If global warming is a hoax.

Over a week ago, the leading climate research institution, the Hadley Climate Research Unit (CRU) was compromised by an email hacker.  The hacked emails exposed some of the most nefarious cover-ups in climate research, one of which namely, that the earth has been cooling for the past ten years.

The public has been steadily becoming more skeptical of the idea of global warming, not from arguments from leading skeptics, but from their experience with nature.

So, put another way, if most of the public were told that the climate experts were messing with the numbers to make sure that millions of important people across the globe won’t lose money on their investment of green technology, most of the public would say, “figures.”

That is what is happening.

But, just for fun, let’s think about what would happen if global warming was able to be proved wrong beyond a shadow of a doubt, and that man hasn’t the power to change the earth’s climate.

1. Electricity would be cheap.  Some restrictions on coal plants would still be in place due to the concern of pollution and smog, but the production of electricity would be easier to attain at low cost.  From studying the Rogers City Coal Plant story, I know that it is the global warming mass hysteria that is causing electricity manufacturers to worry about their bottom line and feasibility.  It is especially hard for those companies right now because the full force of the United States Government buys into the hysteria and is an obstacle between the producers and the consumers.
2. Automobiles would be more safe and less expensive.  CAFE standards are the biggest restriction on auto manufacturing and with the global warming hysteria, it has gotten so bad, the whole industry is on life support.  Every fuel economy standard that descends from the government on high clamps down harder and harder on the manufacturers.   The laws of physics demand that to increase fuel efficiency, the vehicle made must be lighter, therefore, less steel exists between you and an oncoming vehicle.  Every emissions directive from the government is given supposedly to “save the environment,” when in fact the inclusion of hybrid and ethanol–so called ‘greener’ advances–adds thousands of dollars to the vehicle.
3. Oil and gas would be cheap.  After all, the restrictions placed on domestic supplies of oil and coal and natural gas, although originally placed because of a fear of “mangling the environment for greed,” are now said to be off limits because green technology will replace oil, coal and gas.  The global warming fanatics said that the burning of oil, coal and natural gas creates increased levels of CO2 which is the main green house gas that causes global warming.

Of course there are more things that would improve if global warming were seen to be the hoax it is, but these “Big 3″ are killing Michigan right now.

It seems funny to me that the very simple, “what if you are wrong?” introspection has escaped the leaders of global warming hysteria.  In fact, if these hacked emails prove to show enough evidence (and I believe they do) to warrant a complete and total backtracking of all science on the subject, then more investigation must be demanded.

I know this will take pressure like no one has ever seen before, after all, our children are taught in school that global warming is a fact, not a theory, and they are graded on their internalization of the science behind it.  What would it look like if all the teachers and textbooks had to change everything they have been teaching?

But, just think, if the globe has been cooling and we haven’t been doing a darn thing about it…….

Links:  (thanks to Dave Hatter)

31,478 American scientists, including 9,021 with PhDs who have signed a petition stating that Global Warming is a farce:
http://www.petitionproject.org/

700+ international scientists who dissent over man-made global warming claims:
http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Minority.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=d6d95751-802a-23ad-4496-7ec7e1641f2f&Region_id=&Issue_id

Times Online: Climate change data dumped
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article6936328.ece

Telegraph: Climate change: this is the worst scientific scandal of our generation
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/christopherbooker/6679082/Climate-change-this-is-the-worst-scientific-scandal-of-our-generation.html

Telegraph: Climategate: the final nail in the coffin of ‘Anthropogenic Global Warming’?
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jamesdelingpole/100017393/climategate-the-final-nail-in-the-coffin-of-anthropogenic-global-warming/

Climategate: University of East Anglia U-turn in climate change row
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/copenhagen-climate-change-confe/6678469/Climategate-University-of-East-Anglia-U-turn-in-climate-change-row.html

Technology Review @ MIT: Global Warming Bombshell
http://www.technologyreview.com/Energy/13830/

UN Scientist Declares Climategate colleagues Mann, Jones and Rahmstorf ’should be barred from the IPCC process’ — They are ‘not credible any more’
http://networkedblogs.com/p19371320

Vincent Gray (IPCC expert reviewer) on Climategate: ‘There Was Proof of Fraud All Along’
http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/vincent-gray-on-climategate-there-was-proof-of-fraud-all-along-pjm-exclusive/

VIDEO: Climate Change Bombshell: Dr. Tim Ball on the hacked CRU emails
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ydo2Mwnwpac

WSj: Rigging a Climate ‘Consensus’ – About those emails and ‘peer review.’
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703499404574559630382048494.html?mod=djemEditorialPage

UK Guardian: Pretending the climate email leak isn’t a crisis won’t make it go away
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/georgemonbiot/2009/nov/25/monbiot-climate-leak-crisis-response

UK Daily Mail: Climate change scandal deepens as BBC expert claims he was sent leaked emails six weeks ago
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1230943/Climate-change-scandal-BBC-expert-sent-cover-emails-month-public.html

Climategate: what Gore’s useful idiot Ed Begley Jr doesn’t get about the ‘peer review’ process
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jamesdelingpole/100017987/climategate-what-gores-useful-idiot-ed-begley-jr-doesnt-get-about-the-peer-review-process/

Telegraph: Climategate: the scandal spreads, the plot thickens, the shame deepens…
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jamesdelingpole/100017977/climategate-the-scandal-spreads-the-plot-thickens-the-shame-deepens/

Fox News: Climate Skeptics See ‘Smoking Gun’ in Researchers’ Leaked E-Mails
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,576009,00.html

UK Guardian: Climate sceptics claim leaked emails are evidence of collusion among scientists
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/nov/20/climate-sceptics-hackers-leaked-emails?CMP=AFCYAH

WSJ: The impression left by the Climategate emails is that the global warming game has been rigged from the start
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703499404574559630382048494.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Climategate: five Aussie MPs lead the way by resigning in disgust over carbon tax
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jamesdelingpole/100018003/climategate-five-aussie-mps-lead-the-way-by-resigning-in-disgust-over-carbon-tax/

Canada Free Press: A Political Who’s Who of Global Warming Liars
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/17270

The Australian: Hackers expose climate brawl
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/hackers-expose-climate-brawl/story-e6frg6nf-1225801879912

WaPo: Hackers steal electronic data from top climate research center
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/20/AR2009112004093_pf.html

NY Times: Hacked E-Mail Is New Fodder for Climate Dispute
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/21/science/earth/21climate.html?_r=1

Telegraph: Lord Lawson calls for public inquiry into UEA global warming data ‘manipulation’
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/globalwarming/6634282/Lord-Lawson-calls-for-public-inquiry-into-UEA-global-warming-data-manipulation.html

ClimateGate: The Fix is In
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/11/24/the_fix_is_in_99280.html

Global Warming Scientists Are In A Global Meltdown
http://www.bluegrasspundit.com/2009/11/golbal-warming-scientists-are-in-global.html

Senator Inhofe Says He Will Call for Investigation on “Climategate”
http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Minority.Blogs&ContentRecord_id=2188feb3-802a-23ad-4de4-3fbc0a92e126&Issue_id

Greenpeace Leader Admits Arctic Ice Exaggeration
http://aipnews.com/talk/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=10508&posts=1

WaPo: Stolen e-mails reveal venomous feelings toward skeptics
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/21/AR2009112102186_pf.html

