tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post1834821157490442177..comments2023-10-25T07:29:40.789-02:30Comments on UNCLE GNARLEY: HALF-TRUTHS AND LIES: THE MEDIA SHOULD TRIPLE CHECK NALCOR'S "FACTS"Des Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02566013585647491614noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-32942629456121610642017-06-02T22:45:57.465-02:302017-06-02T22:45:57.465-02:30From the independent: controversy and conflict of ...From the independent: controversy and conflict of interest stories like Ms. Bennett, who in her former role as chair of Nalcor’s board of directors began to negotiate a deal with New Brunswick company Sunny Corner Enterprises, which reportedly did millions in business with Nalcor, before recusing herself from the meetings; then, four months after stepping down from Nalcor’s board, she purchased shares in that same company. <br /><br />There was a link to a story in the telegram http://www.thetelegram.com/news/local/2014/5/20/bennett-says-she-knew-nalcor-had-conflic-3732036.html but it appears to have been scrubbed. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-22040193138418902432017-06-01T10:00:16.531-02:302017-06-01T10:00:16.531-02:30Anon have you heard of the IPPC? You are trolling...Anon have you heard of the IPPC? You are trolling us. Please grow up.Bruno Marcocchiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08076165212559914463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-79280276285165370242017-06-01T07:44:02.799-02:302017-06-01T07:44:02.799-02:30And the science to support it is? A picture of a m...And the science to support it is? A picture of a melting glacier calving icebergs placed side by side with a picture of an industrial smoke stack or the tailpipe of a car on a cold day, right! Can you name the 100% of experts from the expert list who support this? Did you say Al Gore?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-84016955281388353442017-05-31T23:37:35.159-02:302017-05-31T23:37:35.159-02:30Bruno, our views are very similar.......must be ou...Bruno, our views are very similar.......must be our love of Lennon!<br />But ever notice how efficient the oil industry is.......<br />Here, oil is hundreds of miles offshore. Many billions for gravity rigs and exploration and operation costs. Helicopters fly over my home on Logy Bay regular. Oil is then shipped away for refining, then back again to the local gas station.Workers on and offshore make a fortune, I have two relatives in the industry. The industry is very efficient given all that, as gas here is about 1.22 a litre and going down 10 cents tomorrow.<br /> Meanwhile, half a mile from my house is a dairy farm. Cows are very poorly compensated, minimum wage! Yet milk is twice the cost of gas......and no one complains.<br /> I used to think milk was good. My fridge has two types , white with 8 grams of sugar per cup, almost 2 teaspoons, and chocolate, with 27 grams, over 5 teaspoons per cup. Sugar, to preserve it for 2 weeks I suppose.<br /> As a child we got milk from a neighbour, and scalded it, and had no sugar as far as I know.<br /> Now if the oil industry was as inefficient as Nalcor, CO2 would likely drop............gas would be 15 bucks per gallon.<br />WAAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-87161495723478728372017-05-31T21:48:29.515-02:302017-05-31T21:48:29.515-02:30You are wrong on every count whoever you are. Carb...You are wrong on every count whoever you are. Carbon from fossil fuels heats the planet. It is physics and has been beyond doubt for decades. Wake up!<br /><br />Politicians worked with stakeholders (industry and NGO's) and solved CFC's and acid rain with international agreements. Action responding to real problems solved these issues. You seem to act like they were a hoax and disappeared on their own. Is Trump your hero creating alternative realities as you go along?Bruno Marcocchiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08076165212559914463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-62008869121583145662017-05-31T21:41:40.083-02:302017-05-31T21:41:40.083-02:30Whenever anyone warns about fossil fuel and climat...Whenever anyone warns about fossil fuel and climate change, you can expect a pop up to say bad science and nonsense.Someone must be serching all sights for the words climate change and insert the comment.<br /> Yet nearly 100 percent of the science experts agree to the effect and even Mobil Oil is in agreement with the Paris Climate Accord. Ex CEO pf Mobil, now Trumps Secretary of State says stick with the Paris accord.