Tag Archive for: energy

Trump’s EPA chief clears the air on chemtrails and geoengineering, in the interest of ‘total transparency’

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After an exhaustive investigation published on EPA websites, Director Lee Zeldin says Americans now know everything he knows about those mysterious ‘streaks in the sky’, which apparently isn’t much! 

There have long been claims about the exhaust trails from commercial and military jets traveling over the United States.

You’ve all seen them. The cris-crossing across the sky of large plumes of exhaust that gradually spread out. Some days they don’t appear at all. Other days, under the same weather conditions, they are extremely heavy and mesmerizing.

Take a look at the picture below, which I shot on April 24, 2024, of the sky above my house in Georgia. I call it the Zebra Sky.

Some have suggested that these jets may be spraying a chemical cocktail included in the jet fuel of certain flights and not included in others. That might explain why the white emissions are present on some days, while on other days the sky appears pure blue even though there are just as many jets passing over our property, which is very close to the world’s busiest commercial airport, Atlanta Hartsfield International.

Now Lee Zeldin, the chief of the Environmental Protection Agency in the administration of President Donald Trump, has announced he has the answers. He says he’s investigated the claims and can clear everything up for us.

His conclusion? He’s debunking the idea that there’s anything abnormal about these “contrails.” There is absolutely no connection to geoengineering, the Trump EPA has assured us. Nor anything else sinister.

As for that other word. Um, Chemtrails? What chemtrails. The word is never even uttered by Zeldin, and the mainstream media is having a ball with this story as they’re now able to cite the Trump administration to debunk what they’ve always called conspiracy theories.

As Salon reports, “In the wake of deadly flooding in Texas, the Environmental Protection Agency has created two websites to combat conspiracy theories around weather manipulation.”

Here’s Zeldin patting himself on the back for doing such a great job of exposing truth for an administration that’s into “total transparency.”

Total transparency? I guess it’s the same kind of transparency that led to Attorney General Pam Bondi refusing to turn over the Epstein client list. After previously admitting they were on her desk, she now says they don’t exist. The government has lost whatever small amount of credibility it had when it said Epstein had no secret client list and never blackmailed anybody.

Sorry, Mr. Zeldin, but our trust in this administration’s word has been seriously breached.

First it released JFK assassination files that we were told were going to blow our minds, only to find out that there was nothing shocking or even mildly different in what was released from the same old same old.

Then came the Epstein debacle with Pam Bondi trying to redefine what she meant when she said the client list was on her desk waiting to be reviewed. It wasn’t really a client list, she now says, she was just referring to the files in general. Oh, he was a nasty pervert, a pedophile, Bondi said of Epstein, but he had no involvement in setting up politicians or other important people and making sure they were compromised. That was something we all imagined. Another conspiracy theory.

Now we’re told the chemtrails are no different. It’s all a figment of our wild imaginations to notice that they’re there on some days and absent on others. If it was just normal condensation, wouldn’t they be visible every single day that there’s a clear sky and normal air traffic? Apparently not.

So there’s nothing to see here. Move along. Just like there was nothing odd about the official JFK assassination story we received from the Warren Commission so many years ago. It was a single crazed gunman, Lee Harvey Oswald, shooting from a window in the Dallas book depository, who killed President Kennedy. End of story.

Nor was there anything out of the ordinary about Epstein. He was just a common pedophile, with no sinister attachments to the CIA, FBI, Mossad or any other agency of any government…wink, wink.

This is why no one trusts the government. It doesn’t matter who gets elected, the same old lies continue to be told, and the same old secrets continue to be covered up.

©2025 . All rights reserved.

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This 7% of the Earth’s Surface Burns More Fossel Fuel Than Anywhere Else

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This article rightfully points out that the main polluters of environment in the world only occupy 7% of world’s surface yet contain more than 50% of world population as follows:

Draw a circle with a 2,485-mile radius around the southern Chinese city of Yuxi. British geographer Alasdair Rae did just that — and inside it resides 55% of the world’s population: some 4.3 billion people crammed into just 7% of Earth’s surface. The region includes China, India, much of Southeast Asia, and parts of Pakistan. Some of it — like the Tibetan Plateau and the Taklamakan Desert — is barren. But the rest is packed with cities, factories, and the aspirations of hundreds of millions clawing their way toward modern life.

Critics keep forecasting a shift away from fossil fuels. Reality keeps proving them wrong.

Hundreds of millions in the Yuxi Circle are still striving for what Westerners call a “decent life.” That means refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioning — and with them, a dramatic spike in electricity demand.

And this means coal and/or oil must be used to generate the electricity needed in these countries. Yet the leftist Climate Change pushers such as those who participate in the Paris Agreement demand the US pay for this use of fossil fuels by others. Fortunately POTUS Trump has withdrawn us from this idiocy. It is absurd that under Obama 1, 2, 3 (Biden) that “climate change” was considered the #1 threat to our national security by their woke DOD.

This 7% of Earth’s surface burns more fuel than anywhere

The Yuxi Circle holds 4.3 billion people and no illusions about how modern life works. Fossil fuels still power the path out of poverty.

The ruling class trades in carbon outrage like it’s gold. Sanctimony fuels its crusade against oil, gas, and coal — never mind that those very fuels built the modern world. The comforts we take for granted — from longer lives and stocked shelves to clean water and lifesaving medicine — all trace back to the energy abundance that hydrocarbons made possible.

Still, the decarbonization faithful press forward. They dream of a carbon-free Eden, even as the global power grid, still humming on fossil fuels, refuses to cooperate.

Critics keep forecasting a shift away from fossil fuels. Reality keeps proving them wrong.

You won’t find a clearer contradiction than in the Yuxi Circle.

Draw a circle with a 2,485-mile radius around the southern Chinese city of Yuxi. British geographer Alasdair Rae did just that — and inside it resides 55% of the world’s population: some 4.3 billion people crammed into just 7% of Earth’s surface. The region includes China, India, much of Southeast Asia, and parts of Pakistan. Some of it — like the Tibetan Plateau and the Taklamakan Desert — is barren. But the rest is packed with cities, factories, and the aspirations of hundreds of millions clawing their way toward modern life.

Why does this matter? Because this region now anchors the world’s biggest fight over energy, growth, and climate policy.

While bureaucrats in Brussels sip espresso and activists glue themselves to the pavement in London, the real action plays out in Asia’s economic engine. In cities like Shanghai, Delhi, and Tokyo, energy demand soars — and fossil fuels do the heavy lifting. Coal and gas plants keep the lights on, while wind and solar trail far behind.

China burns more coal than the rest of the world combined. India burns more than the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom combined. The 10 ASEAN countries rank third. Oil use tells the same story: China and India sit alongside the U.S. atop the global leaderboard of consumption. Economic growth, it turns out, runs not on hashtags but on hydrocarbons.

Critics keep forecasting a shift away from fossil fuels. Reality keeps proving them wrong.

Hundreds of millions in the Yuxi Circle are still striving for what Westerners call a “decent life.” That means refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioning — and with them, a dramatic spike in electricity demand.

©2025 . All rights reserved.

RELATED ARTICLE: Climate orthodoxy punishes the West

Obey … or be Punished

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“Science can be described as a process of discovering things. It’s a systematic and organized way of acquiring knowledge about the natural world through observation, experimentation, and analysis.”

Did you know there are multiple ways to reach the same conclusion, Just like there are multiple roads to get you to the same place? To say only one road exists and all other roads are wrong is the same consensus that says you must believe what the experts say without question. This is the way our children are taught. There is only one road and you must follow that road or you are considered an outcast.

Money Power Control

Experts can be proven wrong, but they must be challenged. That is the critical thinking component currently missing from our schools. We no longer teach our students to challenge, we teach them to accept. Claims are made and government subsidies are given to corporations to create the product that the government wants. This is the product that fits the Agenda.