IBD: The Day Global Warming Stood Still
http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=513195

CBS: EPA May Have Suppressed Report Skeptical Of Global Warming
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/06/26/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry5117890.shtml

Climate Centre hacked
http://www.investigatemagazine.com/australia/latestissue.pdf

Global Warming Scientists Are In A Global Meltdown
http://www.bluegrasspundit.com/2009/11/golbal-warming-scientists-are-in-global.html

Open Kyoto to debate – 59 Climate Scientists
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/financialpost/story.html?id=3711460e-bd5a-475d-a6be-4db87559d605

AMS Survey of Weathercasters on Climate Change
http://www.alabamawx.com/?p=24574

Climate change hits Mars
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article1720024.ece

Stagnating Temperatures: Climatologists Baffled by Global Warming Time-Out
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,662092,00.htm

National Post – Climate change: The deniers
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/posted/pages/climate-change-the-deniers.aspx

Stossel: Climate McCarthyism
http://stossel.blogs.foxbusiness.com/2009/11/11/climate-mccarthyism/

VIDEO: Kid’s show Mr. Wizard debunks Spotted Owl Gore’s Fearmongering about melting ice caps and global flooding
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKiq5EwkzDg&feature=player_embedded

EPA Attorneys Speak Out Against White House-Backed Climate Change Proposal Cap and Trade
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8a-oaXAQY8A

The EPA Silences a Climate Skeptic
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124657655235589119.html

Scientists Put Global Warming Into Deep Freeze – Warn Of The Coming Ice Age
http://www.theweeklyvice.com/2009/06/scientists-put-global-warming-into-deep.html

VIDEO – Policy Peril: The Truth About Global Warming
http://www.viddler.com/explore/ceivideo/videos/82/

Global warming’s most dangerous apostate speaks out about the state of climate change science.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704335904574496850939846712.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

NRO: ‘The Dog Ate My Global Warming’; Underlying ‘Support’ For Climate Claims May Be Gone
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/tom-blumer/2009/09/26/nro-dog-ate-my-global-warming-underlying-support-climate-claims-may-be-g

NCPA: IF YOU ENJOYED THIS YEAR’S RECESSION, JUST WAIT FOR CAP AND TRADE
http://www.ncpa.org/sub/dpd/index.php?Article_ID=18520&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=DPD

WASH TIMES: Green world government – The U.N. uses environmentalism to seize control
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/oct/27/green-world-government/

NRO: The Dog Ate Global Warming – Interpreting climate data can be hard enough. What if some key data have been fiddled?
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=ZTBiMTRlMDQxNzEyMmRhZjU3ZmYzODI5MGY4ZWI5OWM=&w=MA==

VIDEO – Senator Inhofe discussing the report covered up by the EPA – MUST WATCH!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aL9FkkDhOwg

Climate change ’sceptic’ Ian Plimer argues CO2 is not causing global warming
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/6553592/Climate-change-sceptic-Ian-Plimer-argues-CO2-is-not-causing-global-warming.html

US News – Scientist: Carbon Dioxide Doesn’t Cause Global Warming
http://www.usnews.com/blogs/washington-whispers/2009/10/07/scientist-carbon-dioxide-doesnt-cause-global-warming.html

An Inconvenient Rebuttal
http://townhall.com/columnists/SuzanneFields/2009/10/23/an_inconvenient_rebuttal?page=full

What happened to global warming?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8299079.stm

The “Hockey Stick”: A New Low in Climate Science
http://www.john-daly.com/hockey/hockey.htm

Mann defends hockey stick!
http://heliogenic.blogspot.com/2009/02/mann-defends-hockey-stick.html

U.S. Chamber of Commerce seeks trial on global warming
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-climate-trial25-2009aug25,0,901567.story

Carbon Dioxide irrelevant in climate debate says MIT Scientist
http://www.examiner.com/x-7715-Portland-Civil-Rights-Examiner~y2009m8d18-Carbon-Dioxide-irrelevant-in-climate-debate-says-MIT-Scientist

IBD: Asian Cold Water On Global Warming
http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=512599

Exposing the Special Interests Behind Waxman-Markey
http://www.americansforprosperity.org/files/Policy_Paper_0909_0.pdf

Burt Rutan on Climate Change
http://rps3.com/Pages/Burt_Rutan_on_Climate_Change.htm

Scientists Rebut Claim That Man Causes Climate Change
http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/55278

Three Decades Of Global Cooling
http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=508767

35 Inconvenient Truths: The errors in Al Gore’s movie
http://scienceandpublicpolicy.org/monckton/goreerrors.html

Telegraph: The real climate change catastrophe
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/6425269/The-real-climate-change-catastrophe.html

Peer-Reviewed Study Rocks Climate Debate! ‘Nature not man responsible for recent global warming…little or none of late 20th century warming and cooling can be attributed to humans’
http://www.climatedepot.com/a/2117/New-PeerReviewed-Study-Rocks-Climate-Debate-Nature-not-man-responsible-for-recent-global-warminglittle-or-none-of-late-20th-century-warming-and-cooling-can-be-attributed-to-humans

Drop in world temperatures fuels global warming debate
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/226/story/74019.html

U.N. climate meeting was propaganda: Czech president
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE58L6ID20090922

NY Times Writer Worries That Mother Nature Not Cooperating With Global Warming Agenda
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/p-j-gladnick/2009/09/22/ny-times-writer-worries-mother-nature-not-cooperating-global-warming-a

Cutting carbon emissions won’t stop climate change, expert says
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4711770,00.html

Vancouver Sun: Global warming is the new religion of First World urban elites
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Global+warming+religion+First+World+urban+elites/1835847/story.html

Peter Foster: The man who doubted Al Gore
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2009/08/28/peter-foster-the-man-who-doubted-al-gore.aspx

Lies Revealed — Greenpeace Leader Admits Arctic Ice Exaggeration
http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/amcelhinney/2009/08/19/exclusive-lies-revealed-greenpeace-leader-admits-arctic-ice-exaggeration/

Another Meteorologist Dissents: ‘Does carbon dioxide drive the climate? The answer is no!’
http://www.climatedepot.com/a/1894/Another-Meteorologist-Dissents-Does-carbon-dioxide-drive-the-climate-The-answer-is-no

Solar Physicist Predicts Ice Age. What happened to global warming?
http://www.examiner.com/x-13886-New-Haven-County-Environmental-Policy-Examiner~y2009m7d6-Solar-Physicist-Predicts-Ice-Age-What-happened-to-global-warming

Global Warming Primer from National Center for Policy Analysis
http://www.ncpa.org/pdfs/GlobalWarmingPrimer.pdf

Al Gore sued by over 30 Thousand Scientists
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9q_nJ5VjxRc

CEI Files EPA’s Own Suppressed Report, Demands EPA Global Warming Proceeding Be Reopened
http://cei.org/news-release/2009/06/30/cei-files-epa’s-own-suppressed-report-demands-epa-global-warming-proceeding-

Talking Points On Climate Change: Science, Economics, And More – by Jay Lehr, Ph.D
http://www.globalwarmingheartland.org/full/25354/Talking_Points_On_Climate_Change_Science_Economics_And_More.html

Meet the man who has exposed the great climate change con trick
http://www.spectator.co.uk/the-magazine/features/3755623/meet-the-man-who-has-exposed-the-great-climate-change-con-trick.thtml

