Reality: There are currently no oil wells in Greenland. There has been little exploration. There are theories that oil may lie offshore but this has not yet been proven. The weather situation (ironically, extreme cold) makes exploration and extraction very difficult in or near Greenland.
Category Archives: Environment
United and Mesa Airlines to use electric aircraft as soon as 2026
“United Airlines Ventures (UAV) announced today it, along with Breakthrough Energy Ventures (BEV) and Mesa Airlines, has invested in electric aircraft startup Heart Aerospace. Heart Aerospace is developing the ES-19, a 19-seat electric aircraft that has the potential to fly customers up to 250 miles before the end of this decade. In addition to UAV’s investment, United Airlines has conditionally agreed to purchase 100 ES-19 aircraft, once the aircraft meet United’s safety, business and operating requirements. Mesa Airlines, United’s key strategic partner in bringing electric aircraft into commercial service, has also agreed to add 100 ES-19 aircraft to its fleet, subject to similar requirements.”
At the present time, this technology is for relatively short haul, small regional flights. Am not yet seeing a path forward for continental spanning or international flights in large, electrically powered aircraft. Some think this may be solved with hydrogen-fueled aircraft (but hydrogen has a low energy density).
Electric vehicles are not a panacea to controlling climate
Tesla upgrading Supercharger network to 300 kW
This work with Tesla vehicles designed to charge at the 300 KWH rate. Regardless, the Tesla charging network is a major competitive advantage for Tesla (certainly true when I look within 150 miles of where I live).
Elon Musk confirmed that Tesla is upgrading the Supercharger network from 250 kW to 300 kW max capacity in order to enable faster charging.
Source: Elon Musk: Tesla is upgrading Supercharger network to 300 kW faster charging – Electrek
Chevy Bolt EV with “fix” to prevent battery fires, catches fire
There are now two of the “fixed” (post recall) Chevy Bolt TVs that have caught fire.
Previously GM said there is a defect in the batteries but said a software update would detect failures before they became a problem, and enable batteries to be repaired early on.
Sort of looks like the fix is not working.
A Chevrolet electric vehicle owned by Vermont state Rep. Timothy Briglin, who has backed the industry, caught fire while charging in his driveway, police said.
Source: Chevy Bolt EV belonging to Vermont lawmaker who has backed industry catches fire
Even science has lost credibility
The pandemic has been devastating to the credibility and trust placed in public health and epidemiology.
That loss of trust extends to science itself.
In the UK, their SAGE Committee employed a subteam of psychologists skilled in behavior manipulation (notably based on fear) and propaganda as part of their Covid-19 response. A UK politician has said they should employ the same methods for climate change policy.
Here in the U.S., there has long been a major focus on fear – even news reports that “experts” felt we must exaggerate the fears.
Surfside Condo Wreckage Hints at First Signs of Possible Construction Flaw
The politicians said the collapse was due to climate change:
Engineers who have visited or examined photos of the wreckage of the Champlain Towers South condominium complex have been struck by a possible flaw in its construction: Critical places near the base of the building appeared to use less steel reinforcement than called for in the project’s original design drawings.
Source: Surfside Condo Wreckage Hints at First Signs of Possible Construction Flaw
Typical of large system failures, there are often multiple factors and these will not be known for some time.
California residents asked to avoid charging EVs
To avoid power grid demand problems, residents are asked to please charge EVs early in the day and avoid doing so in the evening.
Interestingly, the issued a similar alert a week ago for 2 days.
If they intend to fully electrify transportation and kitchen appliances (no more natural gas stoves and ovens), they need to build an electrical infrastructure that matches their requirements.
Source: Press Releases California ISO’s Network for Energy Conservation and Flex Alerts
Why is temperature data so random?
The randomness of temperature measurements.
At this minute, the weather source provided via Microsoft says it is 105 degrees F here.
At this same minute (from the time stamp) the NWS says the temperature is 108 degrees F.
Accuweather reports it is 106 degrees and the Weather Channel 105 degrees and WeatherBug reports it as 104 degrees.
Seems like such a simple thing to have standards so that regardless of who is asked for a city’s temperature, some consistency is provided. Just seems really weird.
About the high heat here in the PNW
The high heat here in the PNW over the next few days is caused by a combination of factors, including atmospheric waves that have created and inland high pressure system, an off shore low pressure area, and “Santa Ana” like winds.
I live east of the Cascade mountain range, with a line of volcanic peaks to my west.
Even though I am at 3,100 feet elevation, this is high desert – where we normally have hot and dry summers.
By comparison, west of the Cascades is more humid and cooler, and typically cooled by breezes blowing in from the ocean.
But when a high pressure system is here, inland, and low pressure is off shore, winds to blow from the east to the west. As of right now, the winds are already blowing out of the east towards the Cascades.
This has two effects – the warmer air from inland heads west, but as it crosses the Cascade mountains it forms a down slope wind that “piles up the air” causing compression and increasing air pressure. When this air mass “piles up”, the air becomes warmer in a process called adiabatic heating.
Continue reading About the high heat here in the PNW