by Darrin Barker October 10, 2019

What is green energy? The assumption we all live by is that 'green' translates into carbon reduction. Any energy labeled 'green' by definition lessons the human footprint by lowering our CO2 output. But this is just another massive propaganda campaign implemented by politicians who have hijacked real science. Instead, they use such ‘science’ to meddle with supply-side economics and push the U.S. economy toward their own socialistic dream. Showering favored industries with subsidies, grants, and federally mandating use of their product as long as these companies promote the progressive agenda. Let’s take a look at some of these industries:

Ethanol – Ethanal has been promoted as auto emissions reduction since the 1980’s. Surviving primarily on government subsidies – ethanal is now 15% of every gallon of gasoline via federal government mandate. But is this really cleaner for the environment? The higher percentage of ethanal mix in the gasoline the less efficiently the fuel burns. In other words, miles per gallon will drop as ethanal content rises. Therefore, the net reduction from cleaner burning is questionable. In addition, many scientists have concluded that land use and carbon emissions required for farming and fermentation surpass pollution created on the oil drilling side. In the end, it is more likely that ethanol is adding to the human footprint.

Solar – The function of solar panels is reliant on heavy metals such as lead and cadmium. Monitoring has determined that – even after just a few months of weathering – these heavy metals begin a slow process of erosion which results in polluted runoff seeping into the ground. The additional materials involved in solar panel structures are manufactured aluminum extrusions and oil-based plastics. Both the production and disposal of heavy metals require CO2 taxing processes. The embarrassingly tiny amount of energy production from environmentally damaging solar technology makes this the king of all unnecessary emissions.

Wind Farms – It takes 3 million acres of wind turbines to produce the same amount of energy as a 30-acre coal plant. Of course, the coal must be mined first. And that is a dirty process destroying large swaths of land with fuel guzzling equipment. But where do windmills come from? Yeah, from iron ore mines stripped with fuel guzzling equipment and then processed in fossil fuel powered steel plants. All of this before transporting and assembling on thousands of acres of land where they relentlessly squeak, chop up birds, destroy the skyline, and drip grease and lubricants down into the water table.

One additional element never mentioned in relation to solar and wind farms is Newton's Third Law of Motion. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Absorbing sunlight into solar panels or blocking weather systems with wind turbines are both immanently climate altering actions. Sure, a tiny distortion given the enormity of the Earth. But have I not been told that less meat in my diet will lower ocean levels? 1.25 million acres of wind turbines would be required to power the U.S. A solar powered nation would depend upon 7.85 billion panels. Even if we could produce them in a completely green fashion - which we cannot - the technologies themselves do still have some effect on the climate. Physics is often left out of the discussion while claiming scientific consensus.

Battery Power – The primary focus of reducing transportation emissions has been electric powered vehicles. Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries now produced by the billions. Lithium can be mined in two primary ways. One way is pumping mineral rich brine from under salt flats into evaporation pools. Through a series of pools over 12 to 18 months minerals are separated until lithium can be mined. This process consumes 500,000 gallons of water per ton of lithium. In locations around the world evaporation pools have leaked dangerous chemicals like hydrochloric acid killing wildlife. Other areas mine lithium from rock - which includes all of the typical pollution and environmental risk which accompanies any other mining process. Need I even mention the astronomical increase in power production – on a system already pushed to the max – that will be required to recharge vehicles as usage increases.

So again, what is green energy? ‘Green Technology’ is a corporate distinction purchased by lobbyists which creates federally backed business advantages. This includes taxpayer funded grants, subsidies, and most of all federally mandated public consumption of their products. Green energy is the most extreme version of crony capitalism ever accomplished. Billions of taxpayer dollars are being funneled to super-wealthy ‘green energy’ investors with political influence. Yet no scientific data is ever required to prove their products reduce a single pound of carbon emissions. Green energy is the most lucrative scam of the 21st century.