on September 04, 2019

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There is No Holy Grail: Some Perspective on Battery Storage

Written by Isaac Orr

Today I wanted to share this graphic I found on a pro-nuclear Facebook page that really hammers home the point: we simply require far too much energy for wind, solar, and battery storage to ever be a viable, reliable source of electricity. If the folks who claim that climate change is an "existential crisis" were actually serious about reducing carbon dioxide emissions they would legalize new nuclear power and allow the electricity generated by hydropower that we already buy from Canada to count toward our "carbon free" goals. Instead, the DFL-lead house said these two proposals were non-starters. There is simply no...

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on August 21, 2019

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Alliant Energy to Close Iowa Nuclear Plant for More Wind. Bad for Ratepayers, Bad for the Environment

Written by Isaac Orr

in Energy, Environment

Alliant Energy, the electric company in Iowa that wants to increase electricity costs for its consumers by $240 per year to add more wind to their grid, now wants to shut down their existing nuclear plant, which produces electricity with no carbon dioxide emissions, so they can repower existing wind turbines add more wind. According to an article from S&P Global Platts: A spokesman for the Iowa utility subsidiary said Monday that Interstate Power and Light currently meets 25% of its customer demand in the state through an off-take agreement with NextEra Energy Resources, which owns the majority interest in the 615...

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on August 07, 2019

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St. Paul Green Party Mayoral Candidate’s Paper Straw Response to my PiPress Article Doesn’t Hold Up

Written by Isaac Orr

in Energy, Environment, Minnesota Economy

Last week I had an opinion editorial in the St. Paul Pioneer Press discussing how Minnesota's foray into wind and solar has led to higher electricity costs for no measurable environmental benefits. This prompted Elizabeth Dickinson, the former Green Party mayoral candidate for St. Paul to write a letter accusing me of using cherry-picked data. However, upon further scrutiny, the logic she uses in her letter to the editor holds up as well as paper straws. This sort of accusation is commonplace, but it does not make it correct. I've posted her letter below with my own thoughts about the points made...

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on July 30, 2019

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Navy Times: Coal is the Most Reliable Source of Electricity for Our Military

Written by Isaac Orr

in Energy, Environment, National Security

Yesterday I wrote about how oil, not wind and solar, is the most important source of energy for our military. Today I'd like to delve deeper into the electricity sector because having access to reliable electricity is incredibly important for our military, especially as technology continues to play a larger and larger role in keeping America safe. Renewable energy advocates sometimes argue that wind and solar make our country safer, but it is hard to imagine any way that intermittent, unreliable sources of electricity could meaningfully improve our national security in a way that coal, natural gas, and nuclear power cannot. The reason...

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on June 26, 2019

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Every Wind Turbine and Solar Panel Built Today Will Be Scrap Metal by 2050

Written by Isaac Orr

in Climate, Energy, Environment, Minnesota Economy

Wind turbines and solar panels only last for 20 and 30 years, respectively, meaning every wind turbine and solar panel built today will be scrap metal by 2050. How can anyone who claims climate change is an "existential crisis" seriously advocate for building tomorrow's scrap metal, today?...

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on May 31, 2019

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Senator Osmek Unloaded on House DFL Energy Proposals, and It Was Glorious

Written by Isaac Orr

in Climate, Energy, Environment, Minnesota Economy

Senator David Osmek (R-Mound), who is the head of the Minnesota Senate energy committee, recently unloaded on the incredibly bad proposals brought forth by the DFL-led House of Representatives, and it was glorious. Soon after the video starts, Senator Osmek calls the energy section an abomination and an absolute failure. The video gives us a glimpse into the negotiations that occurred as the House and Senate attempted to reconcile the differences between their energy priorities. Throughout the negotiation process, both the House and Senate had the opportunity name legislation that would be a "non-starter" to be taken out, but it turns out...

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on May 08, 2019

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Walz Administration Couldn’t Be More Wrong About Nuclear Power

Written by Isaac Orr

in Climate, Energy, Environment, Minnesota Economy

At a recent press conference, Gov. Tim Walz's administration suggested the economics of nuclear power likely make it too expensive to be part of his plan to produce 100% of Minnesota’s electricity from carbon-free sources by 2050. Instead, the administration argued technological improvements would allow wind and solar to reliably and affordably meet Minnesota’s energy needs. Unfortunately, the Walz administration couldn’t be more wrong on either account....

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on May 06, 2019

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Refuting “Local View: Minnesota Must Aggressively Move to Less-Costly Renewables”

Written by Isaac Orr

in Climate, Energy, Environment, Minnesota Economy

My piece in the Duluth News Tribune detailing how a 50 percent renewable energy mandate would harm the mining industry has generated quite the controversy, with at least three counterpoints from renewable energy special interest groups. Today, I'm refuting a member of the Citizen's Climate Lobby....

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on May 03, 2019

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The King Banaian Show: 4/27/19 HR 2: Isaac Orr and the Cost of Renewable Energy Mandate

Written by Isaac Orr

in Energy, Environment, Minnesota Economy

I was also on the King Banaian show last weekend to talk about how renewable energy mandates and subsidies, not markets, are responsible for the eroding market share of coal-fired power plants, the University of Chicago report that found renewable energy mandates increase the cost of electricity and cost $130 per metric ton of CO2 avoided, and why there is zero free market case for building wind and solar in our state. https://omny.fm/shows/the-king-banaian-show/4-27-19-hr-2-isaac-orr-and-the-cost-of-renewable-e...

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on May 02, 2019

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Minnesota Madness! New Video Sums Up Our New Study

Written by Isaac Orr

in Energy, Environment, Minnesota Economy

In case you didn't have time to read Doubling Down on Failure, our 80 page report on the cost of a 50 percent renewable energy mandate, you're in luck because the Clear Energy Alliance has made a four minute video explaining the findings. Share it far and wide to get the message of energy sanity to as many people as possible. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Rf5z2bNY7Q...

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