Good or bad, right or wrong, the product is forced on people while ignoring the consequences. Profit (money and grants), mandates (control) and propaganda (power), used by the rulers, nudges the sheeple into the desired results. Often science has nothing to do with the processes or outcomes. These policies are forced on the public, without discussion of consequences. Any challenge is met with, “You can’t challenge the science.”

According to H. Sterling Burnett, “Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof.” Yet, very few will stand up and say, show me the proof! How is that possible? The Media in lock step with the Government, is masking the true results. The statistics are manipulated by computer modeling of a specified time frame so the results are created as desired. How often do we hear, “this is the hottest or coldest temperature in recorded history. ” Did you know that recorded history only goes back 150 years?

After reading an article about how man was destroying the planet, I decided to email the author. I asked him what the temperature was when Columbus discovered America in 1492. He said no one kept records then, so he didn’t know. I asked how far back the records go and he said 150 years. I said, “So your article should really say that this is the hottest day we have had in 150 years, not recorded history.” I asked him how old the planet was. I got no answer. I asked, “Isn’t 150 years out of 4.5 Billion years (the age of the earth) too small to make a comparison?” I got no answer. Yet, this kind of manipulation is what our students learn.

Another lie about climate change is that all-to-familiar image of the poor polar bear sitting on a tiny piece of ice floating in the ocean. Yes, the ice is melting, but only if you take photos in the summer or if the ice has been affected by a volcano. But that doesn’t mean the oceans will rise and the houses near the ocean will be washed away. Information like that is designed to scare the students enough so that they will go home and chastise their parents. Communists can use this to drive a wedge between the child and parents to break up the family.

Obey or be Punished

Not teaching science in school eliminates teaching the students to have the ability to reason and think. The part of the brain that regulates logic, reason and critical thinking never develops properly. The student grows up learning to accept, comply and become an obedient little follower. Students are not taught HOW to think. Rather, they are taught WHAT to think. Hitler was successful for this very reason. Hitler very effectively used indoctrination to force children to Obey or Be Punished. Hitler’s move to ban the Boy Scouts also allowed for indoctrination of impressionable children letting Nazis remove children from the influence of their parents, many of whom opposed the regime. Again, driving a wedge between children and parents and the family. Read about it here:

Issues that we think of as absurd become normalized. We see that example today. Grandmothers are jailed for praying and criminals committing murder are released! Students under 18 can’t vote or carry a gun but can change their gender without parental consent.

Pornography can be read in school but not at a school board meeting! Gays rally for Hamas without knowing that, in Palestine, Hamas beheads gays!

Our school system is not broken.

Things that are not taught are not taught for a reason.

Dumb people accept more from their government.

Today, we have wonderful tools to learn the truth. It is up to us to share that information. Join me with H Sterling Burnett, from Heartland Institute on this week’s show, as we discuss Truth in Science vs. the Propaganda of Science.

©2025 . All rights reserved.

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Guest: H Sterling Burnett, editor, journalist ClimateRealism.com

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Kenny Stein Explains Need To Terminate Green Energy Subsidies At Daily Caller Live Event

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The Daily Caller hosted its first live event Tuesday with ClearPath Action, and leading experts discussed “The Future of American Energy.”

Kenny Stein, Vice President for Policy at Institute for Energy Research, discussed the history of renewable energy subsidies with Daily Wire News Foundation Associate Editor Nick Pope.

Tuesday’s discussion centered around the origin of renewable energy subsidies and the “Big Beautiful Bill’s” potential impact on American energy.

Stein specializes in domestic and international energy policy, environmental regulation and policy, the electric grid and various other topics, according to his IER bio.

The subsidies were meant to last for a short period of time when they were first implemented, Stein said. But like many government programs, they have remained intact, he added.

While Stein said the “argument for subsidies has long since passed,” he noted the government has continued to approve arguments for their extension since 2015.

In 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was signed into law by former President Joe Biden to codify the benefits.

Stein said it would be ideal for the subsidies to be repealed, but today’s political landscape makes that goal difficult to attain.

“Unfortunately, energy policy has become extremely partisan and extremely polarized, and there is not a lot of agreement, even in the margins on both sides,” he said.

Stein said the subsidies have set back progress in America, specifically when it comes to infrastructure and growth in urban areas. He said a change in energy laws could improve this problem.

“It takes way too long to build things in this country, and that’s not just energy infrastructure —  that’s roads, housing, dams, everything,” Stein said. “But that requires a pretty fundamental restructuring of environmental laws.”

Stein pointed to European nations which previously turned to “clean” energy sources to power their nations, but now must depend on countries like France that operate on nuclear power.

Drawing on that example, Stein said it is important for individual states to manage how they produce energy, rather than depending on the federal government for regulation.

“It’s important that the investment structure is based on what makes the most sense for a given place, not based on what a state government is mandating or subsidizing, and not what the federal government is subsidizing,” Stein said. “Too much of our energy investment right now is subsidy harvesting rather than planning for the future.”

While Stein said changes to the grid plan could make prices higher in the short term, he said prices would likely decrease as energy reliability becomes more stable in the long term.

“There’s been a lot of technological development, just in the last couple of years, and even in things like AI and the cloud, there’s a lot of opportunity there to improve the function of the grid in a way that would improve reliability.”

The Institute for Energy Research (IER) is a non-profit organization that researches energy operations in domestic and foreign governments.

AUTHOR

Tayte Christensen

Contributor.

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EDITORS NOTE: This Daily Caller column is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved.

Senate Republicans Lobbying For Green Energy Tax Credits Raked In Donations From Industry

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Phasing out Biden-era green energy tax credits is dividing Senate Republicans as they push their latest version of the “big beautiful bill,” and some members of the GOP have a financial incentive to keep the credits rolling.

The Senate’s draft represents a substantial cut to the existing climate-friendly energy tax credits, but some Republicans are pursuing a less aggressive rollback than their House counterparts, according to a report from The Hill.

Several GOP senators who oppose a full repeal argue that even the Senate’s scaled-back proposal goes too far in dismantling the clean energy tax credits established under the Biden Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.

Republican Senators who have voiced concerns or pushed back against a “full-scale” repeal of energy tax credits include Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran, Utah Sen. John Curtis and West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito.

Republican West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, whose state hosts one of the “hydrogen hubs” created under the Biden administration, expressed concern over the bill’s deadline requiring projects to begin construction by the end of the year to qualify for tax credits.

Capito said she’s working to delay that deadline, calling it “a pretty tight timeline,” and adding, “I’m trying to get the date pushed back. I don’t know if I’ll be successful,” according to another report from The Hill.

She has also received $49,200 in campaign contributions from Williams, a Tulsa, Oklahoma-based energy company with significant investments in hydrogen infrastructure during the 2024 election cycle, according to OpenSecrets data.

Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford likewise received $54,500 in contributions from Williams during the same time period.

Capito also took $45,325 during the 2024 election cycle from First Energy, an electric utility that has pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

A group of four Republicans — Sens. Murkowski, Curtis, Moran and Tillis — have jointly cautioned against a “full-scale” repeal of the energy tax credits enacted by Democrats in 2022.

In their message, they called for each credit to be assessed based on its potential to boost U.S. manufacturing, lower utility costs — particularly in rural communities — and provide stability for businesses that have already made investments under the current framework.

“The United States produces some of the cleanest and most efficient energy in the world, and an all-of-the-above approach — including support for traditional and renewable energy sources — has long been a hallmark of our energy strategy,” the senators wrote.

“To that end, many American companies have made substantial investments in domestic energy production and infrastructure based on the current energy tax framework. A wholesale repeal, or the termination of certain individual credits, would create uncertainty, jeopardizing capital allocation, long-term project planning, and job creation in the energy sector and across our broader economy,” their letter read.

Tillis, has advocated for a “targeted, pragmatic approach” to the energy tax credits, rather than supporting a full repeal.

