Showing posts with label Nuclear power. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nuclear power. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

March 6, 1974. Tout-nucléaire

French Prime Minister Pierre Messmer announced his government's decision to implement the Tout-nucléaire ("Total Nuclear") plan for all electricity in France. The goal was to accomplish this by 2000.  The goals were mostly met.

The US could easily do this, but it would require a scientifically educated public that wasn't easily swayed by raving BS, an overall problem that confronts the US on every level currently.

Last prior:

Tuesday, March 5, 1974. Portugal decides to stay.

Friday, May 5, 2023

Wednesday, May 5, 1943. First Nuclear Strike Chosen

 

Choosing the first atomic target – May 5, 1943


From the linked in site:
May 5, 1943 is one of the most important dates, and possibly the least known, in the history of the nuclear age. It was the date when the first atomic bomb targeting decision was made — a full two years before the end of World War II in Europe.

Also from that site:

Like many I have concluded that the bombings were unjustified, though that is an opinion far from universally held. But some of my reasons may surprise you. I explained them in a talk I gave in Santa Fe in 2012, entitled From Pearl Harbor to Hiroshima.

I'll be frank, I also view the bombings as morally unjustified acts.  Indeed, of the worst sort.  There's simply no escaping that the scale of a nuclear weapon, when used on a city, is going to have the primary effect of killing civilians.  Indeed, no matter how dressed up, by the wars end, that was looked at unflinchingly and was largely the point.

Of course, by that war the Allies had acclimated themselves to firebombing in Japan with the intent to destroy civilian housing, and thereby deprive Japanese war workers of their dwellings.  Once again, the use of force was over matched to the goal.  Striking factories is one thing, burning people to death in their homes quite another.

Make no mistake about it, Germans, under the monstrous Nazi regime, had become monstrous themselves, and in a way that no individual German can really excuse. The Japanese, who retained a peasant culture to a very large degree going into the war, likewise did, with the average soldier routinely committing murders and the entire military being acclimated to atrocity.  The Allies undoubtedly had the moral side of the war, and there's no two ways about it.  Nonetheless, that doesn't excuse the crimes committed by the Allies themselves, which in the case of the Western Allies came principally from unprincipled bombing.  Over European skies, the British were much more guilty of this than the Americans, having turned to inaccurate night bombing early in the war out of necessity, but then having readily adopted the liberal bombing views of "Bomber" Harris thereafter.  In the Pacific, the United States, the major Western combatant, went to free bombing of civilian targets with firebombs by the end of the war, as noted.  In some ways, the atomic bomb could almost be viewed as an extension of the late war firebombing, but in a new, much more devastating, and horrifying, way.

Sarah Sundin noted a true World War Two technological landmark, the first flight of the P51B.

Today in World War II History—May 5, 1943: 80 Years Ago—May 5, 1943: First flight of production-model North American P-51B Mustang (with a Packard-built Merlin engine), at Inglewood, CA.


The combination of the British engine with the P51 airframe, in what had been an Anglo-American project to start with, would revolutionize and completely alter the performance of the fighter.  It would be the P51B that would really start long range bomber escorts all the way into Germany.

Sundin noticed several other events of this day on her blog, including that Admiral Sir Charles Little was naval as the Allied naval commander for the invasion of France from Britain, although he would not hold the post long.

She also noted that the Japanese launched an offensive south of the Yangtze toward Chongqing. The often forgotten front, to the West, in China, remained Japan's largest ground commitment and in many ways most important theater of operations in the war. 

Twenty-seven ships of all types were lost in the war on this day.

A new law went into effect in California requiring marriage licenses to identify race.  Interracial marriage was illegal in California, as it was in much of the United States.

Friday, March 10, 2023

Wednesday, March 10, 1943. The Peak of the Battle of the Atlantic. First combat mission of the P-47.

By Crew of PB4Y-1 107-B-12 of VB-107, November 1943.

March 1943 was the peak of the Battle of the Atlantic, with the largest convoy battle of the war, the battle over Convoys HX 229/SC 122 about to commence.  Commencing on this day was the two-day battle over Convoy HX 228 in which nine U-boots would sink five Allied vessels, one of which was a warship.  The battle over Convoy SC 121 ended on this day, in which 27 U-boots sunk 12 merchant ships.  During March German submarines sank 120 merchant ships while losing only 15 submarines.  A Royal Navy figure later observed: "The Germans never came so near to disrupting communications between the New World and the Old as in the first twenty days of March 1943."

After April, however, Germany naval fortunes were to decline rapidly.

On the same day, the U-633 was sunk by the British freighter Scorton, which rammed her.  In its career, it had been on a single patrol and sunk one vessel.  On the same day, Germany changed its Enigma Code, according to Sarah Sundin's blog, temporarily making the Allies blind in the Atlantic.

A couple of things to recall. At this stage of the war, the Germans were still doing very well in the Atlantic, and indeed their fortunes were increasing in that theater.  Crossing the Atlantic remained extraordinarily perilous.  Allied ships went down continually.  And it was exclusively a Western Allied affair, which they bore alone.

German commenced rationing nonessential goods, thereby prohibiting the manufacture of suits, costumes, bath salts, and firecrackers. It restricted telephone use and photography at the same time.

It's not surprising that they took this step, but rather it was taken this late.

Sarah Sundin reports.

Today in World War II History—March 10, 1943: Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter planes fly first mission with US Eighth Air Force based in Britain. US II Corps retakes Sbeïtla, Tunisia.
P-47C taking off, 1943.

P-47s did not have long enough range to escort bombers all the way to Germany and back, but they were nonetheless a game changer for the USAAF.  A new generation of fighters surpassing the capabilities of most Axis fighters was beginning to come online.

Here again, the Western Allies were waging a titanic war on the sea and in the air.  This benefitted all the Allies, but it was not borne by all of them.

The USSR established Laboratory No. 2 to research atomic energy.

Saturday, February 18, 2023

February 18, 1943. On the anniversary of her death. Czeslawa Kwoka.

 


She was Polish, 14 years old, and Catholic.

She was executed by way of an injection of phenol into her heart, shortly after Whilem Brasse photographed her.  Her murder occurred at Auschwitz.

The way that this is noted, when it is, is that "next to Jews", Poles were the second biggest victims of the Holocaust, which tends to put aside the fact that many of the Jews killed by the Germans were Polish Jews, and therefore Poles.  Poland was the center of Jewish European culture prior to the Second World War and the Germans destroyed it.  Not to diminish that, however, is the fact that millions of Poles who were not Jews were also murdered for simply being Poles.  Ms. Kwoka was probably murdered as she was 14 and deemed incapable of providing useful work.  Her mother had been murdered some day prior, likely because she was also deemed incapable of useful work.  Huge numbers of Poles would be shot, gas and starved for that reason, and for the reason that the Germans sought to eliminate the Poles.

Next to the Poles were the Belorussians, which also sets aside that many Jewish Belorussians were killed as Jews.  Likewise, Ukrainian and Jewish Ukrainians were murdered in huge numbers, all for the crime of being Slavs or Jewish.  And we have to add to that the huge number of Red Army prisoners of war starved to death by the Germans for being, once again, Slavs.

