Hypocrisy of Wind Energy exposed by Greenpeace

“Hypocrisy in anything whatever may deceive the cleverest and most penetrating man, but the least wide-awake of children recognizes it, and is revolted by it, however ingeniously It may be disguised.”

Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy

The Hypocrisy of Wind Energy is very powerfully conveyed by wind energy advocate, Greenpeace China toxics expert, Jamie Choi:  

 "There’s not one step of the rare earth mining process that is not disastrous for the environment. Ores are being extracted by pumping acid into the ground, and then they are processed using more acid and chemicals..”

There is a disconnect with Greenpeace on the issue of one ton of the rare earth metal, neodymium, per megawatt of generating capacity requirements for wind turbines.  Greenpeace is a powerful wind energy advocate as evidenced in New Zealand where Greenpeace has just lost their court appeal to retain their charitable tax status.  They are now legally viewed as a political lobby group. 

Rare earth minerals required to manufacture wind turbines require rare earth mineral mining.  That is to say, the wind turbine supply chain requires us to pollute and contaminate our environment with corcinogenic and radioactive waste--as products of the rare earth mineral mining process--under the auspices of saving the planet. 

The U.S. Geological Service admits that we have a rare earth mineral "pinch point" in the wind turbine supply chain.  Specifically, China controls approximately 98% of the world's supply of rare earth minerals.  Which in turn, hobbles U.S. manufacturing of wind turbines, while ensuring China's fortunes to be earned in their exportation sector of wind turbine components to the U.S.  This translates to so-called "green jobs" in China at the expense of U.S. citizens subsidizing environmental harm.

The evidence: 

Daily Mail

In China, the true cost of Britain's clean, green wind power experiment: Pollution on a disastrous scale 

By SIMON PARRY in China and ED DOUGLAS in Scotland

Last updated at 10:01 PM on 29th January 2011

This toxic lake poisons Chinese farmers, their children and their land. It is what's left behind after making the magnets for Britain's latest wind turbines... and, as a special Live investigation reveals, is merely one of a multitude of environmental sins committed in the name of our new green Jerusalem

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1350811/In-China-true-cost-Britains-clean-green-wind-power-experiment-Pollution-disastrous-scale.html#ixzz1K9v3K0Oy

 “Jamie Choi, an expert on toxics for Greenpeace China, says villagers living near the lake face horrendous health risks from the carcinogenic and radioactive waste.”

‘There’s not one step of the rare earth mining process that is not disastrous for the environment. Ores are being extracted by pumping acid into the ground, and then they are processed using more acid and chemicals..”

Continue reading: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1350811/In-China-true-cost-Britains-clean-green-wind-power-experiment-Pollution-disastrous-scale.html

Jack Lifton is an Independent consultant and commentator, focusing on the market fundamentals and future end use trends of the rare metals. He specializes in the sourcing of nonferrous strategic metals and on due diligence studies of businesses in that space. His work includes exploration and... http://seekingalpha.com/author/jack-lifton

 Jack Lifton:

“…The Chinese, you see, like to make long term plans not only for economic goals but also for implementing the necessary steps in the value chain to achieve them.

To make the most efficient, lightest weight, lowest service wind turbine generator of electricity takes one ton of the rare earth metal, neodymium, per megawatt of generating capacity. This to to build the neodymium-iron-boron permanent magnet necessary for the generator to function.

The current production of neodymium is around 20,000 metric tons a year, and all of it is produced in China…”

http://seekingalpha.com/instablog/65370-jack-lifton/3363-rare-metals-investment-news-updates-today-s-edition-rareminutes-050709-neodymium

http://www.techmetalsresearch.com/2011/04/us-department-of-energy-solicits-more-information-on-critical-materials/

Technology Metals Research

US Department of Energy Solicits More Information On Critical Materials

by Gareth Hatch on April 4, 2011 · 3 comments

in Batteries,Catalytic Converters,Gallium,Hybrids & EVs,Indium,Lithium,Nuclear Energy,Permanent Magnets,Photovoltaic Cells,Rare Earths,Recycling,Tellurium,Wind Turbines

A couple of weeks ago the US Department of Energy (DOE) announced a Request for Information (RFI) on rare-earth metals and other materials used in the energy sector. This follows on from a similar solicitation made last year, that culminated in the publication of the DOE’s Critical Materials Strategy in December 2010.

