Texas is running out of power. With wind energy at less than 10% of normal on Monday, consumers are being told to conserve electricity in the afternoon.
At the same time, South African electricity consumers are suffering through load-shedding, thanks to a variety of factors. As they consider alternatives, the one they can't use is abundant coal: they signed the Paris climate accord, and rely on Europe for the money to build new power plants, which means no coal.
Meanwhile, Europe itself is being forced to conserve energy, thanks to over-reliance on Russian gas and reluctance (in many places) to use nuclear power. Their "green" agenda means they had, until now, ditched coal and other fossil fuel sources, leaving them with few alternatives in a time of global conflict.
What happens when people can't turn on the lights? They use diesel generators, or burn wood, or -- as many European countries are doing -- return to coal.
The right way to do green energy is to add it to an existing mix of fossil fuel, nuclear, hydroelectric etc. sources, then innovate to make renewable sources cheaper and more competitive. If government intervenes at all, it should be with R&D money and/or a carbon tax to encourage efficiency across the board.
That's the key word: efficiency. Efficiency means getting more energy for less. It's inherently good for the environment. And it beats regulations every time.
Forcing people to adopt green energy is inefficient; therefore it causes more resources to be used. In that sense, green energy is bad for the planet.
I should have noted in my message about the weekly Torah portion that this week is Shabbat Chazon, the Sabbath of Vision. We are about to mourn -- but see through that pain to something better that lies beyond, on the other side.
Wishing you the best vision -- and an incredible reality to follow. It happens!
We begin the final speech of Moses to the people of Israel before they enter the Promised Land. He relates the ups and downs of the years of wandering in the desert, before, finally, the people have the merit to enter the land itself.
This Sabbath always precedes Tisha B'Av, the Ninth of Av, the saddest day on the Jewish calendar. It is the anniversary of the destruction of both of the Holy Temples, and a catch-all for many calamities that befell the Jewish people.
A word on Tisha B'Av. This year I am leaving for an overseas trip during the afternoon of the holiday -- in the middle of a fast day. Not idea, but there was no other choice. But my flight is in the afternoon, which is significant.
We relax some of the harsh, mournful customs of the day in the afternoon. We start to pray normally; we sit on regular chairs; we start to have hope again in the redemption that will, one day, lead us all back from exile to our home.
I'll be taking a trip to a land where an important part of ...
President Trump is in Scotland, playing golf and making big trade deals -- a major deal with the EU, in fact. Meanwhile, there is a global outcry about humanitarian aid to Palestinians (not about the Israeli hostages, mind you).
On top of that, Democrats are at their lowest polling numbers ever -- so they are trying to win control of the House by redistricting in the middle of a 10-year Census cycle. Oh, economic optimism is up, so they have a tough road.
And Tulsi Gabbard's revelations about the Russia collusion investigation make it clear that Obama's lieutenants lied to Congress. How deeply was he himself involved? The media continue to ignore the evidence, but we certainly won't.
Special guests:
Nick Gilbertson - Breitbart News White House correspondent, on EU deal
Frances Martel - Breitbart News foreign editor, on Trump abroad and Russia
John Spencer - urban warfare expert, on humanitarian aid and war in Gaza
Bradley Jaye - Breitbart News congressional correspondent, on the ...