Congressman Broun: Climate Change Is A Hoax
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxxE8n7xX_o

Debunking ‘climaste change myths’
http://www.news-leader.com/article/20090814/NEWS01/908140373/Debunking%20%20climaste%20change%20myths%20

Earth’s ‘Fever’ Breaks! Global temperatures ‘have plunged .74°F since Gore released ‘An Inconvenient Truth’
http://www.climatedepot.com/a/1799/Earths-Fever-Breaks-Global-temperatures-have-plunged-74degF-since-Gore-released-An-Inconvenient-Truth

Pravda article about the coming Ice Age:
http://english.pravda.ru/science/earth/106922-earth_ice_age-0

I’m a skeptic now, says ex-NASA climate boss – Hansen supervisor takes aim at thermageddon
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/01/28/nasa_climate_theon/

Weather Channel Founder: Global Warming ‘Greatest Scam in History’
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2007/11/07/weather-channel-founder-global-warming-greatest-scam-history

Video: Weather Channel Founder John Coleman slams global warming
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lk8SSqc7ekM
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2007/11/07/weather-channel-founder-global-warming-greatest-scam-history

WASH TIMES: Government study: climate bill could cost jobs
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/aug/04/study-finds-climate-bill-could-cost-jobs/

Gore: U.S. Climate Bill Will Help Bring About ‘Global Governance’
http://www.climatedepot.com/a/1893/Gore-US-Climate-Bill-Will-Help-Bring-About-Global-Governance

The Amazing Story Behind the Global Warming Scam
http://www.kusi.com/weather/colemanscorner/38574742.html

Global warming? Not so fast, skeptics say at meeting
http://hamptonroads.com.nyud.net/2009/06/global-warming-not-so-fast-skeptics-say-meeting

Gore isn’t quite as green as he’s led the world to believe
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2006-08-09-gore-green_x.htm

Congressman Ron Paul Statement on Global Warming Petition Signed by 31,478 Scientists
http://www.campaignforliberty.com/article.php?view=114

Scientist: Global Warming Evidence, Claims Exaggerated
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,500327,00.html

Gore Pulls Slide of Disaster Trends
http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/23/gore-pulls-slide-of-disaster-trends/

Japan’s boffins: Global warming isn’t man-made -Climate science is ‘ancient astrology’, claims report
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/02/25/jstor_climate_report_translation/

Southeast Drought Study Ties Water Shortage to Population, Not Global Warming
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/02/science/earth/02drought.html?_r=1

Scientists meet to dispute global warming theory
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Culture/Default.aspx?id=439146

CO2 a pollutant? ‘Ridiculous,’ says scientist
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Culture/Default.aspx?id=433994

Political climate for energy policies cools
http://www.lvrj.com/news/52828402.html

UW-Milwaukee Study Could Realign Climate Change Theory
http://www.wisn.com/weather/18935841/detail.html

Shocker: ‘Global warming’ simply no longer happening
http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=92557

U.N. ‘Climate Change’ Plan Would Likely Shift Trillions to Form New World Economy
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,510937,00.html

Boffins: Atlantic temperature ruled by dust, not CO2
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/03/27/atlantic_dust_temp_hurricane_study/

NASA: Clean-air regs, not CO₂, are melting the ice cap
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/04/09/arctic_aerosols_goddard_institute/

Rise of sea levels is ‘the greatest lie ever told’
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/christopherbooker/5067351/Rise-of-sea-levels-is-the-greatest-lie-ever-told.html

More Americans Believe Global Warming Natural Versus Man-made
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2009/04/18/more-americans-believe-global-warming-natural-versus-man-made

Report: Antarctic Ice Growing, Not Shrinking
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,517035,00.html

Fuzzy Math: According to an MIT study, cap and trade could cost the average household more than $3,900 per year
http://weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/016/412cwueq.asp?pg=2

Report: Democrats Refuse to Allow Skeptic to Testify Alongside Gore At Congressional Hearing
http://www.climatedepot.com/a/429/Report-Democrats-Refuse-to-Allow-Skeptic-to-Testify-Alongside-Gore-At-Congressional-Hearing

Guardian Columnist Wants to ‘Cull’ the Developed World to Stop Global Warming
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/lachlan-markay/2009/10/26/guardian-columnist-wants-cull-developed-world-stop-global-warming

Rep. Dingell (D-MI): Cap And Trade Is A Big Tax
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_VqTQiQsp4

NBC Affiliate Meteorologist Rips MSNBC for Apocalyptic Global Warming Special
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/jeff-poor/2009/04/27/nbc-affiliate-meteorologist-rips-msnbc-apocalyptic-global-warming-special

Herald Sun: Global warming alarmists out in cold
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25401759-5000117,00.html

Investor’s Business Daily: Deeper In Red From Going Green
http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=324686795308861

Lawmakers’ Global-Warming Trip Hit Tourist Hot Spots
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124967502810515267.html

Top British boffin: Time to ditch the climate consensus
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/05/06/mike_hulme_interview/

WaPo: Memo exposes global warming dispute – EPA science called ’stretch’
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/may/13/memo-exposes-warming-dispute/

Deep Ocean Conveyor Belt Reconsidered
http://davehatter.wordpress.com/2009/04/17/global-warmingclimate-change-is-the-greatest-scam-in-history/

Skeptical Environmentalist’ Doubts ‘Underwater Manhattan’ Global Warming Scenario
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/jeff-poor/2009/05/18/skeptical-environmentalist-doubts-underwater-manhattan-global-warming-sce

Elites out of touch on guns and climate
http://www.detnews.com/article/20090526/OPINION03/905260311/1008/opinion01/Elites-out-of-touch-on-guns-and-climate

WSJ: Need for Speed (Read) to Pass Climate Bill
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124278191732237461.html

US Chamber: Endangerous Science
http://www.chamberpost.com/2009/06/endangerous-science.html

NRO: Behind the Cap-and-Trade Curtain
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MTQxNDQwMGJiNmMzNDUyYjk5MTRhZmUxOTFiNzYyNzM%3D

Fortune: What if global-warming fears are overblown?
http://money.cnn.com/2009/05/14/magazines/fortune/globalwarming.fortune/index.htm

WSJ: The Climate Change Climate Change
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124597505076157449.html

Past warming shows gaps in climate knowledge – study
http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-41050320090715

Dr. Walter E. Williams: EPA Cover-Up
http://townhall.com/columnists/WalterEWilliams/2009/07/15/epa_cover-up

Science and Public Policy Institute
http://scienceandpublicpolicy.org

Junk Science:
http://www.junkscience.com

Competitive Enterprise Institute:
http://cei.org

There Is No Global Warming
http://thereisnoglobalwarming.com

My Top 10  Annoyances in the Climate Change Debate.

http://www.drroyspencer.com/2009/11/my-top-10-annoyances-in-the-climate-change-debate/

Inquiry into stolen climate emails.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8383713.stm

Climategate: University of East Anglia U-turn in climate change row.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/copenhagen-climate-change-confe/6678469/Climategate-University-of-East-Anglia-U-turn-in-climate-change-row.html

Climategate’s Michael Mann being investigated by Penn State

http://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2009/11/28/climategates-michael-mann-be-investigated-penn-state

CO2 Aquittal

http://www.rocketscientistsjournal.com/2006/10/co2_acquittal.html

The Scientists Involved in Deliberately Deceiving the World on Climate

http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/17364

 

The Proposed Coal-Fired Power Plant in Rogers City, MI Part 15

click here to view Part 14

Here come the politicians

In April, during the County Republican Party’s Lincoln Day Dinner, several state lawmakers spoke in favor of the plant and against the Governor.