It's unimaginable due to its scale.

And on this day, Czeslawa Kwoka was one of them.

On the same day, Joseph Goebbels went on the radio and called for "Total War".  Hitler had already decreed that this was to take place and had ordered the mobilization of German women within a certain age range.

Hans Scholl and Sophie Scholl of the White Rose resistance movement at the University of Munich were arrested. They'd be convicted of treason four days later.

The Japanese extended the ghetto system to Shanghai, creating a Jewish ghetto there made up of those who had fled Europe.  20,000 people were confined to two square miles.

Soong Mei-link, Chiang Kai-shek's wife, became the first private citizen to address the U.S. Congress.  She was also the second woman to do so.  She made the following statement:

Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives of the United States:

At any time it would be a privilege for me to address Congress, more especially this present august body which will have so much to do in shaping the destiny of the world. In speaking to Congress I am literally speaking to the American people. The Seventy-seventh Congress, as their representatives, fulfilled the obligations and responsibilities of its trust by declaring war on the aggressors. That part of the duty of the people’s representatives was discharged in 1941. The task now confronting you is to help win the war and to create and uphold a lasting peace which will justify the sacrifices and sufferings of the victims of aggression.

Before enlarging on this subject, I should like to tell you a little about my long and vividly interesting trip to your country from my own land which has bled and borne unflinchingly the burden of war for more than 5 1/2 years. I shall not dwell, however, upon the part China has played in our united effort to free mankind from brutality and violence. I shall try to convey to you, however imperfectly, the impressions gained during the trip.

First of all, I want to assure you that the American people have every right to be proud of their fighting men in so many parts of the world. I am particularly thinking of those of your boys in the far-flung, ut-of-the-way stations and areas where life is attended by dreary drabness—this because their duty is not one of spectacular performance and they are not buoyed up by excitement of battle. They are called upon, day after colorless day, to perform routine duties such as safeguarding defenses and preparing for possible enemy action. It has been said, and I find it true from personal experience, that it is easier to risk one’s life on the battlefield than it is to perform customary humble and humdrum duties which, however, are just as necessary to winning the war. Some of your troops are stationed in isolated spots quite out of reach of ordinary communications. Some of your boys have had to fly hundreds of hours over the sea from an improvised airfield in quests often disappointingly fruitless, of  enemy submarines.

They, and others, have to stand the monotony of waiting—just waiting. But, as I told them, true patriotism lies in possessing the morale and physical stamina to perform faithfully and conscientiously the daily tasks so that in the sum total the weakest link is the strongest.

Your soldiers have shown conclusively that they are able stoically to endure homesickness, the glaring dryness, and scorching heat of the Tropics, and keep themselves fit and in excellent fighting trim. They are amongst the unsung heroes of this war, and everything possible to lighten their tedium and buoy up their morale should be done. That sacred duty is yours. The American Army is better fed than any army in the world. This does not mean, however, that they can live indefinitely on canned food without having the effects tell on them. These admittedly are the minor hardships of war, especially when we pause to consider that in many parts of the world, starvation prevails. But peculiarly enough, oftentimes it is not the major problems of existence which irk a man’s soul; it is rather the pin pricks, especially those incidental to a life of deadly sameness, with tempers frayed out and nervous systems torn to shreds.

The second impression of my trip is that America is not only the cauldron of democracy, but the incubator of democratic principles. At some of the places I visited, I met the crews of your air bases. There I found first generation Germans, Italians, Frenchmen, Poles, Czechoslovakians, and other nationals. Some of them had accents so thick that, if such a thing were possible, one could not cut them with a butter knife. But there they were—all Americans, all devoted to the same ideals, all working for the same cause and united by the same high purpose. No suspicion or rivalry existed between them. This increased my belief and faith that devotion to common principles eliminates differences in race, and that identity of ideals is the strongest possible solvent of racial dissimilarities.

I have reached your country, therefore, with no misgivings, but with my belief that the American people are building and carrying out a true pattern of the Nation conceived by your forebears, strengthened and confirmed. You, as epresentatives of the American people, have before you the glorious opportunity of carrying on the pioneer work of your ancestors, beyond the frontiers of physical and geographical limitations. Their brawn and thews braved undauntedly almost unbelievable hardships to open up a new continent. The modern world lauds them for their vigor and intensity of purpose, and for their accomplishment. Your have today before you the immeasurably greater opportunity to implement these same ideals and to help bring about the liberation of man’s spirit in every part of the world. In order to accomplish this purpose, we of the United Nations must now so prosecute the war that victory will be ours decisively and with all good speed.

Sun-tse, the well-known Chinese strategist said, “In order to win, know thyself and thy enemy.” We have also the saying: “It takes little effort to watch the other fellow carry the load.”

In spite of these teachings from a wise old past, which are shared by every nation, there has been a tendency to belittle the strength of our opponents.

When Japan thrust total war on China in 1937 military experts of every nation did not give China even a ghost of a chance. But when Japan failed to bring China cringing to her knees as she vaunted, the world took solace in this phenomenon by declaring that they had overestimated Japan’s military might.

Nevertheless, when the greedy flames of war inexorably spread in the Pacific following the perfidious attack on Pearl Harbor, Malaya, and lands in and around the China Sea, and one after another of these places fell, the pendulum swung to the other extreme. Doubts and fears lifted their ugly heads and the world began to think that the Japanese were Nietzschean supermen, superior in intellect and physical prowess, a belief which the Gobineaus and the Houston Chamberlains and their apt pupils, the Nazi racists, had propounded about the Nordics.

Again, now the prevailing opinion seems to consider the defeat of the Japanese as of relative unimportance and that Hitler is our first concern. This is not borne out by actual facts, nor is it to the interests of the United Nations as a whole to allow Japan to continue not only as a vital potential threat but as a waiting sword of Damocles, ready to descend at a moment’s notice.

Let us not forget that Japan in her occupied areas today has greater resources at her command than Germany.

Let us not forget that the longer Japan is left in undisputed possession of these resources, the stronger she must become. Each passing day takes more toll in lives of both Americans and Chinese.

Let us not forget that the Japanese are an intransigent people.

Let us not forget that during the first 4 1/2 years of total aggression China has borne Japan’s sadistic fury unaided and alone.

The victories won by the United Sates Navy at Midway and the Coral Sea are doubtless steps in the right direction—they are merely steps in the right direction—for the magnificent fight that was waged at Guadalcanal during the past 6 months attests to the fact that the defeat of the forces of evil though long and arduous will finally come to pass. For have we not on the side of righteousness and justice staunch allies in Great Britain, Russia, and other brave and indomitable peoples? Meanwhile the peril of the Japanese juggernaut remains. Japanese military might must be decimated as a fighting force before its threat to civilization is removed.

When the Seventy-seventh Congress declared war against Japan, Germany, and Italy, Congress for the moment had done its work. It now remains for you, the present Representatives of the American people, to point the way to win the war, to help construct a world in which all peoples may henceforth live in harmony and peace.