<br /> And acid rain had to do with sulfur content in oil burning. Acid rain was less of a problem with removing sulfur, and CFC had to to do with the hole in the ozone in the Antartic etc, which was stopped from getting worse with the Montreal protocol on ozone depletion. Wake up indeed, science was right on both of those and solutions found........deny science at your peril.........Hitler kicked out Einstein, who helped develop the nuclear bomb..........imagine if Hilter paid more attention to science. Roosevelt paid attention. Will Trump be a Roosevelt ( the Manhatten Project) or a Hitler. We will now within days. Probably neither......maybe he will go along with the Paris agreement and scuttle attempts to make progress.<br />WAAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-19720631797467415792017-05-31T19:54:52.218-02:302017-05-31T19:54:52.218-02:30Surely you jest! You or your family members must h...Surely you jest! You or your family members must have shares in the oil and gas industry. To suggest that fossil fuel burning is not contributing to global warming (or not proven to be contributing)is reckless to say the least. Wake up!Waynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13071137366893117461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-17732789931370522892017-05-31T18:20:11.528-02:302017-05-31T18:20:11.528-02:30The effects of the burning of fossil fuels upon gr...The effects of the burning of fossil fuels upon greenhouse gas accumulation and as a minor player in climate change is unproven, to say the least. We must not allow politicians to increase taxes by fear mongering based upon suspect science, remember acid rain and the CFC thing. And the beat goes on.... Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-35697922125123524822017-05-31T17:12:34.276-02:302017-05-31T17:12:34.276-02:30A sudden halt and complete stop of fossil fuel bur...A sudden halt and complete stop of fossil fuel burning would put us into darkness and destruction of our economy.<br /> But a urgent need to step up the process and wean off fossil fuel is well past due.But actions smacks of hypocrisy. It is questionable whether it is too late already , with feedback effects from permafrost melting and methane discharges kicking in. The mean green crab marches on, destroying our lobster.......but , Hey, 800 jobs for Argentia area, maybe a few house for Galway, and more reduction for the cod and caplin and crab fishery. <br /> Meanwhile our MHAs today contradulated themselves on the good job all 3 parties have done, and took a 6 months holiday, so all is well, Muskrat is on track (sure) and our our skyrocket debt......no more questions until November......and the MF oversight committee......the OC is too busy being busy to report to the the citizens. We are down in the rabbit hole. <br /> By November we will need to build a bigger jail for the Muskrat protectors, as the courts punish and make criminals one by one of citizens there. <br /> Has Ball ever visited the coastal communities there......as our sole minister of aboriginal affairs.......to listen and learn.......shameful neglect going on.....structural racism, I believe. We are soon to celebrate our 150 anniversary as Canada, and the Micmac I learn yesterday have roots going back some 13,000 years!<br />Not much to celebrate for aboriginals.<br />We can claim the original tittle of Redskin, I suppose , from the Beothic. I oppose sending back the skulls of Mary March and her husband. We are not ready for that, I suggest. They are safer kept in Scotland, brought there by Cormack in the 1820s. <br /> I we can`t find funds for a hospital in Cormer Brook, or a new Waterford hospital, or new penitentiary which has been around since the mid 1800s, what kind of safe museum will house the skulls of the Beothic that we wiped out, one way or another.<br /><br />WAAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-13873871671939822102017-05-31T17:02:40.165-02:302017-05-31T17:02:40.165-02:30Carbon tax receipts in NL could start with financi...Carbon tax receipts in NL could start with financing the re-engineering say of MUN campus heating and ventilation. Reducing power, (oil turbines), and heating, (oil), consumption at MUN by 50%, has some real benefits efficiencies, and operating costs, as well as reducing the carbon footprint.<br />Robert G Holmeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05356463540446993862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-20516483071672772782017-05-31T16:55:32.695-02:302017-05-31T16:55:32.695-02:30For starters, Canada has signed on to internationa...For starters, Canada has signed on to international goals, (Paris Accord), to reduce pollution from fossil fuel burning. This is binding on Provincial jurisdiction. Robert G Holmeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05356463540446993862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-12098337884259540322017-05-31T16:22:41.700-02:302017-05-31T16:22:41.700-02:30Here in lies the political hypocrisy of our time. ...Here in lies the political hypocrisy of our time. We have politicians who approve pipelines to increase oil production and their economic benefits and approve of new oil extraction projects and praise their advancement while at the same time putting a tax on the use of carbon to save the planet for future generations, go figure!!???!