House Minority Leader Kevin Elsenheimer stated,

“Our governor seems to have a real problem with coal-fired power plants. When I was sitting in the front row during her State of the State address this year and she said ‘we are going to fight coal by increasing the requirements that the DEQ has in order to approve power plants,’ I just looked at her and said ‘governor, 1,800 jobs in Presque Isle County, what are you talking about?”

“Yet she went on and issued an executive order that changed the law of the state of Michigan by the stroke of a pen that makes it more difficult to operate these plants.” Disturbed by the executive order, Elsenheimer and other state legislators, both Democrat and Republican, petitioned attorney General Mike Cox, to rescind the executive order.”

Thankfully, the executive order was rescinded. What Granholm intended to do with the executive order is to change the air permitting rules.  The Attorney General Mike Cox stated,

“Governors can sign bills into law, but they cannot write them.  That is the legislature’s job.”

“If the governor wants to pursue changes to the law, the legislature is the proper forum.”

U.S. Congressman Bart Stupak voiced his approval of the plant in a visit as well.  He said he has always been impressed with Wolverine’s up -front and honest approach in presenting both the positives of the project and thing that may cause some concern. Speaking about the proposed plant,

“Let me be very clear, I fully support it.  I think it is the right thing to do.  I think we must have it.  I think Wolverine is doing everything they can to make this a positive utility.”

Stupak is a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee and has been working on the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACES,) more commonly know as the global warming bill, or cap and trade.

click here to view Part 16

The Proposed Coal-Fired Power Plant in Rogers City, MI Part 14

click here to view Part 13

Wind Energy Depends on Your Wind

Despite the bad political climate, some leaders of Presque Isle County took a trip to observe a coal-fired plant under construction in Boyce, Louisiana.  Read the story here.

In March, another trip, this time to a wind mill gave some insight on the Adam’s Point feasibility of the wind farm proposal by Wolverine discussed in Part 3 of this series.  It seems that at this point in the story, Wolverine was not having luck finding enough wind needed to put up windmills.   Quoting the  Advance, “The Adams Point site was being pursued after initial discussions with Oglebay Norton’s former company president and CEO Mike Lundin, who suggested the location.

“Mike said that it is really windy there,” said Bradstreet. “If you look at a state wind map, where they look at the geography and they make a guesstimate of whether that is going to be a good area, it’s not particularly good. That isn’t based on actual tests.

“Everyone I talk to in Rogers City says this is the windiest place you’ll ever find. We hope that is true, but we need to put some statistics behind that,” said Geiger. In September 2007, a 200-foot meteorological tower was put up. “Its purpose is to get a better understanding of what the wind in that area is like,” said Geiger. “We need to get an understanding of how hard the wind is blowing, and how often. In any case, we’ve had the tower up for some time now.”

Since Adam’s Point is in Pulawski Township, some of the leaders of Pulawski took a trip to the thumb area to learn about wind farms.  The Township Clerk of Oliver in Huron County just happened to own a farm on which three wind mills generate power.  The windmills on his land are part of the 32 Canadian made windmills of John Deere Wind Energy, whose electricity is bought by Wolverine.   It took one month to put the turbines up.  He talked about the increased tax base and the fact that the area was exceptionally windy.  He added that in the 15 month of operation of the windmills, electric bills haven’t gone down, but they haven’t gone up either.   He also said that some utilities were tacking on additional charges for the future development of green energy.  The 32 windmills produce a maximum of 52.8 megawatts. The entire project costed 94 million.

What that means to me is that 32 wind turbines in a very windy area can produce almost 53 megawatts of electricity, for 94 million dollars with very little sustainable job creation.  Compare that with one clean coal plant bulit in the middle of a limestone quarry that can produce 600 megawatts of electricity, for about the same money and over 1000 temporary jobs and 100 permanent jobs right here in Michigan.

However, that was not the reason the officials went to view the wind farm, it was to understand the pros and cons of having wind turbines as an addition to the coal plant.  If Adam’s Point does not generate enough wind to produce electricity, there will be no windmills built.  That is what happens when you rely on Mother Nature.

click here to view Part 15

The Proposed Coal-Fired Power Plant in Rogers City MI Part 13

click here view Part 12

Michigan Blown Away

Governor Jennifer Granholm gave her state-of-the-state address in February adding to the obstacles placed in the way of Presque Isle’s economic recovery.  You can read the Advance’s story about it here. She pushed for reliance on solar and wind power and energy conservation.  Strong conservation habits will be needed precisely because she wants to rely on solar and wind.  She introduced a “bold” new “goal” of decreasing the usage of fossil fuels in Michigan by 45% by the year 2020.

“How will we reach this 45-by-20 goal and get the jobs that come with it? Instead of spending nearly $2 billion a year importing coal or natural gas from other states we’ll be spending our energy dollars on Michigan wind turbines, Michigan solar panels, Michigan energy-efficiency devices….”  You read that right, she said “instead of.”  Granholm’s plan is to eliminate coal-power.  If you are keeping score, that puts Granholm on the side of the people who want Rogers City to lose.

“That’s why I have directed the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to evaluate, in consultation with our Public Service Commission, both the need for additional electricity generation and all feasible and prudent alternatives before approving new coal-fired power plants in Michigan.”

I mention this because it will become relevant later in this series.  Granholm’s expectation that Michiganders will be able to conserve our way to economic prosperity is a very laughable stance indeed, unless of course you consider the fact that Michigan is and has been the fastest emptying state ever since she came into office.

She also mentions that part of her four point plan is that new jobs will be created when Michiganders winterize their homes.  That is a side-splitter.  To think that all of us moronic citizens of Michigan haven’t yet thought to winterize our homes and we need the Governor of the state to tell us to do so.

As for Rogers City, the following week a group of citizens traveled to Louisiana to see how a coal plant in construction impacted a small town.

click here to view Part 14

The Proposed Coal-Fired Power Plant in Rogers City, MI Part 12

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Michigan: Pure, Pristine and Poor

Several things happened in the weeks following the Rogers City public hearings.  We learned that due to an error in the public comment ad taken out by the DEQ, the public comment period would be extended to January with another public hearing in Lansing on January 6th.  The editorial pages of the Advance were filled again with opinions about the public hearings, the environmental groups, and the job situation.  Adding to the mix, Wolverine had a proposal for an additional boat slip at Calcite’s deep sea port in order to ship in coal.  The Advance reported that the city was unanimously in favor of Wolverine and Carmeuse (owner of the limestone quarry) working together to get a slip approved that would accommodate two 1,000 foot ships at a time.  Right now, Calcite cannot accommodate one 1,000 foot ship, so the benefit to the community would be that more ships would be available to carry Rogers City Limestone products.

As interest in coal plants by the townspeople increased, they learned that a proposed plant in Holland, MI was going to be going through similar public hearings experienced by Rogers City.

In the December 18th Advance, it was reported, “Environmental groups ask governor to halt coal plants.”