May I not hope that it is the resolve of Congress to devote itself to the creation of the post-war world? To dedicate itself to the preparation for the brighter future that a stricken world so eagerly awaits?

We of this generation who are privileged to help make a better world for ourselves and for posterity should remember that, while we must not be visionary, we must have vision so that peace should not be punitive in spirit and should not be provincial or nationalistic or even continental in concept, but universal in scope and humanitarian in action, for modern science has so annihilated distance that what affects one people must of necessity affect all other peoples.

The term “hands and feet” is often used in China to signify the relationship between brothers. Since international interdependence is now so universally recognized, can we not also say that all nations should become members of one corporate body?

The 160 years of traditional friendship between our two great peoples, China and America,which has never been marred by misunderstandings, is unsurpassed in the annals of the world.

I can also assure you that China is eager and ready to cooperate with you and other peoples to lay a true and lasting foundation for a sane and progressive world society which would make it impossible for any arrogant or predatory neighbor to plunge future generations into another orgy of blood. In the past China has not computed the cost to her manpower in her fight against aggression, although she well realized that manpower is the real wealth of a nation and it takes generations to grow it. She has been soberly conscious of her responsibilities and has not concerned herself with privileges and gains which she might have obtained through compromise of principles. Nor will she demean herself and all she holds dear to the practice of the market place.

We in China, like you, want a better world, not for ourselves alone, but for all mankind, and we must have it. It is not enough, however, to proclaim our ideals or even to be convinced that we have them. In order to preserve, uphold, and maintain them, there are times when we should throw all we cherish into our effort to fulfill these ideals even at the risk of failure.

The teachings drwn from our late leader, Dr. Sun Yat-sen, have given our people the fortitude to carry on. From 5 1/2 years of experience we in China are convinced that it is the better part of wisdom not to accept failure ignominiously, but to risk it gloriously. We shall have faith that, at the writing of peace, American and our other gallant allies will not be obtunded by the mirage of contingent reasons of expediency.

Man’s mettle is tested both in adversity and in success. Twice is this true of the soul of a nation.

At this point, a committee appointed by the U.S. Government entered, and the following additional address was made.

The VICE PRESIDENT. Senators, distinguished guests, Mme. Chiang Kai-shek, wife of the Generalissimo of the armies of China, will now address you.

Mr. President, Members of the Senate of the United States, ladies and gentlemen, I am overwhelmed by the warmth and spontaneity of the welcome of the American people, of whom you are the representatives. I did not know that I was to speak to you today at the Senate except to say, “How do you do? I am so very glad to see you,” and to bring the greetings to my people

to the people of America. However, just before coming here, the Vice President told me that he would like to have me say a few words to you.

I am not a very good extemporaneous speaker; in fact, I am no speaker at all; but I am not so very much discouraged, because a few days ago I was at Hyde Park, and went to the President’s library. Something I saw there encouraged me, and made me feel that perhaps you will not expect overmuch of me in speaking to you extemporaneously. What do you think I saw there? I saw

many things. But the one thing which interested me most of all was that in a glass case there was the first draft of tone of the President’s speeches, a second draft, and on and on up to the sixth draft. Yesterday I happened to mention this fact to the President, and told him that I was extremely glad that he had to write so many drafts when he is such a well-known and acknowledgedly fine speaker. His reply to me was that sometimes he writes 12 drafts of a speech. So, my remarks here today, being extemporaneous, I am sure you will make allowances for me.

The traditional friendship between your country and mine has a history of 160 years. I feel, and I believe that I am now the only one who feels this way, that there are a great many similarities between your people and mine, and that these similarities are the basis of our friendship.

I should like to tell you a little story which will illustrate this belief. When General Doolittle and his men went to bomb Tokyo, on their return some of your boys had to bail out in the interior of China. One of them later told me that he had to mail out of his ship. And that when he landed on Chinese soil and saw the populace running toward him, he just waved his arm and shouted the only Chinese word he knew, “Mei-kuo, Mei-kuo,” which means “America,” [Applause.] Literally translated from the Chinese it means “Beautiful country.” This boy said that our people laughed and almost hugged him, and greeted him like a long lost brother. He further told me that the thought that he had come home when he saw our people; and that was the first time he had ever been to China. [Applause.]

I came to your country as a little girl. I know your people. I have lived with them. I spent the formative years of my life amongst your people. I speak your language, not only the language of your hearts, but also your tongue. So coming here today I feel that I am also coming home. [Applause.]

I believe, however, that it is not only I who am coming home; I feel that if the Chinese people could speak to you in your own tongue, or if you could understand our tongue, they would tell you that basically and fundamentally we are fighting for the same cause [great applause]; that we have identity of ideals’ that the “four freedoms,” which your President proclaimed to the world, resound throughout our vast land as the gong of freedom, the gong of freedom of the United Nations, and the death knell of the aggressors. [Applause.]

I assure you that our people are willing and eager to cooperate with you in the realization of these ideals, because we want to see to it that they do not echo as empty phrases, but become realities for ourselves, for your children, for our children’s children, and for all mankind. [Applause.]

How are we going to realize these ideals? I think I shall tell you a little story which just came to my mind. As you know, China is a very old nation. We have a history of 5,000 years. When we were obliged to evacuate Hankow and go into the hinterland to carry on and continue our resistance against aggression, the Generalissimo and I passed one of our fronts, the Changsha front. One day we went in to the Heng-yang Mountains, where there are traces of a famous pavilion called “Rub-the-mirror” pavilion, which perhaps interest you to hear the story of that pavilion.

Two thousand years ago near that spot was an old Buddhist temple. One of the young monks went there , and all day long he sat cross-legged, with his hands clasped before him in and attitude of prayer, and murmured “Amita-Buddha! Amita-Buddha! Amita-Buddha!” He murmured and chanted day after day, because he hoped that he would acquire grace.

The Father Prior of that temple took a piece of brick and rubbed it against a stone hour after hour, day after day, and week after week. The little acolyte, being very young, sometimes cast his eyes around to see what the old Father Prior was doing. The old Father Prior just kept on this work of rubbing the brick against the stone. So one day the young acolyte said to him, “Father Prior, what are you doing day after day rubbing this brick of stone?” The Father Prior replied, “I am trying to make a mirror out of this brick.” The young acolyte said, “But it is impossible to make a mirror out of a brick, Father Prior.” “Yes,” said the Father Prior, “and it is just as impossible for you to acquire grace by doing nothing except murmur ‘Amita-Buddha’ all day long, day in and day out.” [Applause.]

So my friends, I feel that it is necessary for us not only to have ideals and to proclaim that we have them, it is necessary that we act to implement them. [Applause.] And so to you, gentlemen of the Senate, and to you ladies and gentleman in the galleries, I say that without the active help of all of us, our leaders cannot implement these ideals. It’s up to you and to me to take to heart the lesson of “Rub-the-Mirror” pavilion.

I thank you.