He also received hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions during the 2022 and 2024 election cycles — both individually and through political action committees — from major financial institutions including Blackstone Group, Apollo Global Management, Truist Financial and Goldman Sachs, according to OpenSecrets (OS).

The firms have collectively invested millions of dollars in clean energy initiatives and companies in recent years.

Collins received tens of thousands of dollars in contributions during the 2022 and 2024 cycles from Blackstone, Goldman and Nextra Energy, which reports to have 55% of its portfolio invested in renewable energy.

Capito also received tens of thousands of dollars from Blackstone during the 2022 and 2024 election cycles.

OpenSecrets also shows Murkowski received tens of thousands of dollars through PACs or individually over the same two cycles from companies like ConocoPhillips, a company dedicated to be the first in the U.S. oil and gas company to set a goal of reaching net-zero operational emissions.

This follows Capital Group Companies‘ announcement in March that it was committing $30.57 million to fossil fuel investments, including a stake in ConocoPhillips.

Curtis has likewise received $59,700 in contributions during the 2024 election cycle from Sunrun, which markets itself as “the #1 home solar and battery company in America.”

“I think that Senator Crapo did a really good job, but there’s more work to be done,” Curtis told The Hill when asked about the big beautiful bill, referring to the Idaho Republican who chairs the Senate Finance Committee. Curtis offered no further details.

Moran adjacently received $38,500 in campaign contributions during the 2024 election cycle from Kit Bond Strategies Group, according to OpenSecrets records.

The firm actively lobbied on behalf of multiple renewable energy companies throughout that time. 

The draft text of the bill, released Monday by the Senate Finance Committee, maintains credits for nuclear, hydropower, and geothermal energy, and does not immediately eliminate subsidies for solar and wind, disappointing Republicans who sought a more aggressive rollback of Democratic climate policies.

The Daily Caller reached out to Tillis, Murkowski, Curtis, Capito, Moran and Lankford for comment but did not receive a response prior to publication.

AUTHOR

Ashley Brasfield

Reporter.

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EDITORS NOTE: This Daily Caller column is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved.

Israeli Air Force SUCCESSFULLY Struck the Iranian Nuclear Reactor in Arak, Iran

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The IDF struck key sites tied to Iran’s nuclear weapons and missile programs, including:

  • Inactive nuclear reactor in Arak—a key component in plutonium production
  • A nuclear weapons development site near Natanz
  • Ballistic missile & air defense production facilities
  • Radar systems & missile storage sites

These facilities fuel Iran’s drive for nuclear weapons and its attacks on Israeli civilians.

The IDF will continue operating to eliminate threats and defend the State of Israel.

This nuclear reactor in Arak was created for one purpose: to build a nuclear bomb.

Iran TV: Israel hits Arak heavy water reactor after evacuation warning, ‘no radiation danger’

By Agencies Today, June 19, 2025:

Israel attacked Iran’s Arak heavy water reactor, Iranian state television says.

The report says there was “no radiation danger whatsoever” and that the facility had already been evacuated before the attack.

Israel warned earlier in the morning it would attack the facility and urged the public to flee the area.

The research reactor was partially built, with Tehran informing the UN nuclear watchdog that it planed to begin operating the facility next year.

Continue reading.

AUTHOR

Pamela Geller

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EDITORS NOTE: This Geller Report is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved.

SCOTUS Slows Judicial Overreach in Environmental Cases as Ire Grows over Universal Injunctions

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A recent decision handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court has curbed some judicial overreach and continued a thread previously taken up by the nation’s highest court regarding the relationship between judicial interpretations and the authority of government agencies. In Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County, decided Thursday, the Supreme Court vacated a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit which had itself vacated a decision by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB) that granted permission for construction of a railroad.

The case originated when Seven County Infrastructure Coalition applied to the board for permission to build a railroad in 2020. STB compiled a staggering 3,600-page report on the possible environmental impacts of building the railroad and ultimately concluded “that the project’s transportation and economic benefits outweighed its environmental impacts” and granting permission for the railroad to be constructed.

After lawsuits were filed, the circuit court vacated the STB’s decision, ruling that the board had not properly considered “the potential environmental effects of increased upstream oil drilling … and increased downstream refining of crude oil” in the area where the railroad was to be constructed, citing the provisions established in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Supreme Court ruled Thursday, “The D.C. Circuit failed to afford the Board the substantial judicial deference required in NEPA cases and incorrectly interpreted NEPA to require the Board to consider the environmental effects of upstream and downstream projects that are separate in time or place from the” construction and operation of the railroad.

NEPA requires STB and similar agencies to consider the possible environmental impacts of proposed projects and suggest viable alternatives. The Supreme Court’s ruling clarified, “Some federal courts reviewing NEPA cases have assumed an aggressive role in policing agency compliance with NEPA, and have not applied NEPA with the judicial deference demanded by the statutory text and the Court’s cases.” The ruling continued, “When, as here, a party argues that an agency action was arbitrary and capricious due to a deficiency in an EIS, the ‘only role for a court’ is to confirm that the agency has addressed environmental consequences and feasible alternatives as to the relevant project.”

The ruling, authored by Justice Brett Kavanaugh and joined by seven of his fellow justices, with Justice Neil Gorsuch recusing himself from the case, stipulated that legal questions are for courts to decide, while “factual determinations” are for the relevant agencies to decide. “Courts should defer to agencies’ discretionary decisions about where to draw the line when considering indirect environmental effects and whether to analyze effects from other projects separate in time or place,” the ruling affirmed.

Specifically, Kavanaugh cited Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, one of a pair of cases which the Supreme Court decided last summer, undoing what was known as the “Chevron doctrine.” In the 1984 case of Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, the Supreme Court instructed all courts to defer to an agency’s interpretation of a statute within the scope of its operation if that statute was considered “ambiguous.” The policy significantly bolstered the power of federal agencies to interpret statutes without judicial oversight. Last year, the Supreme Court determined that the Chevron doctrine was unconstitutional, conflicting with both the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and the federal judiciary’s constitutional authority to interpret statutory texts and effectively permit executive agencies to usurp the role of the judiciary in interpreting statutes.

Citing Loper, the Supreme Court clarified that although NEPA requires environmental impact reports to be “detailed,” and “the meaning of ‘detailed’ is a legal question … what details need to be included in any given [report] is a factual determination for the agency.” Kavanaugh wrote, “NEPA does not allow courts, ‘under the guise of judicial review’ of agency compliance with NEPA, to delay or block agency projects based on the environmental effects of other projects separate from the project at hand.” He added, “Courts should afford substantial deference and should not micromanage those agency choices so long as they fall within a broad zone of reasonableness.”

The Supreme Court ruling comes as numerous federal courts have issued sweeping universal injunctions against President Donald Trump and his administration, highlighting calls for the highest court to curb judicial overreach. In comments to The Washington Stand, Article III Project Senior Counsel Will Chamberlain stated, “The court’s decision Thursday was very obviously right — even the Democrats did not dissent. NEPA reviews do not have to be as onerous as the D.C. Circuit suggested.” He added, “The Supreme Court, however, needs to do more to curb the judicial sabotage by resentful lower court judges.”

Within his first 100 days back in the Oval Office, Trump and his administration were slapped with at least 25 universal injunctions by federal district courts, according to a Congressional Research Service report. Injunctions and temporary restraining orders (TROs) have targeted many of the president’s actions, including carrying out mass deportations, withholding federal funds from “sanctuary cities,” ending birthright citizenship, protecting children from harmful gender transition procedures, slashing wasteful agency spending, downsizing the federal workforce, bolstering election integrity, and reorganizing agencies like the Department of Education.

The Trump administration has repeatedly petitioned the Supreme Court to intervene and curtail the lower courts’ use of nationwide injunctions. While the Supreme Court has handed the president mixed results — significant wins in some cases and temporary setbacks in others — it has not yet taken action against the increasing use of universal injunctions.