The DOE says that this second RFI will be used to update the Critical Materials Strategy, and will also cover areas not considered in the original document, such as fluid-cracking catalyst materials for the petroleum refining industry.

The DOE is soliciting information in eight categories:

1. Critical Material Content
2. Supply Chain and Market Projections
3. Financing and Purchasing Transactions
4. Research, Education and Training
5. Energy Technology Transitions and Emerging Technologies
6. Recycling Opportunities
7. Mine and Processing Plant Permitting
8. Additional Information

The deadline for RFI submissions is May 24, 2011 and submissions from the public are welcomed. You can get more information from the DOE Web site.

http://www.techmetalsresearch.com/2011/04/us-department-of-energy-solicits-more-information-on-critical-materials/

The New York Times
China Weighs Tighter Controls on Rare Elements

By DAVID BARBOZA

Published: June 2, 2010

SHANGHAI — China is planning to tighten its control over its rare earth minerals by allowing just a handful of state companies to oversee the mining of the scarce elements, which are vital to some of the world’s greenest technologies.

Continue reading:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/03/business/energy-environment/03rare.html

http://www.techmetalsresearch.com/2011/04/us-department-of-energy-solicits-more-information-on-critical-materials/

GREENPEACE Charity status-New Zealand:

http://business.scoop.co.nz/2011/05/09/greenpeace-too-political-to-register-as-charity-nz-court/

Wind energy in the United States and materials required for the land-based wind turbine industry from 2010 through 2030

by: Wilburn, David R.

http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/70004808

Publication Type
USGS Numbered Series

Title
Wind energy in the United States and materials required for the land-based wind turbine industry from 2010 through 2030

Author
Wilburn, David R.

Year
2011

Series
Scientific Investigations Report

Series Number
2011-5036

Language
English

Publisher
U.S. Geological Survey

Publisher Location
Reston, VA

Contributing Office
Denver Federal Center

Description
iv, 19 p.; Appendices

Number of Pages
23

Start Page
i

End Page
19

No Pagination
N

Online Only
N

Country
United States

Abstract:

The generation of electricity in the United States from wind-powered turbines is increasing. An understanding of the sources and abundance of raw materials required by the wind turbine industry and the many uses for these materials is necessary to assess the effect of this industry's growth on future demand for selected raw materials relative to the historical demand for these materials. The U.S. Geological Survey developed estimates of future requirements for raw (and some recycled) materials based on the assumption that wind energy will supply 20 percent of the electricity consumed in the United States by 2030.

Economic, environmental, political, and technological considerations and trends reported for 2009 were used as a baseline. Estimates for the quantity of materials in typical "current generation" and "next generation" wind turbines were developed. In addition, estimates for the annual and total material requirements were developed based on the growth necessary for wind energy when converted in a wind powerplant to generate 20 percent of the U.S. supply of electricity by 2030.

The results of the study suggest that achieving the market goal of 20 percent by 2030 would require an average annual consumption of about 6.8 million metric tons of concrete, 1.5 million metric tons of steel, 310,000 metric tons of cast iron, 40,000 metric tons of copper, and 380 metric tons of the rare-earth element neodymium.

With the exception of neodymium, these material requirements represent less than 3 percent of the U.S. apparent consumption for 2008. Recycled material could supply about 3 percent of the total steel required for wind turbine production from 2010 through 2030, 4 percent of the aluminum required, and 3 percent of the copper required.

The data suggest that, with the possible exception of rare-earth elements, there should not be a shortage of the principal materials required for electricity generation from wind energy. There may, however, be selective manufacturing shortages if the total demand for raw materials from all markets is greater than the available supply of these materials or the capacity of industry to manufacture components.

Changing economic conditions could also affect the development schedule of anticipated capacity.