Normally referred to as Madame Chiang Kai-shek in the west, she was the daughter of a Chinese Methodist missionary and was a Methodist herself.  Indeed, her family had opposed her marriage to Chiang Kai-shek on the basis that he was a married Buddhist, and he provided proof of his divorce and conversion to Christianity prior to the marriage.  In fact, his marital history was problematic as he had two prior wives and a concubine, the latter not unusual in China at the time, prior to marrying Soong Mei-link.

The groundbreaking for the nuclear production facilities at Oak Ridge, Tennessee took place. 

Today In Wyoming's History: February 181943  Converse County woman collected furs to be used for vests for merchant marines.  Attribution:  Wyoming State Historical Society

Friday, December 2, 2022

Wednesday, December 2, 1942. The birth of the nuclear age.

So, even though we reported this yesterday, and used the National Archives as the source: 

Scientists working on the Manhattan Project achieved the world’s first man-made, controlled nuclear chain reaction on 12/1/1942. Afterwards, they drank a silent toast to recognize the historic moment. The Chianti bottle’s basket bears their signatures.

National Archives, with a link to the photo of the Chianti bottle, which in its original form, as here is called a fiasco.

That it was Chianti, an iconic Italian table wine, is curious.

Every other source claims this happened today. 

The December 2 date is clearly the correct one, and for that reason, every December 2 is World Nuclear Energy Day.



Monday, November 7, 2022

Tuesday, November 7, 1972. Nixon Reelected.

Today In Wyoming's History: November 7: 1972 President Richard M. Nixon was re-elected in a landslide over Democrat George McGovern.


President Richard Nixon overwhelmingly won reelection to the Oval Office, defeating George McGovern.

I recall this election occurring, which means that this is probably the first Presidential election I directly remember.

In that same year, locally:

1972  A Sublette County straw poll shows 970 people opposed to, 279 in favor of and 105 undecided on the "Wagon Wheel Project" which would extract natural gas in the area with five underground nuclear explosions.  Yikes!  Attribution: Wyoming State Historical Society.



Monday, June 20, 2022

Looking at the Sunday Trib and some observations. 1. Democrats giving the kiss of death. 2. Buchanan defending the election against absurd claims by the "My Pillow" guy. 3. On nuclear

The editorial section of the Tribune was interesting this past Sunday.  A few takeaways and observations.

The first one is this.  A column was written by somebody I happen to know in support of Cheney, concluding with the line that he's a Democrat, but supporting Cheney.

This follows up on quite a few letters to the editor that say the same thing.

If you are a Democrat, and support Cheney, the single most significant thing you can do for her is to shut up.

Cheney is accused by her opponents of being a "RINO" (Republican In Name Only) and supporting the Democrats.  Your support of her, Democrat, hurts her.

Isn't this obvious?

So too, I'd note, are letters from outside the state.  I don't know why somebody living in Massachusetts thinks writing a letter to the editor of a newspaper in Wyoming will persuade any Wyomingites to do anything.  It won't.  But if does help convince those who dislike Cheney not to vote for her, as she's accused also of being, basically, a political carpetbagger.  

So again, shut up.

The second interesting item is the op-ed by the Secretary of State defending the state's elections against absurd claims by Mike Lindell, the "My Pillow" guy.

Lindell has been making absurd claims that all sorts of votes were stolen in Wyoming, which is bizarre in a state that overwhelmingly went for Trump.  He has formed some sort of organization supporting his claims, and the Wyoming Secretary of State's office even sent somebody to a conference it held.  It's asked the organization for its evidence and never received it.

The claims are, as noted, absurd.

The editorial shows how rational Buchanan is in his role.  It's a shame that he's leaving the office, no longer contending for it, as he's trying for a state district court judgeship. That's his right, but whoever gets that office is unlikely to be as untainted as he presently is.  One of the contenders, Wyoming House member Chuck Gray, has been involved in the circus involved in pointlessly challenging Arizona's election, and that's not a good sign.

As noted here earlier, I really don't know what to make of Buchanan publically announcing he's contending for the judicial position.  In some ways, it's admirably honest as he's not messing up the election by hoping to get something else, which he presumably stands a pretty good chance of getting.  On the other, he failed to get such an appointment earlier this past year, and this puts a lot of pressure on the nominating committee and the Governor (should he be nominated).

There's more I'm tempted to say on that entire process, but I'll abstain.

Next, a founder of a right wing libertarian organization wrote an article attacking nuclear energy.

A foundress of a group that's been a huge backer of libertarian and far right causes in the state, and her prior appearances in  the news haven't been encouraging.  I'll just note this. Everyone who is familiar with energy generation on a scientific level is of the opinion that nuclear power is safe and necessary.

Necessary.

This would include, I'd note, a former head of the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.

Gore's article deals with supply problems and costs, but as has been long-established, this is always an argument for anything that's on coming. At first, there's always supply problems and costs are high.  It's well established that as something gets up and rolling, costs go down and the supply problems ease.

This is overall part of the constantly made argument that the nation simply can't move away from fossil fuels.  Setting aside the argument on whether it must do so for environmental reasons, it's pretty clear the country is moving away from them.  It simply is.  In the short term, although that's increasingly becoming more and more short term, they will still be there.  Nothing is going away overnight. But long term alternative forms of energy generation are taking over, and in some quarters they have been for over a century.  The arguments overall on this topic really were ones that were first advanced, and then decided in the 1910 to 1920 time frame, and in the 1970s.

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Subsidiarity Economics. The times more or less locally, Party VII Going Nuclear

I saw the above posted the other day on, yes, Twitter. No matter what a person thinks about the underlying matter this goes to, it's correct that nuclear energy is the greenest realistic energy source we have.  Those who have opposed it for all of these years were advocating, unthinkingly, for the ongoing massive use of fossil fuels, no matter what they may claim. Actions, including unthinking or ignorant ones, have consequences.

November 17, 2021

Kemmerer Wyoming is getting the new Naughton nuclear power plant.

November 18, 2021

Payments from local governments will keep Casper's Delta flights operating for the time being

Unit 2 of the Jim Bridger power plant near Rock Springs is six weeks away from being out of compliance with Federal environmental regulations. The state has threatened to sue, which seems to be the state's response to unhappy news to the state in general, which if carried forward will likely result in yet another defeat in court for the state on matters of this type.

Water officials are asking for $281,000,000 for dam infrastructure funding in the upcoming 2022 legislative session.  A logical question would be whether the agency is anticipating making a claim on some of the new Federal infrastructure money.  My guess is that it is.

November 20, 2021

The House has passed a $2T social and environmental spending bill.

American Indian Tribes will receive $11B of the Federal infrastructure money.

Contrary to widely held belief, internal migration in the United States fell to its lowest level last year in 73 years.

November 24, 2021

While the amount of oil it contributes to the daily supply is minimal, the US will release 50Mbbl from the strategic oil reserve, a reserve whose purposes have seriously morphed over the years from being a reserve for the Navy to being some sort of economic oil buffer.

Industry has criticized the move.