However, the Supreme Court did hear oral arguments in mid-May in a case in which the Trump administration has centered its attention on the rash of injunctions enjoining the president’s agenda. Some justices indicated during oral arguments an openness to curbing universal injunctions but appeared unsatisfied with the Trump administration’s suggestions on what measures to use in place of universal injunctions. A decision in the case is expected by late June or early July.

AUTHOR

S.A. McCarthy

S.A. McCarthy serves as a news writer at The Washington Stand.

EDITORS NOTE: This Washington Stand column is republished with permission. All rights reserved. ©2025 Family Research Council.

The Washington Stand is Family Research Council’s outlet for news and commentary from a biblical worldview. The Washington Stand is based in Washington, D.C. and is published by FRC, whose mission is to advance faith, family, and freedom in public policy and the culture from a biblical worldview. We invite you to stand with us by partnering with FRC.

Quantum Physics: The Subatomic Spark of Life on Earth and Beyond

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Staring at a fern in my apartment, a wild thought strikes me: this plant might be pulling off quantum tricks to soak up sunlight. Quantum physics – the bizarre world of particles dancing as waves and entangled across space — isn’t just for labs or sci-fi flicks. It’s the hidden pulse of life on Earth and our guide to finding life among the stars. With rules like superposition (particles existing in multiple states) and entanglement (spooky links defying distance), quantum mechanics shapes everything from chloroplasts to cosmic chemistry. How does this subatomic weirdness drive life here and fuel our search for aliens? Let’s dive into the quantum threads weaving life on Earth and beyond.

I’m no physicist, but the idea that life relies on quantum mechanics is mind-boggling. Quantum biology, a field gaining momentum, shows how subatomic effects drive living systems. Take photosynthesis: plants don’t just capture sunlight; they harness quantum coherence. Excitons, or energy packets, explore all possible paths simultaneously to find the most efficient route to reaction centers, as Graham Engel’s 2007 study revealed. This occurs because plants suppress decoherence, where quantum states collapse due to environmental noise, keeping energy transfers nearly perfect, a feat governed by the Schrödinger equation’s wave mechanics.

Enzymes, the body’s chemical catalysts, perform another quantum feat: tunneling. Particles like protons slip through energy barriers without needing to climb over them, as Alán Aspuru-Guzik’s work suggests, accelerating reactions millions of times. Picture a ball passing through a hill instead of over it—nature’s cheat code for metabolism. Even more astonishing, birds like robins may navigate using quantum effects. Cryptochrome proteins in their eyes create entangled electron pairs, which are sensitive to Earth’s magnetic field through spin dynamics, serving as a quantum compass for migration. These discoveries demonstrate that life on Earth isn’t merely chemical—it’s quantum, refined over billions of years of evolution.

Now, let’s swing to the cosmos. I’ve always wondered if aliens exist, and quantum physics is our best bet for answers. In star-forming clouds, molecules like amino acids — life’s building blocks — form via quantum tunneling. As an astrochemist, Eric Herbst has shown, particles bypass energy barriers in cold, sparse environments, following the Schrödinger equation’s probabilistic rules. It’s like the universe is brewing life’s ingredients with quantum magic.

When hunting for alien worlds, quantum tech shines. Spectroscopy, rooted in quantum transitions of molecules, lets us read a planet’s atmospheric “fingerprint.” The James Webb Space Telescope, for instance, detects gases like oxygen at 760 nm, a potential biosignature, as Sara Seager’s research highlights. Could life on Mars or Europa use quantum tricks like Earth’s extremophiles? In harsh Earth environments, microbes exploit quantum effects to survive; alien life might do the same in high-radiation or icy conditions. Meanwhile, quantum computers boost the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) by processing vast radio signal datasets with algorithms like Grover’s, speeding up our hunt for an alien signal. Quantum physics is our cosmic detective, linking life’s origins to its potential elsewhere.

Here’s where I get geeked out. Quantum technologies are like a bridge from my fern to distant planets. Quantum sensors, exploiting superposition and entanglement, detect tiny signals with insane precision — gravitational waves on Earth or chemical traces on exoplanets. Imagine a sensor mapping Europa’s icy crust for signs of life. Quantum communication, using entangled particles, could enable secure, near-instant data transfer for Mars missions, sidestepping classical delays. It’s like texting across the galaxy with quantum encryption.

These tools hint at a universal quantum playbook for life. Whether it’s a leaf in my kitchen or a microbe on a distant moon, the same subatomic rules apply, tying Earth’s ecosystems to the cosmos in ways we’re just starting to grasp.

I’m still wrapping my mind around this, but quantum physics is life’s unsung hero. On Earth, coherence powers photosynthesis, tunneling drives enzymes, and entanglement guides birds. In space, it shapes life’s building blocks and fuels our search for biosignatures with tools like spectroscopy. From my fern to a potential Martian microbe, quantum mechanics, governed by principles like the Schrödinger equation, is the thread weaving life’s tapestry.

Researchers like Sara Seager are pushing quantum tech to uncover life’s cosmic reach, and it’s thrilling to think where this science will take us. Next time you water a plant or gaze at the stars, consider: the tiniest particles might hold the biggest clues about our place in the universe.

©2025 . All rights reserved.

AWED MEDIA BALANCED NEWS: We cover Energy to Education to Elections — and more!

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Welcome! We cover Energy to Education to Elections — and more!

Here is the link for this issue, so please share it on social media.

Checkout the 2025, 2024, & 2023  archives, plus asterisked items below.

Note: today’s Newsletter is a day later due to Memorial Day being on Monday…

— This Newsletter’s Articles, by Topic —

This Issue’s Best of the Best:

*** New White House EO: Restoring Gold Standard Science

*** The Decivilizing of America

*** Everyone’s Using AI to Cheat at School. That’s a Good Thing.

*** President Trump Signs Executive Order on Nuclear Power

*** Bryce: Nuclear Conversion

*** The Achilles Heel of Wind and Solar

*** Chinese Kill Switches found in US Solar Facilities

*** Epstein: Why the proposed “phaseout” of IRA subsidies is unacceptable

*** Victory for energy freedom: the House (finally) limits IRA subsidies

*** New report: The true affordability of net zero

*** Toyota is developing a car that runs on water

*** Everything Announced at Google IO 2025 Summarized in 10 Minutes

*** 3800± peer reviewed reports and studies re adverse effects post COVID vaccination

*** Study: Twelve-Month All-Cause Mortality after Initial COVID-19 Vaccination with Pfizer-BioNTech or mRNA-1273 among Adults Living in Florida

*** BREAKING: Hospital Murder Labeled as COVID-19 Death is Going to Jury Trial

*** New York Times on Climate Change: Two Candidates for Quote of the Day

*** Trump Administration Targets Excessive State Climate Laws

*** Study: Are Climate Model Forecasts Useful for Policy Making?

*** Big US cities are sinking. This map shows where the problem is the worst.

*** Contract Requirements: Full Disclosure

Secondary Education Related:

*** Report: The Key to Fixing the US Education System

*** Federal judge blocks Trump admin moves to dismantle Dept of Education

How to Stop Students from Cheating with AI

Higher Education Related:

*** Everyone’s Using AI to Cheat at School. That’s a Good Thing.

*** Professionalization Is Killing College Sports

Exposing the true nature of ‘campus investigations’

Artificial Intelligence:

*** Everything Announced at Google IO 2025 Summarized in 10 Minutes

General AI May Revolutionize Neurology—Or It Might Be Bad

China’s AI-Powered Humanoid Robots Aim to Transform Manufacturing

Greed Energy Economics:

*** Epstein: Why the proposed “phaseout” of IRA subsidies is unacceptable

*** Victory for energy freedom: the House (finally) limits IRA subsidies

*** New report: The true affordability of net zero

The truth about power bill increases

Unreliables (General):

*** The Achilles Heel of Wind and Solar

Economic prosperity demands continuous and uninterruptible electricity

Wasting Away in Wind-and-Solarville

Wind Energy — Offshore:

