which is basically a machine that allows you to turn your bike into an exercise bike. As I was riding it the other night, I wondered how much electricity I could potentially generate if I hooked up my bike to a generator and battery, and how much money I would save on my electric bill, so I Googled it. Turns out, you can't save any. The article below is a story that ran in NPR, and it details how woefully unable we are to generate meaningful quantities of electricity with our legs, and how...

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on December 28, 2018

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Our Take: Complicated Economics of Community Solar Gardens Subject of Debate

Written by Isaac Orr

in Energy

The Star Tribune recently ran an article called "Complicated economics of community solar gardens subject of debate." Seeing how the Strib did not seek our opinion on the topic for their article, I'm providing it below. First and foremost, Minnesota's Community Solar installations are a mess. These solar installations are small, inefficient, and expensive. According to the article in the Star Tribune, Xcel Energy currently purchases power from the solar gardens at a price of 13.5 cents per kilowatt hour, which is 4.3 times more expensive than the electricity generated at the Sherburne County (Sherco) coal-fired power plant in 2016. Cost data for...

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