A bill imposing a fee for methane releases in the oil and gas industry has passed the House but faces tough opposition in the Senate.

November 27, 2021

Stock markets plunged yesterday with the news that a new COVID 19 variant is now spreading.  The price of oil dropped $10.00 yesterday.

The Department of Interior is for raising the price of drilling on public lands, stating:

The review found a Federal oil and gas program that fails to provide a fair return to taxpayers, even before factoring in the resulting climate-related costs that must be borne by taxpayers; inadequately accounts for environmental harms to lands, waters, and other resources; fosters speculation by oil and gas companies to the detriment of competition and American consumers; extends leasing into low potential lands that may have competing higher value uses; and leaves communities out of important conversations about how they want their public lands and waters managed.

The fiscal components of the onshore Federal oil and gas program are particularly outdated, with royalty rates that have not been raised for 100 years. States with leading oil and gas production apply royalty rates on State lands that are significantly higher than those assessed on Federal lands. The Texas royalty rate, for example, can be double the Federal rate. Likewise, bonding levels have not been raised for 50 years. Federal minimum bids and rents have been the same for over 30 years. These antiquated approaches hurt not only the Federal taxpayer but also State budgets because States receive a significant share of Federal oil and gas revenues.

 December 2, 2021

Governor Gordon Criticizes Biden Administration’s Oil and Gas Leasing Review

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Governor Mark Gordon has responded forcefully to Friday’s release of the Department of the Interior’s report on federal oil and gas leasing and permitting. The Governor noted that this unnecessary review was used as an excuse for the Biden Administration’s illegal moratorium on oil and gas leasing on Federal lands. The Governor’s full statement follows:

The Biden Administration’s long-awaited review, released quietly the day after Thanksgiving, lacks merit and is a frontal assault on Western lands that leaves nothing to be thankful for.  The report encourages increasing the cost of producing oil and gas in Wyoming by hiking the royalty rate, taking more areas off the table for federal leasing  and increasing the costs of bonding. None of these options are wise or necessary for Wyoming.

Wyoming is not over-leased. In fact, only 23% of the total mineral acreage held by the Federal Government is leased. With our state’s  oil and gas industry just showing signs of recovery, this is the worst time to needlessly increase expenses such as jacking up royalty rates or instituting higher bond requirements. Wyoming already has an industry-funded, successful plugging and abandonment program. While we are asking our enemies to produce more oil, under less stringent regulations and drain our own national security reserves, further weakening our economy, we need to remember that the only result of the President’s actions will be driving more activity to foreign countries and to states with fewer federal lands and minerals.

 Instead of selling energy to our allies, as we used to, this administration wants to make us more dependent on our adversaries. And for what? We can do more to reduce CO2 emissions by innovating new technologies that improve our standard of living than regulating into oblivion. Any potential modifications to the oil and gas leasing program identified by this review could have been brought forward without the illegal and devastating moratorium. As I have stated on multiple occasions to the Biden administration, the leasing moratorium does nothing to achieve their climate agenda.

-END-

Governor's Strike Team to Hold Virtual Town Hall on American Rescue Plan Proposals

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Members of Governor Gordon’s Cabinet will hold a public Virtual Town Hall to discuss American Rescue Plan (ARP) proposals currently under consideration. Governor Gordon announced on Nov. 19 that there are more than $3 billion in proposals that the Strike Team is evaluating. Many of these proposals will not qualify for the $1 billion of ARP funds, but could qualify for other one-time funds or be funded through the new Infrastructure funding package. 

The Virtual Town Hall will take place on Friday, December 3 at 1 pm and include the following members of the Governor’s Strike Team. Each will present briefly on the Governor’s 10 goals and the associated proposals:

  • Robin Cooley, Director, Wyoming Department of Workforce Services.
  • Josh Dorrell, CEO, Wyoming Business Council.
  • Korin Schmidt, Director, Wyoming Department of Family Services.
  • Stefan Johansson, Interim Director, Wyoming Department of Health.
  • Renny MacKay, Policy Director, Governor Mark Gordon. 

To register, please visit: https://wyo-dws-gov.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KW99hgpRSZa2YH93kxCodA

-END-

December 3, 2021

Wyoming coal has jumped to record prices.

December 6, 2021

The Federal infrastructure bill will provide $63,000,000 for water projects to the state.

There is a Shop Wyoming website.  I only know this as the state, which maintains the site, is being sued by a Cody firearms manufacturer as the state won't put her business on the site.   The state maintains that it can't list their products as they vend through PayPal which won't accept payments for firearms related items.

December 13, 2021

Only two airports in the Continental United States gained passengers in 2020.

And those were the Rawlins Wyoming and Riverton Wyoming airports, both of which are part of Wyoming's Capacity Purchase Agreement program, which is a state program guaranteeing some level of ongoing air service.

Neither airport has been featured here, even though at one point or another, I've seen both (but of course haven't flown into either).

December 15, 2021

New York City has banned new natural gas hookups and oil burning equipment.  New buildings in the city will use heat pumps for heating, air conditioning, and hot water. 

December 16, 2021

Finally reacting to inflation, the Fed is getting set to raise interest rates in 2022.

December 17, 2021

2020 was the worst year economically for Wyoming since 1986.

1986 was the year I graduated from the University of Wyoming with a degree in geology, and yes, that year was pretty bad.

Governor Unveils ARPA Proposals to Support a Thriving Wyoming

 

CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Governor Mark Gordon today unveiled his proposals for the use of the first round of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. In a letter to the Wyoming Legislature’s Joint Appropriations Committee, the Governor recommends dedicating just under $500 million in funds to a range of programs and investments. Wyoming will receive more than $1 billion directly from ARPA. The Governor recommended the additional funds be set aside for savings or utilized for future ideas. 

The Governor noted that nearly $4 billion in requests were brought forward for consideration, and that he supported funding some proposals through other sources, including the recently passed federal Infrastructure bill. Wyoming received  $534 million of the $1.68 billion in ARPA funding in May and is set to receive a second payment of the same amount in 2022.

“This winnowing of proposals was not done casually, but thoughtfully in accordance with the principles outlined at the start of this endeavor to preserve opportunity and foster long-term resilience,” Governor Gordon wrote. “In many cases we reduced the initial request to an amount that could be used as a preliminary investment, as I believe it prudent to analyze the effectiveness of a program or proposal before committing additional dollars.”

The Governor proposed investments across 10 Goal Areas identified by his Strike Team. The proposal includes $207 million deployed using general fund revenue replacement-eligible dollars and $279 million in ARPA Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (CSLFRF), which must be spent consistent with federal law and guidance from the U.S. Treasury. In addition, the Governor recommends placing $100 million in the Legislative Stabilization Reserve Account (LSRA) to utilize as matching funds for a wide range of energy-related projects. 

