The Word Merchant

The Word Merchant by Stephen Heins explores environmental impacts, energy policies, and the economic dimensions of renewable versus traditional energy sources. It critically examines green energy initiatives, climate change narratives, and the role of fossil fuels, with an emphasis on factual information and questioning mainstream environmentalist perspectives.

Environmental Impacts of Energy Sources Economic Analysis of Energy Policies Debates on Renewable vs. Traditional Energy Critiques of Climate Change Narratives Political and Economic Influences on Energy Environmental Advocacy and Activism Global Energy Security and Infrastructure Ethical and Human Rights Perspectives on Climate

The hottest Substack posts of The Word Merchant

And their main takeaways

Netherlands Farmers Being Destroyed By Their Own

19 implied HN points • 10 Aug 22
  1. Netherlands farmers are facing challenges that are causing harm to their livelihoods.
  2. The situation might be frustrating and anger-inducing for those who care about agricultural issues.
  3. It's important to pay attention to the struggles faced by farmers in the Netherlands and offer support where possible.

I’ve Been at NPR for 25 Years. Here’s How We Lost America’s Trust. Uri Berliner, a veteran at the public radio institution, says the network lost its way when it started telling listeners….

1 HN point • 09 Apr 24
  1. An open-minded spirit no longer exists within NPR, leading to a lack of audience diversity and reflection of America.
  2. NPR's coverage has veered towards advocacy and lost objectivity, with examples like the Russia collusion reporting and Hunter Biden story.
  3. The emphasis on diversity in races, genders, and identities at NPR has overshadowed the need for viewpoint diversity, causing an absence of diverse perspectives in journalism.

Consumer groups file a complaint against 17 airlines for greenwashing.

0 implied HN points • 28 Jun 23
  1. BEUC filed a complaint against 17 European airlines for greenwashing, claiming that offsetting CO₂ emissions from flights is factually incorrect.
  2. Airlines were found to be making misleading climate-related claims, such as offering 'green' fares that supposedly reduce emissions through offsetting activities.
  3. BEUC called for airlines to stop misleading consumers with greenwashing practices, requested the EU to take action, and outlined five categories of airline greenwash.

Biden’s bid to crash the energy grid and other commentary

0 implied HN points • 15 May 23
  1. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission warns of challenges in the nation's electric system due to premature coal-plant closures, insufficient pipelines, and subsidies for renewables.
  2. Debt-limit standoff highlights the dire fiscal future of the US with a budget deficit predicted to double by 2033, leading to economic drag from borrowing costs and inflation.
  3. Discussion on Sen. Dianne Feinstein highlights systemic dysfunction with politicians prioritizing personal gratification over public service, symbolizing broader issues in the political system.
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The Great Carbon Con Is Coming to an End

0 implied HN points • 21 Dec 22
  1. Businesses will soon be expected to show real progress in reducing carbon emissions, not just making climate pledges.
  2. Customers, employees, and investors are increasingly prioritizing tangible climate action, leading to a shift away from traditional emissions-avoidance offsets.
  3. In 2023, climate pledges will only be the starting point, as businesses will face pressure to demonstrate meaningful progress towards net-zero goals or risk being left behind.

Unrepentant BlackRock Won’t Use ESG Term, Still Forces Divestment

0 implied HN points • 27 Jun 23
  1. BlackRock's CEO, Larry Fink, is still pushing ESG initiatives without using the term ESG, insisting on lower carbon emissions from companies they invest in.
  2. Multiple states, like West Virginia and Florida, have withdrawn business from BlackRock, resulting in substantial financial losses for the investment firm.
  3. Despite not using the term ESG due to its politicization, BlackRock remains committed to addressing environmental, social, and governance issues in its investments.

Doug Sheridan Says

0 implied HN points • 07 Jul 23
  1. Many countries struggle to generate all their electricity from wind power due to challenges like inconsistency in wind supply and the need for full backup when wind is not blowing.
  2. Building enough wind turbine capacity to meet a country's entire electricity needs is a massive undertaking, with the UK needing about 6 times its current capacity to achieve this.
  3. The costs and challenges associated with transitioning fully to wind power, such as infrastructure, energy storage, and grid demands, make it a big and potentially unsustainable endeavor.

Rolling blackouts the hollow victory of climate piety over energy reality

0 implied HN points • 20 Dec 22
  1. We rely heavily on fossil fuels for energy, but we are facing an abusive relationship with them.
  2. There is a serious energy shortage domestically, not just related to Ukraine.
  3. Blaming markets for high energy prices is like blaming your watch for being late; prices rise due to a variety of factors, and suppressing domestic coal and gas prices can worsen the situation.

Financial models on climate risk ‘implausible’, say actuaries

0 implied HN points • 07 Jul 23
  1. Financial institutions are underestimating the risks of climate change due to implausible models
  2. Companies are increasingly required to report on climate-related risks and emissions, facing challenges in collecting data from suppliers
  3. Some financial institutions are using models that predict low economic impacts from high levels of warming, which fail to capture potential irreversible planetary changes

A Clean And Profitable Era Dawns For Rural Electric Cooperatives

0 implied HN points • 07 Jul 23
  1. Rural electric cooperatives could significantly reduce energy costs by 15-20% by transitioning to clean energy, thanks to federal incentives, benefiting low-income communities.
  2. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) offers tax credits and funding to help cooperatives embrace clean energy, driving economic development and lowering costs while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
  3. By adopting clean energy sources like wind, solar, and storage, cooperatives can enhance reliability, decrease electricity costs, and improve the health of families in rural areas.

Increasing restrictions on siting solar in the U.S.

0 implied HN points • 26 Jun 23
  1. A recent study revealed 59 new local renewable energy restrictions in 35 states, bringing the total to 228, with 9 state-level restrictions severe enough to block projects.
  2. Columbia Law School's report highlighted widespread local opposition to renewable energy facilities, potentially hindering climate goals.
  3. Despite increasing restrictions on renewable energy projects, solar capacity deployment in the U.S. is on the rise, with a record 30 GW expected in 2023.

CNN Repeats The WHO’s Climate Propaganda Despite Contradictory Real-World Data

0 implied HN points • 07 Jul 23
  1. Climate-related deaths in Europe being reported as 1.4 million per year by CNN are false.
  2. Data shows significant declines in deaths related to severe weather events, temperature, and pollution globally.
  3. Claims of climate change causing European deaths and air pollution being the cause are not supported by real-world data.

BIPARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS QUESTION EPA’S METHANE AGENDA

0 implied HN points • 26 Jun 23
  1. Bipartisan Congressional leaders are questioning EPA's methane tax, highlighting concerns about its impact on domestic energy production and climate action.
  2. Lawmakers are skeptical of the MERP program's methane tax due to delays in providing funds for emissions reduction efforts, leading to calls for a delay in implementation.
  3. Republican leaders are also expressing concerns about the EPA's methane regulatory agenda, citing legal and regulatory uncertainties that may drive up energy costs and hinder production.

Democrats ask for liquefied natural gas-specific approval process

0 implied HN points • 09 May 23
  1. A coalition of 44 congressional Democrats requested the Biden administration to establish specific procedures for evaluating the environmental impacts of new liquefied natural gas projects, focusing on methane emissions.
  2. The Democrats emphasized the importance of thorough analysis of the direct, indirect, and cumulative effects of LNG infrastructure to combat the impacts of the climate crisis.
  3. The call for specific LNG approval processes highlights the Democrats' commitment to promoting environmental quality and addressing concerns with LNG projects.

‘It’s about property rights’: Some farmers resent ethanol industry’s push for carbon pipelines

0 implied HN points • 09 May 23
  1. Some farmers are fighting against carbon pipelines supported by the ethanol industry, stating it's about property rights and resisting eminent domain use.
  2. Ethanol companies are seeking profit and seeing carbon pipelines as essential for future expansion, while some farmers believe these projects prioritize profit over property rights.
  3. There is a debate over the need for carbon pipelines to address climate change versus potential risks to land and safety, with some suggesting alternatives like natural carbon sequestration methods.

