XDA

My old friend, Governor Bill Ritter, introduced Vice President Joe Biden, who introduced the president of Namaste solar panel installers with all of, count 'em, 55 employees, who introduced the President of the United States. As you can see, a lot of emphasis during the ceremony of the signing of the worst bill in modern American history, was on the New Energy Economy. Bill mentioned it in his opening remarks:

There’s no better place for this signing ceremony than right here in Colorado – home of the New Energy Economy.
Two years ago, Colorado started building a New Energy Economy – creating new jobs, building new wind farms in wheat fields, and making our universities research leaders in renewable and alternative energy.
The New Energy Economy is very much about creating a new energy future. But it’s also about creating new economic opportunities. It’s about creating sustainable jobs so parents can keep food on the table, so they can send their kids to college, so they can afford health care. It’s about creating a new economic future for all.
Companies like Namaste Solar are at the heart of the New Energy Economy. When Colorado voters became the first in the country to pass a Renewable Energy Standard in 2004, Namaste didn’t even exist.
Today, Namaste has 55 employees. They built the solar array on top of this museum, and they installed solar on the Governor’s Residence.
There are hundreds of New Energy Economy businesses like Namaste employing thousands of people all across Colorado.
The president’s recovery package will drive the New Energy Economy forward not just in this state, but all across America –creating jobs, reducing the cost of energy for families, and moving our nation closer to energy independence.
This is how we rebuild America.

Sounds good, doesn't it? Too bad it's near complete hooey. Windmills and solar arrays only exist because of government payments to citizens to buy them. However, because the baseload of electrical power in this state is supplied almost exclusively by coal fired plants, the little bit of power generated by solar arrays on rooftops and in fields near the Federal Center and the airport, and from the much ballyhooed wind farms north and west of here, has not saved even a carload of coal, as the baseload power is produced without regard to the unreliable little bit more of power that comes onto the grid when the wind blows and the sun shines. Thus, the windmills and solar arrays are merely ostentatious trinkets on the grid, shrines to those who worship at the altar of anthropogenic global warming. Those who believe we have sources of energy other than fossil coal, gas and oil (nuclear, which could supply reliable power without CO2 generation, is inexplicably off the menu) must necessarily believe in pixie dust as an energy source, because wind and sunshine aren't going to get us to 1920's usage much less to the power demands of the 21st Century. Read this levelheaded study, if you dare. I shake my head that good guy Bill Ritter has been sold this bill of goods, or, worse, has been bought.

The president’s recovery package will drive the New Energy Economy forward not just in this state, but all across America –creating jobs, reducing the cost of energy for families, and moving our nation closer to energy independence.

The Pixie Dust Energy Economy may create a few thousand jobs, while the government subsidies last, but if the oil, kerogen and gas industries cannot develop sites and bring their product to market, many more actual jobs will be lost. The idea the hideously expensive and unreliable wind and sun generated power will be more affordable is delusional. Using our oil, kerogen, and gas deposits to supply our energy needs is energy independence. I feel like Brandon De Wilde in Shane calling for Bill Ritter to come back, come back to the real world. The governor rides on into the fantasy that we have the time, money and ability to replace fossil fuel with 'green' renewable energy. Come back, Bill.

Labels: Pixie Dust Energy; Bill Ritter