Included in the Governor’s proposal are:

  • $100 million be placed in the Legislative Stabilization Reserve Account (LSRA) earmarked to match private sector or federal funds for large-scale energy projects, including carbon capture on a coal-fired power plant, a hydrogen hub, carbon sequestration, and nuclear power projects.)
  • $55 million for the next phases of the Wyoming Innovation Partnership to help expand the state’s workforce and economy. 
  • $75 million to the Wyoming Wildlife Trust Fund, which would fully fund the Trust and save general funds in future years.
  • $50 million for local government support projects 
  • $40 million for grants to enhance outdoor recreation in Wyoming and to help communities pursue construction of new outdoor recreation products and infrastructure 
  • $30 million to economic development efforts to support mining, agriculture and entrepreneurship. 
  • $10 million for the Cultural Trust Fund to promote arts and historic preservation in Wyoming. 
  • $10 million to match federal funds for wildlife/highway crossing projects. 
  • $10 million to expand Health and Human Services Staffing Stabilization efforts to include providers caring for vulnerable and at-risk populations 

Governor Gordon welcomes feedback on the proposals, both from the legislature and the public. Comments on the proposals are continuing to be accepted through forms available on the Governor’s Drive and Thrive website.

The Governor’s letter, including a complete list of the proposals and the amounts, is attached and can be found here

-END-

December 20, 2021

Yesterday, West Virginia Senator Manchin announced he would not vote for the "Build Back Better" bill that has been a signature bill of President Biden's administration.

This is consistent with what he has been saying all along, and is based on the enormous level of the proposed expenditures.

December 21, 2021

President Biden ordered an increase in fuel mileage standards, which will commence in 2023.

December 22, 2021

Joe Manchin has been giving interviews about his decision not to support the Build Back Better agenda, some of which have expressed real anger with those who attempted to pressure him on the matter.  The failure of it to pass is being regarded as a real critical failure of the Biden Administration.

President Biden addressed the matter at a press conference on the COVID 19 Pandemic he gave yesterday, stating:

Q    Mr. President, you often talk about the importance of keeping your word of trust.  Do you believe Senator Manchin kept his word to you?  And how do you rebuild trust with progressives in your party to advance your legislation now?

THE PRESIDENT:  You know, I told you before — you’ve heard me say this before: Some people think maybe I’m not Irish because I don’t hold a grudge.

Look, I want to get things done.  I still think there’s a possibility of getting Build Back Better done. 

What I don’t want to do is get into — and Joe went on TV today and — I don’t know if it was TV or not; I’m told he was speaking to the liberal caucus in the House and said, “Joe Biden didn’t mislead you, I misled you.”

And so, look, I’m not — I’m not looking for — let me say something: You saw what happened yesterday.  All the talk about how my Build Back Better plan was going to increase inflation, was going to cause these debts and all the like — what happened?

Goldman Sachs and others said if we don’t pass Build Back Better, we’re in trouble — because it’s going to grow the economy.  And without it, we’re not going to grow.

And what happened?  Stock prices went way down.  It took a real dip

If you take a look, the va- — I wasn’t — everybody thinks because I quoted 17 Nobel laureates saying, “This is going to help inflation” — think about it in terms of if you’re a hardworking person and you’re making 60 grand if you’re alone, if you’re mom or just on her own; or if you’re making 80 grand — a mom and dad, 90 grand, like a lot of people do, and you’re worried about inflation: You should be worried about it because it’s a devastating thing for people who are working class and middle-class folks.  It really hurts.

Where is most of the cost now?  The cost is finding it in gasoline, even though I’ve put — even though I was able to bring it down 12 cents a gallon and will come down more, I believe.  We talked about what the cost in food prices going up, et cetera.

But look what’s in — look what’s in Build Back Better: Childcare — you can reduce it by up to 70 percent.  That will be the difference between 20 million women who go — aren’t back in the workforce being able to go back, if you pass it.

We’re talking about — we’re talking about healthcare, insulin.  We’re in a situa- — we got — we got 200,000 kids with Type 1 diabetes.  You know what it’s costing?  It cost somewhere between 10 cents and 10 dollars to come up with a formula — okay? — a while ago.  All right?

You know what it’s costing on average?  $560, $640 a month, up to $1,000 a month. 

What do you do if you’re a mom and a dad working with minimum wage, busting your neck, and you look at your kid and you know if you don’t get that vaccine for them — I mean, that — excuse me — if you don’t get that drug for them, if you don’t get that — that — that — be able to take that, what happens?  They’re like to go into a coma and maybe die.

Not only do you put the kid’s life at stake, you strip away all the dignity of a parent looking at their child.  I’m not joking about this.

Imagine being a parent, looking at a child, and you can’t afford — you have no house to borrow against, you have no savings.  It’s wrong.  But all the things in that bill are going to reduce prices and cost for middle-class and working-class people.  It’s going to reduce their costs. 

What’s inflation?  Having to pay more than the money you have because things have gone up.  Well, it’ll bring down all those costs across the board, from childcare to a Child Care Tax Credit.

But I’m not supposed to be having this press conference right now.

Q    Mr. President, did Senator Manchin break his commitment to you?  When you announced the framework, the White House says that all 50 senators were believed to get behind it — all 50 Democratic senators.  So, did Senator Manchin break his commitment to you?

THE PRESIDENT:  Senator Manchin and I are going to get something done.  Thank you.

December 22, cont: 

President Biden suspended payments on student loans until May.

Note, we have a related thread up on this topic, today.

Blog Mirror: Tom Purcell: The AOC’s of student loan debt

Prior Threads

Subsidiarity Economics. The times more or less locally, Part VI. Bringing Brunton Home.



Tuesday, October 12, 2021

Subsidiarity Economics. The times more or less locally, Part IV

  


TerraPower, Wyoming Governor and PacifiCorp announce efforts to advance nuclear technology in Wyoming

Natrium™ Reactor Demonstration Project will bring new energy development and jobs to the state

 

CHEYENNE, Wyo. –  TerraPower and PacifiCorp, today announced efforts to advance a Natrium™ reactor demonstration project at a retiring coal plant in Wyoming. The companies are evaluating several potential locations in the state.

“I am thrilled to see Wyoming selected for this demonstration pilot project, as our great state is the perfect place for this type of innovative utility facility and our coal-experienced workforce is looking forward to the jobs this project will provide,” said Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon. “I have always supported an all-of-the-above energy portfolio for our electric utilities. Our state continues to pave the way for the future of energy, and Wyoming should be the place where innovative energy technologies are taken to commercialization."

The development of a nuclear energy facility will bring welcome tax revenue to Wyoming’s state budget, which has seen a significant decline in recent years. This demonstration project creates opportunities for both PacifiCorp and local communities to provide well-paying and long-term jobs for workers in Wyoming communities that have decades of energy expertise.

“This project is an exciting economic opportunity for Wyoming. Siting a Natrium advanced reactor at a retiring Wyoming coal plant could ensure that a formerly productive coal generation site continues to produce reliable power for our customers,” said Gary Hoogeveen, president and CEO of Rocky Mountain Power, a business unit of PacifiCorp. “We are currently conducting joint due diligence to ensure this opportunity is cost-effective for our customers and a great fit for Wyoming and the communities we serve.”