“Gov. Jennifer Granholm has been an energy leader and this is her opportunity to slam the brakes on Michigan’s one-of-a-kind coal rush, protect the health of our families and create 21st century green energy jobs,” said Anne Woiwode, state director of the Michigan Sierra Club. “The writing is on the wall for coal. Gov. Granholm has long recognized this and she can now provide the leadership our state needs to jump-start our move away from coal and toward clean, renewable energy.”

Another excerpt reads,

“If allowed to move forward, the Wolverine Clean Energy Venture will have significant financial impact on the area and statewide. Wolverine has stated the capital investment will be around $1 billion, doubling the state equalized value (SEV) of Presque Isle County.

Construction of the power plant will create 1,000 temporary jobs, and 100 permanent positions will be filled to operate the plant, which may be in operation as soon as 2012, according to Wolverine. Jobs in engineering, plant operations and plant maintenance will be created at salaries ranging from $40,000 to $100,000 per year plus benefits.”

I chose those two excerpts because that is the main argument here.  On the one hand, the environmentalists want to kill coal, on the other, one of the most severely economically depressed areas of Michigan would potentially boom.

In the January 8th edition of the Advance, the Lansing hearing was reported.  You can read the story here.

Since the hearing was held in Lansing, a number of state representatives had their say, including State Representative Andy Neumann of the 106th Congressional District spoke first.

“I have lived my whole life in northeast Michigan in Alpena and spent much of my youth in the Rogers City area. I know many of the struggles that the community and all of northeast Michigan has faced especially over the past two decades where we have had some of the highest unemployment rates across the state. As a matter of fact, Rogers City, or Presque Isle County had unemployment rates last winter of close to 20 percent. And most certainly this coming winter with our economy unemployment rates will probably reach the mid 20 percent range.”

“This proposed plant would be one of the cleanest in the United States it would also have the added advantage of burning up to 20 percent carbon neutral fuel by using locally produced biomass. This proposed plant by burning just 10 percent biomass would produce 350 critically needed permanent full time jobs. By burning 20 percent this plant would produce more than 500 jobs. This plant would also double the state equalization value of Presque Isle County. If we do not allow this plant, coal-fired plants will be permitted in other states, which are currently being built. And they will be in places that we are going to have to import our power from, places we are going to be sending our money to, places that are going to have the jobs we could have, places that are going to control this power source that we could control. I would hope the DEQ and the state of Michigan would allow this permit process and help move this forward,” said Neumann.

103rd District State Representative Joel Sheltrown gave an interesting thought, “…there are some that would wish that northern Michigan would remain pure, pristine and poor.”

click here to view Part 13

The Proposed Coal-Fired Power Plant in Rogers City, MI Part 11

click here to view Part 10

Public Hearings

C. Vinson Hellwig, Chief of the Air Quality Division of the MDEQ was seated with moderator and former Rogers City Mayor David Nadolsky to recieve comments from the concerned public at the public hearings on October 29th and 30th, 2008.  The bleachers were packed with many locals and of course, the environmentalists.  In all, 86 different people testified, the Advance  mentions, “Although all commentators didn’t comment directly on the air quality permit, there was no shortage of opinions given over two days of testimony. More than 600 attended the first session, many in white T-shirts with support for Wolverine, far out-numbering those in opposition. Around 200 attended the second night, with barely 75 people left in the gymnasium when the session ended at 10:30 p.m.”

These two evenings were filled with intensity and as a person interested in politics and human behavior, it was fun.  To me, the most notable things that happened were the most heartfelt testimonies given by some of the locals.

See, throughout this process, the ever-looming threat that this may not become reality had become the elephant in the room for many.  I grew up in this small town as did many of the most ardent supporters of the plant.  Many locals were absolutely disgusted with the environmental groups for their condescension and lack of economic logic.  Some of the testimony certainly was just opinion by locals but for that matter, so was the testimony given by the environmentalists.  I had decided to speak on the 29th, but as I watched local after local give logical reasons why the permit should be given, including the fact that the DEQ already said it was safe, I could see that what I had to say must be directed at testimony given by the environmentalists.  It looked like most of that testimony may come on the second day.

A local man gave testimony directed at the environmentalist job killers.  It was very logical and it sticks in my mind because of it’s rationale.  He said something like,  “I have lived here all my life, I have a very large extended family here, and every one of us has come up against the DEQ for something, digging a pond, clearing land and so on. They are so good at what they do to protect the environment, that a lot of us have gotten hot under the collar against them. Do you really think they would allow toxic pollutants at high levels for this power plant?”

I spoke as well, I wanted to use the 5 minutes to make sure the environmentalists knew we were not stupid.  As I was sitting and waiting for my time to speak, I happened to be seated directly behind two people, a man and a woman, who had papers in front of them.  I thought they must be prepared to speak as well, so I peeked at their papers.  Both papers were exactly the same and I realized they were prewritten speech samples from some environmental group.  They both started with the sentence, “Hi, my name is ______ and I live in the nearby town of ___________.”  Both papers were nothing but fear-mongering about the “inevitable” blood cancers and internal bleeding and tumors and so on.  As I changed seats, I looked over at the man and noticed that he was the same guy who testified the night before who said he was from Millersburg and was “living on savings.”  Now, I knew he was full-of-it because nobody would live on savings in MBurg at his young age and be against the coal plant.  It is very difficult to believe that.  Plus, I took a picture of him the night before and he had a different mustache the second evening.  All of the environmentalist games were being played.  Representatives from the environmental group, The Michigan Land Institute were also there from across the state near Interlochen.  Every single man in that group (I had to giggle) were wearing plaid shirts in various colors, they must have all hit the same sale.  They were no doubt “trying to fit in” with the locals.  Lee Sprague took the cake in my view though.

Lee is the representative from the Sierra Club, a native American who stands about 6′ 5″ and wears his hair in two long braids.  He is a very impressive figure.  He had up to this point been a very embarrassing questioner of the DEQ who took swipes at their professionalism and expertise.  When Lee gave his testimony, it was obvious to those who had been paying attention that he was still beating the mercury drum.  That was his main focus in almost all of the public hearings so far.   After his sob story about going fishing with his son, my husband and I didn’t know whether to be embarrassed for him, or laugh uncontrollably.  In his testimony, Sprague told a story of when he went fishing with his son.  His son caught a fish and he had to tell the boy that he could not eat the fish. His boy said dad, we must eat what we kill.  He replied, no son we must not.  Lee asked how can I tell my son he cannot eat the fish because of the high levels of mercury that get absorbed into the fish?   Because of the mercury levels, he can’t eat Michigan fish anymore.  He also pointed out that as a Native American, everyone should understand that people of his ancestry always do what is right for the environment.

Now, we already knew at this point that the DEQ had done work to predict the amount of mercury that could possibly be emitted and that the nearest impact-able lake was Swan Lake and the levels with this plant would still be very low.  Of course, due to dissipation, there really was no other impact-able lake.   Besides the only reason we were there was to comment to the head of the DEQ about the air quality permit, not the water, but, that didn’t matter to the experts at the Sierra Club.  As for the claim that we were supposed to trust his word over the DEQ because of his ancestry, my husband commented to me about how devastated the lakes have become after all the gill-netting.

My testimony was aimed at the environmental groups.  I don’t remember what I said verbatim, but it was something like this.