*** Allies Sue Federal Agencies Over Unlawful Authorization of Empire Wind Project

Letitia James has ‘no leg to stand on’ in lawsuit against Trump offshore wind order, experts say

Rest in Peace, Nils Stolpe, Fisheries Guru

After nearly four decades, Jerry Schill bows out of N.C. Fisheries Association

Trump administration lifts stop-work order on $5 billion NY offshore wind project

America’s Fishermen Used as a Poker Chip Again

‘EDF reviewing clean energy projects after setbacks’

Solar Energy:

*** Chinese Kill Switches found in US Solar Facilities

A US candidate for the world’s worst Solar project: Ivanpah

Nuclear Energy:

*** President Trump Signs Executive Order on Nuclear Power

*** Bryce: Nuclear Conversion

*** Belgium abandons nuclear exit plans

Denmark goes back to nukes

Letter to DOE Secretary Chris Wright about President Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill

Fossil Fuel Energy:

DOE finds US LNG exports in nation’s best interest, reversing prior DOE conclusion

Electric Vehicles (EVs):

*** Toyota is developing a car that runs on water

Misc Energy:

*** NERC: 2025 Summer Reliability Assessment

China Inc. Has the West in a Strategic Metals Stranglehold

Manmade Global Warming — Some Deceptions:

*** Trump Administration Targets Excessive State Climate Laws

*** Study: Are Climate Model Forecasts Useful for Policy Making?

EPA Should Consider the Harm of Regulating Greenhouse Gases

Almost All ‘Extreme’ UK Temperature Highs Recorded at Junk Sites with Massive Possible Errors

Observation vs. Supposition

Manmade Global Warming — The Science:

*** New York Times on Climate Change: Two Candidates for Quote of the Day

Math Teacher, Sole Climate Scientist Unlock Mystery of Recent Global Warming Spike

Manmade Global Warming — Misc:

*** Big US cities are sinking. This map shows where the problem is the worst.

*** Contract Requirements: Full Disclosure

New Book: Climate Truths is now available for pre-order!

The amount of money wasted on net-zero green policies worldwide is staggering!

US Election:

*** USCIS Deploys Common Sense Tools to Verify Voters

74% VOTING SYSTEM ERROR- Saved By Hand Count!

Texas AG Announces arrest of Judge, five other Officials on vote harvesting charges

US Federal Agencies:

Unbridled: How Massive Pentagon Spending Happens by Design

Trump:

*** Trump’s First 100 Days: A Gold Standard for the History Books

*** 20 Reasons Why Congress Must Unite Behind the One, Big, Beautiful Bill

Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Has ‘Excellent News for Families’: FRC Analyst

Dr. Malone: WWF: President Trump vs. Harvard

Misc US Politics:

*** Epstein: How Republicans got roped into a deal that keeps the IRA—and why there’s still time to fix it

Uncle Sam’s $8 Trillion Dilemma

Request for Public Comments Regarding Technology Platform Censorship

Societally US:

*** The Decivilizing of America

*** Parents, Pay Attention! This Viral App Is Convincing Teens They’re Trans

*** Our Feckless Nature Fakery

Reviews: The Dark Side of Hunger Mountain

1.2 Billion social media users’ data stolen in historic breach

Science:

*** New White House EO: Restoring Gold Standard Science

Health:

States Push to Allow Ivermectin to be Sold Over the Counter

Study: We Emit a Visible Light That Vanishes When We Die

COVID-19 — Misc:

*** 3800± peer reviewed reports and studies re adverse effects post COVID vaccination

*** Study: Twelve-Month All-Cause Mortality after Initial COVID-19 Vaccination with Pfizer-BioNTech or mRNA-1273 among Adults Living in Florida

*** BREAKING: Hospital Murder Labeled as COVID-19 Death is Going to Jury Trial

*** New Documentary – Follow The Silenced

Report: US officials delayed warning public about heart inflammation risk from COVID shot

Peer-Reviewed Study: Quantitative Analysis of Nucleic Acid Content in Spikevax (Moderna) and BNT162b2 (Pfizer) COVID-19 Vaccine Lots

Israel/Ukraine:

Pray for the safety of the Israeli people

Latest Developments in Israel

Pray for the safety of the Ukrainian people

A well-rated source to make a Ukraine donation

Latest Developments in Ukraine

Please use social media, etc. to pass on this Newsletter to other open-minded citizens…If you’d like to be added to (or unsubscribe from) the distribution of our popular, free, worldwide Media Balance Newsletter, simply send me an email saying that.

Note 1: We recommend reading the Newsletter on your computer, not your phone, as some documents (e.g., PDFs) are much easier to read on a large computer screen… We’ve tried to use common fonts, etc. to minimize display issues.

Note 2: For past Newsletter issues see the archives from 2022, 2023, 2024, & 2025. To accommodate numerous requests received about prior articles over all fourteen plus years of the Newsletter, we’ve put this together — where you can search ALL prior issues, by year. For a background about how the Newsletter is put together, etc., please read this.

Note 3: See this extensive list of reasonable books on climate change. As a parallel effort, we have also put together a list of some good books related to industrial wind energy. Both topics are also extensively covered on my website: WiseEnergy.org.

Note 4: I am not an attorney or a physician, so no material appearing in any of the Newsletters (or any of my websites) should be construed as giving legal or medical advice. My recommendation has always been: consult a competent, licensed attorney when you are involved with legal issues, and consult a competent physician regarding medical matters.

Copyright © 2025; Alliance for Wise Energy Decisions (see WiseEnergy.org).

Thune Clears Way for Vote on Ending California’s EV Mandate

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Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has overcome Democrat opposition to proceeding to a vote this week on overturning California’s electric vehicle mandate.

In a 53-to-46 party-line vote, the Senate on Wednesday moved to proceed with a vote on revoking a Biden-era Environmental Protection Agency exemption that enabled California to ban the sales of new gasoline-powered cars and trucks in the state in 2035. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., did not vote.

The House of Representatives has already voted to revoke the EPA exemption. The Senate vote—which is exempt from the filibuster due to coming under the purview of the Congressional Review Act—is likely to result in a successful overturning of the EPA regulation.

Thune’s move for a vote on reviewing the EPA exemption comes after significant procedural hurdles. The Government Accountability Office had controversially stated that the Senate could not revoke the Biden-era EPA regulation because it did not qualify as a “rule.” The GAO is an independent and ostensibly nonpartisan government agency that exists to provide support services for Congress.

Thune addressed the GAO ruling on the Senate floor.

“It’s an extraordinary deviation from precedent for an agency that should be defending Congress’ power instead of constraining it,” Thune declared, noting that “we [the Senate] need to act to ensure that this intrusion into the Congressional Review Act process doesn’t become a habit, and that the Senate doesn’t end up transferring its decision-making power on CRA resolutions to the Government Accountability Office.”

The Senate majority leader is also holding the vote against the recommendation of the Senate parliamentarian, who said the EPA exemption was not subject to the Congressional Review Act, but this is not the first time the parliamentarian has been ignored. Democrats overruled the Senate parliamentarian in 2011 on whether Republicans could add unrelated amendments to a bill about China currency.

Notably, the House parliamentarian did not rule that the CRA did not apply to the matter.

Thune addressed concerns that the Senate was violating norms by disregarding the parliamentarian. “We are not talking about doing anything to erode the institutional character of the Senate; in fact, we are talking about preserving the Senate’s prerogatives.”

The South Dakota Republican detailed the potentially massive economic consequences if the EV mandate were allowed to take effect.

“Under California’s electric vehicle mandate, automakers around the country would be forced to close down a substantial part of their traditional vehicle production, with serious consequences. Diminished economic output. Job losses. Declining tax revenues,” Thune said.

Thune also pointed out the many infrastructure challenges that an EV mandate would impose on the power grid.

“We are—to quote a Washington Post headline from last March—‘running out of power,’ as a surge in demand and the premature retirement of fossil fuel-fired power plants push us to the brink. Our electric grid is simply not in a position to absorb a huge surge in electric vehicles,” he said.

