Kalifornia throws in the towel!

[mikesim]

It had to happen! Kalifornia announced today that they were abandoning their plan to phase out diesel trucks by 2030 and gas powered vehicles by 2035. I'm glad to see that they finally are accepting engineering reality and abandoning wishful thinking. Unfortunately, their wishful thinking has cost the US and Kalifornia economies billions in wasted efforts to comply with their scheme.

California Abandons Regulations Phasing Out Diesel Trucks

Critics of the strict air regulation plan are applauding regulators’ decision to withdraw a waiver request from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

link.theepochtimes.com

Mike

 

[Chucksklrst]

It had to happen! Kalifornia announced today that they were abandoning their plan to phase out diesel trucks by 2030 and gas powered vehicles by 2035. I'm glad to see that they finally are accepting engineering reality and abandoning wishful thinking. Unfortunately, their wishful thinking has cost the US and Kalifornia economies billions in wasted efforts to comply with their scheme.

California Abandons Regulations Phasing Out Diesel Trucks

Critics of the strict air regulation plan are applauding regulators’ decision to withdraw a waiver request from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

link.theepochtimes.com

Mike

And they are trying to blame it on the incoming administration. Again here we are, "always blame your failed ideas on someone else."

 

[Coyote Chris]

New book out. "Power Metal" The title of the introduction is, "There is no such thing as clean energy" . Right now, the earth is mining enough rock /earth in tonnage to build 7,000 great pyramids. To go "Green", we must mine 50,000 pyramids a year. Guess what? In 1980, the US passed the National Materials and Minerals Policy. We were supposed to mine but in an environmental way. Today, the world mines more stuff than ever before...just not in the US. In 1922, after the great war, The US Govt started stockpileing 42 stratigic minerals, not wanting to be dependant on imports during wartime. They encouraged mining of important metals in the US. Guess what we do now? In the last sentence of the book review in the Wall Street Journal, The reviewer says, " Dont subsidize and mandate energy machines that exponentially increase the demand for minerals. If you are already in a hole, stop digging.

 

[junglejim]

I’m disappointed by the sad reminders of our highly consumptive society. I traveled to MT to go on a mule deer hunt last November. I saw dozens of trains moving coal and oil, coal and oil, coal . . . . . eastward. And I reflected on the coal mines I saw in WY last summer between Dubois and Spearfish. We don’t have any railroads where I live so I don’t see the rail traffic. But there is a 48” pipeline nearby which delivers Canadian oil to MI. I think that pipeline carries up to 3,000,000 per day. But no one sees that. Then there’s the guys driving to work in Duluth/Superior (40 miles away) in the mornings in a big 4X4 pickup.

Sure I enjoy traveling too, but on my motorcycle. I share the road with the other travelers in big motor homes, and I’m greatly outnumbered. I guess I’m a clueless rural hick who doesn’t understand the realities of mainstream urban America. I just think that we’re not living at a sustainable pace and resign myself to that fact. (Read grouchy old man) I think I’m fortunate to have seen the best years of our Country from the generation before me who recovered from the Great Depression to the amazing technology we both enjoy and abuse today.

Who says we don’t get depressed in the winter. I’m not depressed!!!!

 

[suvcw04]

I’m disappointed by the sad reminders of our highly consumptive society. I traveled to MT to go on a mule deer hunt last November. I saw dozens of trains moving coal and oil, coal and oil, coal . . . . . eastward. And I reflected on the coal mines I saw in WY last summer between Dubois and Spearfish. We don’t have any railroads where I live so I don’t see the rail traffic. But there is a 48” pipeline nearby which delivers Canadian oil to MI. I think that pipeline carries up to 3,000,000 per day. But no one sees that. Then there’s the guys driving to work in Duluth/Superior (40 miles away) in the mornings in a big 4X4 pickup.

Sure I enjoy traveling too, but on my motorcycle. I share the road with the other travelers in big motor homes, and I’m greatly outnumbered. I guess I’m a clueless rural hick who doesn’t understand the realities of mainstream urban America. I just think that we’re not living at a sustainable pace and resign myself to that fact. (Read grouchy old man) I think I’m fortunate to have seen the best years of our Country from the generation before me who recovered from the Great Depression to the amazing technology we both enjoy and abuse today.

Who says we don’t get depressed in the winter. I’m not depressed!!!!

Right you are, Jim. If I live a couple of more years, I will see the end of many things. I don't even care anymore. Won't affect me one way or another.

 

[mikesim]

I’m disappointed by the sad reminders of our highly consumptive society. I traveled to MT to go on a mule deer hunt last November. I saw dozens of trains moving coal and oil, coal and oil, coal . . . . . eastward. And I reflected on the coal mines I saw in WY last summer between Dubois and Spearfish. We don’t have any railroads where I live so I don’t see the rail traffic. But there is a 48” pipeline nearby which delivers Canadian oil to MI. I think that pipeline carries up to 3,000,000 per day. But no one sees that. Then there’s the guys driving to work in Duluth/Superior (40 miles away) in the mornings in a big 4X4 pickup.

