Good News You Won’t Find in the Liberal Press

 

    Chances are you’ve never heard that U.S. carbon emissions have plummeted since about 2007 and are now at 1994 levels. As important, as a percentage of total global CO2 emissions, the U.S. will make up a small amount. All you ever hear in the liberal press is how bad the carbon emissions are in the good ‘ol USA, giving the impression those emissions are skyrocketing.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has issued several reports the last few months showing how the U.S. is not a major contributor of CO2 emissions today, but its emission contribution will decline significantly through 2040. First, the U.S. emissions declined from 6,000 million metric tons in 2007 to 5,280 in 2015, a drop of 12 percent. No other nation comes close to this reduction. The EIA also found that much of that change has “occurred in the electric power sector because of the decreased use of coal and the increased use of natural gas for electricity generation.”

Before 2007 most of the U.S. emissions from electricity production were from coal, some from natural gas and minor amounts from biomass and other sources. After 2007 use of coal sharply declined and was replaced by natural gas, which emits far less carbon than coal. The use of wind and solar increased substantially (made possible by huge government subsidies) making the “other” category almost zero. Even though the use of electricity remained relatively constant, the total emissions of CO2 by fossil fuels declined to 1994 levels, primarily because of natural gas and a lesser reduction due to renewables. 

Global

On the global scale it is readily apparent that the U.S. emissions (bottom, dark blue) remain static and but a small proportion of the total global emissions. Conversely, the global emissions increase by

one-third between 2012 and 2040, almost entirely driven by the non-OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) developing nations. In 2012 the non-OECD nations emitted 46 percent, while the OECD nations emitted 54 percent. By 2040 the non-OECD nation’s share of emissions jumps to 68 percent with the OECD nations share reduced to 32 percent, a decline of 22 percent.

China and India account for the largest increases. By 2040 U.S. emissions will only be 22 percent of that of China and only 11 percent of that of the entire world. Both nations have very active programs to build coal-fired electrical plants, with China bringing online some 2.5 new coal-fired plants a month. This has created so much smog that the phrase “the brown cloud” was coined. The brown cloud has spread over SE Asia accompanied by citizens having to wearing masks during the worst conditions. Yet, the Paris agreement allows China to postpone any CO2 reductions until 2030.

Having said the non-OECD nation’s account for almost all future increases, they have every right to improve their citizen’s lives by producing more electricity. They have no choice. To expect them to use expensive green energy is absurd. A major global study by the International Renewable Energy Agency found “that many developing countries made huge strides towards deploying renewable technologies over the past decade — but this rise is now leveling off. Instead, these countries are turning towards fossil fuels to meet the energy demands of their citizens. 

Green Energy Benefits are Grossly Overblown

Another major very detailed study by Utah State’s Institute of Political Economy found that every cost estimate of wind power is on average 48 percent lower than its true cost. When all the numerous and very complex cost inputs are considered, the true cost of wind power is $149 per mega watt-hour of power – far greater than fossil fuels.

While proponents of renewable energy brag about how renewables are competitive with fossil fuels, the full costs of these renewables are greatly underestimated. They can only be competitive if the government gives them huge government subsidies paid by you taxpayers. In one subsidy, the Production Tax Credit (PTC), costs $39 per mega watt-hour and is guaranteed for a period of ten years for each power producer. So dependent are green energy producers on this subsidy that the report claims “If the PTC permanently expires in 2016, it is unlikely there will be any new wind installations.” Yet, you will not read this in the liberal press.

The point is that renewable energy is still very expensive and is not yet ready for prime time. Yet, it is being forced on citizens using deceptive practices. Germany and England are slowly awakening to the fact that their electricity costs have risen by over 70 percent because of renewable energy; creating an entirely new class of poverty-stricken citizens in what is called fuel poverty. Fuel poverty is variously defined as a family that can no longer keep their house warm, or they have to spend more than ten percent of their income on electrical energy.

The point is that governments and the liberal media are ignoring the positive things that are happening, like declining levels of U.S. CO2 emissions, and grossly over-exaggerating renewable benefits. This is not academic. President Obama’s plan for reducing CO2 emissions will have a devastating impact on America’s economy and will only reduce CO2’s emissions by less than 0.01^oC. This is further dwarfed by China’s and other non-OECD nations’ increased emissions. In a word, it is insane to continue our renewable energy policy on the false belief that all our economic pain will do any good.

Michael Coffman, PH.D.