California’s ban has ramifications for the entire automobile market of the U.S. not only because of the state’s huge market share, but also because it has inspired about a dozen other states to follow California’s lead.

“It’s a really problematic policy, because it’s not just economically destructive, but it’s also because of [California’s] size. It influences things well beyond our borders,” Wayne Winegarden, a senior fellow in business and economics at the Pacific Research Institute, told The Daily Signal.

AUTHOR

Jacob Adams

Jacob Adams is a journalism fellow at The Daily Signal. Send an email to Jacob.

RELATED ARTICLES:

GOP Leadership on Hill Gets Back to Work on Budget Resolution

Hill GOP Budget Leaders in ‘Lockstep,’ Treasury Chief Bessent Says

Bipartisan House Vote Blocks California’s 2035 Gas Car Ban

RELATED VIDEO: California Kicked Out of the Driver’s Seat

EDITORS NOTE: This Daily Signal column is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved.

The Daily Signal depends on the support of readers like you. Donate now

Buying a New HVAC System

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Critically Thinking about a major homeowner expense. 

One of the reasons I was able to retire at age 34 — and to be able to enjoy a comfortable living since that time — is that I pay attention to expenditures. These range from groceries to income taxes. Today I’ll explain some ins-and-outs of buying a replacement HVAC system, which typically runs $10,000 to $20,000 — but (based on certain variables) can be much more. I’m of the vintage where such an expenditure is still a big deal.

HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) is a common electric system used to control the temperature, humidity, and air quality in a home. Most HVAC systems are two parts: 1) an outside compressor, and 2) an inside air handler. The air handler is connected to supply ductwork (typically one or more in each room), plus return ductwork (which brings air from 3± selected places in the home that need to be “conditioned”: warmed or cooled).

The basic principle of a HVAC system is that it extracts heat from the inside air in the Summer (providing cooling), and it extracts heat from the outside air in Winter, sending warm air throughout the house.

My example (below) is about: a) an electric replacement system [not the first HVAC for a property], b) a home [not a business], c) just one system [multi-story homes can have one system per floor], and d) installed in North Carolina [different geographical areas can have some variables].

Just like I would do on any larger purchase, I keep track of everything on my computer (NOT phone). I set up a “New 2025 HVAC” folder. In that I have subfolders for each local company providing me a quote. I also have subfolders for other related materials, like IRS HVAC tax credits.

I then put together an Excel spreadsheet (in this folder) to record the main details for multiple expected quotes. I then carefully select several apparently competent providers to get quotes from. On the form, I keep track of several important variables in columns: a) company name, b) website, c) location, d) phone, e) visit date, f) brand quoted, g) cost, h) plus several more.

Hint: below the table section of the spreadsheet, leave several lines for making notes — e.g., explaining what abbreviated column headings mean. Yes, it takes some time to put this together properly, but it is an ESSENTIAL step!

The first part of my making a purchase decision involves the interface with a local HVAC company. These included such things as: a) their website, b) the person answering the phone [vs an answering machine], c) the ease of setting up an appointment, d) the timeliness of the estimator person, e) the thoroughness of the estimator, f) how well the estimator answered my questions, g) did they have a business card, h) the quality of the quote I received, etc. I gave each company a grade on my Excel spreadsheet. This comes into play when deciding between two companies that have given me roughly equal quotes. After all I will be dealing with these people for 10+ years.

With each local company, ask for written quotes for at least two (2) options: a good system and a higher efficiency one. Have these emailed to your computer. The higher efficiency version should save you electricity costs over its lifetime (15± years). Another benefit of the higher efficiency unit is that it may qualify for IRS (and maybe State) credits. However, the higher efficiency (more expensive) unit is not necessarily more reliable…

Once you get written quotes, you will start encountering terminology and practices that you need to understand somewhat, or you may be taken advantage of. Here are some factors that will likely come up:

  1. A quoted system will be something like “3 Tons.” As explained here, that has nothing to do with weight, but rather the cooling capacity of the system. [In a replacement situation, estimators will likely quote you the same capacity you already have. Make sure the prior system did an acceptable job!]
  2. On colder days (well below freezing), there isn’t much heat in the air to be extracted, so the HVAC system provides auxiliary electric heat. Usually, an HVAC system will have something like 10 kW — but be sure to ask. This is like having an electric space heater, which is more expensive to operate.
  3. SEER2 ratings are the current measurement of how efficient an HVAC system is, the higher the better. Good systems are 14± while high efficiency systems are 18+.
  4. New HVAC circuit breaker box and wiring (aka Whip). The company will likely say that this is needed “per code,” which is rarely the case. This is another advantage of getting multiple written quotes — if only one bidder says it’s needed, it is almost certainly unnecessary.
  5. New platform for the outside compressor unit. Again, if what you have seems solid, this is likely an arbitrary option that you should decline. [One exception is if your NFIP flood zone rating has changed, the platform may have to be raised to conform with your current rating.]
  6. Ultraviolet air treatment. This is rarely quoted, but it is a proven way to minimize airborne bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms that can cause health problems, etc. in your home. It also helps prevent the growth of mold and mildew in HVAC systems. Here is an article about this. This is a UV unit I bought to install, so use that as a reference for cost.
  7. Surge protector. This is also rarely quoted, but it is a wise idea to have one, as nearby lightning strikes, etc, can easily fry very expensive HVAC electronics. Here is one I bought and installed myself. Compare that cost to what you are quoted for someone else to purchase and install.
  8. Thermostat. If this is included, get the price if it is not itemized. With a Trane HVAC I was quoted, it included a fancy Trane thermostat for $460. You can get a high-end thermostat for under $200 (e.g., see here).
  9. Warranties are typically 1 year labor, 10-year limited warranty on parts. That said, carefully read the quotes for gotchas.
  10. Service costs. These are not usually on a quote, so you should ask: if I need service, what is your hourly rate? There can be big differences here. Also, some local companies will offer a special rate for new customers, or if you buy an annual service contract.
  11. Credit card fees. When you get a quote, ask if: a) there is a charge for using a credit card, and b) is there a discount for paying by check? In my case, one supplier offered a 3% discount for paying by check. That may seem small but on a $15,000 HVAC unit, that is $450.
  12. Tax Credits. If you play your cards right, you may qualify for an IRS $2000 credit (MUCH more valuable than a $2000 deduction!). See here for details… Some States have additional credits (see here for NC’s). Check out the conditions for those prior to buying. Also, ask the local company you are leaning toward for info. If you press them, they might even volunteer to do some of the paperwork!
  13. Baker’s Dozen Bonus. When there is a new HVAC system replacing a prior one, the party line is that they take the old one to the scrap heap. What if you have put in important parts (like the compressor) in the last year, and they work fine? That was my situation, so after I got written quotes from each potential supplier, I emailed them that question. The jury is still out if any will give me some credit for resaleable parts. In any case, I will keep some circuit boards and sell them on eBay…

Bottom Line —

I’m sharing this with you before I’ve made my selection. That said, the quotes so far range from $8,000 to $20,000 — a LARGE difference. Hopefully, you have found this semi-detailed overview of buying a replacement HVAC to be helpful. Questions or observations can be posted in the comments below.

©2025 All rights reserved.

Here is other information from this scientist that you might find interesting:

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I also consider reader submissions on Critical Thinking on my topics of interest.

Check out the Archives of this Critical Thinking substack.

For those using RSS feeds, use https://criticallythinking.substack.com/feed

WiseEnergy.org: discusses the Science (or lack thereof) behind our energy options.

C19Science.info: covers the lack of genuine Science behind our COVID-19 policies.

Election-Integrity.info: multiple major reports on the election integrity issue.