I ask that the DEQ approve the permit for Wolverine Clean Energy Venture. I would like to address an argument that has been given against the plant by the Michigan Energy Alternatives Project. The idea that if the wolverine plant is built, your energy rates will double. Ladies and Gentleman, if they do, it is because the Sierra Club and Citizens for Environmental Inquiry and the Michigan Energy Alternatives Project will bleed Wolverine with lawsuit after lawsuit. It is on THEM. The people of P I county have spoken and open their arms to Wolverine. All the governmental representatives of this county have overwhelmingly pushed to support Wolverine including my own township, whose officials recently signed a resolution of support.

These outside groups, and believe me, the Citizens for Environmental Inquiry are not local, though their representatives are, have promised to kill this plant. The Sierra Club has no threshold. They are not here to get the company to lessen it’s output, they are here to make certain there is no power plant. They will bring lawsuit after lawsuit against Wolverine to drain capital in defense, and in the mean time, they will use scare tactics against our townspeople to lessen the community support. You will hear words like cancer and carcinogens and quote, “save that person from drowning to death slowly in his own blood.” Actually, I don’t know what that means, I just read it while I was sitting behind those two people ( I turned and pointed) who have papers that say exactly the same words verbatim, and both copies state an opening that says Hello I’m such and such and am currently a resident of Presque Isle County. Only that guy in the brown hat spoke last night and said he was from Millersburg and he has it crossed out of his speech tonight I see, so I know that’s a lie.

I will read from an LA Times article from April 14th, 2008 that states,”Every time a new coal-fired power plant is proposed anywhere in the United States, a lawyer form the Sierra Club or an allied environmental group is assigned to stop it, by any bureaucratic or legal means necessary.

They might frame the battle as a mater of zoning or water use, but the larger war is over global warming…..The plant by plant strategy is part of a campaign by environmentalists ……..The goal: ‘We hope to clog up the system.’ said David Bookbinder, the Sierra Clubs chief climate counsel…….”  (I discuss this article in Part 7 of this series and the fact that the LA Times erased it from the website, however at this time, the article is made whole.)

I also pointed to the Sierra Club’s website where they brag about how many coal plants they have killed .  As you can see here, they are still focused on shutting this down and are praising Jennifer Granholm for taking steps to kill it as well, but that part of the story will come later.

click here to view Part 12

The Proposed Coal-Fired Power Plant in Rogers City, MI Part 10

click here to view Part 9

Make room for the DEQ

The month of October in 2008 was so loaded with information and news that I have many times hesitated to synthesize it here.  Two major things happened, on October 1st, the Michigan DEQ visited Rogers City for an informational meeting, and public hearings were held October 29th and 30th.  At this point, the town and surrounding areas displayed massive support and excitement for the plant.  Local residents voluntarily made hundreds of yard signs that said “Lets all Support Wolverine Clean Energy Venture,”  every city street was lined with them as well as many rural roads.   The Advance alerted everyone to the informational meeting at the high school on October 1st. The meeting was 4 hours long, people came and went, listening to questions being answered by a panel of scientists from the DEQ.  If you wished to submit a question, they asked you to fill out a little card with the question and the questions would be picked and answered.  If you wished to directly ask a question, there was a microphone available.   There was also a table filled with documents including the DEQ’s assessment of the proposed plant.

I was impressed by the presentation by the DEQ.  They were very professional and kind even though many of the questions posed to them by the environmental groups were downright insulting.  The Advance offered a series in four parts of the questions and answers that took place at the meeting.  Part one can be seen here.  Part two here, and part three had some notable exchanges in it.

Question: Although there are no regulations on carbon dioxide emissions today, what happens to the Woverine plant if the federal government decides to regulate carbon dioxide emissions in the future?

(Mary Ann Dolehanty, DEQ acting permit section supervisor) – “We did not attempt to quantify carbon dioxide emissions in regards to this plant. We did not attempt to put limits in the permit. What the state of Michigan has elected to do is to approach this from a broad-based perspective. Through an executive order by the governor there was established the Michigan Climate Action Council. That council is charged with coming up with recommendations for where our state is going to go in relation to carbon dioxide regulations. What we may be looking at is new laws, regulations or rules that we have to operate under. If that were to happen, (Wolverine) would be subject to that and would have to make any modifications to comply with those rules.”

Question: –What is the environmental impact of mercury emissions?

(Sills) –“The environmental impacts of mercury exposure is very low in the air. In fact thousands of times lower than a level that can be estimated to cause any health effects. Accumulation levels in fish are on the order of about .004 parts per million which is roughly about 100 times lower than a level than probably is existing in fish now in this area which is still lower yet than levels that become of concern for the DEQ as a trigger to issue fish consumption advisories. “So this would be a very small increment to the levels that already exist and are naturally occurring in fish. It is not enough to bump it up over and get to a level of concern and this is looking at the most highly impacted lake, which is Swan Lake about three miles east of the facility.”

Part 4 to me, is the most notable back and forth both because it answers questions that will become relevant later in this series, and it debunks a lot of issues the outside groups had been insisting on arguing about.  This one is my favorite.

Question—Having established that you are qualified to conduct this permit process, and given your extensive review and the conditions established in the draft permit, do those conditions effectively protect the community of Rogers City and the county of Presque Isle? I would like each of you to answer this.

(Byrnes)—“Yes.” (Julie Brunner, P.E. DEQ senior environmental engineer, permit section)—“Yes.” (Haywood)—“Yes.” (Sills)—“Yes.” (Rogers)—“If they comply with it.”

I attended one of meetings of the Wolverine Clean Energy Venture Support Group within the next following weeks.  I personally was surprised at the attitudes of a few leaders there.  They believed that the coal plant was inevitable and that the environmental groups didn’t have any fight left in them.  However everyone was gearing up for the public hearings at the end of the month.

Shortly thereafter, the AndersonEconomic group gave it’s study results of the economic impact of the inclusion of biomass to the coal plant’s mix of alternative fuels.  Remember, the initial economic impact study did not include biomass.  The study looked at the expected job creation depending on how much biomass the company would include.  With just 5 percent usage of the natural materials, 54 jobs could be created within the four counties of Alpena, Montmorency, Presque Isle and Cheboygan.  If the company were to use 10 percent, 115 new jobs created, at 15%, 189 newly created jobs and if the company were to use  its 20 percent maximum, 284 new jobs.  These jobs are over and above the estimate of direct and indirect job creation besides the plant itself.

click here to view Part 11

The Proposed Coal-Fired Power Plant in Rogers City, MI Part 9

click here to view Part8

Death by a thousand paper cuts

Local prosecutor Rick Steiger  investigated the charge that Byron DeLong’s presence on the Planning Commission Board while simultaneously being a member of a group trying to stop the plant  found no legal reason why “having his name on the lawsuit qualified DeLong as having a legal conflict of interest.”  In rebuttal to the investigation initiated by Noffze, DeLong wrote an editorial wondering publicly why Noffze and, in his mind, Wolverine wanted to eject him from the planning commission. As I stated in Part 6 of this series, the group of people who called themselves the “Wolverine Clean Energy Support Group,” were private citizens who formed to show support for the coal plant.   The fact that DeLong equates the company with the group is unfair.  The reason for the investigation was because DeLong served on a planning commission for the plant, but was actively trying to put obstacles in it’s way.  He also discussed his interest in the state regulating CO2 so that “our air be clean.”

