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rolf westgard

rolf westgard's picture
st Paul, MN
Commenter for
4 years 5 days

Recent Comments

Posted on 01/29/13 at 12:38 pm in response to Global warming: The idea that technology will save us is a pipe dream

As I look toward the next century when fossil fuels become very dear, I see two competitors for energy supply: solar and nuclear. Of course, there will be substantial conservation and life style adjustments driven by increasing energy costs.

Posted on 01/29/13 at 04:22 pm in response to Global warming: The idea that technology will save us is a pipe dream

Jerry Brown bought into Lovins nonsense and almost tanked the state of California. Imagine those solar panels on your roof these past few days and nights. You would need a lot of sweaters.

Posted on 01/17/13 at 12:25 pm in response to Efforts should intensify to sustain fresh-water supplies

Power plants withdraw water, but they return nearly all of it of it to the river or ocean. The rest of it evaporates and returns as rain.

Posted on 01/17/13 at 04:21 pm in response to Efforts should intensify to sustain fresh-water supplies

The most complete study of water use from crop to finished gallon of ethanol was accomplished under Professor Sangwon Suh of the Water Resources Science and Department of Bioproducts and
Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota. It broke down the water use by state, showing the highest use in states with more irrigation. On average in the US it takes 142 gallons of water to make ONE gallon of corn ethanol. States like Iowa and Minnesota have less irrigation and use ranges from 9...

Posted on 01/17/13 at 06:55 pm in response to Efforts should intensify to sustain fresh-water supplies

Yes. Nearly all the water use is from the industrial corn farming.

Posted on 02/20/13 at 08:59 pm in response to Climate change: Right here, right now

I'm sorry that I am in Brainerd at that time.

Posted on 01/15/13 at 07:28 am in response to In Minnesota, we need to value our children at least as much as wild rice

The situation in the Everglades backs up Mr. Arneson's concerns. Sulfate runoff from fertilizers used in sugar cane fields is leading to methyl/mercury in the Everglades, with harmful effects on birds and fish.

Posted on 01/14/13 at 03:30 pm in response to Strategic metals offer hope of good, well-paying jobs for Minnesotans

A combination of serious economic pressures and faith in MN regulatory agencies suggest that those mines will open. The Kennecott mine in Wisconsin operated safely, and so can these. Important to get substantial upfront financial guarantees for remediation and long term closing obligations.

Posted on 01/04/13 at 05:36 pm in response to After Sandy Hook, a pledge

Bravo!

Posted on 01/05/13 at 05:02 am in response to Losses to catastrophic weather events rank 2012 among the worst on record

GW is a serious threat, but recent weather events are probably not related. The 1936 Florida Keys hurricane, Camille in 1969, and Andrew in the 70s were all stronger than recent ones. Tree ring data shows droughts far more severe than current. There is a slow global warming trend which began in the mid 1970s, although it has flattened in the past several years despite record 2012 warmth in the US. And recent hurricane seasons have been milder than average.
The science on the...