Media Balance Newsletter: a free, twice-a-month newsletter that covers what the mainstream media does not do, on issues from COVID to climate, elections to education, renewables to religion, etc. Here are the Newsletter’s 2025 Archives. Please send me an email to get your free copy. When emailing me, please make sure to include your full name and the state where you live. (Of course, you can cancel the Media Balance Newsletter at any time – but why would you?

PODCAST: Trading Earth Day for ‘People Day’ and Is the United States Facing a Constitutional Crisis?

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GUESTS AND TOPICS

PAUL DRIESSEN

Paul Driessen is senior policy advisor for the Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT) and author of articles and books on energy, environmental and human rights issues.

TOPIC: Trading Earth Day for ‘People Day’

JUDGE PHIL GINN

Judge Phil Ginn was appointed president of Southern Evangelical Seminary in April 2021 after a distinguished career as both a lawyer and a judge. He holds a B.A. from Appalachian State University, a J.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Doctor of Ministry from Southern Evangelical Seminary. Prior to his appointment as SES president, Judge Ginn served as SES Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

TOPIC: Is the United States Facing a Constitutional Crisis?

©2025 . All rights reserved.

AWED MEDIA BALANCED NEWS: We cover Energy to Education to Elections — and more!

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Welcome! We cover Energy to Education to Elections — and more!

Here is the link for this issue, so please share it on social media.

Checkout the 2025, 2024, & 2023  archives, plus asterisked items below.

— This Newsletter’s Articles, by Topic —

This Issue’s Best of the Best:

*** Landmark study of 85 million reveals shocking surge in heart attacks, strokes, and sudden death following the notorious COVID-19 jab

*** Shingles vaccine results in having a 23% lower risk of cardiovascular disease

*** A Nation in Pain: Can New Approaches Turn the Tide?

*** Most Moms Are Happy—Despite What Parenthood Critics Claim

*** A Fifth of American Adults Can’t Read — Here’s How to Teach Them

*** PragerU Video: Emasculating Boys (in the Boy Scouts)

*** Mississippi Schools Are Better Than Yours

*** Short Video: Why Reform Teacher Education? (This info in a document)

*** Science sleuths flag hundreds of papers that use AI without disclosing it

*** A Thorium Reactor Has Rewritten the Rules of Nuclear Power

*** Just Say No to Battery Storage for Wind or Solar

*** The Spanish Blackout Shows Why the Green Dream Is Unsustainable

*** What Is Reactive Power and Why Is It Important in Power Systems?

*** Study: The effect of renewable energy incorporation on power grid stability and resilience

*** El Blackout

*** Sue & Litigate at the EPA

*** You don’t have to be a climate scientist to personally fact check misleading Climate Claims by Governments and activists

*** Carbon Capture: Costly, Useless & Harmful

*** Trump Crushes Climate Dogma as Europe Doubles Down on Folly

Secondary Education Related:

*** Mississippi Schools Are Better Than Yours

*** Short Video: Why Reform Teacher Education? (This info in a document)

*** Book: The Extinction of Experience: Being Human in a Disembodied World

The South’s Public-Education Revival

Higher Education Related:

*** Report: University: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Funds and Fundraising

*** Report: University DEI: Status Quo and Rebrands

*** It’s time to get serious about ideological balance on campus. Here’s how

*** In Austin, a Double Shot of Academic Counter-Revolution

Linda McMahon blasts Harvard in scathing letter

Three Rogue Judges Block Trump Admin Efforts To Eradicate Discriminatory DEI From Schools

Artificial Intelligence:

*** Science sleuths flag hundreds of papers that use AI without disclosing it

Is Realty Vanishing? AI Makes Americans Suspicious of Everything on the Internet

Spain and Portugal Power Grid Failure:

*** The Spanish Blackout Shows Why the Green Dream Is Unsustainable

*** What Is Reactive Power and Why Is It Important in Power Systems?

*** Study: The effect of renewable energy incorporation on power grid stability and resilience

*** El Blackout

Spain’s blackout is a flashing warning light for our renewable energy system

Did Spain’s push for renewable energy have any impact on its mass power blackout?

Over-Reliance On Renewables Behind Catastrophic Blackouts in Spain

Yes, We Can Blame Solar for Spain’s Blackout — and if the Socialist Government Doesn’t Change Course, Expect More Blackouts

The Spanish Blackout Is a Warning to the World

Greed Energy Economics:

Pennsylvania’s ‘Price Cap’ Could Hike Electricity Bills

Unreliables Energy Health and Ecosystem Consequences:

Wind power’s eagle-kill permits are a deadly failure so permitting must stop

Unreliables (General):

*** Just Say No to Battery Storage for Wind or Solar

Green NGOs feel the heat

Renewable Portfolio Standards

Wind Energy — Offshore:

RWE ending US offshore operations

Wind Energy — Other:

*** Wind industry keeps preying on Upstate NY region

Nuclear Energy:

*** A Thorium Reactor Has Rewritten the Rules of Nuclear Power

Nuward’s New SMR Concept

Fossil Fuel Energy:

Epstein: Answers to student questions about fossil fuel growth

Electric Vehicles (EVs):

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, of Electric Vehicles

Misc Energy:

Rethinking the Future of Energy: The Real Clear Energy Future Forum

Manmade Global Warming — Some Deceptions:

*** You don’t have to be a climate scientist to personally fact check misleading Climate Claims by Governments and activists

*** Carbon Capture: Costly, Useless & Harmful

The Nihilism of Beijing’s New York Climate Radicals

UK To Experiment With “Dim The Sun” Projects To Stop Global Warming

Manmade Global Warming — The Science:

*** Trump Crushes Climate Dogma as Europe Doubles Down on Folly

US Election:

*** Most of Trump’s Election Integrity Executive Order Remains in Place

Confused about Ranked Choice Voting? View MFEI’s 4-min tutorial.

*** Video: My talk to Michigan legislators on Election Integrity (audits). (> ~ 6 min)

*** Report: A Performance Audit of Utah’s Election System

North Carolina needs better election audits

Former Colorado postal employee admits to stealing ballots ahead of 2024 election

US Federal Agencies:

*** Sue & Litigate at the EPA

What We Know About Casey Means—Trump’s New Nomination for Surgeon General

Why we need a free market in disaster insurance: the case of California wildfires

Misc US Politics:

*** Dhillon Promises Action To Enforce Trump’s Executive Orders On Civil Rights

The Unraveling Economic Order

Societally US:

*** Most Moms Are Happy—Despite What Parenthood Critics Claim

*** A Fifth of American Adults Can’t Read — Here’s How to Teach Them

*** PragerU Video: Emasculating Boys (in the Boy Scouts)

Globalism:

The Fourth Turning: Globalism is Dead, Technocracy is Reborn

Science:

*** Cardinal Robert Prevost announced as first American pope

Book: A Stress Analysis of a Strapless Evening Gown: Essays for a Scientific Age

Health:

*** Shingles vaccine results in having a 23% lower risk of cardiovascular disease

*** A Nation in Pain: Can New Approaches Turn the Tide?

Heart disease death risk raised by common household products, study finds

New organization: Healing Science Policy

COVID-19 — Misc:

*** Landmark study of 85 million reveals shocking surge in heart attacks, strokes, and sudden death following the notorious COVID-19 jab

*** Children’s Nightmare No Fairytale

Canadian Government Begins Testing Inhaled Covid mRNA ‘AeroVax’

Israel/Ukraine:

Pray for the safety of the Israeli people

*** Latest Developments in Israel

Pray for the safety of the Ukrainian people

A well-rated source to make a Ukraine donation

*** Latest Developments in Ukraine

Please use social media, etc. to pass on this Newsletter to other open-minded citizens…If you’d like to be added to (or unsubscribe from) the distribution of our popular, free, worldwide Media Balance Newsletter, simply send me an email saying that.

Note 1: We recommend reading the Newsletter on your computer, not your phone, as some documents (e.g., PDFs) are much easier to read on a large computer screen… We’ve tried to use common fonts, etc. to minimize display issues.