Sure I enjoy traveling too, but on my motorcycle. I share the road with the other travelers in big motor homes, and I’m greatly outnumbered. I guess I’m a clueless rural hick who doesn’t understand the realities of mainstream urban America. I just think that we’re not living at a sustainable pace and resign myself to that fact. (Read grouchy old man) I think I’m fortunate to have seen the best years of our Country from the generation before me who recovered from the Great Depression to the amazing technology we both enjoy and abuse today.

Who says we don’t get depressed in the winter. I’m not depressed!!!!

I understand and appreciate your concern for our environment. Being a lifelong conservationist it must be tough to watch humanity consume our natural resources at such a rapacious pace. I think however that many of the more outspoken environmentalists have caused us to consider that any use of our natural resources is to be condemned. To me, conservation has always meant "wise use" rather than "sequester". The wise use of our fossil fuel resources has had an enormous impact on humanities quality of life and without the wise use of these resources our standard of living would be much more bleak. Years ago I read a great article which led to a paper that documents how our exploitation of fossil fuels has made our life on earth possible to the degree we enjoy. I managed to find a link to the article and paper and posted the link below.

Humanity Unbound: How Fossil Fuels Saved Humanity from Nature and Nature from Humanity

Bottom Line: By lowering humanity’s reliance on living nature, fossil fuels not only dramatically increased human wellbeing and material living standards but also reduced humankind’s footp

www.realclearpublicaffairs.com

I think you will find the article and paper interesting and will give you something to read before the maple sap runs again and riding season resumes.

Mike

 

[junglejim]

I’m not an environmentalist, I just don’t like being wasteful. No man can live on this planet without leaving a footprint. We all do.

I work a career in forest management. I faced people who didn’t want to cut a tree. Trees are renewable and useful for building houses, making paper, and other basic needs. During my career the foests were outgrowing our harvest both in terms of acreage and volume on a National basis. The bad news was that our consumption exceeded the growth. (We imported lumber and paper from Canada). We should have been increasing our forest harvesting instead of reducing it like the environmentalists wanted. Politics and public opinion prevailed. After all most forest land is publicly owned. My point is that emotions override science and good judgment. Doctors know about medicine and lawyers know about law, but everybody knows what other people should do. I think not!

 

[Coyote Chris]

I’m disappointed by the sad reminders of our highly consumptive society. I traveled to MT to go on a mule deer hunt last November. I saw dozens of trains moving coal and oil, coal and oil, coal . . . . . eastward. And I reflected on the coal mines I saw in WY last summer between Dubois and Spearfish. We don’t have any railroads where I live so I don’t see the rail traffic. But there is a 48” pipeline nearby which delivers Canadian oil to MI. I think that pipeline carries up to 3,000,000 per day. But no one sees that. Then there’s the guys driving to work in Duluth/Superior (40 miles away) in the mornings in a big 4X4 pickup.

Sure I enjoy traveling too, but on my motorcycle. I share the road with the other travelers in big motor homes, and I’m greatly outnumbered. I guess I’m a clueless rural hick who doesn’t understand the realities of mainstream urban America. I just think that we’re not living at a sustainable pace and resign myself to that fact. (Read grouchy old man) I think I’m fortunate to have seen the best years of our Country from the generation before me who recovered from the Great Depression to the amazing technology we both enjoy and abuse today.

Who says we don’t get depressed in the winter. I’m not depressed!!!!

Well, I understand completely....and yes, winter is depressing...but so are obvious facts, like those you stated. I too am glad I lived when I did and wont see the end. But the end is coming.
The author of Power Metal stated the obvious. Making lots of cheep green energy just encourages consumption, like cheep gas. Taxing carbon would have some effect till the world comes to its senses and jumps back on the nuclear power train and changes the rate of growth. But world politics probably wont let any reasonable solution be implimented. I really hope someone comes up with an eco friendly energy dense battery... until then, according to the International Energy agency, an EV requires six times the critical mineral inputs as an ICE vehicle. And China is winning the war in controling the mineral supply chain for EVs. Take away the subsidies. If someone wants an EV....fine...the the market forces come into play.
When you and I grew up, there was little need for large farms of storage sheds for useless "stuff". Much of it made with plastic.
(I am one of those people who knows what other people should do. There was a woman on the news tonight standing next to her 8 year old daughter in an ICU due to the flu. She told the reporter she never got a flu shot but she MIGHT start now. I feel for the people in LA without a standing home but when I see them trying to protect their homes by spraying down trees touching their homes, I think.....just as in Spokane county where we lost 500 homes in 2023...doesnt anyone listen to or trust the fire dept when then talk about a defensible zone????? I do. And I act. )

 

[junglejim]

I feel sorry for the people who lost their homes and even lives in the Kalifornia fires. But what doesn’t make the news is that they built their homes in an area where fire is and has been part of the environment since pre-settlement times. Sure, humans have increased the ignition sources but the fact remains that they built their homes in an area where fire is a natural part of the ecosystem. And they did it without any effective fire prevention or fuel breaks. Sort of like not expecting flooding along the Mississippi or hurricanes on the Atlantic coast.