Brooding

0 implied HN points • 19 Dec 22
  1. The poem reflects on the idea of brooding about the future and its uncertainty.
  2. The brooding nature of the poem suggests a sense of being captivated by what lies ahead, even beyond tomorrow.
  3. It conveys a feeling of the future being shrouded in mystery and unpredictability, making it hard to guess what comes next.

Environmentalists seek to hold off Mountain Valley Pipeline work in national forest

0 implied HN points • 08 Jul 23
  1. Environmentalists are trying to stop work on the Mountain Valley Pipeline in a national forest through legal challenges.
  2. Lawmakers are debating the impact of a recent debt bill on the jurisdiction of courts in relation to the pipeline project.
  3. Despite the legal battles, the gas project is aiming to resume construction to enhance gas production in the Appalachian Basin.

Biden’s Avalanche Of Regs Hits Consumers With Higher Costs, Worse Performance

0 implied HN points • 08 May 23
  1. The Biden administration is implementing a multitude of new efficiency regulations on household appliances to meet green energy goals, resulting in higher costs for consumers and a potential loss of U.S. jobs.
  2. Manufacturers are finding it challenging to comply with the steep upfront costs and performance impact of the new regulations, leading to concerns about innovation being set back.
  3. The increased efficiency standards not only affect appliances like dishwashers, washing machines, and refrigerators, but also extend to items like light bulbs, gas furnaces, and water heaters, impacting a wide range of consumer products.

ESG RIP: Review of Terrence Keeley’s "Sustainable"

0 implied HN points • 18 Dec 22
  1. Contrary to popular belief, excluding 'sin stocks' in ESG investment strategies doesn't necessarily benefit society or investors, and sometimes 'bad' stocks perform better than 'good' ones.
  2. By limiting investment choices with ESG constraints, investors may be sacrificing potential returns without achieving significant social impact.
  3. The official certification of investments as 'sustainable' may mislead investors and contribute to increased volatility, as sustainability is a vague concept lacking a clear, objective definition.

Limpid to Lucidity

0 implied HN points • 03 Apr 23
  1. The author describes a transition from feeling near dead to a revived state of clarity during dark winter days.
  2. The poet's muse seems to come to him later and later each day.
  3. The author reflects on his role in life, likening himself to King Lear without the madness.

These rules could make or break Biden’s climate legacy

0 implied HN points • 08 May 23
  1. The Biden administration is set to introduce ambitious rules targeting power plant carbon pollution, which could determine success in meeting climate goals and impact voter support in 2024.
  2. Efforts to reduce carbon emissions from the power grid play a crucial role in achieving climate targets, and advancements in technology like carbon capture are essential for progress.
  3. The Biden administration faces challenges from conservative Supreme Court justices and potential repeal threats from congressional Republicans in implementing and protecting these new climate regulations.

UN passes landmark resolution for climate justice

0 implied HN points • 03 Apr 23
  1. The UN passed a resolution urging the International Court of Justice to outline nations' legal obligations in curbing climate change and its impacts on vulnerable communities.
  2. Vanuatu, a country highly vulnerable to climate change, led the lobbying for the resolution with support from students and campaigned nations.
  3. The resolution sends a strong message for accelerated global climate action, as it calls for nations to be legally accountable for protecting the Earth's climate.

Zuni Mysticism and the Continental Divide

0 implied HN points • 20 Nov 22
  1. The Continental Divide near Zuni Reservation in New Mexico is an arbitrary demarcation on a flat desert floor.
  2. The Zuni Reservation is nearly invisible from the Continental Divide, only visible to pilots and medicine men.
  3. The Zuni boy at the vision pit, where smoke trails into the sky, presents a mystical and sacred image.