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-76269966426732520082017-05-31T14:28:39.093-02:302017-05-31T14:28:39.093-02:30Absolutely, think of carbon tax as a tax against p...Absolutely, think of carbon tax as a tax against pollution, and the funds received were always meant to re-engineer existing fossil fuel plant to reduce dependence on polluting fuels. Don't permit your government to use it as "discretionary". This is one way Ecology Action NS was able to leverage programs to reduce dependence on dirty fuels.Robert G Holmeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05356463540446993862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-53434162449023409962017-05-31T11:47:43.925-02:302017-05-31T11:47:43.925-02:30Carbon tax........anyone interested!
Todays Telegr...Carbon tax........anyone interested!<br />Todays Telegram editorial titled `Start making sense`.....suggests the Premier talks nonsense, or at least beats around the bush with no clarity. Making sense is one thing Muskrat never did.<br /> The issue here is in regard to the carbon tax and the White Rose project.<br /> Reading the tangled reply to the question asked by the opposition in the House, one can conclude that the carbon tax is part of the White Rose operations. That suggests it will be company write off as an expense, and therefore will defer profits and royalities to the province.<br /> The editorial asks : `Seriously, we`re paying for this!<br /> The Premier says `the carbon tax can be used a the discretion of the government. If we want to work with industry we can work with industry`. Is this written into the agreement!<br /> Does this mean that this tax, instead to going to households for measures to help reduce energy use and mitigate climate change, it can be handed back to the oil industry, for their improvements to reduce their carbon footprint, and so push ahead with more oil extraction. That is a direct benefit to big oil, not the residents here.<br /> The Premier`s response was described as a `word salad`.<br /> Most of the talk on CNN today is on climate change, whether Trump will pull out of the Paris Climate agreement.<br /> Should we not demand that the carbon tax be fed back to citizens for measures to reduce fossil fuel use.......instead of more subsidy to big oil!<br /> Good to see Russell at the Telegram look for clarity on this.<br />Winston AdamsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-51074448768898861252017-05-30T15:32:31.134-02:302017-05-30T15:32:31.134-02:30Why would Justin or MPs have anything to do with s...Why would Justin or MPs have anything to do with something under provincial jurisdiction?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-30208091640255930502017-05-30T13:44:30.864-02:302017-05-30T13:44:30.864-02:30Great post JDW. Puts it all in perspective.
Ther...Great post JDW. Puts it all in perspective. <br /><br />There's no desire by public office past and present to investigate because there are too many to be implicated. The secrecy coupled with the deceit we already know warrants nothing less than a forensic audit.<br />dmAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-47108654714956574552017-05-30T13:30:30.600-02:302017-05-30T13:30:30.600-02:30The nub is that under Peckford it was "foreve...The nub is that under Peckford it was "forever offshore". A general neglect of natural renewable resources; Forestry, Fishery, Agri-business, etc. was sacrificed for the petroleum dream. It is not surprising then that no long range energy needs, use, based on renewables was ever developed, following OPEC and other global energy wakeups . This myopic view of NL's future within the National power grid seems to perpetuate, with the current stock of political/corporate leadership. Are there no Greens left at MUN, and round the Bay?Robert G Holmeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05356463540446993862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-25325467497721435182017-05-30T12:28:20.262-02:302017-05-30T12:28:20.262-02:30Following the Sprung fiasco of the late 1980s ther...Following the Sprung fiasco of the late 1980s there was a Royal Commission to look into the affair. And that was after some $20 million had been misspent on growing cucumbers. It was Brian Peckford’s folly for which he will be remembered, in many quarters, with derision. Nevertheless, he should also be remembered as one of those responsible for the Atlantic Accord which was the greatest governmental accomplishment in our provincial history. No premier has achieved anything remotely close. <br />$20 M then was a considerable sum but nowhere near $11B. The Commission under Justice O'Regan found government reckless in not listening to the advice of its own senior civil servants and completely ignorant of the project’s economic viability resulting in taxpayers’ money accomplishing