So, now the insurance companies will pay for the damage and raise their rates to cover the costs.

 

[mikesim]

I’m not an environmentalist, I just don’t like being wasteful. No man can live on this planet without leaving a footprint. We all do.

I work a career in forest management. I faced people who didn’t want to cut a tree. Trees are renewable and useful for building houses, making paper, and other basic needs. During my career the foests were outgrowing our harvest both in terms of acreage and volume on a National basis. The bad news was that our consumption exceeded the growth. (We imported lumber and paper from Canada). We should have been increasing our forest harvesting instead of reducing it like the environmentalists wanted. Politics and public opinion prevailed. After all most forest land is publicly owned. My point is that emotions override science and good judgment. Doctors know about medicine and lawyers know about law, but everybody knows what other people should do. I think not!

....and I know that you should buy me an ice cream cone.....!

Mike

 

[mikesim]

I feel sorry for the people who lost their homes and even lives in the Kalifornia fires. But what doesn’t make the news is that they built their homes in an area where fire is and has been part of the environment since pre-settlement times. Sure, humans have increased the ignition sources but the fact remains that they built their homes in an area where fire is a natural part of the ecosystem. And they did it without any effective fire prevention or fuel breaks. Sort of like not expecting flooding along the Mississippi or hurricanes on the Atlantic coast.

So, now the insurance companies will pay for the damage and raise their rates to cover the costs.

I think that there will come a day sooner than we think that it will become nigh impossible to get homeowners insurance in some parts of the country. Those areas will be off limits to all except those who can afford to self-insure their homes and property. They will also have to provide for their own privately managed fire departments and emergency services. Somehow, in the background I hear a faint murmur of government subsidy.........

Mike

 

[junglejim]

I think that there will come a day sooner than we think that it will become nigh impossible to get homeowners insurance in some parts of the country. Those areas will be off limits to all except those who can afford to self-insure their homes and property. They will also have to provide for their own privately managed fire departments and emergency services. Somehow, in the background I hear a faint murmur of government subsidy.........

Mike

Mike, do you mean people will be expected to be responsible for their own actions? Come on now. Really????

 

[mikesim]

Mike, do you mean people will be expected to be responsible for their own actions? Come on now. Really????

doh!! <slaps head>, what was I thinking!!

Mike

 

[Chucksklrst]

I feel sorry for the people who lost their homes and even lives in the Kalifornia fires. But what doesn’t make the news is that they built their homes in an area where fire is and has been part of the environment since pre-settlement times. Sure, humans have increased the ignition sources but the fact remains that they built their homes in an area where fire is a natural part of the ecosystem. And they did it without any effective fire prevention or fuel breaks. Sort of like not expecting flooding along the Mississippi or hurricanes on the Atlantic coast.

So, now the insurance companies will pay for the damage and raise their rates to cover the costs.

But now the fires, the floods, the hurricanes etc. is all because of todays climate change. (global warming). Don't you know? So go out and save the earth and buy yourself an Electric car. That ought to solve the problem.

 

[Randall-in-Mpls]

Then there’s the guys driving to work in Duluth/Superior (40 miles away) in the mornings in a big 4X4 pickup.

This time of year, I drive my big 4x4 pickup, too. And given last week's nasty weather, I was very happy to be in it. Most of the summer, it stays parked in lieu of a motorcycle.

But now the fires, the floods, the hurricanes etc. is all because of todays climate change. (global warming). Don't you know? So go out and save the earth and buy yourself an Electric car. That ought to solve the problem.

Even if we ignore all the environmental damage involved in its production, driving an electric car will have zero impact on the natural solar cycle that determines the earth's climate.

 

[Phil Tarman]

In 2011, John McPhee wrote a book called "The Control of Nature." It's worth reading because it shows the ambiguity of all of our attempts to control nature. It makes good background for all of our environmental discussions.

 

[suvcw04]

So, the last solar cycle just happens to coincide with the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. And CO2 is produced by sunlight.
I learn something new every day.

 

[Frosty]

As the Professor told us in Engineering school in the late 1960's. The biggest problem facing us is over population. He was/is right. It does not matter how efficient we become if the demand (more people) surpasses it. Apparently no one watches nature films. Species populations self correct when they run out of food, conflict (predators) or disease reduces the population. Humans are different?
What we see as other problems are symptoms of the larger problem ... too many people.

 

[Chucksklrst]

As the Professor told us in Engineering school in the late 1960's. The biggest problem facing us is over population. He was/is right. It does not matter how efficient we become if the demand (more people) surpasses it. Apparently no one watches nature films. Species populations self correct when they run out of food, conflict (predators) or disease reduces the population. Humans are different?
What we see as other problems are symptoms of the larger problem ... too many people.

Agreed. It is most evident here on the Front Range of Colorado.

 

[Randall-in-Mpls]

So, the last solar cycle just happens to coincide with the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. And CO2 is produced by sunlight.
I learn something new every day.

CO2 is released from ocean water as temperature rises, just like your 2 liter of soda. Correlation equals causation only to the simple minded.