Monthly Archives: February 2025

Coal Power, Energy, Politics and Economic Prosperity, Fossil Fuels are Important, Regulations

Existing EPA Rules Increase Costs and Will Cause Rationing of Electricity in South Carolina, if Endangerment Finding is NOT Repealed

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Cost of Power in S.C. will Increase and Electricity Availability will Decrease. I will try to explain why…

Earlier this week I was honored to share the instructional duties of a short course on EV’s with my friend Henrik de Gyor at USCB-OLLI in Bluffton, S.C. Later, my friend Thomas Shepstone published the fact sheets that we provided to the 75 or so attendees to the course. It was enjoyable and satisfying to share our experiences and knowledge with this group, which had very good Energy IQ’s and good questions.

One takeaway for me was the reminder that charging EV’s in a few years is going to be problematic if the sales of EV’s picks up and they become very popular. Why? Because the Bulk Electric power supply to charge them is under siege by remaining Federal and state Regulations and laws. Namely, the EPA-“Endangerment Finding”. This Rule which basically considers CO2 a pollutant, is the at the heart of the government’s “War on Fossil Fuels”. Remember when Obama’s Administration increased the Fleet Fuel Mileage standard to 54.5 mpg”? Many engineers and car enthusiasts wondered, “How could that ever happen, it is impossible to obtain a fleet average fuel economy of 54.5 mpg with a fleet of 3500 pound+ cars and SUV’s that American’s love”. The answer, force most people to drive EV’s whether we want them or not.

Up till now, the general public has not been affected by this extreme and restrictiveRule. Call it law. But, if not repealed it will weaken America, drive electricity prices higher and provide government more control of our freedoms. I have written previous articles on Santee-Cooper, the EPA Endangerment Finding and importance of Electricity.

Over 100 links of relevant technical and political references are included at the end. These are to provide confidence for the reader that the conclusions written here are in-fact, well thought out & researched.

Let me explain below what it means from an electricity generation viewpoint and the harm these Federal EPA Rules have done to impact the people of my adopted state of South Carolina.

Bulk Power Supply to Palmetto Electric

Let me be specific and discuss the Bulk Power Supply for our area, the low country of South Carolina. One of the few regions in the U.S. that still has a regional utility. This region is supplied electricity by Palmetto Electric which is a cooperative. Palmetto Electric does not generate electricity, they transmit and distribute electricity to homes and businesses in our area. They do a very good job at it. Palmetto Electric obtains its primary supply of Bulk Electric Power from Santee-Cooper. (the term Bulk Power refers to huge quantities of electricity measured in Megawatts). Santee-Cooper is also known as “South Carolina Public Service Authority”. This is a state owned agency and is governed by the Legislature of S.C. and so far is independent of Regionasl RTO’s (Regional Transmission Operators) such as the massive PJM Interconnection. I hope our state remains independent!

The generation assets of Santee-Cooper are listed below, this is from the latest IRP (Integrated Resource Plan). According to Santee-Cooper’s facts, Coal power plants represent 60.1% of the total owned generation. Natural gas 20.9% and Solar 2.5%. This is where Palmetto Electric obtains nearly all of the Bulk Power used on Hilton Head, Bluffton and other areas served by Palmetto Electric. On January 8th, 2025 coal power provided over 88% of the electricity generated. That is because it was needed then and coal also was the lowest cost fuel at that moment. So, the percentages of installed capacity do not necessarily match actual generation.

Here is a graph of the actual generation, by fuel for a cold week in January 2025.

Why are Electricity Rates Rising?

The path to replacing coal power with solar, natural gas, wind and Battery Electric Storage Systems (BESS) will be at enormous cost. Worse yet, wind and solar are intermittent generation. They only generate when the wind is blowing and the sun shining, this is obvious to most everyone, but the BESS promoters claim Battery storage will smoothen the generation through the day. (It may for a few hours, but not days). Further, this has been tried by Hawaii, Germany, UK and California and the cost of electricity has risen significantly in each of these locations. Last September I was invited to Liberty University by my friend Dave Walsh. Dave is an energy expert from Florida who has done extensive studies on the Retail cost of electricity. Below is a chart of the ten lowest and the ten highest cost electricity prices in the United States. The highest costs of generation are in the states that are the most aggressive in shutting down coal plants. The low costs in Washington & Oregon are due to the locally abundant and inexpensive hydropower. The other eight low cost electricity states all use significant amounts of coal power, just as Santee-Cooper does now.

Coal power has numerous advantages

Amongst the advantages are:

  • Least cost fuel to generate electricity (from above chart and past history of power costs in S.C.)
  • Coal fuel cost has been stable for decades
  • They are Dispatchable when electricity Demand increases, load can be increased to satisfy Demand
  • Proven Reliability
  • Most resilient in cold weather
  • Long lasting, robust power plants
  • On-site fuel storage capacity for months, unlike pipeline provided natural gas which the flow can be interrupted if there is a control problem or physical damage to the pipeline providing fuel flow to the power plant

Planning to shut these reliable coal plants down is Planning for higher cost & less reliable electricity

Why do I say that? Because that is what has occurred in every location it has been tried. Such as Germany, UK, Hawaii, Canary Islands, California, Denmark and more. Here is some more data provided by my friend Dave Walsh on the cost of electricity in selected countries. This chart is as of last summer 2024. The red dots above the bars indicate more than 30% wind and/or solar on the respective Grids.

The chart above is titled “Comparative Global Economic Access to Electricity”. It is not only cost, it is also a matter of power reliability. In many countries electricity is rationed and industry has been downsized due to either the high cost or the unavailability of electricity. There are reference links provided at the end if you are interested in more details of De-Industrialization due to certain other countries “Self Sabotaging their electricity Infrastructure”. Two are Germany and the U.K. Interestingly, the Panel Discussion at Liberty University that Dave Walsh and I were involved with was titled, “The Impacts of the Coming Self-Inflicted Electricity Generation Crisis”. My written notes and presentation are included in the references. President Trump has declared a “National Energy Emergency”. He is correct in doing so. Let’s take a look at the current planning for South Carolina electricity generation and expected Demand through 2040. The chart below is from Santee-Cooper’s latest (September 2024) IRP.

The dotted black line that shows about 6700 MW Demand in 2030 is about 1700 MW above the installed capacity planned to be owned by Santee-Cooper in 2030. This deficit is planned to be filled with purchased power from other Utilities or IPP’s (Independent Power Producers) and the construction of more natural gas generation. Maybe supplying Bulk Power to meet Demand is possible, but there is a gap between Supply and Peak Demand. Further, if we check the IRP’s for the neighboring Utilities of Duke Energy and Dominion, they too are planning to exit coal about the same time. (Back to the anti-American EPA Rules).

Build nuclear some say. OK, but remember, it took Georgia Power about ten years to build Units 3 & 4 at Plant Vogtle and they cost about 34 Billion dollars. The final cost was well over expected. By the way, Georgia Power, another neighboring and connected Utility recently updated their IRP to keep coal plants running that had previously been announced to be closed.

Long story short, the fact is, the least cost Bulk Power Supply in this region is from the coal plants.

Until new nuclear plants can be constructed and started up, these coal plants need to be properly maintained and…In my opinion, more new coal plants, such as the once planned (and equipment purchased) Pee Dee Coal Plant should be built. Why? for two reasons. To satisfy the growth in Demand and do so with reasonable cost equipment using the most reasonable cost fuel that is proven. By the way, the cost of electricity production in a Thermal plant 75-92% fuel cost. That’s right, double the cost of natural gas in a gas plant and the production cost of electricity nearly doubles with it.

One outstanding plan was to build the 600 MW Pee Dee County coal plant. This was properly planned in 2008, but stopped in 2011 due to environmental activism against CO2 production of coal fuel. Here is an artists depiction of that plant

I remember Mr. Bill McCall, (now retired) then a senior executive at Santee-Cooper presenting a case for why it was needed. He was right. It should not have been canceled. Of course, the Summer nuclear plant expansion of units 2 and 3 was also a good plan. References below if you are interested in the history of the Summer units 2 and 3. Topics for another day. Let’s get back to the likely difficulty of keeping South Carolina’s existing high electricity Demand industries (Nucor and Century Aluminum are just two) and also, supplying power to provide a transportation fuel to thousands of EV’s in 2032.

Charging Your EV in 2030

I have tried to show how electricity may become limited when the coal plants are shut down. Also, as they are replaced with plants that burn natural gas, the electricity prices are likely to be higher. Have you heard the terms “Demand Response” and “Smart Meters”? These are polite terms for “Rationing”. Demand Response of the utility shutting off your water heater or your air conditioner for a few moments or an hour is not a big deal. However, in 2032 when you come home and plan to charge your EV, it may not be allowable until late at night. Maybe not a problem? But, maybe you would like to charge your EV to be available just as your current ICE powered vehicle is available on a moments notice? I encourage you to read the Santee-Cooper IRP and follow the news on power generation in South Carolina. Yes, South Carolina is a leader in nuclear power, our state ranks #3 in the nation. But for our region, only 322 MW of power come from the Summer Unit #1 nuclear plant. Therefore, the existing EPA Rules, in particular the “Endangerment Finding” will impact all of those served by Palmetto Electric.

Conclusions

  1. The EPA Endangerment Finding needs to be repealed so that Utilities can get back to proper planning of affordable, reliable electricity generation
  2. The State Legislature should push back on extreme EPA Rules that are rooted in political bias, not protection of human health or the environment
  3. The Pee Dee Coal Plant should be constructed, as was planned in 2008.

Our state Senator Tom Davis understands energy and electricity generation better than most. I wish him good success in improving the Energy IQ of his colleagues in the Legislature. My Congressional Representative is Nancy Mace, I will be writing her as well. I encourage my friends to do likewise. If our elected representatives do not hear from us, South Carolina’s electricity prices and availability may match California or Hawaii’s in the future.

Respectfully,

Dick Storm, February 28, 2025

References and Reading for Additional Research

  1. President Trump’s National Energy Emergency EO: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/declaring-a-national-energy-emergency/
  2. The Kingdom of Heaven Runs on Righteousness, The Kingdom of Earth Runs on Energy, Oct. 3, 2024:  https://dickstormprobizblog.org/2024/10/03/heaven-runs-on-righteousness-earth-runs-on-energy/
  3. Here is a linkedIn post I made: Dick Storm LI Post on SC Energy policies and failed coal and nuclear plant plans: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7184184178920312833?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
  4. How Can a 6,000 MW Utility that will be a 9,000 MW Utility in 2050, become Net-Zero Carbon? April 2023: https://dickstormprobizblog.org/2023/04/27/how-can-a-6000-mw-regional-utility-in-2030-which-likely-will-be-a-9000-mw-utility-in-2050-achieve-net-zero-carbon/
  5. Dick Storm’s views on the 2009 EPA-Endangerment Finding”: https://wp.me/p5DzAo-1ZW
  6. Texas Tribune report on Feb. 2021 cold weather storm deaths: https://www.texastribune.org/2022/01/02/texas-winter-storm-final-death-toll-246/#:~:text=Texas%20has%20added%2036%20more,disasters%20in%20the%20state’s%20history.
  7. South Carolina Legislation to achieve Net-Zero Carbon and replace coal generation with carbon free primary energy: https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess124_2021-2022/bills/3194.htm
  8. Thomas J. Shepstone Substack on Dick Storm’s “Primer on How to Ensure Electricity Security (and How to Destroy It)”:  https://open.substack.com/pub/energysecurityfreedom/p/a-primer-on-how-to-ensure-energy?r=kv1a9&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
  9. Thomas J. Shepstone substack article. “A Balanced Energy Portfolio is Critical but South Carolina Doesn’t Seem Get It” : https://energysecurityfreedom.substack.com/p/a-balanced-energy-portfolio-is-critical?utm_source=profile&utm_medium=reader2
  10. Post & Courier article on Power Demand increase from Data Centers, April 2024: https://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/editorials/google-data-centers-energy-hogs/article_1c7b558c-062b-11ef-836f-87365c650aef.html
  11. WLTX News on Data Center Power Requirements, April 2024: https://www.wltx.com/article/news/local/south-carolina-energy-data-centers/101-9a055fc9-e66f-4e3e-bebb-c58f5b7c1ab5
  12. POWER Magazine on stopping construction of Pee Dee Coal Plant in 2009: https://www.powermag.com/south-carolinas-santee-cooper-shelves-2-billion-coal-plant-project/
  13. Inside Climate News, 2011:  https://insideclimatenews.org/news/05042011/coal-plant-canceled-south-carolina-santee-cooper-parts-for-sale/
  14. Engineering News Record, 2016: https://www.enr.com/articles/23106-santee-cooper-nixes-plans-for-proposed-2-2-billion-pee-dee-energy-campus
  15. Post and Courier, 2009: https://www.postandcourier.com/news/pulling-the-plug-on-pee-dee-plant/article_3372de17-64a1-5d91-aaea-84c83fcc792f.html
  16. Global Energy Monitor article on Pee Dee coal plant:  https://www.gem.wiki/Pee_Dee_Generating_Facility
  17. Battle Between Reality and Fantasy in Nuclear Power in Pacific Northwest, Substack, Dec. 12, 2024: https://open.substack.com/pub/energysecurityfreedom/p/a-battle-between-climate-fantasy?r=kv1a9&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
  18. POWER on Nuclear Fuel Supply, Dec. 2024: https://www.powermag.com/six-companies-tapped-for-2-7-billion-leu-push-to-boost-domestic-nuclear-fuel-supply/?utm_source=omeda&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=pwrnews+eletter&oly_enc_id=3214I3524889A9B
  19. Dick Storm panel notes for presentation, “Impacts of the U.S. Self-Inflicted Electricity Crisis”, Liberty University, Sept. 2024: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7266497381574098944?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
  20. LinkedIn Wish Bakshi on the German Energy experience: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7271156730317750272?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
  21. LinkedIn Post on “Clean Energy Funding” by Mark Lewis: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7270766274668892160?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
  22. Recurrent Blackouts in New York by 2026: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7269663571012161536?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
  23. LinkedIn post of Liberty University presentation by David Walsh, Sept. 2024: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7266777394617749504?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
  24. EPSI (Electric Power Supply Institute) News release Dec. 17, 2024: https://epsa.org/with-nerc-declaring-urgent-need-for-energy-resources-competition-essential-to-meet-the-moment/  
  25. NERC Generation Retirements Infographic, Dec. 17, 2024: https://www.nerc.com/pa/RAPA/ra/Reliability%20Assessments%20DL/NERC_LTRA_Infographic_2024.pdf
  26. NERC Long Term Reliability Assessment, Dec. 2024: https://www.nerc.com/pa/RAPA/ra/Reliability%20Assessments%20DL/NERC_Long%20Term%20Reliability%20Assessment_2024.pdf
  27. Dr. Nicholas Kokel Blog on the history of Energy: https://portfolio-pplus.com/Communicator/Details/1023
  28. Lars Schernikau on advantages of nuclear power: https://unpopular-truth.com/2024/02/22/advantages-of-nuclear-energy/
  29. IEA World Energy report: https://www.iea.org/reports/world-energy-outlook-2023
  30. POWER Magazine Coal references: https://www.powermag.com/category/coal/
  31. Washington Free Beacon report on CCP funding of Climate Extremists in the U.S. Dec. 19, 2024: https://freebeacon.com/energy/ex-ccp-officials-steered-millions-to-us-based-green-groups-universities-for-climate-initiatives/
  32. IEA World Coal Consumption: https://www.iea.org/data-and-statistics/charts/global-coal-consumption-2000-2026
  33. Report, Indian Summary of the Role of SMR Reactors in the Energy Transition, May 2023: https://www.niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2023-05/The-Role-of-Small-Modular-Reactors-in-the-Energy-Transition-05162023.pdf  
  34. Lars Schernikau video “Unpopular Truth of Energy”: https://unpopular-truth.com/why-read-the-unpopular-truth/
  35. Daily Skeptic on German Policy Failures, Dec. 27, 2024: https://dailysceptic.org/2024/12/27/germanys-economic-and-political-suicide/
  36. EIA Net Generation over decades, by fuel source: https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/browser/  
  37. Mike Caravaggio LI graph of cost of power in 48 states by Coal %: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/michael-caravaggio_was-playing-with-the-eia-electricity-data-activity-7281036749697376257-Jqig?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
  38. Summer Nuclear Plant Builders Solicited by Santee-Cooper, Jan. 2025: https://www.theregister.com/2025/01/27/sc_nuclear_reactors_ai/
  39. Doug Sheridan LI post on the cost of Batteries for backup of solar and wind: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sheridandoug_bess-renewables-power-activity-7174507881050910720-7Y24?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
  40. Hawaii Electric Update by Civil Beat, Feb. 1, 2024: https://www.civilbeat.org/2024/02/hawaiian-electric-gets-the-green-light-on-its-190-million-resiliency-plan-to-harden-the-grid/
  41. Hawaii Electric Update, Sept. 2023 on “Setting the Record Straight” on the Highest Cost Electricity in Nation: https://www.civilbeat.org/2023/09/setting-the-record-straight-on-resilience-and-renewables/
  42. ASCE Report/update on the 180 MW Battery storage at Hawaii Electric, March 12, 2024: https://www.asce.org/publications-and-news/civil-engineering-source/civil-engineering-magazine/article/2024/03/large-battery-energy-storage-system-now-operating-in-hawaii
  43. Civil Beat article, “Huge Battery Storage Replaces last Coal Plant,” January 2024: https://www.civilbeat.org/2024/01/a-huge-battery-has-replaced-hawaiis-last-coal-plant/
  44. Huge Kapolei Battery Plant Replaces Coal at Hawaii Electric, Canary Media, Kapolei battery is officially online. The pioneering project is a leading example of how to shift crucial grid functions from fossil-fueled plants to clean energy. January 2024: https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/energy-storage/a-huge-battery-has-replaced-hawaiis-last-coal-plant
  45. Hawaii Electricity Rates Highest in nation, KHON March 5, 2024: https://www.khon2.com/local-news/hawaii-1-for-expensive-electricity-were-being-priced-out/
  46. EIA List of U.S. Electricity Rates, December 2023, Hawaii Top Rate for Residential $0.416/kWh: https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.php?t=epmt_5_6_a
  47. Marc Christie to Gulf States, March 10, 2024: https://www.rtoinsider.com/73336-ferc-christie-warns-very-dark-place/
  48. Heritage Foundation on the De-Industrialization of Europe, Feb. 2024: https://www.heritage.org/energy/commentary/high-electricity-prices-have-europe-facing-deindustrialization-dont-let-it-happen.
  49. Hawaii, Green New Deal, A Glimpse into the Future, June 3, 2020: https://dickstormprobizblog.org/2020/06/03/hawaii-a-gimpse-into-the-future-of-the-green-new-deal/
  50. The Importance of Energy to Power Our High Quality Lives, Aug. 25, 2020: https://dickstormprobizblog.org/2020/08/25/the-importance-of-energy-to-power-high-quality-of-life-part-1/
  51. The Importance of Energy to Power Our High Quality Lives, Part 2, Aug. 28,2020 : https://dickstormprobizblog.org/2020/08/28/the-importance-of-energy-part-2-our-energy-sources/  
  52. The Importance of Energy, Part 3, Heat Engines, Sept. 9, 2020: https://dickstormprobizblog.org/2020/09/09/the-importance-of-energy-part-3-heat-engines-a-primer/
  53. The Importance of Energy for Economic Prosperity, Part 4, The Rise of the U.S and the Rise of China from an energy perspective: https://dickstormprobizblog.org/2020/09/21/part-4-the-importance-of-energy-to-economic-prosperity/
  54. Dick Storm thoughts on the “Green New Deal” , Oct. 10, 2020: https://dickstormprobizblog.org/2020/10/10/part-5-dick-storms-thoughts-on-the-green-new-deal/
  55. A Thriving Economy and Clean Air Too, Oct. 23, 2020 : https://dickstormprobizblog.org/2020/10/23/part-6-a-thriving-economy-and-clean-air-too/
  56. China’s Influence in the World and the Need to Reshore American Manufacturing, Nov. 3, 2020 : https://dickstormprobizblog.org/2020/11/03/chinas-economic-influence-in-the-world-and-some-thoughts-on-the-need-to-reshore-american-manufacturing/  
  57. Thank You President Trump, Nov. 13, 2020 : https://dickstormprobizblog.org/2020/11/13/thank-you-president-trump/
  58. Are You Worried about the Future of America? Jan. 21, 2021 Thoughts on Energy Policies, Industrial and Economic Growth: https://dickstormprobizblog.org/2021/01/21/are-you-worried-about-the-future-of-america/
  59. My Paid Energy Awareness Ad, 2015: https://dickstormprobizblog.org/2021/01/28/my-paid-ad-for-energy-awareness-in-2015-here-we-go-again/
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  63. Texas and Coal Power,  6,000 MW of Coal Power Generation is Missed, Feb. 19, 2021: https://dickstormprobizblog.org/2021/02/19/texas-and-coal-power-6000-mws-of-coal-plant-capacity-is-missed/
  64. Executive Orders to Weaken the U.S. Economy, March 3, 2021: https://dickstormprobizblog.org/2021/03/03/presidential-executive-order-signed-by-biden-that-will-harm-the-u-s-economy/
  65. Energy and Some People Who Contributed to the Rise of America, March 31, 2021: https://dickstormprobizblog.org/2021/03/31/energy-and-notable-people-who-contributed-to-the-rise-of-america/ 
  66.  Earth Day, Let’s Celebrate True Sustainability of Our High Quality of Life, April 22, 2021: https://dickstormprobizblog.org/2021/04/22/earth-day-lets-celebrate-true-sustainability-and-a-continuance-of-our-high-quality-of-life/
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  68. Energy and Economic Prosperity, My Thoughts, a presentation to the Delaware County Bar Association, July 2016: https://dickstormprobizblog.org/2016/07/25/energy-and-economic-prosperity-my-thoughts-dick-storm/
  69. Primary Energy that American’s are Accustomed to: 830,000 BTUs per Day/Person, Sept. 2021: https://dickstormprobizblog.org/2021/09/16/830000-btus-per-day-person/
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  76. A Short History of Power Generation, Part 3: https://wp.me/p5DzAo-ll
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  85. Pillars of Modern Civilization, Ammonia, Food, Steel, Concrete, Plastics, Aluminum, July 2022: https://dickstormprobizblog.org/2022/07/25/pillars-of-modern-civilization-all-dependent-on-energy/
  86. U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA),  S.C. Energy Profile: https://www.eia.gov/state/print.php?sid=SC
  87. U.S. EIA, Electricity explained: https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/electricity/electricity-in-the-us-generation-capacity-and-sales.php
  88. S.C. Energy Office, Charts and discussion of S.C. energy and electricity generation: https://south-carolina-energy-office-1-1-scors-eo.hub.arcgis.com/pages/electricity-data#clcw7fc2k
  89. EIA Dashboard, this shows the actual generation by fuel and region in real time: https://www.eia.gov/electricity/gridmonitor/dashboard/electric_overview/balancing_authority/SC
  90. Santee-Cooper Integrated Resource Plan for future electricity generation assets. This is the latest 2024 update: https://www.santeecooper.com/About/Integrated-Resource-Plan/Reports-and-Materials/Santee-Cooper-2024-IRP-Update.pdf
  91. China’s Nuclear Power Plants: According to the World Nuclear Safety Council, as of September 2021, China had 52 nuclear reactors in operation and another 18 under construction, representing a total nuclear power generation capacity of approximately 51 GW.
  92. Additionally, China plans to build many more nuclear reactors in the coming years, with the goal of increasing its installed nuclear power capacity to 70 GW by 2025. https://nuclear-energy.net/nuclear-power-plants/list/china
  93. EIA Information on Nuclear Plants in China, updated, May 2024: https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=61927&trk=public_post_comment-text
  94. U.S. Nuclear Fuel is mostly imported, Jan 25, 2025: https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=64444
  95. World Electricity Growth projected to be 4%/year by IEA through 2027: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/alessandro-blasi-6579a66_entering-the-age-of-electricity-in-a-chart-activity-7297539477021839360-l5te/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios&rcm=ACoAAAI4KQUBYW-cbQRlA1kgj9X3llGi7u6KNnQ
  96. Four more Westinghouse Reactors to be built in China, Westinghouse Nuclear News: https://info.westinghousenuclear.com/news/four-westinghouse-ap1000-reactors-in-china
  97. New Coal Power in China, Report by Global Energy Monitor-CREA, Feb. 2025: https://energyandcleanair.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/CREA_GEM_China_Coal-power_H2-2024_FINAL.pdf
  98. Battery Electricity Storage Systems References (BESS)
  99.  Grid Scale BESS (Battery Electricity Storage Systems) Info by NREL (Dept. of Energy): https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy19osti/74426.pdf
  100. Canary Media Report on Moss Landing Vistra Battery Fire, January 2025: https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/batteries/moss-landing-the-worlds-biggest-grid-battery-just-caught-fire-again
  101. “Felicity Ace” ship sinking with approx. 4,000 cars due to Lithium battery fire off the coast of Portugal, February 2022: https://maritime-executive.com/article/report-volkswagen-sued-by-mol-for-the-loss-of-felicity-ace-car-carrier
  102. Maritime fire of 500 vehicles disaster of “Freemantle Highway” by G-Captain News July 2023: https://gcaptain.com/k-line-confirms-nearly-500-electric-vehicles-on-burning-car-carrier-in-the-north-sea/
  103. References and Further Reading on EV’s and Hybrid VehiclesThomas Shepstone article “EV’s-Green Transition or Green Delusion” : https://open.substack.com/pub/energysecurityfreedom/p/green-transition-or-green-delusion?r=kv1a9&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
  104. Georgia Power IRP Update, January 2025 to show the need to keep coal plants running: https://www.georgiapower.com/news-hub/press-releases/georgia-power-files-2025-irp-plan-to-meet-energy-needs.html
  105. POWER ENGINEERING Magazine article on Georgia Power revised IRP, Jan. 2025: https://www.power-eng.com/gas/georgia-power-proposes-uprates-life-extensions-for-generation-assets-in-latest-resource-plan/
  106. Duke Energy Carolinas, News to review the existing IRP, January 2025: https://www.duke-energy.com/our-company/about-us/irp-carolinas
  107. Duke Energy Carolinas, IRP-2023: https://www.duke-energy.com/our-company/about-us/irp-carolinas/prior-plans
  108. Dominion Energy-IRP 2023 (South Carolina) which shows plans to replace coal plants with natural gas capacity before 2030: https://cdn-dominionenergy-prd-001.azureedge.net/-/media/pdfs/global/company/irp/sc/desc-integrated-resource-plan-2024.pdf?rev=42a0728dbf894c979aefc95151401fcb
  109. Study Destroys Basis for EPA – Climate Regulations, Watts Up With That https://wattsupwiththat.com/2025/03/20/study-destroys-basis-of-epa-climate-regulations/
#Energyreality, economic prosperity and energy, Energy, Politics and Economic Prosperity, Environmental, Fossil Fuels are Important, Keeping America Great, Regulations

The SWAMP Monster vs. the Best Interests of the United States of America

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GONGO, The 14 Headed SWAMP Monster

Congress should have reined in the Bureaucratic SWAMP monster long ago. Remember Charlie Reese’s editorial? The column title: 545 vs. 300 Million. It is here. The 435 members of Congress through their delegation of authority (or more correctly, abdication of responsibility) have allowed the EPA, Dept. of Education, Dept. of Energy and other Bureaucratic organizations to careen out of control to such an extent that they are now more lethal to our freedoms and prosperity than any other entity on planet earth. They have become the Deep State and are very intertwined (don’t forget the DOJ/Homeland Security open borders policy 2021 to 2024) with tax sheltered NGOs, certain politicians, members of the Judiciary, the United Nations, the World Economic Forum, and the other remaining heads of the SWAMP Monster. Follow the money is what Elon Musk is doing and so far, the findings are alarming. We the People have been funding much of what I and many others would consider enemies of our country. Yes, certain Rules and Regulations are against the best interests of America and I would categorize these rules and regulations as enemies from within. I wrote on Jan. 21, 2021 my thoughts regarding Joe Biden’s (un-American) policies. I thought at the time, Biden was more interested in a strong China than a strong and prosperous America.

Thomas J. Shepstone recently wrote on the USAID scandal. I liked the word GONGO that he coined. I am quoting Mr. Shepstone below and I used his graphic of the SWAMP Monster above:

“The USAID scandal grows with every chime of the clock on the wall. Jo Nova captures the essence of the crime:

Today we found out that news outlets like Politico, and the New York Times were being given millions of dollars from the US government.

Then this week it was revealed that the EPA has given $2 Billion dollars to a Climate Action Fund which is closely affiliated with Stacy Abrams. Excerpts from the New York Post follow:

“The Environmental Protection Agency recently discovered that the Biden administration awarded $2 billion to a climate group with ties to former Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, a fierce supporter of former President Joe Biden. 

The money was earmarked for Power Forward Communities — a nonprofit partnered with multiple left-wing groups founded by Abrams and which the Georgia Democrat has stated she was “thrilled” to be part of, the Washington Free Beacon reported on Wednesday. 

The funds were set aside at an outside financial institution — Citibank — before Biden left office and part of a larger, $20 billion pot of money the former president’s EPA received through the Inflation Reduction Act to dole out to climate groups. 

“It’s extremely concerning that an organization that reported just $100 in revenue in 2023 was chosen to receive $2 billion,” EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin told the outlet, referring to Power Forward Communities’ latest tax filings. “That’s 20 million times the organization’s reported revenue.”

My take on all of this is, the corruption in government, and especially the Democrat Party is far worse than even I ever believed.

It turns out the Non-Government Organizations were really the Government.

The word for that is GONGO — a government organised non-government organisation.

“Hands up who is still reeling with the news that USAID had 50 thousand million dollars of political and media influence? The annual budget of $50 billion dollars in the hands of unaccountable activist NGOs buys a lot of “journalists,” editors and teenage protestors. Suddenly a lot of global patterns make more sense.” Thank you Thomas J. Shepstone!

GONGO the SWAMP Monster

I started using the term SWAMP Monster and few years ago. First, I referred to the “Six Headed SWAMP Monster”, then seven and now 14. The Deep State SWAMP MONSTER is the fourth branch of government and has been working against the best interests of the U.S.A. for decades.

  1. Democrat Party
  2. EPA
  3. NGOs such as the Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council, Environmental Defense Fund and many more
  4. Main Stream Media
  5. Entertainment, Hollywood, TV
  6. United Nations
  7. World Economic Forum
  8. Public education K-12 and Universities
  9. The “Swamp Bureaucrats” in addition to the EPA and USAID who are employed by Federal and state government agencies creating excessively restrictive regulations and rules and funding anti-American activists
  10. Leftist Lawyers practicing Lawfare and so-called “Environmental Justice”
  11. Foreign governments
  12. Wealthy Billionaires
  13. Banking and Finance. World Bank, IMF and top financial institutions
  14. Activist Judges

Conclusion

Thank God President Trump is President. The government corruption of NGOs, Bureaucrats and Democrats will be very difficult to root out in just four years. I support Elon Musk as head of DOGE and his team. I have wondered for a long time why so many anti-American Regulations and policies were implemented. Now, at least to me, it seems clear. The people that have been making these Regulations have never worked in the Private Sector, do not understand what it takes to run a business and they do not care about the pain and suffering they cause to productive Americans. As stated above regarding Biden, the policies they supported were slanted toward weakening of the U.S. and strengthening of China. I wondered about why the EPA implemented so many Un-American Rules, such as:

  • New Source Review
  • The CO2 Endangerment Finding
  • Unattainable Vehicle Fuel Mileage Standards
  • These and other Rules and Regulations have created a coming electricity generation crisis and very nearly destroyed American automobile manufacturing as well as other manufacturing such as, steel, aluminum, large steam generators and fuel burning equipment for conventional power generation.

A Revolving Door of Employment

Many of the key persons appointed to high levels in the EPA moved through a revolving door of employment from activist organizations. Such as the Natural Resources Defense Council, Environmental Defense Fund, Sierra Club, Planned Parenthood, Power Forward Communities and many more. These NGOs then are inter-related with the World Economic Forum, the United Nations and others as mentioned in the news stories above on USAID and the EPA. The corruption is far worse than even I thought it could be.

I will include some references below for further reading and support of my statements above. Thank you Elon Musk, President Trump, and all of the members of the Cabinet. Let’s Make America Great Again! You all have my humble but full support.

Dick Storm, February 21, 2025

References :

  1. Charley Reese’s Last Column on the “545 vs. 300 million” The Government Officials that should be accountable for government functions and efficiency: https://dickstormprobizblog.org/2024/11/27/charley-reeses-last-column-a-classic-commentary-written-over-twenty-years-ago/
  2. Men of God and Country, Orlando Sentinel reprint of Charley Reese’s Last Column: 545 vs. 300 Million: https://menofgodandcountry.com/charley-reeses-final-column-for-the-orlando-sentinel/
  3. DOGE website of activity and tabulation of waste: https://doge.gov/savings
  4. The Whitehouse List of some wasteful spending uncovered by DOGE, as of February. 3, 2025: https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/02/at-usaid-waste-and-abuse-runs-deep/
  5. Heritage Foundation article, June 2021 on “10 Absurdly Wasteful Items Tucked in Democrats 3.5 Trillion Tax and Spend Monstrosity” : https://www.heritage.org/budget-and-spending/commentary/10-absurdly-wasteful-items-tucked-democrats-35-trillion-tax-and
  6. Lawfare and Abuse of the Legal System by Judiciary Committee, January 2024: https://judiciary.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/judiciary.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/2024-07-09%20Lawfare%20-%20How%20the%20Manhattan%20District%20Attorneys%20Office%20and%20a%20New%20York%20State%20Judge%20Violated%20the%20Constitutional%20and%20Lega.pdf
  7. Capital Research Center on Lawfare: https://capitalresearch.org/tag/lawfare/
  8. Influencers of Foolish U.S. Energy Policies, Dick Storm blog, Jan. 2023: https://dickstormprobizblog.org/2023/01/04/influencers-of-american-energy-policy/
  9. Dick Storm Thoughts on January 21, 2021 regarding Joe Biden’s un-American policies: https://dickstormprobizblog.org/2021/01/21/are-you-worried-about-the-future-of-america/
  10. 114th Congress, Majority Staff Report, Obama’s Carbon Mandate, August 2015: http://www.scientificintegrityinstitute.org/USSEWP080415.pdf
  11. Thomas J. Shepstone article on misuse of taxpayer dollars and questionable tax sheltered charities: https://open.substack.com/pub/energysecurityfreedom/p/we-need-to-stop-giving-ngos-government?r=kv1a9&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
  12. Capital Research Center, History of the Climate Polices, by Ken Haapala: Capital Research Center, Report on Climate Dollars https://www.climatedollars.org/full-study/a-short-history-of-global-warming-fears/
  13. Firebreak article on Lawfare on a Global Scale, Jan. 9, 2025: https://www.thefirebreak.org/p/supreme-court-should-crush-the-climate?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
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The 2009 EPA Endangerment Finding Has Done Nothing to Improve Human Health or Protection of the Environment. If left Standing, It Will Endanger Our Freedoms as well as Reliability, Resilience and Affordability of Electricity Generation

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The EPA Anti-American Endangerment Finding Endangers more than electricity supply for the Future! A prescient warning of the threat to western civilization was written by Vaclav Klaus about 20 years ago, in his book “Blue Planet in Green Shackles, What is Endangered, Climate or Freedom”. Klaus grew up behind the Iron Curtain and described the “Greens” as being worse than the Communists.

Coal as a source of primary energy for electric power generation has many unique advantages. Coal is an American Treasure that should be utilized.(1 to 14 below)

Amongst the many advantages of coal plants are two facts: (1) when they are maintained properly, they run in all weather conditions 24/7. As shown on the example below, 22% of America’s electricity was being generated during normal winter conditions by an aging coal fleet and (2) Coal fuel to provide the primary energy to generate steam for the turbine-generator can be stored on-site with weeks or even months of supply.

Modern clean coal plants are proven, robust, long lasting, Dispatchable, use a reasonable and stable cost fuel that is abundant and of high quality from within the U.S.A. An especially important advantage is that they have inherent on-site energy storage, unlike natural gas plants that are dependent on primary energy provided “just in time” from pipeline gas.

To be clear, I favor a Balanced Generation Portfolio that includes natural gas, coal, nuclear, Hydro and some renewables. However, for reliable electricity delivery, about 80% or more of nameplate generation capability should be Dispatchable 24/7.

Electric Power Generation, January 21, 2025 During a Polar Vortex

Electricity generation by fuel, at 9:00 PM this date was 22% Coal fuel. The largest fuel source was natural gas at about 45% followed by 15% nuclear, 8% wind and 5% Hydro. Total generation was 633,162 MW. This is better than what I would consider a “Balanced Generation Portfolio” with about 87% Dispatchable. This Balanced generation portfolio should continue with the building of new clean coal plants to replace the older coal plants that have been shut down.

America’s Future. Depends on Reliable, Affordable, Dispatchable and Secure Primary Energy. Coal should Continue to Provide at Least 20% of The Primary Energy Needed to Sustain Our Economy and High Quality of Life with a Balanced Generation Portfolio

The Path to Net Zero Carbon is finally changing. However, the “War on Coal” has established crushing (anti-American) EPA Rules and “Woke” Electric Utility management (also some state legislatures and RTO’s) plans to force shut down of the existing coal plants before 2050, many before 2030. In 2010 America had over 317,000 MW of coal power generation capacity. Today it is about half that with over 125,000 MWs of coal plant capacity shut down. Why? Largely because of the Obama administration’s extreme activist led EPA corrupted science to establish the 2009 “Endangerment Finding”. That was the culmination of many anti-coal regulations created by the EPA and other Federal agencies. I have written before on the background of EPA Influencers and the fact that the excessive attacks on first coal and then all hydrocarbons were not based on protecting human health or the environment. These Regulations were strictly political(4) and I might add, these regulations are sinister and anti-American. Read about EPA Influencers here, here, here, here, here, here , here and here.

Since the 2009 EPA Endangerment Finding, over 125,000 MW of coal plant capacity was not just shut down, most of those shut down have been demolished (6, 7, 10. 11, 12, 13)

The newest major utility scale (over 500 MW) coal plants were started up about 2013. That is a dozen years ago. Since then the Supply-Chain of design, manufacturing, maintenance, parts and field services has been sharply reduced. I know, because I was involved for 50+ years in the power generation equipment and services supply-chain. I have many friends and relatives either retired or still working in that important supply-chain. When referring to the importance of business flow to keep the supply-chain healthy and capable, I am reminded of the Three Mile Island accident in 1979. That pretty much killed or at least mortally wounded the nuclear steam system supply-chain in the U.S.A. Did you ever wonder why Plant Vogtle at Georgia Power took ten years and 35 Billion dollars to construct? The broken U.S. nuclear component supply chain is one reason in addition to excessive government regulations. Some safety regulations after TMI (the 1979 Three Mile Island incident) were justified, many not.

I cite the nuclear power supply chain as an example of what is happening right before our eyes with the coal power plant supply chain. There is time to save it. How?

Drastically overhaul the Federal government Regulations and especially, the 2009, Obama Era, EPA Endangerment Finding!

Here is what Mr. Ken Haapala, President of the Science and Environmental Policy Project has to say about the Endangerment Finding: The following are excerpts of TWTW article, much more in the original document:

Dr. William Happer quote: “The message I want you to understand, which practically no one really understands, is that
doubling CO2 makes almost no difference. Doubling would replace the black curve by the red
curve. On the basis of this, we are supposed to give up our liberties. We are supposed to give up
the gasoline engines of our automobiles. … Do not let anyone convince you that that is a good
bargain. It is a terrible bargain. The doubling actually does make a little difference. It decreases
the radiation to space by about three watts per square meters. In comparison, the total radiation
to space is about 300 watts per square meter. So, it is a one percent effect—it is actually a little
less than that, because that is with no clouds. Clouds make everything even less threatening.” Haapala continues,

S”Probably the most disgraceful example of bureaucratic hubris this century is EPA’s finding that greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and water vapor are pollutants. Both gases are essential for life on Earth. Without water vapor, nights would be too cold to support growing plant life. As Happer states above water vapor “keeps Earth’s surface temperature warmer than it would be (by about 20 or 30 degrees) [°C or about 35 to 55°F.]
 
The Endangerment Finding had no compelling physical evidence. It is based on projections from global climate models which overstate the actual warming of the atmosphere by two to three times. Further, the models are based upon surface-air temperature measurements, not on atmospheric temperature measurements. It is in the atmosphere that the greenhouse effect occurs. Further, as the CO2 Coalition advocates, carbon dioxide is essential for all complex life on Earth. As Happer discusses above, it is key for creating carbohydrates, sugars, which allows all plants to grow and are the food source for animal life as well.
 
As John Tyndall in England wrote in 1875 (quoted from Happer) water vapor is an:
 
“Aqueous vapor is a blanket, more necessary to the vegetable life of England than clothing is to man. Remove for a single summer night the aqueous vapor from the air which overspreads this country, and you would assuredly destroy every plant capable of being destroyed by a freezing temperature. The warmth of our fields and gardens would pour itself unrequited into space, and the sun would rise upon an island held fast in the iron grip of frost.”
 
In its hubris, the EPA ignores this and similar work to deliver the Endangerment Finding.
 
Fortunately, the Trump administration has already opened the Endangerment Finding to questioning. As Francis Menton, an attorney who was involved in appealing the Endangerment Finding writes:
 
“The first couple of days of the new Trump administration have seen the President sign a blizzard of Executive Orders. These provide more material than a humble solo blogger like me can ever comment on comprehensively. So, I’ll just have to start with one particular item that I am deeply familiar with: the EPA’s so-called Endangerment Finding of December 2009.
 
I have seen differing counts of the number of Trump’s first-day EOs. ABC News here counts 42. One of the most consequential has the title “Unleashing American Energy.” There is a large amount of important material in this EO. In overall summary, it directs the reversal of all of the Biden administration efforts to restrict and suppress the production and development of America’s energy resources. But one provision, I would argue, is important above all the rest. That is Section 6(f), which directs a reconsideration of the so-called Endangerment Finding (EF) of December 2009. That provision of the EO reads as follows:
 
(f) Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Administrator of the EPA, in collaboration with the heads of any other relevant agencies, shall submit joint recommendations to the Director of OMB on the legality and continuing applicability of the Administrator’s findings, “Endangerment and Cause or Contribute Findings for Greenhouse Gases Under Section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act,” Final Rule, 74 FR 66496 (December 15, 2009).
 
This provision is of overriding importance because, as long as the Endangerment Finding remains on the books, it gives a license to the courts, and to activist left-wing judges anywhere in the federal system, to enjoin and undo all the other de-regulatory efforts of this and other energy-related EOs. However, if the EF is rescinded with a well-reasoned and well-supported basis, then all the other energy-related initiatives will have a far clearer path to success.”
 
Menton gives a solid account of the background of the Endangerment Finding to which TWTW would add that SEPP was a party to the appeal in conjunction with CEI. It was based on limited knowledge shortly after the finding was announced. In addition to the damage that the Endangerment Finding would do, the eventual thrust of the appeal was our model vs. your model. This was turned down by the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. Menton was involved in a second appeal starting in 2017 that was turned down by the Supreme Court. Today, differences between the role of CO2 for human welfare, and the claim that CO2 is a pollutant are more glaring. They can be stated as our physical evidence vs. your speculation from models that are wrong.
 
Of course, huge, vested interests will object to the Trump administration using physical evidence to overturn the Endangerment Finding. According to an article in the Hill, “4 major climate, energy moves included in Trump’s Day 1 executive orders”, Michael Gerrard, the founder of Columbia Law School’s Sabin Center for Climate Change Law said:
 
“that if the administration is successful in overturning the endangerment finding, it would be ‘devastating’ because ‘it’s the basis for almost all of EPA’s actions on climate change.’”
 
We shall see what develops over the next 30 days or so.”
 
 http://www.sepp.org/twtwfiles/2025/TWTW%201-25-2025.pdf
 

Conclusions

  1. Coal use in the world has grown each year since the Industrial Revolution and in 2024 provided the fuel for more electricity generation than any other source. The EPA War on Coal is anti-American and is harming America’s productive capacity. Coal use and U.S. GDP parallel each other 1970-2010. Also, the lowest cost power was from states using mostly coal fuel for electricity generation. (17)
  2. The U.S. Coal plant design, manufacturing supply-chain has been weakened by lack of business since the 2009 EPA Endangerment Finding.
  3. The non scientific, politically driven EPA Endangerment Finding of CO2 is in-fact, endangering U.S. productive capacity.
  4. Reasonable cost, Reliable, Dispatchable electricity is the Life-Blood of a modern economy. Coal fuel should remain part of a Balanced generation portfolio.
  5. The “War on Coal” has been a war on American manufacturing and America’s productive capacity.
  6. America’s air has been cleaned of the six major pollutants that the EPA was launched to correct 1970-2009.(8)
  7. Carbon Dioxide is NOT a Pollutant
  8. The “War on Carbon” by the Leftist driven, anti-American Bureaucrats in the EPA is a “War on American Freedoms”, not only an electricity reliability issue.