In the September 11, 2008 issue of the Advance the town of  Rogers City was notified that there were to be public hearings conducted by the DEQ in October.  The Advance thoroughly discusses the process for the hearings here.  Notice the sentence, “The Holland project lists a combination of coal, coke, sewage sludge, tires and wood waste.”   It seemed odd to me that all the arguing that ensued here in Rogers City over biomass lent to the worry and fear that the plant would burn tires.  But tire burning is actually being proposed in the Holland plant.

In the same issue of the Advance, Ken Bradstreet, the Director of Community and Governmental Affairs for Wolverine responded to DeLong’s letter.   Bradstreet sought to clear up some factual errors in DeLong’s letter and point out that Wolverine has been more than forthcoming and open.

In anticipation of the public hearings, Bradstreet held a meeting with about 60 community leaders in attendance to discuss what he predicted would happen in Rogers City as a result of his many years of dealing with energy and the government and environmental groups.  He pointed out in that meeting that the environmental groups use three methods of killing coal plants.  One, by raising issues designed to create fear.  Second, by creating confusion on the issues aimed at the legislature.  Finally the third tactic used is delay, knowing that citizens are usually not interested in long fights.   He also pointed out that on sulfur oxide the proposed project, compared to currently operating plants in Michigan is “about 20 times cleaner than the state average,” on nitrogen oxide, “more than five times cleaner,” and mercury, “about seven times cleaner.”  The Sierra Club is openly discussing it’s plans to kill this coal plant on their website.

Shortly thereafter, both Wolverine and representatives of the opposition attended a planning commission meeting.  Wolverine, to resolve the pet coke issue raised by DeLong in Part 8 of this series, and two men from the other side of the state,  Jim Dulzo and Tom Karas.   I’ve written in this series about Karas, but Dulzo is the head of the Michigan Land Institute. (See Part 6)

I have to take a break from the forward thrust of this story to tell the reader about how the environmentalists deceive the public.  All of the names like Michigan Land Institute, Michigan Environmental Council, and Michigan Energy Alternatives sound very official and professional, but in reality, they could have members of just two or three activists.  That is all they are–activists–most are paid by larger groups like the Sierra Club or Green Peace who take money from people all over the world.  Of course, it is difficult to get people to give you money if there is no crisis, so the people involved in these environmental “institutes” and “councils” are in a constant state of panic,  negativity and paranoia.

Anyway, back to the planning commission meeting, Dulzo and Karas tried to get the planning commission to not accept pet coke as a fuel for the plant by pointing out that pet coke is dusty, and will cause problems when “fugitive dust” floats around the area.   When I read that I laughed.  The fellows have obviously not been to Calcite.  If the problem with petroleum coke is that it is dusty, believe me, that’s not a problem.  Anyone who has ever tried to keep their car clean or in working condition after driving it to and from Calcite for any amount of time, knows a thing or two about dust.  Lime dust cakes underneath the vehicle, in the doors, everywhere.  People who work at Calcite drive beaters so they don’t ruin their family vehicles.   Dulzo said, “since burning pet coke emits five to eight percent more carbon, the savings from burning this dirtier, cheaper fuel could be cancelled out by the carbon tax that the federal government will soon impose on such emissions.”

The two men, arguing that since there was no language in the earlier permit for Wolverine to burn pet coke, that they must amend the standing permit which would require more delays finally upset the commission members.  Jerry Counterman said, “At the last meeting I made a motion that we have Wolverine make an amendment to their permit to include anything and everything that they might think of being used and the reason I make that motion is because I am tired of this nit-picking.  Every time we come to a meeting  it’s the same thing over and over again, if somebody says a toothpick then somebody says a tree.  To me this is a waste of time, and that’s why I made that motion.  Get it all on board and stop this nit-picking at every meeting, we have wasted hours and hours.”   Richard Wright said, “My comments have been used over and over again in regards to emphatically stating that this was coal only.  I need to make it very clear, what I am saying is being taken out of context, (by the opposition to the plant) I was not emphatic to only coal, I was concerned about the possibility of burning animal waste, medical waste, tires, etc.  I was absolutely against that for sure and did not mean coal only.”  Byron DeLong pushed again that Wolverine should ask for an amendment for pet coke, which raised the hackles of Julian Pilarski, another commission member.  Pilarski responded, “Are you suggesting then, that they have to ask for another permit to burn limestone?  What about the mixed limestone?  Will that be another issue?  My understanding is that we approved the coal-fired process, which included fuel oil, natural gas, limestone, pet coke and coal.  I just thought we approved that whole process.  You are saying nothing about limestone, how come you aren’t singling limestone out?  Next you will choose that to be an issue.”  The Commission took no action at that meeting.

That week a story ran in Reuters news service titled, ‘Gore urges civil disobedience to stop coal plants.’ The story says that Al Gore let it be known to all his flock that they must break laws as a sacrifice to stop coal plants who do not have a plan for carbon sequestration.  Putting aside the obvious illegality and ethics violations that a former Vice President of these United States suggest citizens disobey the law, I investigated carbon sequestration and I will report about it later in the series.

To be continued…

click here to view Part 10

The Proposed Coal-Fired Power Plant in Rogers City, MI Part 8

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7

After the Biomass public hearing, Tom Karas (Michigan Energy Alternatives,) wrote an editorial that appeared in the Advance to counter an argument between himself and Bob Noffze, president of the citizen-formed Wolverine Clean Energy Venture Support Group.  Apparently, after the biomass hearing, Bob and Tom had a brief exchange during which Bob made it clear he did not wish to invite Tom to speak at the next meeting of WCEVSG because Mr. Karas had stated in an Alpena News article that the coal plant in in Rogers City would be “a monument to ignorance.”  Bob took offense to the statement.  The editorial pointed out that when Karas said the word ignorant, he just meant that the people of Rogers City are unaware of the “current position that the coal industry is in.”  He may be right about that, but it isn’t because the people of this state don’t want energy, it is precisely because of people like Tom Karas.

20/20 hindsight provides this perspective.  On November 2, 2008 this story ran on Fox News.

The interview of then candidate Obama, according to Michelle Malkin’s website,  was given in January, 2008.  Obama tells the San Francisco Chronicle that he is for clean coal technology, but the cap and trade system he plans to put in place will “necessarily skyrocket” energy prices and “bankrupt” the coal industry.

What I gather from knowing this information is, that if the environmentalists involved in killing the proposed Rogers City plant fail in their endeavors, they have a safety net.  The fact that now-President Obama wishes to use a cap and trade system that will force clean coal into bankruptcy.

If that happens, the environmentalists will declare a win and we all lose, because older coal plants will still operate, and our rates will dramatically increase.

Mr. Karas talked about “the current position that the coal industry is in.”  I would remind Mr. Karas that Rogers City is a mining town, and whether we take limestone out of the earth to utilize across the globe or somebody in Wyoming takes coal out of the earth to utilize across the globe, we are all families whose lives depend on mining.

By July, 2008  the DEQ held a meeting in Lansing to describe the permit process and the public comment period.  The Advance does an extremely good job of reporting on this meeting and all the criteria needed and the process.  I thought this excerpt was interesting, now a year and 9 months after submitting the air permit request.

“The average time for a permit right now is running at about 70 days,” Dolehanty said. “But these applications for power plants have been in house as long as a year and one-half.” Wolverine submitted its air permit application September 26 of last year. Consumers Energy submitted its application October 15, Mid-Michigan turned in its application September 12 while Holland Board of Public Works submitted its application January 17, 2007.