Note 2: For past Newsletter issues see the archives from 2022, 2023, 2024, & 2025. To accommodate numerous requests received about prior articles over all fourteen plus years of the Newsletter, we’ve put this together — where you can search ALL prior issues, by year. For a background about how the Newsletter is put together, etc., please read this.

Note 3: See this extensive list of reasonable books on climate change. As a parallel effort, we have also put together a list of some good books related to industrial wind energy. Both topics are also extensively covered on my website: WiseEnergy.org.

Note 4: I am not an attorney or a physician, so no material appearing in any of the Newsletters (or any of my websites) should be construed as giving legal or medical advice. My recommendation has always been: consult a competent, licensed attorney when you are involved with legal issues, and consult a competent physician regarding medical matters.

Copyright © 2025; Alliance for Wise Energy Decisions (see WiseEnergy.org).

Montana Governor Tells Off Would-Be Banners

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Had enough of bans and mandates?

Check out the masterful veto message Montana Governor Greg Gianforte sent the legislature when they tried to ban Styrofoam cups.

Read Governor Gianforte’s full veto message here.

“The free enterprise system works,” Gianforte wrote. “We should let it work, not have the heavy hand of big government unnecessarily meddle with it.”

Truer words never graced the printed page.

“Like many Montanans, I enjoy hot coffee in a Styrofoam cup, because it keeps it hot. And this bill is a hot mess,” Gianforte said in a video on X.

WATCH: Montana Governor Greg Gianforte Tells Off Would-Be Banners

America has reached peak regulation. Government is too complicated, controls too much, and has grown monstrously large.

The Trump/Musk DOGE effort to reduce government is a vitally needed reform, but it is also a case study in how difficult it is to weed out government waste after it has already taken root.

Better to do as Gianforte did and issue an unmistakable “no” at the outset.

“Ultimately, whether to use Styrofoam for take-out orders, packaging leftovers, or providing pre-packaged foods should be a matter for a restaurant or consumer to decide — not the state.”

Right you are, Governor.

Policymakers, confident in the righteousness of their superior wisdom, are ever eager to impose their judgment on the rest of us.

The people we elect should hold their fire and rarely place us under the control of the bureaucrats.

Millions of people making billions of voluntary choices in a free market is the most powerful economic force known to man.

Don’t mess with it.

AUTHOR

Craig Rucker is a co-founder of CFACT and currently serves as its president. Widely heralded as a leader in the free market environmental, think tank community in Washington, D.C., Rucker is a frequent guest on radio talk shows, written extensively in numerous publications, and has appeared in such media outlets as Fox News, OANN, Washington Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Hill, among many others. Rucker is also the co-producer of the award-winning film “Climate Hustle,” which was the #1 box-office film in America during its one night showing in 2016, as well as the acclaimed “Climate Hustle 2” staring Hollywood actor Kevin Sorbo released in 2020. As an accredited observer to the United Nations, Rucker has also led CFACT delegations to some 30 major UN conferences, including those in Copenhagen, Istanbul, Kyoto, Bonn, Marrakesh, Rio de Janeiro, and Warsaw, to name a few.

EDITORS NOTE: This CFACT column is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved.

What America Can Learn from the Iberian Blackout

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America can learn from the Iberian Blackout the reality that green energy and one hundred percent renewable power are still subject to the laws of physics.

Not even a week after media reports hailed the fact that “Spain hit the first weekday of one hundred percent renewable power on the national grid” the Spanish government declared a national emergency following a complete collapse of that same grid. The unprecedented outage left tens of millions of its citizens, and those in neighboring Portugal, without power. And the blackout quickly cascaded into a shutdown of mass transit transportation, internet, cellular communications, and water/wastewater services.

Those two events occurring together are not a coincidence – and should serve as a cautionary tale for citizens and leaders in Europe and the Americas who have convinced themselves that “renewables equal resilience” when it comes to the electric grid.

They have convinced themselves that they must attach massive amounts of wind and solar systems to their existing bulk power grids in an effort to stave off “climate change” and to “go green.” Setting aside the arguments about climate change, a main concern should be whether the widespread adoption of grid-scale wind and solar systems makes the grid more resilient.

Unfortunately – it doesn’t – and Spain just proved it.

The Cause of Spain’s Blackout:

People have wondered whether Spain’s blackout could have been induced by or assisted by a malicious cyberattack. Such risks are very real and exacerbated when grids are heavily dependent on wind and solar power generation, which must rely on equipment sourced from a nation hostile to the West: Communist China. But most experts are laying the blame for Spain’s outage on a natural byproduct of an electric grid overly penetrated by wind and solar power generation systems – sub-synchronous oscillations (SSO).

The electric grids in America and Europe run on alternating current (A/C) electricity, which operates on synchronous frequency (fifty Hz in Europe and sixty Hz in America). Before the widespread introduction of wind and solar systems, the grid was powered by large power plants (such as coal, natural gas, or nuclear) which use big, heavy turbines that spin at a steady rate (again, at either fifty or sixty Hz.) These turbines build up inertia – momentum that resists sudden changes – and they all act a lot like shock absorbers, keeping the grid stable.

In contrast, wind turbines and solar panels connect to the grid through electronic devices called inverters, which don’t spin, don’t provide the same inertia and also inject energy into the grid in an intermittent fashion (such as when the wind is blowing and when the sun is shining). An overall increase in this intermittency and an overall decrease in inertia can cause the grid’s synchronous frequency to drop, causing sub-synchronous oscillation (SSO).

Compare the grid to a child swinging on a swing set in the schoolyard. When the child starts swinging at a steady rate and starts experiencing inertia, he or she moves rather effortlessly through the air in a synchronous fashion. Now imagine someone grabs and pulls and pushes one of the chains on that swing, distorting the child’s momentum. At that point, in order to prevent injury, the child is going to immediately stop swinging and get off the swing.

Similarly, when SSO happens on the grid, its operators, electronic management and protective safety systems will shut the grid down to try to prevent damage. SSO causes vibrations which can ruin equipment, such as turbines, if they shake too much. SSO also causes harmonics, which result in heat that can also destroy grid equipment. The more SSO happens to an electric grid, the faster its components wear out.

The Limits of Green Energy:

To reduce the chance of SSO, many grid operators try to preserve at least half or more of their generation sources from “baseload power” generators such as coal, gas, or nuclear to maintain that synchronous inertia. While some argue that expanding battery energy storage systems (BESS) – Spain maintains only sixty megawatts of battery storage compared to Texas’s 11,000 megawatts – could have helped stave off Spain’s grid collapse, other utility engineers who have reviewed data from Spain’s national electric utility aren’t so sure that it would have made a difference. Ultimately, any amount of grid-scale wind and solar generation complicates grid operations significantly.

Wind and solar have limited dispatchability, which means, unlike fossil fuel or nuclear plants, they cannot ramp up or down to match real-time grid needs, complicating load-balancing during peak demand or sudden disruptions. This means that grid operators must rely on advanced grid management systems and forecasting tools. In general, more complexity usually means less resilience.

Wind and solar power generation systems can play a role in enhancing resilience if they are domestically produced and employed properly – at the local level and focused on the types of electrical loads they can handle. Such micro-grid systems can operate either independently or as an augment to the larger electric grid, and can greatly improve resilience for individual households, facilities or even communities if the larger grid fails. For this reason, resilience-minded emergency managers have applied these systems to their facilities to make them “off-grid capable.”

Ultimately, American leaders who are interested in enhancing energy resilience are best served by focusing their efforts on relegating wind, solar, and battery systems to smaller localized microgrids while changing course on how they treat the bulk power system, as the Trump Administration has already begun through a series of executive orders. Re-embracing base-load power generators, declaring nuclear a renewable energy source by recycling spent nuclear fuel, and securing our electric grid from known hazards, will help keep the lights on in America.

AUTHOR

Tommy Waller

President & CEO.

EDITORS NOTE: This Center for Security Policy column is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved.