Does Wildlife Win or Lose with Renewable Energy? | MeatEater Podcast

Steven Rinella talks with Brendan Runde, Janis Putelis, Ryan Callaghan, Brody Henderson, Spencer Neuharth, Phil Taylor, and Corinne Schneider.
Topics discussed: The musky manifesto; get tickets to our Live Tour and reserve your spot with Steve, Jani, Cal, and Clay for MeatEater Experiences; the controversy around spearing pike in MN; the very long halflife of mercury; scrubbing emissions; the BLM’s proposal for land to be developed for solar; all the places you can put solar panels; fishing around a wind turbine; 24 wind turbines currently producing power in the Atlantic Ocean; scour protection in the form of a a rubble donut; creating habitat; the aesthetics of wind farms; investigating the whale argument; impact of offshore wind on fish species; The Nature Conservancy making public lands; Runde TNC; turn your lights off and stop buying balloons; and more.
#fueledbynature #meateater
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[@user-ri7wh5bj7r]

If you aren't an advocate for a rapid buildout of nuclear energy, you just can't be taken seriously about wanting zero emissions.

[@bryona5271]

Amen

[@JeremyReger]

I'm guessing this is the one time you and Bill Gates are on the same side of the table..

[@bryona5271]

@@JeremyReger can’t be sides to a table if it’s a circle

[@gracedancurtis5160]

False. top and bottom@@bryona5271

[@lawrencemeadonia7500]

Because many politicians see it as a possible career risk if something goes wrong later on. The public in general doesn't understand nuclear power benefits and just focus on the risk.

[@TwoShellsOneGun]

I don't understand why they don't start with parking lots. Every parking lot in Arizona should have a solar panel shade structure before they ever look at a single acre of public land.

[@SKITEMAN]

100% agree

[@bearsmartdurango]

100% agree. That and rooftop solar. Solar farms suck.

[@steveb486]

Because that would make sense... We can't have that

[@isaacjamesbaker]

A ton of them do. Not enough, but a lot. Plenty more needed

[@murphsquad5785]

Because they don't own the parking lots or all our roofs! It's the obvious answer, but they can't be sharing the wealth.

[@thedirtygot9570]

I am all for offshore wind, as long as they do it off the coast of cape cod and Martha’s vineyard first!!

[@antlerking69]

The folks using the energy...

[@kyle-ri5mz]

it is VERY clear from this conversation that the nature conservancy doesn't give a F about people who enjoy doing things outside on public ground... they are singularly focused on something and they believe that the ends justify any means.

[@jurisprudence6549]

Then when you consider that their solution (solar and wind) is not even close to a viable option to power our economy. Neither produce enough energy, even if you cover every inch of this country in wind and solar, they wouldn't produce enough energy unless we made some MASSIVE adjustments to our energy consumption. Beyond that we have no viable way of storing the energy that they actually do produce so when the cloudy windless days come in the winter we would see tons of issues with the power grid.

[@MO-vr1jg]

We all want clean reliable energy with minimal impact but this guest obviously does not know or understand how base load electricity is needed to power an industrial economy…Renewables have very limited applications for base load and there is no viable energy storage solution to store electrons on a large scale, it just doesn’t exist. Spreading utility scale solar arrays and or wind turbines across our public lands and oceans which require a natural gas peaker station to back up the variability of wind and sun resources is not only wasteful but potentially detrimental to the environment has a whole. Please don’t drink the NOAA cool aid.

[@hoofbrowning3068]

Steve.... These folks pushing Solar and Wind have no clue to how the electrical grid is controlled. Their talking points are always about how many homes that wind and solar can support. It's about controlling grid frequency... 60hz you never hear that brought up. Wind and Solar can't do it... There's much more to maintaining a dependable electrical system.

[@ggray19]

...and lets discuss the footprint for storage. Those batteries are a disaster to produce economically and even more so ecologically, and as you said their viability as effective storage is way below the demand. Cool aid is exactly what this dude is spewing. And it tastes great for anyone willing to close their eyes and drink it up without consideration for anything else.