Byron DeLong was at it again in August, raising questions with the permit already issued of what fuel will be burned by the plant.   He suggested during the Planning Commission meeting that since the company had not specifically stated that they were to burn petroleum coke, Wolverine would have to amend it’s permit.  Other planning commission members objected, saying they were to understand that petroleum coke was already permitted.  Petroleum coke sounds scary, but it is used in making steel.  Wolverine representatives pointed out that during the CFB presentation in 2006, all was very clear.  DeLong insisted that the language in the original permit must be changed, therefore they would need to amend the permit.  No action was taken then about the permit, but during the same meeting, Bob Noffze wished to ask about some concerns he had about DeLong serving on the planning commission while at the same time being a member of a group that was using the legal system to try to stop coal plants in Michigan.   I mention this lawsuit in Part 3 of this series.  The lawsuit was thrown out, but was in the appeals process in August, 2008.  Bob Noffze called for the removal of Byron (Bud) DeLong from his post as planning commission member due to a conflict of interest.

To be continued…..

click here to view Part 9

The Proposed Coal-Fired Power Plant in Rogers City, MI Part 7

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6

Let’s remember the names  Byron Delong and Tom Harkleroad.  They are the two members of both CEI and the County Planning Commission earlier in the story.  By May, 2008 only Delong was still a member of both.  Delong was also the man who, in March of 2008, made it clear during a Planning Commission meeting that their should be a public forum to discuss the addition of biomass to the special use permit before the commission issues an amended permit.  That meeting was also attended by Tom Karas, (Michigan Energy Alternatives)  and Jim Dulzo, (Michigan Land Institute) environmentalist buddies from the other side of the state.   Now, let me be clear, the environmental movement had representatives from three groups.  One serving on the board, and the other two pushing for a public forum.  The one on the board suggested the forum be held in May.

It was around this time I was alarmed to read a report by Judy Pasternak of the Los Angeles Times titled, “Global warming has a new battleground: coal plants.”  in the April 14th issue of the paper.  I will link to it with one proviso, it no longer includes the best part of the report.  Here is the titled story, with the first nine paragraphs removed.

The first nine paragraphs appeared in the report the day I printed it out, 4/14/08.  Here is some of what they said:

WASHINGTON–Every time a new coal-fired power plant is proposed anywhere in the United States, a lawyer from the Sierra Club or an allied environmental group is assigned to stop it, by any bureaucratic or legal means necessary.

They might frame the battle as a matter of zoning or water use, but the larger war is over global warming: …..

The plant-by-plant strategy is part of a campaign by environmentalists to force the federal government to deal with climate change.

The campaign against new coal-powered plants has infuriated utilities, which say the environmentalists’ tactics are an abuse of the regulatory and judicial systems.  They are counterpunching with ads, lobbying and court briefs of their own, bringing the clash over coal to a pitch that rivals the environmental and legal fights over nuclear power decades ago.

The environmental coalition, which included the Natural Resouces Defense Council, Environmental Defense  Fund and Environmental Integrity Project, claims 65 victories over the last three years.  The Sierra Club is coordinating opposition to about 50 additional power plant proposals.

“We have a national presence, so we’re sort of mission control,” said Pat Gallagher, director of the Sierra Club’s environmental law program.

The goal: “We hope to clog up the system,”  said David Bookbinder, the Sierra Club’s chief climate counsel.  “It’s putting pressure on Congress to put together a comprehensive plan.”

The partners in the anti-coal crusade are picking fights over any and all generators that use coal “regardless of merit,” said Brendan Collins, a lawyer in Philidelphia who represents utilities and power plant developers.  “They are doing it in a way that is unfair.”

But I will talk more about this later.

On May 15th I attended the public hearing to define biomass with a pen and a notebook.  Anyone who wished to speak had the opportunity to fill out a card and would be given 5 minutes to make their point, after the presentations by Wolverine and the environmentalist Tom Karas.  Wolverine had a man named Robert Froese, PhD, of Northern Michigan University speak about the under-utilization of the forest floor and farm land within a 75 mile radius of Rogers City.  Some weeks earlier, Froese had given a similar presentation to Presque Isle Electric and Gas Cooperation in Onaway and the Advance did a great job of reporting the presentation, so I will link to that article since it is very close to what I heard Froese say at the hearing.  The Advance reported on the small amount of opposition at the hearing in this article and is a very accurate account of the arguments made by the environmental groups in attendance.  Wolverine’s Ken Bradstreet read his definition of biomass to include, “non-chemically treated wood and wood residue, bark or any wood derivative in any form, including, but not limited to sawdust, scraps, woodchips, millings, shavings, process pellets made from wood, switch grass or similar fuel. It doesn’t include tires, household or medical wastes, dead animals, or animal wastes.”

The public comment period began with the president of the newly formed Wolverine Clean Energy Venture Support Group, Bob Noffze, who pointed out the sea of white t-shirts in the bleachers, all in support of Wolverine.  He told about the 2,400 signatures on the petition to support Wolverine, and closed with a plea to the commission to approve the permit to enhance local agriculture.  Two ladies testified after him about the need for electricity and the death of the community.

Milt Very suggested during his comments that there is nothing in the existing ordinance that is in conflict  with the burning of biomass.

Jean Veselenak, member of CEI, told of her disgust with the DEQ (remember they filed suit against the DEQ,) and told the commission that she thinks there will be people cutting trees down in the middle of the night, in a desparate attempt to earn money.  She talked about “new” technology from California using solar and wind.

Tom Karas, founding member of Michigan Energy Alternatives spoke next saying that with 7 coal plant projects in the state they will wipe out the forests.  He told the chair that it is his responsibility to protect the safety and welfare of the citizens.

Charles Winters, President of CEI, asked the commission to approve the definition of biomass.

Jim Dulzo, (Michigan Land Institute) insisted that he is pro-growth and has a better idea of how to create jobs, unfortunately, he never said what his idea was.

Tab Coseo and Phil Budnick spoke as transplants to the area who grew up next to power plants and spoke in favor of the massive positive economic impact that happened in their old neighborhoods.

A representative from the Michigan Forest Products Council said the cleaning of the forest floors in Michigan represents an 8.7 billion dollar industry.

School teacher Susi Leo pointed out that solar and wind do not represent storable power.

Jeff Lamb, president of the local Republican Party spoke in favor of plant and the burning of biomass as well as the use of limestone in coal burning.

The Case Township Supervisor spoke in favor of burning biomass and in favor of the plant.

Mike Eustice, a 50 year businessman of Rogers City, spoke in support of the definition of biomass.

Jane Przybyla spoke in favor of the plant along with Betty Zimmer, Mike Centala, Lloyd Hought, Jesse Chappa.

Candy Kowalski implored the commission to leave everything to the DEQ.

Joe Kuznicki reminded everyone that the recent fire at Cedar Log and Lumber is a good reminder of what happens when biomass is left alone.

Dr. Rich Olree spoke against biomass because of flyash.

I didn’t catch the name of a man who spoke as a power generation expert, but I remember he said that America sets the standard for power generation.  If you want power, you must generate it.  If you don’t, shut off the lights.

The definition of biomass was approved unanimously.

To be continued……

click here to view Part 8