nothing more than lighting up the night skies of Mt. Pearl and the west end. And today we sit with our thumbs up our arse while Rome burns – pardon the butchered metaphor. An audit at the very least is required to investigate the source of the low-ball estimates at start-up. Citizens of this province and perhaps of this country deserve an inquiry into this debacle. But we are comfortable and complacent yet. Perhaps if the North Spur was closer to the north-east Avalon the whole damn thing would be halted. <br />JDWAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-54900519068482068952017-05-30T10:58:11.909-02:302017-05-30T10:58:11.909-02:30Russell at the Telegram writes this morning on `Th...Russell at the Telegram writes this morning on `There`s more to politics that razzle -dazzle`. I like Russell`s writing most of the time. Especially the way he describes the sight and sound of nature. Most of todays piece describes an abandoned beaver dam, now a swamp like area, that he came across on one of his many walks into our natural environment. These walks seems to rekindle his energy and clear his mind. Des Sullivan prefers the kayak in our northern Labrador region.<br /> Russell finishes up by saying `I`m good at some of the things I do, does that make me a shoo-in for swamp draining or dam building. Of course it doesn`t`<br /> A good writer, Russell. At times almost as good as Des Sullivan, sometimes better.<br /> Russell reference to dam building and the beaver........well,.......to me a reference to the Muskrat Falls boondoggle. He is making a point.<br /> Russell correctly suggests he is not an expert in dam building, or the many aspects of the false assumptions that has led to that potential swamp. <br /> Of course the beaver, left alone, improves their natural environment, not only for themselves , but for other species. And they are effective at controlling the waters.<br /> Russell, may not be an expert in the technical fields, but he has the intellect and ability to reason, to put informed analysis behind his opinions. He can seek out alternative expert opinion rather than blindly accept the PR of self professed world class experts that got us into this Muskrat mess. That is where Russell has let us down. Too much opinion, too little seeking assistance for in-depth analysis. He is capable of better informing his readers, me thinks. <br />Winston AdamsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-54667805712072331022017-05-30T10:29:51.969-02:302017-05-30T10:29:51.969-02:30Why not simply set up a NL branch of Ecology Actio...Why not simply set up a NL branch of Ecology Action? Like-minded people in NL can tap into the resources of EA. It covers a wide range of natural science interests from ocean, land and atmosphere, community social action at the grass roots. They have a website to Google.Robert G Holmeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05356463540446993862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-64410664005582370032017-05-30T08:26:03.487-02:302017-05-30T08:26:03.487-02:30I agree with everything being said here...and I am...I agree with everything being said here...and I am speechless except to say "what a mess!". Like winston I have taken some things into my own hands and I think of my daughter when I realize that someday I will leave a newfoundland legacy behind that she will pay for. With no conservation measures except measly take charge rebates it is a horrible time to live in NL. The public in general are in the belief that there will be a bail out and that there is no way that people will have to pay for power rates that high. I keep telling them they are in for a rude awakening. I also cringe when I go by the new homes being constructed to horrible energy standards with half of their north faces open with large glazings because thats what people want. Its funny that we "need" more energy when so much could have gone into conservation first. We haven't even adopted the National Energy Building Code of Canada...<br /><br />For those of you that want to see conservation and energy efficient building in action check out my blog. I am building the first PHIUS+ 2015 home in Newfoundland. flatrockpassivehouse.blogspot.comDavid J. Goodyearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01233272333521974367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-56617723536136171932017-05-29T21:04:41.193-02:302017-05-29T21:04:41.193-02:30Thanks Robert for the reminder: I just googled Eco...Thanks Robert for the reminder: I just googled Ecology Action Centre , as I came across it in investigating Nova Scotia's Efficiency Nova Scotia, and the years of their input leading up to that, and I believe , you , Robert has mentioned them before.<br /> I just reviewed their financial statements etc.<br /> They are a group, set up as a non-profit, on issues of the ecology, environment climate change, energy efficiency etc.