Carbon Capture Faces a Major Test in North Dakota

0 implied HN points • 08 Jul 23
  1. Carbon capture technology is crucial for hard-to-decarbonize sectors like heavy industry, but may not be the most feasible solution for retrofitting old power plants due to high costs and energy demands.
  2. The retrofitting of power plants with carbon capture systems can be significantly more expensive than operating widely available alternative energy sources, leading to economic challenges in their implementation.
  3. Despite the potential benefits of carbon capture, the success of large CCS projects like Project Tundra faces risks of being over budget and behind schedule, shedding light on the complexities and shortcomings of such endeavors.

As Green Policies Cause Energy Prices To Explode, Deforestation In Europe Accelerates

0 implied HN points • 20 Nov 22
  1. High energy costs are driving deforestation in Europe as people resort to burning wood to stay warm instead of using natural gas.
  2. The push for 'green' energy policies is causing environmental harm, as the focus on renewable energy sources leads to the clearing of biodiversity-rich forests for wind parks.
  3. Illegal logging is on the rise in Europe, with corruption and lack of transparency exacerbating the issue, especially in Romania where a significant portion of wood for pellets comes from illegal sources.

Peak ESG? Think Again

0 implied HN points • 21 Nov 22
  1. Investor interest in ESG issues has surged in 2022, with more ESG-related campaigns being launched compared to the previous year.
  2. Institutional investors are becoming more selective in supporting environmental and social activist campaigns, focusing on materiality and shareholder value.
  3. The regulatory landscape is evolving, with new SEC rules potentially impacting future ESG-related activist campaigns, and companies should proactively prepare to defend themselves.

President Biden Takes to the World

0 implied HN points • 21 Nov 22
  1. President Biden's international meetings were focused on climate action and economic issues.
  2. Some developing countries are seeking $2 trillion per year for climate-related funding, signaling a shift in approach from 'Net Zero' to 'loss and damage'.
  3. The meeting between President Biden and Xi Jinping highlighted a lack of focus on key issues like Covid, human rights, and regional conflicts.

Wind and solar power generators wait in yearslong lines to put clean electricity on the grid, then face huge interconnection fees they can’t afford

0 implied HN points • 08 May 23
  1. Wind and solar power generators face challenges with long bureaucratic processes and high interconnection fees, causing delays in distributing clean energy.
  2. The backlog in the interconnection queue is a symptom of a larger issue - the U.S. lacks sufficient transmission lines to support the shift to cleaner energy sources.
  3. Efforts are being made to improve the interconnection process, but the complex system highlights a need for more transmission infrastructure and a political challenge in planning for the energy transition.

FERC Tells Senators We’re Quickly Heading for an Electricity Crisis

0 implied HN points • 08 May 23
  1. All four FERC commissioners warned of a looming electricity crisis due to retiring power plants and inadequate replacements. They emphasized the urgent need for new energy sources.
  2. The retirement of coal and gas plants without sufficient replacements poses a catastrophic risk to the reliability of the U.S. grid. This challenge is exacerbated by a lack of gas pipelines and faulty capacity markets.
  3. Subsidized renewable energy is viewed as a factor undermining the economic viability of traditional power plants. FERC is taking steps to address grid reliability issues, including cybersecurity measures and winter weather preparation.

The ESG world is turning more to private investments

0 implied HN points • 07 May 23
  1. The ESG world is increasingly focusing on private investments as investors seek impact beyond traditional equities.
  2. Shareholder resolutions at major banks calling for an end to fossil fuel financing received less support in 2023 compared to 2022.
  3. Investors are pulling billions from sustainable funds due to underperformance, causing a shift towards private markets where clean energy projects are thriving.

Siemens Energy’s Troubles: A Case Study in the Misallocation of Resources

0 implied HN points • 25 Jun 23
  1. Investing heavily in unproven green technology can lead to significant risks and costs.
  2. Prioritizing traditional, reliable energy sources and nuclear power can provide cleaner and more efficient energy solutions.
  3. Balancing economic growth, technological innovation, and environmental conservation can lead to a more sustainable approach to energy policy.

