MaxRedline

Bidenomics: Energy

The Biden administration is reviewing shutting a pipeline in Michigan after anonymously sourced reports said federal officials were quietly studying its potential environmental impact, a White House spokeswoman confirmed on Nov. 8.

When pressed by a reporter during a news conference, White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre disputed reports saying President Joe Biden was going to terminate Enbridge Inc.’s Line 5 pipeline, which stretches from Canada into Michigan. However, she conceded that the Army Corps of Engineers was reviewing the matter.

“Yes, we are. We are,” Jean-Pierre said. “I thought you were saying that we were going to shut it down, but that is not inaccurate. The Army Corps of Engineers is preparing an environmental impact [statement] to look through this.

On Nov. 7, Politico reported that the administration was weighing the potential market effects of a shutdown of the pipeline in the face of Republican, Canadian government, and industry opposition. More than a dozen GOP lawmakers last week sent a letter to President Joe Biden, warning that the move would further cause gas prices to increase amid already-high prices.

https://www.theepochtimes.com/mkt_morningbrief/biden-admin-weighing-shutting-down-another-pipeline-white-house-confirms_4092918.html?

No big deal; it only carries half a million gallons per day from Canada to the USA....

 

We're Not Supposed To Burn Coal Anymore

But China can, and that appears to be okay.

China's worst case energy crisis scenario is also about to be unleashed as cold weather swept into much of the country and power plants scrambled to stock up on coal, sending prices of the fuel to record highs.

China, which laughably aims to be "carbon neutral" by 2060 even as its president announced he will skip the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, has been "trying" to reduce its reliance on polluting coal power in favor of cleaner wind, solar and hydro. But coal remains the source for some 70% of China's electricity needs.

It seems unlikely that solar, wind, and hydro is going to work for them.

 

Double Whammy For New Orleans?

Hospitals in New Orleans are bracing for public health emergencies on two fronts as Hurricane Ida threatens to strike at the same time as Louisiana is experiencing a surge in coronavirus cases.

New Orleans is in the midst of a “severe outbreak” with a seven-day average of 220 new infections, according to the city’s Covid-19 dashboard. Across the state, more than 3,400 new cases were confirmed as of Friday, according to the Louisiana Department of Health. At least 2,684 people are hospitalized in Louisiana with Covid-19.

As if Covid wasn't bad enough, it looks as though they'll be dealing with a category 4 hurricane as well. It might be a good time to  bunch it for a few days, until Ida moves on through.

 

Cool Hack

Little-known battery trick

Your wireless mouse has died and you’re on deadline. Or you kid’s toy stopped working and they’re not happy.

If you’re out of AA batteries, did you know you can use a smaller AAA battery by folding up a small bit of tin foil and inserting it on one of the ends?

It totally works since AA and AAA batteries carry the same amount of voltage.

 

The Heat's Been On

Portland set record-high temperatures three days in a row, topping out at 116 degrees on Monday. Seattle hit 108 degrees, a new record.

Fortunately for me and the dog, I have whole-house air conditioning.

The energy bill may be interesting, but at least we stayed comfortable.

 

More Texas

What a hoot! Granted, not much of one, but it's what's happening in Dallas today. Iced over indoor doorways, too.

At least he still has internet, sort of. Things don't seem to be improving much, down there.

 

 

They Can't Keep The Lights On, But

Here's an idea: let's force everybody in California to drive only electric cars! Worry about the necessary infrastructure later; it'll probably all magically take care of itself. Every day after rush hour, when everybody's charging their cars and trucks, things should get even more interesting.

PG&E posted outage maps Wednesday to reflect locations around California that will see a deliberate power shutoff as early as 6 p.m. Wednesday afternoon with severe fire weather in the forecast. You can also look up your address on the PG&E website to determine if you will lose power.

If you consider about three people live in each household on average, the outage could impact up to 158,000 people.

 

 

Actual Clean Energy On Its Way From Oregon

Oregon’s very own NuScale Power, a company developing small-modular nuclear reactors (SMRs), has officially received a final safety evaluation report from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. NuScale is the first company to be issued a report for an SMR by the Commission, and receiving one serves as a technical review and design approval for the new technology.

This is a major milestone for NuScale, which originally submitted its certification application in 2016 and puts it one step closer to installing its first 720-megawatt plant in Idaho Falls.

Reliable, and better yet, the SMRs can't meltdown, they're more efficient than traditional big nuke plants, and therefore don't generate significant amounts of radioactive waste. It's a win-win all around.

First Century B.C.

California's trying to catch Venezuela, but they've still got a ways to go to match the decline.

People in the oil-rich nation of Venezuela are reportedly riding donkeys as an alternative method of transport amid chronic gasoline shortages caused by the socialist regime’s destruction of the state-run oil company. “Venezuelans are now centuries behind, riding donkeys, burning firewood, and sleeping in the dark,” he wrote. “The setback is so great that in the days of slavery, slaves earned what they needed to eat every day, and here a day’s salary doesn’t even buy breakfast.”

The reported use of donkeys for transportation is connected to the lack of energy sources plaguing the country, despite the fact it has the second-largest largest oil reserves in the world after America. This is mainly the result of a collapse in production caused by many facilities belonging to state-run Petroleum of Venezuela (PDSVA) running at a low capacity or completely out of operation.

Hmm...why do you think California "governor" Newbie (King Gavin) has issued an edict banning gas/diesel powered vehicles in the next 15 years?

 

Having Solved All Other Issues In California...

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday that the state will ban sales of gas-powered vehicles, effective in 2035. Newsom said that the “audacious” goal was necessary to achieve the state’s goal of 100% renewable energy by 2045.

Well, they voted the idiot into orifice, so they get to deal with the results. That's why they have blackouts on a regular basis: believe it or not, the sun doesn't always shine down there, nor does the wind always blow. And if you want 100% "renewable" energy, you can't have backups like coal or natural gas-fired power plants. Their problem, fortunately.

It'll be interesting to see how banning internal-combustion engines works out in terms of market realities; they'll probably have to haul goods to and from their border by jitney or something - they might use ropes rolling platforms across logs, but no, they can't because logs are trees, and trees can't be cut. Maybe they can come up with a soy substitute.