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Jeff Keener's avatar

Excellent column and I applaud the authors for their sober approach to these issues. I'd like to turn the attention to a study published by the Geological Survey of Finland titled "Assessment of the Extra Capacity Required of Alternative Energy Electrical Power Systems to Completely Replace Fossil Fuels" in 2021. It is very detailed and looks at this issue from the bottom up, rather than unicorn edicts from high above. In every scenario, the researchers show the impossibility of the "green" goals as set out by the current admins in the U.S., EU, UN, and WEF. Their final conclusion given in the executive summary is very worrisome and reminds me of the warning President Eisenhower gave to us in his farewell address regarding the grave concern regarding the potential for a "scientific-technological elite" that would hijack public policy:

"In conclusion, this report suggests that replacing the existing fossil fuel powered system (oil, gas, and coal), using renewable technologies, such as solar panels or wind turbines, will not be possible for the entire global human population. There is simply just not enough time, nor resources to do this by the current target set by the World’s most influential nations. What may be required, therefore, is a significant reduction of societal demand for all resources, of all kinds. This implies a very different social contract and a radically different system of governance to what is in place today. Inevitably, this leads to the conclusion that the existing renewable energy sectors and the EV technology systems are merely steppingstones to something else, rather than the final solution. It is recommended that some thought be given to this and what that something else might be."

https://tupa.gtk.fi/raportti/arkisto/42_2021.pdf

I wish I could bold the warning: "What may be required, therefore, is a significant reduction of societal demand for all resources, of all kinds. This implies a very different social contract and a radically different system of governance to what is in place today."

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James H. Shanley's avatar

The bottom line is we have a Progressive Administration that doesn't believe in the free market system or the Constitution and they will not change. I pray that change will come by voting them out.

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