Governor Youngkin and Virginia must address the ecological and human costs of ‘green’ energy
Paul Driessen
Among Governor Glenn Youngkin’s first acts were Operating Order No. 9 initiated Virginia’s withdrawal from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, the “carbon market” in the Northeastern United States that sets and enforces emissions limits for coal and gas power plants. RGGI also allows utilities to purchase “carbon credits” when emissions exceed that limit and pass the cost on to homes, businesses, hospitals and schools.
Special interests will contest the withdrawal, but the EO sets the right tone for reforming Virginia’s energy system. In the meantime, however, in 2020”Virginia Clean Economy Act“Still requiring utility companies to close all fossil fuel plants – and replace them with wind and solar power by 2045.
The VCEA also stipulates that “not less than 5,200 megawatts” (nominal capacity) of such “clean, renewable” electricity must come from offshore wind. That translates to 370 14 MW turbines, 430 12 MW turbines or 865 6 MW turbines off the coast of Virginia. The construction of the first 180 was overpriced and can reach 10 billion dollars.
The offshore turbines are expected to power 660,000 homes. But that will only happen when the wind blows at the rate necessary for full rated capacity, perhaps 40-45% of the year, sporadically and unpredictably. When the wind doesn’t cooperate, Virginia will need backup power.
So, the VCEA says utilities must “build or acquire” 3,100 “megawatts” (megawatt-hours?) of “energy storage.” This probably means the battery module. Using Tesla’s 85 kilowatt-hour modules, that would require about 37,000 units – to supply electricity needs for several hours or days, depending on how large-scale outages can occur after a storm. hurricane or other storm, or simply in inadequate wind conditions.
Virginia’s carbon-free energy plan makes no mention of hydroelectricity or new nuclear power. It mainly means thousands of onshore and offshore wind turbines and millions of solar panelsinclude 10-25 times area of Washington, DC – depending on the type of turbine and the combination of wind and solar. Hundreds of miles new transmission will bring this remote power source to Virginia urban centers.
Threats to raptors and other birds, bats, whales, dolphins and other wildlife are substantial. But the act “states” that all of these installations are “in the public interest,” because they will help “fight climate change.” It shows that environmental assessments can be followed up quickly and succinctly.
That cannot be allowed. Indeed, the realities of wind, solar and battery power require that any assessment of their supposedly “clean, renewable and sustainable” qualities be Globalwithin its scope. The land use, pollution and human rights issues surrounding these prized energy sources affect people, habitats and wildlife across Virginia, the United States and the world, according to significantly, differently and disproportionately.
Wind and sun are certainly clean, renewable and sustainable. However, belt them to meet the huge and growing energy needs of society are Not.
Wind, solar and battery facilities can be considered clean, renewable and sustainable in Virginiaif using land, scenic spots, wildlife, infrasound, flashing light and other effects ignored. However, they require increased extraction, fossil fuel use, emissions and environmental impact in China and other countries that provide most of the raw materials and production for these technologies. .
Recently Report of the International Energy Agency says onshore wind turbines require nine times more raw materials per megawatt than combined cycle gas plants. Offshore turbines require 14 times as much fuel. Solar panels and backup battery modules also require a large amount.
Virginia’s 5,200 MW of offshore wind alone would require nearly 20,000 tons of copper. On average 0.44% VND in ore mines worldwide, copper alone will require mining and processing 4.5 million won tons of ore, after removing some 7 million won tons of overload to reach the ore bodies.
A single 3 MW onshore turbine platform needs 600 cubic yards (1,500 tons) concrete, plus rebar.
These technologies also require large amounts of steel, aluminum, lithium, cobalt, nickel, rare earth metals, plastics, fiberglass and other materials – all of which involve drilling, mining, processing. , production and shipping on a large scale. Because the United States increasingly restricts or prohibits such activities or regulates them as nonprofits, most of that work is now done in China or by Chinese companies in other countries – using fossil fuel use and pollution controls, reclaimed land, workplace safety, and child labor and slavery standards far below what U.S. law allows.
Coal and gas-fired generating sets typically operate at near full capacity for 40 years or more; nuclear power plants for decades to come. Onshore wind turbines, solar panels and battery modules can have a lifespan of 15 to 20 years; Offshore wind turbines are much less, because of the corrosive salts. Their performance, power output, and inherently low reliability also fell from Day One.
Virginians need to know: How much electricity will these VCEA-authorized facilities actually generate per day, week, and year? Who decides where they go? What is their expected lifespan, especially for offshore turbines? How many can be destroyed in a hurricane, tornado or ice storm? How long does it take to repair or replace them? Where will electricity come from during this time?
Since most systems and their components are not recyclable, where are obsolete or damaged turbines, blades, solar panels, batteries, power lines and concrete foundations disposed of? ? How much does it cost to repair, replace, remove and landfill? Who will pay?
What would the wildlife habitat look like, raptor, bats, and other endangered species protected as these industrial-scale installations proliferate? What fines and penalties will be assessed if violated?
How many tons of metals, minerals and other materials are needed to build all these “clean economy” facilities? How many tons of ore will have to be mined? How many tons of overload are removed? How much coal, oil, diesel and natural gas fuels will be involved? How much land?
Will Virginia actively lobby for more U.S. lands to be open to exploration, extraction, and drilling for these materials, so that Virginia and the United States are not 90-100% dependent on China, Russia, and other countries? Foreign sources are usually less friendly towards these materials. essential materials and technology?
How many African, Asian, Uighur and Latin American children and parents will be working in these mines, processing plants and factories providing these “green, clean” technologies? How will Virginia ensure workplace health and safety, fair living wages, and human rights?
The VCEA is promoted as a solution to “dangerous anthropogenic climate change”. In the evaluation Global What are the costs and benefits of the energy programs initiated under this act, how many tons of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases will be released from all these overseas operations?
Under the law, Virginia would stop generating about 6,000 MW of electricity from coal. But China already has 900,000 MW of coal-fired power plants, Another 380,000 MW come into operation in 2020, and is funding or build hundreds of coal and gas power plants in Asia and Africa.
China alone will soon have 200 times more coal-fired output than Virginia will eliminate – plus all the fossil fuel units it is building in other countries. Chinese units will improve people’s living standards – and build “clean, renewable” energy equipment for export.
What concrete benefits will VCEA actually produce in terms of global greenhouse gas emissions, soil conservation, wildlife, climate change and extreme weather (assuming CO2 actually drives climate and weather)?
A committee appointed by Youngkin can study all of these issues. Its findings could help determine whether the Virginia Clean Economy Act can deliver the promised benefits; whether global damages actually exceed any Virginia, U.S., or global gains; and whether the VCEA should be revised, or abolished altogether.
Now is the time to act – before the “transformation” of wind, solar and batteries is even further.
Paul Driessen is a senior policy analyst at the Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow (www.CFACT.org) and author of books and articles on energy, environment, climate and human rights issues.
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