<br /> Boy............are we backward here in Nfld. <br /> I graduated in engineering in 1971.......46 years ago. <br /> That same year Ecology Action Centre was set up in Nova Scotia........they now have a staff of 35 and 4500 members. It is a Nova Scotia organization.<br /> In 1979, I bought a gas guzzling Corvette. In 2005 I bought a Prius hybrid. I now look forward to a all electric car. I have a heatpump installed. Ithink of my grandchildren and the world we leave behind.<br /> My outlook has changed. I expect I am not alone.<br /> On this day of celebration of the White Rose development, I see this as a contribution to more wild and unpredictable weather, and more mean green crab..........not a happy day. And more of Ball kicking the can down the road with our debt problem......hoping oil will save us. <br /> We, in this province has ignored the prudent actions of other jurisdiction and let our government waste 12 billion dollars in Muskrat Falls. We have no organized group like EAC.<br /> EAC financial data:for 2016<br />Revenue 2.4 million<br />Members 4500 <br />Membership fees 429,000.00........so about 100.00 per year<br />travel expenses 6300.00<br />staff wages and benefits 554,000.00 so about avg 15,800 ea<br />net worth ; 160,000.00<br /> Year end: 12,211.00 surplus.<br /> They have had awards for one of the best run non profits in Canada.<br />I suggest readers check out their website. <br />Do we need something similar here? Long overdue I suggest. If we had an EAC we might have avoided Muskrat.......and other boondoogles waiting.<br /> What do UG readers think? <br /> Robert says "Citizens wake up"<br /> Can we get an amen to that?<br /> Can we get some names on this blog who think Robert's suggestion is a good one?<br />Winston Adams<br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-2452782184717521582017-05-29T18:35:11.426-02:302017-05-29T18:35:11.426-02:30NL government needs to stop putting up obstacles t...NL government needs to stop putting up obstacles to Renewable Energy options. This is 2017. Where is Justin and the laggard MP's?<br /><br />http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/net-metering-renewable-energy-1.4129987 <br /><br />Where is the NL version of Ecology Action? Citizens wake up!Robert G Holmeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05356463540446993862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-84644168879614728302017-05-29T18:02:49.388-02:302017-05-29T18:02:49.388-02:30On the subject of underground cables - lemme see i...On the subject of underground cables - lemme see if I follow - We give NS 20% of MF capacity (which will be significantly more than 20% of reliable production) for free for 35 years and we give them an option on another (is it 40%) tranche of power at market rates (probably less than 10% of our cost). In return we get to keep the underwater cable in 35 years. Now as far as I know, the useful life of an undersea cable is somewhere between 30 and 40 years. Is that the deal? Really? I must be missing something - Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5235138415013046381.post-88311552604035724962017-05-29T15:28:18.455-02:302017-05-29T15:28:18.455-02:30Comments indicate readers are getting a little ho...Comments indicate readers are getting a little hot under the collars today.....about time. <br /> Today`s Telegram news:<br />1. White Rose is to proceed.......good news for some, but our 12 billion from Hibernia is gone into a sink hole at Muskrat, so not much to celebrate on White Rose. I prefer that oil production be cut back, mitigate global warming, and help drive back those green mean crab, and restore conditions for caplin and cod.<br />2. Russell at the Telly, meanwhile, writes about the 8.5 percent rate increase for July and another 9 or 10 percent by March.......and these are not even Muskrat related........so talk about shock rates to come.....<br /><br /> Surely the negative of the power rate hike story outweigh the White Rose story , for most. But rather late for Russell to warn us about shock rates.......who has not preached that on this blog for almost 5 years now. And indeed, only shock rates will shock the public. <br /> We even have some technical people getting engaged now ( the comment on AC to DC technology and the perils of long term outages.....) , all known by the power companies and ignored 5 years ago. <br /> Man.......are we in deep doo doo. <br /> I seem to recall one of Ray Guy`s last pieces referring to Dunderdale knee deep in mud. Russell, who worked with and admired Guy, thinks someone of Guy`s talent would not be appreciated these days. <br /> I say, if only we had Guy, we could at least get a little satisfaction from the mess these sleeveens as has saddled us with.<br />I guess Saltwire has no funds for the crafts and courage of a would be Guy. Not in their platform budget for profit. Pity.<br />Winston AdamsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com