Summary of David Blackmon: Energy Absurdities | Tom Nelson Pod #115

00:00:00 - 00:55:00

David Blackmon discusses various energy-related topics, including the potential harm that wind projects could cause to whale populations, the practicality of implementing the Green New Deal proposed by AOC, and the aftermath of the winter storm in Texas that caused blackouts and power outages in 2021. He comments on the mindset of media outlets and college graduates who believe that reducing carbon emissions is worth present sacrifices and criticizes the absurdity of classifying burning rubber tires as biofuel and Germany lecturing China about energy security. Finally, he argues that every energy-related problem currently experienced in the United States and the Western world is a result of governmental policy and that it is necessary to correct irrational governmental policies.

• 00:00:00 In this section, David Blackman discusses some of the energy absurdities that he shares on his Twitter handle, Energy Absurdity. He shares his top ten absurdities from the past month, the most striking of which was the Irish government's plan to slaughter 200,000 elderly cows to reduce methane emissions and meet climate goals. Blackman also mentions the Vineyard wind project off the New England coast, which will be built in an area that is a breeding and migration quarters for endangered species such as the right whale. Additionally, the project has permits to take 21 whales and thousands of seabirds annually, yet the environmental community remains silent about it.
• 00:05:00 In this section, David Blackmon discusses the potential harm that wind projects could cause to whale populations. The construction of wind turbines generates noise that could disrupt whale communication, which could have severe consequences for the whale population. Additionally, ship traffic from onshore and running into ships' propellers could also impact the whales. The wind industry is the second-largest killer of birds on Earth. The developers of Vineyard Wind applied for permits to explore the right places to put down turbines, acknowledging the potential harm their project could have on whale populations. The permits allow them to kill up to 21 whales without being fined for it. Overall, David argues that the hypocrisy of environmentalists who support wind power while turning a blind eye to the harm it can cause is astounding.
• 00:10:00 In this section, David Blackmon dismisses the Bloomberg report claiming that the electric vehicle (EV) boom could force China to burn more coal, arguing that China is building new coal plants regardless. He also criticizes claims that the United States should seek inspiration from China's green initiatives, arguing that China is mainly building more coal plants to secure its energy needs, which vast offsets any reductions in emissions being made in the Western world. Additionally, Blackmon points out that, while modern coal plants are clean-tech, the carbon dioxide emissions from coal have been exaggerated and that the carbon dioxide issue is a "Canard."
• 00:15:00 In this section, the speaker discusses air pollution in the US and China, noting that while the US has vastly improved its air quality since the 70s, China still has many older coal plants generating particulate matter. The speaker also criticizes natural gas propaganda presented by Chevron, which sponsors an energy and environment newsletter from Politico, a liberal political organization. Additionally, the speaker points out London's ultra low emissions zone exempts high-dollar car brands like Lamborghinis and Bentleys whose emissions vastly exceed the threshold, giving an example of how elites in society often exempt themselves from policies they implement.
• 00:20:00 In this section, David Blackmon discusses the exemption for certain contractors and workers from the ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ) standard in London. However, ordinary workers that work for the government would have to take the bus or ride mass transit, which may not exist, if their personal cars don't meet the standard. Blackmon questions the effectiveness of the ULEZ and the feasibility of replacing personal automobiles completely with mass transit, particularly after the freeway overpass collapse in Philadelphia that took over four months to replace. He believes that central planners are going to force people out of personal cars and this will lead to a great deal of deprivation against the general population. He also mentions California's own high-speed rail boondoggle that has not managed to lay a single mile of rail after 27 years and a budget that has blossomed to over $130 billion.
• 00:25:00 In this section, David Blackmon discusses the practicality of implementing the Green New Deal proposed by AOC, which involves eliminating automobiles and air travel and constructing tens of thousands of miles of new light rail and high-speed rail lines. He argues that the environmental laws requiring permits and environmental impact studies would cause significant delays, making the plans impossible to achieve. Additionally, Blackmon highlights a shift to the degrowth philosophy within the energy transition lobby, with advocates pushing for massive economic degrowth and population reduction. He notes the EU sponsored a conference on degrowth, which is concerning as the EU is often a few years ahead of the US in making significant changes. There is also a discussion on the falling population in developed nations and how it would affect economic growth.
• 00:30:00 In this section, energy expert David Blackmon discusses the attitudes towards advancements in technology and population growth within the climate change community. While some hope that technology can make up for the increasing population and fewer workers, there is a growing philosophy that economic growth and population increase should be encouraged to reduce emissions. However, there is a significant effort by international organizations, such as the United Nations, to deny developing nations access to natural gas, oil, and coal, which they need to grow their economies. Blackmon also comments on the characterization of the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve as a horde of oil by media outlets like Bloomberg, despite its importance as a strategic resource for national emergencies.
• 00:35:00 In this section, David Blackmon discusses the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) in the United States, stating that it is scattered all over the country, mainly in underground caverns in the Texas Gulf Coast and Louisiana. The SPR has a total capacity of around 820 million barrels, but it is currently at around 352 million barrels, its lowest level since the early 1980s. Blackmon also discusses how the United States has reduced crude oil imports since 2008 due to the discovery of shale formations, which has been a significant benefit to the country. However, the falling prices are currently hindering oil production, and the Biden administration's attempt to inhibit the industry's ability to get its business done is not helping. Finally, Blackmon discusses a Bloomberg report that South Africa's frequent power blackouts due to the government's push towards energy from wind and solar are helping the country meet its emissions goals.
• 00:40:00 In this section, David Blackmon discusses the mindset of media outlets like Bloomberg and college graduates who believe that reducing carbon emissions is worth the present sacrifices, such as blackouts and energy disruptions. He also talks about the Texas blackout in winter 2021 and its causes, citing a lack of thermal generating capacity and failure to incentivize generators and operators to weatherize their plants and pipelines. Blackmon notes that the market failed to send proper signals to build new capacity and blames the complete system failure on mismanagement, rather than solely on renewable or natural gas sources. However, he believes that most of the issues have been corrected, with incentives in place to build new capacity that will address future weather events.
• 00:45:00 In this section, energy analyst David Blackmon discusses the aftermath of the winter storm in Texas that caused blackouts and power outages in 2021. He explains that despite the tragic failure in 2021, the state is now in a better position to handle a similar weather event. This is due to the weatherization of natural gas infrastructure and power-generating facilities. However, he notes that wind and solar capacity is still not weatherized and that reserve capacity has to be natural gas. Additionally, Blackmon praises the Berkshire Hathaway plan, which proposed onsite storage of natural gas and proper weatherization, as the right plan to deal with the critical issue on the grid.
• 00:50:00 In this section, David Blackmon discusses the issue of transmission capacity and the potential train wreck in the power grid due to a shortage of transformers. Despite the large amount of renewable subsidies, the IRA does not address transmission and there are no incentives to build more transmission capacity. This is a problem not just in Texas but all over the world, with a shortage of transformers on hand and low inventory. David also talks about the absurdity of classifying burning rubber tires as biofuel and Germany lecturing China about energy security. He also mentions the White House's desire to have the authority to ban natural gas stoves, despite not supporting a ban currently.
• 00:55:00 In this section, the speaker discusses how the German wind turbines are causing drought due to their concentration in specific areas that are experiencing drought. There is a belief that the turbines are disrupting the natural creation of moisture and evaporation that creates clouds and rain. This allegation is not yet accepted science, but it is a concern for the wind industry. Additionally, the speaker argues that every energy-related problem currently experienced in the United States and the Western world is a result of governmental policy. It is necessary to recognize that energy, policy, and politics are fully integrated and to act to correct the irrational governmental policies.