“I commend Rocky Mountain Power for joining with TerraPower in helping Wyoming develop solutions so that our communities remain viable and continue to thrive in a changing economy, while keeping the state at the forefront of energy solutions,” said Wyoming Senate President Dan Dockstader.

“Wyoming has long been a headwaters state for baseload energy. This role is proving to be ever more important. This effort takes partnerships, and we welcome those willing to step up and embrace these opportunities with us,” said Wyoming Speaker of the House Eric Barlow.

The location of the Natrium demonstration plant is expected to be announced by the end of 2021. The demonstration project is intended to validate the design, construction and operational features of the Natrium technology, which is a TerraPower and GE Hitachi technology.

“Together with PacifiCorp, we’re creating the energy grid of the future where advanced nuclear technologies provide good-paying jobs and clean energy for years to come,” said Chris Levesque, president and CEO of TerraPower. “The Natrium technology was designed to solve a challenge utilities face as they work to enhance grid reliability and stability while meeting decarbonization and emissions-reduction goals.”

Wyoming’s Governor Gordon committed in early 2021 to lead the state in becoming carbon net negative while continuing to use fossil fuels through the advancement and utilization of next-generation technologies that can provide baseload power to the grid, including nuclear and carbon capture solutions. Wyoming is the largest net energy exporter in the United States and finding carbon solutions will ensure the state continues to provide energy to consumers across the nation while decreasing CO2 emissions.

In October 2020, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), through its Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP), awarded TerraPower $80 million in initial funding to demonstrate the Natrium technology. TerraPower signed the cooperative agreement with DOE in May 2021. Next steps include further project evaluation, education and outreach as well as state and federal regulatory approvals, prior to the acquisition of a Natrium facility.

Learn more about this project and the Natrium technology at wyadvancedenergy.com

Allow me to note, you heard it here first.

I've been advocating this for several years.

This is, quite frankly, a major event.  This signals, whether people wish to realize it or not, the state realizing that a new economic era has arrived, and the state needs to plan on that basis.  It also acknowledges the reality that if the US is to have a carbon neutral economy, as it claims, and no matter what you think of that, nuclear is not only part and parcel of that, it's central to it.

June 3, 2021

More on this big (and it is big) story.

The move is in association with Bill Gates' and Warren Buffett's Terra Power and is clearly part of their push for green energy.  It's slated to begin producing electricity in 2028, which is remarkable for a facility whose location has not yet been chosen, although some potential sites, including Glenrock, have been mentioned.

The reactor would be a Natrium small modular reactor, which is much smaller than the large nuclear reactors we're familiar with, such as those depicted above.   These smaller reactors are designed specifically to replace coal-fired plants by using part of an existing coal power plants cooling system.

June 11, 2021

A Federal Court suspended drilling on 630 square miles of Federal lands in Montana and Wyoming for the BLM failing to comply with NEPA in regard to sage chickens when the leases were issued.

Fire season commenced all over the state this past week as temperatures soared into the 90s.

Yellowstone introduced driverless electric shuttles.

June 15, 2021

The price of oil is up over $70.00/bbl, a recent high.

While this is good for Wyoming, there's every sign that the economy is overheating and entering an inflationary stage, in spite of the Biden Administration's early indications that this wouldn't happen.  At the same time, there's an increasing labor shortage caused, in part, by laid off workers refusing to return to their pre COVID jobs.

June 16, 2021

Practically buried in all of the other news and entertainment, the G7 agreed to forego extending loans to coal firepower plant construction.

A Federal Judge declared President Biden's executive order suspension on new oil and gas leases blocked.   While not having read this opinion, as Presidents can classically withdraw Federal lands from entry, I suspect this will ultimately be reversed, but not before numerous additional leases are issued.

June 26, 2021

The new nuclear power plant planned for Wyoming is estimated to create up to 3,000 construction jobs and perhaps up to 400 full time jobs.

June 28, 2021

The Shoshone and Arapaho Tribes have taken over production on their Circle Ridge oilfield directly.  In doing so, they've noted that it is their view that fossil fuels are on the way out.

June 28, 2021, cont.

And. . . 

Supreme Court deals final blow to Wyoming coal port suit

presumably, nobody was surprised.

Headline from the Trib.

At least we weren't, as we were predicting an end unfavorable to the state for, well, forever.

July 9, 2021

Natrona County approved a wind farm to go in north of town.

The event was notable for the opposition it drew which puts a spotlight on how this debate has evolved over time.  Early on, many of those closely associated with the extractive industries, or those who just had a traditional view of energy generation, dismissed wind farms as inefficient and something that would never really get rolling. At the same time, there were those who opposed them based upon their ascetics, or based upon the threat they pose to birds.

Since that time wind turbines have become much more efficient and even though people hate to admit it, they can now compete with coal-fired electrical generation.  This has caused the debate to shift among some people, and it's taken on a political right/left aspect to it in some quarters, much like everything else in the country right now. Just recently, for example, Senatorial candidate Chuck Gray blamed wind turbines for the mid-winter power outages in Texas.

Given this, it isn't too surprising that the proposed wind farm drew some opposition, indeed quite a bit of it.  One Natrona County Commissioner claimed he "despise[d]" renewable energy, even though he felt the application had met the criteria and voted for it.  It's hard to imagine anyone despising renewable energy and I suspect that wasn't really what he meant, but there is a lot of opposition to it.

In contrast, a Converse County Commissioner came to speak in favor of it, noting that recent wind farm construction in his county had been an economic life raft during the recent oilfield slow down.  The airport testified against the wind farm out of safety concerns, but apparently the FAA had found there were none.

Personally, it's hard to see wind turbines as ascetically pleasing, but there are at least two wind farms visible from the city already, which makes the view shed argument somewhat difficult.

July 13, 2021

Plains Tires, a Wyoming tire retail company with stores around the state, has been bought by Les Schwab Tire Centers, a larger company with 500 stores across the west.

Plains Tires was founded in 1941.

July 15, 2021

The state's coal production fell 21% in 2020.

July 20, 2021

Governor Signs Temporary Executive Order to help Alleviate Fuel Shortages

CHEYENNE, Wyo. –  To help prevent potential gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel shortages, Governor Mark Gordon has signed an Executive Order (EO) that puts in place temporary emergency rules for the Wyoming Department of Transportation allowing drivers to make extra fuel deliveries.

The order is effective July 20 through August 20.

Demand for fuel has increased due to post-pandemic travel in the United States, with increases in travel and tourism seen throughout the state. In addition, an early fire season has resulted in increased fire suppression efforts which have also impacted demand for various fuels across the western United States.

“It is critical that we have adequate fuel supplies. This is particularly necessary for air support during this fire season,” Governor Gordon said. “These emergency rules will help increase fuel deliveries without potentially harmful delays.”

The emergency rule suspends regulations on driving hours to allow drivers to meet the increased demand for fuel, but still indicates drivers cannot be on the road when they are fatigued. Fuel delivery companies are specifically asked to take extra precautions to ensure the safety of both the public and company drivers.