Recommendations

  1. Eliminate the EPA Rules placed on coal plants since 2009, including the Endangerment Finding.
  2. Eliminate Weaponization of the EPA to pick winners and losers of energy production.
  3. Downsize the EPA to only provide sufficient numbers of Bureaucrats to sustain the original mission of regulating the six major criteria pollutants that affect human health. Sulfur, lead, Oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, particulate matter and ozone.
  4. Provide incentives for design and construction of new clean coal plants to replace the 125,000 MWs of coal plant capacity shut down since 2009.

Respectfully submitted and may God Bless and protect President Trump and the new EPA Head, Lee Zeldin and Elon Musk as they work to Drain the Washington, DC SWAMP. President Trump, Elon Musk, Lee Zeldin and all of Trump’s Cabinet have my full support!

Dick Storm, February 2, 2025 (updated March 30, 2025)

References and for further reading and research: (Note: I have added some additional links since this was first posted)

  1. Obama Administration, 2009, EPA Endangerment Finding Review by new EPA Director, WUWT, Jan. 2025: https://wattsupwiththat.com/2025/01/21/trump-targets-the-2009-endangerment-finding-a-bold-move-toward-restoring-regulatory-sanity/
  2. Stephen Heins and Francis Menton on Correcting the EPA Endangerment Finding: https://open.substack.com/pub/stephenheins/p/how-to-rescind-the-endangerment-finding-89e?r=kv1a9&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
  3. IER article on coal plant closings: https://www.instituteforenergyresearch.org/fossil-fuels/coal/u-s-coal-fired-power-plants-continue-to-retire/
  4. 114th Congress, Majority Staff Report, Obama’s Carbon Mandate, August 2015: http://www.scientificintegrityinstitute.org/USSEWP080415.pdf
  5. The Coming Electricity Reliability Crisis and the Importance of Coal, Sept. 12, 2024:  https://dickstormprobizblog.org/2024/09/12/the-electricity-reliability-crisis-and-the-importance-of-american-coal/
  6. The Kingdom of Heaven Runs on Righteousness, The Kingdom of Earth Runs on Energy, Oct. 3, 2024: https://dickstormprobizblog.org/2024/10/03/heaven-runs-on-righteousness-earth-runs-on-energy/
  7. NERC Summer 2024 Reliability report, June 21, 2024: https://www.nerc.com/pa/RAPA/PA/Performance%20Analysis%20DL/NERC_SOR_2024_Technical_Assessment.pdf
  8. EPA Air Quality Trends of the six pollutants EPA was charged to correct in 1970. These are: Lead, sulfur, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, ozone and oxides of nitrogen: https://www.epa.gov/air-trends/air-quality-national-summary
  9. America’s Treasure of Fossil Fuels, Update of 2011 presentation to ASME: https://dickstormprobizblog.org/2022/11/26/americas-treasure-of-fossil-fuels/
  10. Dick Storm Presentation to Columbus Energy Forum, Columbus, Ohio August 2022:  https://www.linkedin.com/posts/richard-storm-00557810_presentation-and-speakers-notes-from-august-activity-7068650158862827520-B-_W?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
  11. Dick Storm Panel comments at Powergen International-2024: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/richard-storm-00557810_i-had-the-honor-of-being-on-a-powergen-panel-activity-7156046708139782144-zPoZ?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
  12. Dick Storm Blog post, What would it take to achieve Net-Zero Carbon by 2050? : https://dickstormprobizblog.org/2023/01/12/what-would-it-take-for-net-zero-electricity-generation-by-2050/
  13. Dick Storm Blog post, Wake up Americans: https://dickstormprobizblog.org/2023/09/20/please-wake-up-america-your-energy-and-electricity-generation-reliability-are-at-risk/
  14. Grid Brief, “Energy IS the Economy” by Robert Hargraves, Nov. 15, 2022: https://www.gridbrief.com/p/guest-feature-energy-economy
  15. The Science and Environmental Policy Project (SEPP) by President of SEPP, Mr. Ken Haapala:  http://www.sepp.org/twtwfiles/2025/TWTW%201-25-2025.pdf
  16. The War on Coal Accomplishes Two Things: https://dickstormprobizblog.org/2021/01/30/us-war-on-carbon-accomplishes-two-things/
  17. America’s Treasure of Fossil Fuels, Update of 2011 presentation to ASME Annual Meeting: https://dickstormprobizblog.org/2022/11/26/americas-treasure-of-fossil-fuels/
  18. Thomas J. Shepstone Substack “Tutorial” on the EPA abuse of NEPA, Feb. 2025: https://open.substack.com/pub/energysecurityfreedom/p/agencies-abusing-nepa-authority-forced?r=kv1a9&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
  19. Ron Clutz Blog article on EPA and Endangerment Finding, with excellent background of the formation of this Rule: https://rclutz.com/2025/03/16/2025-the-poisonous-tree-of-climate-change/
  20. David Wojick and Stephen Heins on 31 EPA Rules and EPA Endangerment Finding: https://stephenheins.substack.com/p/epa-questions-31-major-energy-regulations
  21. EPA and NGO Reform is Needed, by CFACT and Thomas Shepstone: https://energysecurityfreedom.substack.com/p/the-greatest-day-of-deregulation
  22. Ron Clutz on the “Minefield to Reform EPA” March 4, 2025: https://rclutz.com/2025/03/14/minefield-to-defuse-epa-ghg-endangerment-finding/
  23. CFACT on EPA and NGO Reform: https://mailchi.mp/cfact/epa-reform-time?e=2f8550900e
    Alex Epstein on EPA Reform: https://alexepstein.substack.com/p/understanding-epas-biggest-deregulatory
  24. CO2 Coalition on Zeldin Driving Dagger into Heart of Green New Deal: https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Zeldin–Driving-Dagger-into-Heart–of-Green-New-Deal.html?soid=1101509381788&aid=XgTCddN8CFQ
  25. Newsmax article on the “Climate Agendas & Alarmism, Reek of Activism and Flawed Science” The background of the Politics of the War on Carbon, March 30, 2025, good background since 1992: https://www.newsmax.com/larrybell/chirac-gore-kyoto/2025/03/24/id/1204138/
  26. Newsmax, (Larry Bell) article, March 20, 2025, “Costs of Climate Alarmism Are Ones We Can’t Afford”: https://www.newsmax.com/larrybell/climate-change-green-energy-science/2025/03/26/id/1204456/