“Until now, the origin of the climate dynamics of the Central Andes during the last millennium has been speculative. On the basis of statistical evidence, we have identified solar variability as its origin.” – Schittek et al., 2025

In a new study, scientists have determined:

1) The Little Ice Age (LIA) was a global-scale cold event.

2) Southern Hemisphere (Peruvian Andes) climate (precipitation) variations are robustly linked to variations in solar activity over the last 1,000 years.

3) The modern (1900s-2000s) and Medieval Climate Anomaly climate warmth are associated with reduced rainfall, and the LIA colder temperatures are associated with more precipitation.

“…the LIA was a global event, marked by advance of glaciers worldwide.”

“Solar irradiation is the primary driver for all climate circulation processes on Earth. Evidence for a direct solar influence on the Earth’s climate has been growing.”

“Our study reveals evidence that precipitation changes in the south-eastern Peruvian Andes are linked to variations in solar activity during the LIA [Little Ice Age].”

“Several studies attribute climate cooling during the LIA to solar forcing, particularly during the Wolf, Spörer, Maunder, and Dalton Minima.”

“The position of the ITCZ [Intertropical Convergence Zone] is robustly dependent on the interhemispheric temperature gradient triggered by solar forcing.”

Image Source: Schittek et at., 2025

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March 13, 2025 at 08:14AM

From THE DAILY CALLER

Audrey Streb
Contributor

Republican South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden signed a bill Thursday banning the use of eminent domain for carbon dioxide pipelines, ensuring land protections for farmers across the state.

The bill, HB 1052, prohibits the government seizure of land for C02 pipelines. This leaves the fate of Summit Carbon Solutions’ $9 billion, 2,500-mile pipeline project potentially hanging in the air, as South Dakota was a key player in the plan. Summit’s pipeline was to transport captured C02 from five Midwest states to an underground storage spot in South Dakota, which has been referred to as the world’s largest carbon capture project. (RELATED: ‘No, Thank You’: Red State Regulators Reject Green Pipeline Opposed By Many Rural Landowners)

“South Dakota landowners feel strongly that the threat of involuntary easements for the proposed carbon dioxide pipeline infringes on their freedoms and their property rights,” Rhoden wrote in a letter to the legislature and to the people of South Dakota. “I have said many times that Summit needs to earn back trust from South Dakota landowners. Unfortunately, once trust is lost, it is a difficult thing to regain.”

“Here is my open message to Summit Carbon or anyone else who wants to try to come abuse our fellow South Dakotans,” Republican South Dakota House Speaker Jon Hansen wrote on X. “Your green new deal boondoggle; your lawsuits; your threats; and your intimidation against our people, our counties, and our grassroots commissioners ARE NOT WELCOME HERE.”

Summit spokesperson Sabrina Zenor said in a statement that “it’s very unfortunate that, despite our approvals in Iowa, North Dakota, and Minnesota, South Dakota changed the rules in the middle of the game.”

“The governor has made it clear that HB 1052 targets one company – Summit Carbon Solutions,” Zenor continued. “It’s unfortunate that a piece of legislation has been framed around a single company rather than addressing broader infrastructure and economic policy.”

“This is definitely a win for the little guy,” Steve Milloy, a Senior Legal Fellow at the Energy & Environment Legal Institute, told the DCNF.

“Carbon capture is economically, politically and physically impossible.” He said, referring to carbon capture as “totally bogus” and that “the only reason it’s happening is because oil companies can get taxpayer subsidies for it.” (RELATED: Dem Gov Signs Bill Putting Brakes On Green Energy Tech Being Pushed By Biden Admin)

Milloy pointed to how carbon capture’s expensive price tag, the unpopularity of eminent domain and underground storage issues make it an extraordinarily difficult practice. He also noted that the government can only seize land for public use, and that there is “no legitimate public use” for C02 pipelines.

The author also referenced both the Mississippi C02 pipeline rupture, as well as the Lake Nyos disaster in Cameroon in 1986 that both destroyed land and livestock. The Cameroon pipeline explosion even left 1,700 people dead.

“So, good for South Dakota,” Milloy stated.

Summit Carbon Solutions did not respond to the DCNF’s request for comment in time for publication.

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.

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March 13, 2025 at 08:02AM

By Paul Homewood

A surprisingly balanced article in the Guardian:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/12/loch-ness-hydro-storage-schemes-scotland

The article discusses plans to build hydro storage schemes in the Scottish Highlands, but also looks at the genuine environmental concerns, not least the effect of rapidly changing water levels in lochs on salmon. The Guardian report:

“Brian Shaw stood at the edge of Loch Ness and pointed to a band of glistening pebbles and damp sand skirting the shore. It seemed as if the tide had gone out.

Overnight, Foyers, a small pumped-storage power station, had recharged itself, drawing up millions of litres of water into a reservoir high up on a hill behind it, ready for release through its turbines to boost the UK’s electricity supply. That led to the surface of Loch Ness, the largest body of freshwater in the UK, falling by 14cm in a matter of hours.

Shaw, an expert in freshwater salmon who runs the Ness District Salmon Fishery Board, believes this is a warning of things to come. “I had a complaint about the level of Loch Ness dropping by a foot overnight,” he said, gesturing at the shore. “It’s actually dropped six inches over the course of the day. That wouldn’t happen naturally.”

Glen Earrach’s proposals have fuelled anxiety locally. It is the third such plan proposed for Loch Ness but also the largest by far.

More than a dozen agencies, conservation bodies and local businesses have lodged objections or raised questions about Glen Earrach with the Scottish government’s energy consents unit, which oversees power station applications.

Its critics fear that if all four plants are approved, that could significantly affect the loch’s delicate ecology, its migrating salmon and trout, its leisure cruising firms and its archaeological sites, including a prehistoric crannog, or human-made island.”

Glen Earrach is by far the biggest of the proposed storage schemes, with capacity of 30 GWh at a cost of £3 billion. There are the usual claims that such schemes will “provide an energy reserve to cope with peak demand and wind-free days.”

But how much difference will 30 GWh make? (To put it into perspective, Dinorwig, the main storage we have currently, has capacity of 9 GWh).

The CCC’s 7th Carbon Budget wants 88 GW of offshore and 32 GW of onshore wind by 2040. This would on average offer about 48 GW.

To cover for those “windless days”, Glen Earrach’s 30 GWh would only cover that missing wind power for 37 minutes..

In reality, Glen Earrach would only ever be used for managing peak demand, as with Dinorwig. You can forget about it covering for days and weeks of low wind.

And we will have to fork out £3 billion for something that we only need because of overreliance on intermittent wind power and the maniacal drive to close gas power stations.

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March 13, 2025 at 06:00AM

By Paul Homewood

h/t Ian Magness

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03/12/smart-meters-forced-on-households-by-big-energy-firms/

The Telegraph report:

“Households are being forced to fit smart meters by Britain’s biggest energy companies in a drive to meet net zero targets.

Four of the “big six” energy firms, including British Gas and Octopus, confirmed to The Telegraph that they no longer fit “dumb” meters when replacing equipment at the end of its life.”

But energy companies have consistently fallen short on their targets to fit the meters, with customers concerned that they provide incorrect readings. The big six suppliers are all facing investigation by Ofgem, the regulator, over last year’s installation figures.

There is nothing new here, but this comment is alarming:

“Smart meters can be switched into “dumb” or restricted mode by energy suppliers, meaning they do not send automated readings.

But Citizens Advice told The Telegraph that some suppliers are refusing customer requests to do this, despite rules saying households should have the option.

Energy retailers have been holding up the introduction of new rules to make it easier for households to put their own smart meters in dumb mode since 2021.

Two firms – Octopus and British Gas, which together supply electricity to 43 per cent of British households – told The Telegraph they no longer stock dumb meters to replace older models.”

Read the full story here.

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March 13, 2025 at 05:05AM