This order applies specifically to drivers bringing gasoline, diesel or aviation fuel to Wyoming or doing in-state deliveries. The order also aligns Wyoming with other surrounding states, which have implemented similar executive orders.

For questions pertaining to enforcement, contact Wyoming Highway Patrol Lt. Dustin Ragon at 777-4872.

A copy of the Executive Order is attached and may be found on the Governor’s website. 

July 24, 2021

I'm constantly hearing around here that electric vehicles will never really come to Wyoming as their just not suited for the state. 

Never mind that nobody on the plant really makes vehicles for Wyoming.  Indeed, if that were the case we'd all be driving the Toyota Hilux as it's about the last pickup made on Earth that's really rugged in the old-fashioned Dodge Power Wagon sense. But even the "no electric truck" argument just doesn't hold water.

Ford here make a pitch that the day of the electric pickup has arrived, starting off with a cowboy in their advertisement.

There’s a New Revolution Starting

I know that this isn't a popular view around here.  The state just completed an always doomed effort to force Pacific coast states to have a coal port against their will.  A political ad that's now running claims one politician "saved our coal jobs".

Well, things are definitely changing and we need to prepare for it.

July 30, 2021

Two large Wyoming coal producers have asked for royalty reductions.

August 3, 2021

The University of Wyoming is seeking to use American Recovery Plan Act funds to fund its restructing.

August 20, 2021

Gillette Community College will become its own district, with large scale support of area voters in a special election.

August 28, 2021

PacificCorp announced plans to retire all of its coal-fired power plants by 2040, with the majority retired by 2030.

September 1, 2021

The moratorium on Federal oil and gas leases will end in December.

September 2, 2021

County health is predicting a rise in labor shortages locally due to an increase of school related COVID 19 cases, as parents return home to take care of sick children.

September 11, 2021

Harvard University announced that it will not invest in fossil fuels and will wind down its existing legacy investments.

As an isolated matter, this probably doesn't matter much, but it recalls similar acts concerning investment in South Africa which did contribute to the end of the apartheid era.  If this becomes a larger movement, it could become significant.

September 15, 2021

Taking a page out of Wyoming's "sue 'em" book, Vermont has sued four oil companies, alleging that they have misled the public on global warming.

There's no reason to believe that Vermont was inspired by Wyoming's recent coal port lawsuits, but the danger of such actions is made apparent by this.  The doors of the courts, of course, are open to all.

September 20, 2021

The Bureau of Land Management is moving its  headquarters back to Washington D.C.

September 21, 2021

Bridger coal is closing it's underground mine in Wyoming. This will result in the loss of about 100 jobs.

October 6, 2021

The International Council on Mining and Metals, a mining organization, has committed to zero green house gas emissions by 2050.

Delta receives a subsidty to continue serving the Natrona County International Airport

October, 6 cont:

Updates for October, 2021

 

October 6, 2021.  Governor Gordon visits US/Mexico border.

October 7, 2021

As a followup to the above, although not exactly on topic, the Governors involved in the border meeting issued the following plan regarding the border crisis:

JOINT POLICY FRAMEWORK ON THE BORDER CRISIS 10 Policies to Protect America, Restore Security, and End the Crisis

1. Continue Title 42 public health restrictions: The Biden Administration should continue to invoke Title 42 to refuse entry to individuals coming into the country due to the COVID-19 public health risk, which was initially issued by the previous administration. Title 42 currently expels approximately 44% of apprehensions. In July, more than 18% of migrant families and 20% of unaccompanied minors tested positive for COVID-19 upon being released from Border Patrol custody. Reports estimate that the Biden Administration has placed approximately 40,000 COVID-19 positive migrants into American cities.

2. Fully reinstate the Migrant Protection Protocols: The Biden Administration should comply with recent federal court rulings and fully reinstate the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) established by the prior administration, which require asylum seekers to return to Mexico to await their court hearing outside of the United States, serving as a deterrent to cross. Upon taking office, President Biden issued a directive to terminate the MPP, and although litigation may continue, the Biden Administration should halt any attempts to appeal and fully reinstate the policy.

3. Finish securing the border: The Biden Administration should reopen construction contracts to continue building the border wall and invest in infrastructure and technology, such as lights, sensors, or access roads, to complete the border security system. Upon taking office, President Biden terminated the national emergency at the border, stopped all border construction, and redirected funds to build the wall.

4. End catch and release: The Biden Administration should end the Obama-era policy of catching and releasing apprehended migrants into U.S. cities along the South Texas border, leaving illegal immigrants paroled and able to travel anywhere in the country. Upon taking office, President Biden issued an Executive Order reinstating catch and release policies that incentivize illegal immigration and make deportation laws difficult to enforce.

5. Clear the judicial backlog: The Biden Administration should dedicate additional judges and resources to our U.S. immigration courts to end the growing backlog and expedite court appearances for illegal migrants. Reports indicate backlogged cases total more than 1 million, the most ever.

6. Resume the deportation of all criminals: The Biden Administration should enforce all deportation laws of criminally convicted illegal aliens. Upon taking office, President Biden issued an Executive Order ordering the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to prioritize only the deportation of aggravated felons, gang members, or terrorists, leaving other criminals to remain in the United States.

7. Dedicate federal resources to eradicate human trafficking and drug trafficking: Due to the rapid increase of cartel activity, the Biden Administration should dedicate additional resources to eradicate the surge in human trafficking and drug trafficking, arrest offenders, support victims, and get dangerous drugs—like fentanyl and methamphetamine—off our streets.

8. Re-enter all agreements with our Northern Triangle partners and Mexico: President Biden should re-enter the prior administration’s agreement with the Northern Triangle countries (El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras) and Mexico. The countries agreed to enforce their respective borders, fix their asylum systems, and receive migrants seeking asylum before they journey north to the United States. Upon taking office, President Biden issued an Executive Order terminating the agreements.

9. Send a clear message to potential migrants: President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Biden Administration officials at every level should state clearly and unequivocally that our country’s borders are not open and that migrants seeking economic opportunity should not attempt to abuse or misuse the asylum process. Prior to and after taking office, President Biden blatantly encouraged illegal immigrants to come to the United States.

10. Deploy more federal law enforcement officers: Due to overwhelming needs at the border, the Biden Administration should deploy more and provide greater resources to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Due to a lack of federal resources, Arizona and Texas have had to initiate an Emergency Management Assistance Compact to request law enforcement resources directly from states, receiving offers from eight states, to arrest and detain illegal trespassers.

October 9, 2021

A global agreement has been reached on an international corporate minimum tax of 15%.  The agreement will have to pass Congress before it becomes law in the United States, something which the nearly evenly divided Senate will make difficult.

October 10, 2021

The budget reconciliation bill before Congress contains a provision for an 8% royalty on minerals extracted from Federal lands under the Mining Law of 1872 and related provisions.  Right now, such extraction is Federal royalty free and always has been.

October 12, 2021

Oil is up over $80.00 a barrel

Prior threads:

Subsidiarity Economics. The times more or less locally, Part III