Killing Two Big Fossil-Powered Industries

0 implied HN points • 06 May 23
  1. Innovative startups are disrupting big fossil-powered industries by introducing carbon-negative concrete and livestock carbon credit programs to reduce emissions and generate revenue.
  2. Major companies like Duke Energy are leading the clean energy transition by investing billions in renewable power generation, marking a significant shift towards cleaner alternatives.
  3. The transportation sector is rapidly moving away from diesel towards zero-emission vehicles and renewable fuels, driven by regulatory pressure and public funding, signaling the decline of diesel and rise of electric vehicles.

What if nature had rights?

0 implied HN points • 06 May 23
  1. The 'rights of nature' movement is gaining traction globally, with countries like Ecuador, New Zealand, and Uganda enacting laws granting natural objects rights.
  2. Granting rights to nature means recognizing the legal right of nonhuman species to exist and protecting ecosystems from harm caused by human activities.
  3. The movement to extend rights to nature goes beyond legal theory; it requires a cultural shift in how we view and interact with the natural world.

Biden Plans To Bring Costly Green Energy To Areas Reeling From Coal Plant Closures

0 implied HN points • 05 Apr 23
  1. The Biden administration is introducing tax incentives and funding to encourage investment in green energy projects in communities affected by coal plant closures.
  2. Additional billions of dollars in tax credits are earmarked for the green-energy industry as part of the Inflation Reduction Act.
  3. Initiatives include repurposing mine lands for clean energy projects and creating a tool to identify eligible energy communities.

Investors warned of ‘greenwashing’ risk as ESG-labelled funds double

0 implied HN points • 05 May 23
  1. The number of ETFs investing based on ESG principles has doubled in the past two years, reaching almost 1,300, leading to concerns about 'greenwashing'.
  2. Investors need to be careful in selecting ESG ETFs that match their needs, as there is a wide range of approaches and some funds may not align with their expectations.
  3. Regulators are taking actions to address greenwashing in the ESG market, with proposed changes to disclosure requirements and calls for formal regulation of ESG ratings providers.

Biden Turns To Country For Green Energy Metals With Abysmal Child Labor Record

0 implied HN points • 18 Dec 22
  1. The Biden administration is looking to boost global green energy supply chain by financing mining projects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia despite documented child labor issues in the mines.
  2. Green energy technologies like electric vehicle batteries require minerals like cobalt, copper, lithium, nickel, graphite, zinc, which are mostly mined outside the U.S., making the country rely more on foreign sources.
  3. There are concerns about child labor in mines in the DRC, with reports showing children working long hours in harsh conditions without proper protection or pay, raising ethical and environmental questions.

Doug Sheridan Says

0 implied HN points • 25 Jun 23
  1. Advocates of environmentally and socially responsible capitalism in the US are facing backlash, with anti-ESG measures being diluted and facing little support at annual meetings.
  2. Despite the ESG movement's setbacks, there is a need to reexamine its core responsibilities and refocus on common ground.
  3. The ESG investing movement needs reform to address its vulnerabilities and focus more on companies' long-term interests rather than ideology.

Air pollution tied to signs of Alzheimer’s in brain tissue, study finds

0 implied HN points • 26 Feb 24
  1. Inhaling tiny airborne particulates from air pollution, like diesel exhaust, can increase the likelihood of having signs of Alzheimer's in the brain.
  2. Exposure to high levels of traffic-related air pollution raises the risk of Alzheimer's disease, especially for those not genetically predisposed.
  3. Research shows a strong link between air pollution, cognitive decline, and brain changes associated with Alzheimer's disease, emphasizing the importance of addressing air pollution for brain health.

How the Supreme Court could undermine the climate fight

0 implied HN points • 04 May 23
  1. The Supreme Court might hinder executive branch efforts to combat climate change by reconsidering a nearly 40-year-old legal precedent that supports many climate and public health regulations.
  2. An upcoming Supreme Court case, Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, challenges the federal rule requiring commercial fishing vessels to accommodate government observers for monitoring overfishing, with potential broad implications on federal regulations.
  3. A ruling against the legal doctrine of Chevron deference could shift power away from agencies like the EPA, impacting the execution of climate and environmental regulations and potentially limiting agency discretion.