[@ChestertonsFence]

Nuclear plants near population centers > constructing “green” generation across the countryside.

[@BG-bx4ey]

Nuclear is viable. Solar is not yet.

[@kyle-ri5mz]

texas has natural gas power plants that have zero emissions...

[@hunterspud2991]

1:04:05 So steve brings up energy per acre which is a good point and the guys response is to jump straight to "climate crisis".

[@justinbuchanan2346]

Pretty clear this guy is a stooge for the world wide climate scam. Nature Conservancy is all you need to know.

[@slimsawyer8461]

Because nuclear wins every time in that argument

[@Cleft2982]

The carbon footprint happens pre manufacturing, not during use. Repair and replacement of solar has to be a consideration in carbon emissions. Who is strip mining to produce such equipment?

[@Cleft2982]

There is a cost when recycling .

[@FranklinMarshal-wj1jg]

China, coincidentally, they also produce solar panels and spend millions lobbying a bunch of green idiots in Washington.

[@bottomboy1528]

Gotta have some big balls to sit between these guys and try to explain why taking away public land for energy development is a good idea. Props to him for standing firm, even if I don't fully agree with what he's saying

[@jamesmosley8837]

Anyone should be open minded enough to hear the other arguments

[@Bob-mw2sm]

Well said.

[@JS-jb7is]

Would have been nicer if he had the balls to answer some questions. Instead he deferred or just wouldn't stand up for what he believes. Very politician of him which I guess comes with the job.

[@JeremyReger]

you notice they havent had on the only people trying to sell off our federal public lands right? Republican congressman...

[@herbie1220]

I agree. He did a great job looking at both sides.

[@hankremer6606]

Love it how his agenda is all that matters. Steven and crew asked very valid questions, but he is so agenda driven, he will not listen.

[@skarvo1]

So they're arguing that oil and gas leases 29 million acres. But 1 location is 5 acres on the large side and they lease most of the acreage underground. A solar farm would be ALL above ground. I don't like oil locations on our public hunting ground. But to think a whole southern hill side would be taken up?? Get outta here!

[@BenC-77]

Excellent point.

[@kyle-ri5mz]

also oil fields will one day run dry.. and the infrastructure will be removed.. wind farms and solar farms are meant to be permanent features... forever.

[@bheath779]

The guest immediately showed his bias by using the sensationalist term "climate crisis."

[@MorganMckinney-if9jd]

Kal had the best question… why not private property? I have a feeling they don’t want to pay a landowner for their contribution. They want to take imminent domain. Their “analysis” is that no land owner will give their property for this, so they are going to take ours.

[@kyle-ri5mz]

because they have to pay market rates for private property.. and they can get the feds to just give them land for pennies on the dollar. These things are already economically broken without MASSIVE tax credits.. how are they supposed to work if they also have to pay market prices for land.

[@murphsquad5785]

This guy got real weird on the whale topic. Sounds like a big tobacco lawyer.

[@MrThatnativeguy]

He definitely came with an agenda

[@timjones9305]

The problem with this conversation is that you brought in an expert on conservation. He is not an expert in: energy transmission, energy production or the development of technology. All of his arguments were moot because he has no evidence backing up any of the claims of efficacy that he is making about alternative energy.

[@antlerking69]

Check out the Texas solar field destroyed by hail last month

[@Bardmusic66]

Could be leaking toxic chemicals ☠️

[@EvanHendrickson-hq1vf]

Most of the west doesn’t experience hail like they do in Texas.

[@jedibowen]

@@EvanHendrickson-hq1vf For now.

[@antlerking69]

Nevada is 65% BLM land and they get some real hail there

[@anymaru]

How are solor panels made? What chemicals? How are they mined?

[@MarkMynear]

He said cows did better, having solar panels to sit under. Ever solar farm I have seen has dead grass under it.

[@nickschaps4022]

Yep, that’s because they grade and compact the sites, the grass can’t grow because they completely destroy the soil profile and structure.

[@matthewwalker4834]

That's because it's being purely used as a solar farm. If they were installing panels but also intending to continue raising cattle, I imagine they'd be spacing the panels differently. Less efficient for total energy, but more efficient by using the land twice.

[@craigkamps6260]

I find it hard to believe no one brings up the very glaring point that solar and wind energy are unreliable and there is not a good source for storing what energy they will produce. Fossil fuels are very reliable and easy to store.

[@jphillips9644]

I'm not saying this to side against anyone here but it makes it hard to take someone seriously when every other argument is "yeah but we're not as bad as THOSE guys"

[@Verlisify]

My problem is the 0% goal. I can't trust someone that speaks in absolutes to achieve their vision for the world. Even if we go to zero, 85% of the current world still polluting and we will have to make ecological and economical exceptions to get there. why isn't cutting it in half enough? Why not just keep it for private and commercial ventures? Climate will still be fine and we have existing sturdy infrastructure to fall back on.

[@jedibowen]

0% doesn't mean we won't be using fossil fuels, it would just mean that we have offset the number utilizing other technologies.

[@Verlisify]

​@@jedibowen Even 0% net is economic suppression and a weaker grid and unnecessary and unreasonable goal. The processes to get negative emissions is still as developing and experimental as renewable. Too absolute and idealized to trust

[@jerelem]

I'm trying but for the life of me I can't trust this guy... too many red flags like the one in your comment. Just doesn't pass the smell test for me.

[@matthewwalker4834]

That's why it's called a goal. Part of achieving that goal would include developing technology that minimizes the downsides of renewables while maximizing the upsides, and the US has a huge potential to pressure other countries into holding up their end, but we can't do that if we don't lead by example. Also worth noting that he didn't set that goal, but his job is to work towards it.

[@Verlisify]

@@matthewwalker4834 your comment doesn't really say anything. Making an unrealistic goal shows gross incompetence that makes it harder to trust you

[@TRUTHBMXracing]

Most land leased for oil production goes undisturbed on the surface. Living in Texas most land has been leased in some way to energy companies. Comparing leased acreage is apples to oranges.

[@earthmovingMike]

Will you ask the question of where all these minerals will come from to build batteries and panels. Oh I know. China and Africa. All Chinese owned mines

[@Verlisify]

Records have always been rough because for a lot of them you have to kill the most magnificent beast the world has ever seen

[@tannerrobison2204]

The public commentary phase of the process seems to serve merely as a formality for the BLM, with little regard for public input. This plan directly impacts a significant portion of one of Idaho's most frequented recreational areas. The proposed closure of approximately 3,000 miles of OHV trails follows the recent closure of another area. Despite strong opposition from the public to both closures, it appears that our concerns are disregarded.

[@jurisprudence6549]

You know that the executive branch (aka the President) controls all the bureaucracies right? You know that BLM stands for the BUREAU of land management right? Do you really think the current administration, or any administration for that matter, actually gives a flying fuck about the citizens of this country? Especially the citizens of our beautiful state of Idaho?

[@user-qw2tl7ce7c]

Is any of this going on nature conservancy land?

[@craig5222]

I wondered the same damn thing

[@ggray19]

"Wind" is not more viable if you don't have the wind. And please discuss the already short term effects being seen from living/raising animals near these wind farms.

[@ikazukison2]

why would we have no wind?

[@ggray19]

​@@ikazukison2 viable wind... enough to produce usable energy/spin the mills. The windmill farms aren't viable everywhere, and that's just with the fuzzy math the energy industry uses for implementation. Dig much deeper and the mills start tipping the scale quickly AWAY from a clean energy source, even in the places that meet the required minimum average windspeed.

[@jacoblamb3535]

Not one single turbine in America makes a profit on the year if you remove the subsidies. I know the ones by my house break all the time and the lubricants for the turbine cost more than the power it produces. 0% wind by 2050 is a good goal. So is 80%+ of grid duties handled by nuclear by 2050.

[@jacoblamb3535]

Dont bring someone on and allow them to spit in your face like that.

[@jacoblamb3535]

Wind turbines also cause heart problems for their neighbors.

[@vincentstraub9895]

I wish the crew would have pushed back some more on this lobbyist!

[@kyle-ri5mz]

they aren't energy experts.. they just like public lands.. they pushed back where they could.. but how are they supposed to know when he is lying.

[@lisaannaallen6283]

solar panels = no hunting wind mill= no hunting . wasn't the nature conservancy be hind the wolf introduction out west??

[@jarredking899]

Only slightly. The Rocky mountain wolf foundation was along with several universities and state biologist. I worked with them for awhile on the matter. What people generally leave out of that story is that the Feds sued Colorado and won requiring them to reintroduce wolves over a decade ago but Colorado in bed with the cattlemen’s associations refused and the Feds never pursued due to politics. Biologist from the state of Colorado working with ngos and universities went to the last option they had, ballot box. Most leave out the first part where the scientist where railroaded and had to go grass roots. I was one of those scientists.

[@kyle-ri5mz]

Gas fields = plenty of hunting access.

[@Eric-dr5bj]

Every single one of these potential projects has a small number of large companies who will control the majority of production. This leads to market manipulation and giving up control to the few.

[@ktvlm3987]

great song at the end!

[@isaacjamesbaker]

This was such a reasonable, engaging, serious discussion on a tough topic. But its also rare and heartwarming dare I say because its obvious everyone here is engaging in good faith with a common purpose. Great stuff!

[@ggray19]

Ope. Triggered the poor guy with mention of Trump. Impressed he bit his tongue. Imagine him knowing people within the NC willing to voice their political opinions...

[@randyhasty1810]

ENVIRONMENTAL GUY DOESNT CARE WHERE THEY ARE MINING FOR THE SOLOR PANELS.

[@JohnSmith-co4rm]

Props to the guest if he is sincere in his stance. That being said, you can't compare the damage that ranching and oil leases do to habitat with what solar would do. He's either ignorant or dishonest in that comparison. There are places that exist on BLM land where you can see oil wells, cattle, deer, and antelope in the same frame of view. He should be asked if that's a possibility with solar panels.

[@JohnSmith-co4rm]

I would also add that hunters this is a phenomenal opportunity for hunters and animal rights groups to team up, gain an understanding of each other, and agree on a common goal - to stop habitat destruction.

[@timbjork2098]

at 36.22 they talk about murcury leaving the lakes that get fished the most because people are eating the fish and pulling back out of the system. i been saying this for my entire life. i'm doing my part to clean up the waters eventually i'll be barried with it in me and put in a casket and vault.

[@clifsant9266]

I had occasion(to use one of Steve’s phrases) to converse with a dude that does maintenance on two windmills on a military base here in Utah. For the given amount of time between maintenance cycles, they produced $4500 worth of electricity but the maintenance cost for that interval was $4000. Now I am no mathematician but a $500 savings over the course of, let’s say Three years doesn’t seem worth it in my book. That was just routine preventive maintenance so if something were to break there goes your $500 right there and that is on the site that you can easily drive to in any vehicle off where it requires a boat.

[@billwotruba9432]

Every Big-Box store in America should have their roof covered in solar panels. No transmission lines required, no additional land disturbed. Point of use power generation.

[@MNd3sign]

Anyone not advocating for Nuclear Energy (the greenest and most efficient energy source on the planet) is fundamentally not serious about this issue. One plant would mean millions of acres left untouched.

[@bryant.6267]

You guys brought up the balloons, last year i was bow hunting whitetail on top of mountain on the WV/VA border around 3000 feet elevation. Atleast 2 miles away from the nearest house and i found some kids math paper.

[@jesseshelton7207]

What is the outro song for this episode?

[@JeremiahGreco]

This is such a great episode! Brendan is an excellent guest --- about as much as an expert as anyone can be on a topic --- and the ME crew was on point with important questions that didn't come off as combative.

[@benvidal3539]

Steve for president!

[@ggray19]

1/3 of commercial rooftops gets us 10% of the energy we need??? Completely viable??? Who the hell are the mathematicians working these numbers, and convinced that's an impact???

[@BrendaBip]

1/3 of rooftops commercial and residential is needed to make the 10%

[@ggray19]

@@BrendaBip even worse.

[@eheis5]

Oh, it's a win-win deal. Now I'm on board lol

[@stephenklinter5333]

I think one of the main things people have to think about is that so called fossil fuels are in fact not fossil fuels but are plant based and are renewable. Then another thing we have to think about is that any new form of energy does not have the history of oil the number of years of study. Alternate energy industries are mainly in the business of making money. Solar and wind are not very efficient forms of energy. AND they rely heavily on the oil industry to provide energy to build them ,to make the components,to make them work. There is no way that taking up 23 million acres of land to put up solar panels is going to be good for wild life, habitat, or anything else.

[@BigDillBrewing]

The underlying premise of Brendan’s case seems to be that decreased carbon emissions will definitively stabilize the climate. Since climate naturally changes over time, can Brendan quantify the level to which climate change can be impacted by CO2 reduction? And thus, what cost (environmental, financial, infrastructure, etc.) is acceptable compared the potential benefit of zero carbon energy?

[@BikeThrottleOfficial]

It’s extremism and lunacy. The wildfires and volcanoes every year far outweigh any human input as far as carbon is concerned. That’s without bringing in the polar shift that’s occurring which constantly skews data. The race to net zero carbon is madness and it’s betting on the wrong horse. If I was being paranoid I’d even suggest nefarious sources are pulling us in this direction to remove energy independence from us.

[@PerfectZero33]

its not *that the climate is changing, its the *pace at which its changing. Now, don't get me wrong; the democrat answers are fucking hogwash. But there are things that could be done to help slow the effects, or even reverse climate change. But it requires something the liberals are afraid to talk about; a regulated isolationism. Things need to be localized again; food, manufacturing, textiles, etc... "America First" is a horrible way to look at it, because really this should be universal, as seen with the European farmers lately, but what if we called it "Workers First"? And when you help the worker, you help the whole.

[@sylvesmiller]

Very good questions that we are not asking…

[@mikemcphaden80]

Up here in Canada, our misinformed gov, is going to "Fix climate change ". If we completely eliminate co2 the climate is still going to change. If they want to talk about eliminating pollution, that's a reasonable topic

[@jordanmcmillan6937]

The whole "the public will be involved every step of the way" is just pure BS. Public comment periods, as someone who frequently participates in them, is almost always fruitless. The government will almost always determine it knows best

[@jerelem]

Another red flag contributing to why I can't get myself to trust this dude. Public comment rarely serves any purpose other than to give the lobby proposing the initiative, whatever that is, a quote or two they can use to pretend they have support.

[@stuffnsuch631]

Public comment is basically a funeral fruit basket....

[@davidhunt3881]

Stromberg's Chickens make a great plucker. I am a small scale pastured broiler farmer and they make a great plucker.

[@jt32rose]

It was stated that the offshore windfarms would have a 25 to 30 year lease, at which time the Windmill would be removed. Oil well platforms are removed when the oil runs out. The wind does not go away. So this offshore windfarm is temporary.? What is the point then? Why didn't any of you ask the question, "If they are temporary, Then what?" As any of you know, the saltwater on steel and components is horrible. The maintenance costs must be horrendous. The windfarms on land are now old enough that the blades and other components, have to be replaced, and nobody knows what to do with the old ones...except to fill up land fills, or pile them on more public ground. One of the proposed Offshore Windfarms was off the coast of Oregon, and it was stated at the time there would be a 1 mile exclusion zone around them so there would be no fishing allowed at these locations....for safety reasons presumably. You were too easy on this guy. Lastly, he stated some huge number of millions of acres used for oil drilling, is misrepresented. in fact those acres are underground. The acres used on top, at each site, is very small in comparison to the vast reservoirs below. The effect on the landscape is minimal.

[@benjaminlewiscpt]

Nuclear

[@kennethvandyken6544]

"I don't want to spend a ton of time on it." Too late, Steve. Every time Steve says some variation of the above, you know it's going to be at least 3-5 minutes. 😂

[@ellishagerman]

I hope Callaghan don’t ever have to thumb for a ride. They’d never know which way he wanted to go! 😂

[@lisaannaallen6283]

brendan runden "lets go brandon"

[@SoundsLikeaPlanOutdoors]

Parking lots, large retail shopping centers, and large commercial buildings should get solar panels first. Large urban areas should have almost every structure covered in solar panels. I would also suggest solar panels be added to the grass medians along interstate highways. Then we can have conversations about solar farms on public land.

[@dimensionsofearth]

By the end I like the guy, I do think he is clouded by the current view of human driven climate change, which is ignorant at best, dishonest at worst. Get Randall Carlson on! He is an absolute genius about this stuff and so many other topics relevant to the Meat Eater Ethos

[@PerfectZero33]

My bachelors is in Wildlife Biology/Ecology; it really depends on the implementation of said "green" energy. IE: are windmills in migration paths. Another example would be implementing solar as a means of shade for parks, parking lots, using for EV charging, etc... in urban areas that are already there. and while I am an adamant believer in climate change, EVs are not the answer. It only puts more pressure on working class people to afford the EVs, and then creates a new global resource to exploit people and land over. Hybrids are far more useful, and will reduce overall emissions more, since its an older, cheaper technology (I love my hybrid Maverick). Last thought, can we please stop being so afraid of nuclear? its the safest, cleanest form of energy production, and we're just letting fear get in the way of REAL progress (not the bullshit progress touted by the democrats or moderate republicans).

[@karlvanginderdeuren4009]

Was shouting at my screen quite a few times. Please look into the European research already done since we have had offshore windfarms for almost twenty years.

[@deltaws]

1:47:26 this dude hates Steve lol. Good podcast though

[@nzkiwi9]

In the record books place an asterisk next to the entry. State the nature of the discrepancy but acknowledge the musky

[@ellishagerman]

Above water power lines in the water surprises me. I’m guessing they will be not laying on the ocean but in the air.

[@JustinOsmerIV]

Solar is terrible for the environment. Everyone looks at it from the point of view of once installed. Not from the view of what it takes to manufacture the panels, inverters, batteries etc as well as the lack of recycling of this equipment. Nuclear is the way.

[@woodsmn8047]

I never seen a duck plucker but I have seen a chicken plucker that would take 50 birds at once and have em done in 2 minutes

[@tomwinterfishing9065]

He’s not a pheasant plucker, he’s a pheasant plucker’s mate. He’s only plucking pheasants coz the pheasant plucker’s late.

[@woodsmn8047]

I'm jokin of course... but the chicken plucker it is a real thing ...in about 6 hours we processed an entire semi truck load of road island reds ...course the birds had to be scalded and processed thru the plucker while wet ...I just threw em in an proceeded to scald another batch ...you wouldn't think a chicken could be so clean ...hell.. it even removed their toenails

[@ellishagerman]

We definitely need rooftops with solar panels not trees removed for solar panels! Solar farms are done to continue making businesses big money. Our world needs individual solar equipment/panels to use so we learn to use less and maintain that usage on our own merit. Power lines removed should be the goal. Not more land used up.

[@ndmover]

“Transition into energy sources that do not produce any further carbon emissions” Do the precious metals, photovoltaic plates, EV batteries just magically appear? Are they perpetual or do they have a lifespan? I’m all for expanding “renewable” energy, but let’s at least be realistic about it. 90% of photovoltaic and precious metals mining runs through China. That doesn’t scream energy independence to me. Feels a lot like the circuit board/chip dilemma we ran into a couple of years ago.

[@mtndeer]

As I listen to this guy I kept asking myself who is he? Who pays him? Who does he work for? Is he portraying a good guy? Is he a legit puppet playing the good guy? I never heard about birds flocking to wind towers to get hit by the blades, Was that ever mentioned? I guess I’ll have to listen to it again… Nah. Everybody’s just gonna do their thing anyway but it would be interesting if you’d compile a list of the actual people who ride around on boats looking for problems with wildlife I’d love to see a list of the names

[@kyle-ri5mz]

most wind farms are a banking scam. The banks get to fund the construction at X% and then the federal government gives the builders a 60% tax credit.. well VERY FEW companies have a multi million dollar tax liability.. so they turn around and sell that tax credit... back to the bank, for pennies on the dollar.

[@JW-lo1ts]

MECURY 49:50 its a DMSA challenge and a 12 hour urine collection, would be treated with long term DMSA and DMPS under a doctors supervision ....

[@bigbearplumbing1337]

Probably already said but use wal-mart, homedepot,lowes all city structures where the temp is already hotter

[@nicks6272]

What is the name of the song at the end?

[@kyle-ri5mz]

They don’t even have to do archeological surveys before laying out 100yard square cement pads for the wind farms.

[@user-ct7iv2ev6r]

Hey Steve. Here is another factoid. regarding toxic metals. LEAD. Currently the only exemption to the clean air act is LEADED fuel for small aircraft. They still burn leaded fuel. ??? When you fly into the wilderness to hunt, you are dropping LEAD all over the remote areas of natural land. When a small aircraft flys overhead, you are being showered with LEAD. Check this out for us. Long time fan of you guys. Thanks for doing what you do. " A fresh set of eyes, always finds more beans."

[@mattsteiner800]

I’d say it’s a case of the lesser of the two evils. Renewables is probably better but there’s going to be massive downsides to either option.

[@ballzybaits4414]

Have you seen the solar panels across hundreds of acres in Cali?

[@chrismeister2554]

@@ballzybaits4414that land is as non-renewable as it gets, at least until those panels are moved

[@danorris5235]

If the renewables are viable, sustainable, and actionable upon it would be common sense to just replace existing oil infrastructure with renewable. The excuses for not doing are endless, it all circles back to cult dogma, and it always ends with YOU being the problem. Reality is replacing it isn't viable, it won't stop the problem, and unless everyone globally is forced to do it at gunpoint it means nothing. The lesser of the two evils is not destroying everything over an "idk, maybe," instead of cutting our heads off to save our bodies. There's too many red flags involved. I'm smart enough to see a shell game con when someone's convincing me to give them some money to play.

[@RC-fp1tl]

@@chrismeister2554oil isn’t renewable either.

[@PerfectZero33]

@@RC-fp1tl No, but gasoline engines can be easily fitted to run alcohol based fuel; which is 100% renewable.

[@mikeknape7064]

Same technicality with weighing the fish on land with a world record lake trout in the last year or so.

[@jamesbender1967]

I didn’t realize that about Wisconsin not allowing Pike spearing. The capital of spearing has to be us over in Minnesota. It’s a rich history and tradition. I personally, wouldn’t mind it being banned one bit. I don’t partake. Always hard to see a pile of big pike stabbed to $hit bleeding 😂 There’s no “spear-and-release”. Also Steve, spearing is VERY common here in the Brainerd Lakes Area of North Central Minnesota.

[@BG-bx4ey]

What do you partake in? Most of these bans are either directly or indirectly supported by pseudo progressives. If you're not supporting your fellow sportsman, you are supporting your nearest Anti.

[@evankohorst5878]

Carbon input is never in this conversation.. why? I’ve seen plenty of deer walk within yards of a running pump jack, never seen one eat the grass under a fenced in solar farm.

[@Semi-ProfessionalHomeowner]

How does this “specialist” attempt to advocate and argue that it’s a great idea because they can use disturbed land but not know what disturbed land actually is? For as arrogant as he is, he really doesn’t have much information.

[@kyle-ri5mz]

he is just some industry shill

[@connorthomas6267]

Yep!​@@kyle-ri5mz

[@LelandHart]

It sounds like he is an expert relating to the offshore windfarms. He doesn't seem to be as up on the solar side

[@flux_core_fx]

Does anyone else get an exorbitant amount of ads while watching MeatEater?

[@fishduckdog]

No wind generator is Going to pay for itself in 6 months! I've worked windpower projects all over the world 🌎. Not talking with the rose colored glasses on.

[@JeremyReger]

Its actually a very well known fact its 5-7 months until energy neutrality.. lol

[@nickdyer6506]

This is may be true for some wind farms, but for most this is not true. Many wind farms in my area will never reach energy neutrality. 30+ year life span, and then have to be buried in the desert somewhere after expiration. Seems very environmentally friendly to me.@@JeremyReger

[@JeremyReger]

@@nickdyer6506 Thats just simply not true.. it may be what you are hearing, but if they didn't pay for themselves and fast its the single dumbest way to burn money.. They may not ever be carbon neutral, but that's not what we are talking about.. They absolutely make money and a lot of it..

[@fishduckdog]

@@JeremyReger LMAO 🤣!

[@fishduckdog]

@JeremyReger project would not have been done without a big fat, from your pocket, taxpayer subsidy. Subtract that #. The energy costs more to make.

[@JamesWalker-ng1qh]

First off, I think the guest was great. I don't understand though, why don't we offer to have solar everywhere in the south western states? Parking lots, homes, big box stores, etc? I guess it would be harder to capitalize on for big companies? I live in southeast AZ and it's crazy to me that there's an energy crisis and no one is talking about putting solar all over the previously mentioned area/structures. Hell, with what we spend in foreign aid, it could have been done by now.

[@davidhunt3881]

solar infrastructure is much less dense than oil infrastructure. It takes many more acres to produce the same amount of energy

[@fishduckdog]

Green energy can only survive on the back of a 1:04:31 full grid of fuels! Coal, gas, or nuclear ⚛️. When the sun doesn't shine or the wind ain't blowing 😢! You can’t make enough power to effectively and efficiently run a wind turbine manufacturer factory from wind power only. And the same goes for solar power, powering a solar panel factory. They must stand on the back of a stable energized grid, to be of any use. The investment of renewable energy is best located on the best scientific location. The ocean is the wrong place for a wind farm. Tough enough to service and maintain on good ground. Salt water tends to shorten the life span of any equipment, and you are going to want 10 years on the investment in optimal winds. Check on Denmarks wind farm on their northern dike, on the North Sea. See if those Kennetech machines are still working. It is still costly energy per KW than what most folks are used to budgeting for.

[@W4114C3]

How and where will be getting the materials to create this net zero carbon? That's ASSUMING it will work... major assumption.

[@Ronnie-NE-Fishin]

From a quick Google search then a quick look on the dreaded fish brain, it seems the closest thing to musky in Dickerson lake Montcalm county Michigan is Pike. There is another Dickerson lake in another county with zero logged catches but who knows what old timers put where back in the day.

[@briankirk7965]

It's very telling when the guy dodges or refuses to answer. This guy and the people he represent don't give a damn about wild places and wildlife.

[@benjaminlewis671]

This guy is making a entire hell of a lot of assumptions with everything he is saying. Why would we not go for the government buildings first. Also I will add that all Wood comes from solar energy and we have an over abundance of wood in the south, specifically hardwoods. I would really like to come on a play devil's advocate or straw man these arguments from a scientific perspective. But adding solar and removing grass and trees we are contributing to heating of the earth because the panels don't use photosynthesis to reduce heat. Put them on buildings and garages, leave them out of the conservation zones.

[@Jefestephens]

Uhhhhh idk what south your in, but the south I live in all of our old growth hardwood has been clear cut and now pine thickets stand in their place. Sounds like you’re the one making the assumptions brother.

[@heavy6355]

We need to be planting more trees and stop cutting them down I like your idea put the panels on buildings

[@BG-bx4ey]

​@@JefestephensHow does the type of vegetation apply in context here? Do you have any data to support your suggestion?

[@BG-bx4ey]

​@@heavy6355we plant plenty of trees down here... right after all of their predecessors are cut down and processed. The timber cycle is great for a lot of our wildlife.

[@jurisprudence6549]

Parking lots, high ways, interstates, roofs of commercial buildings, all perfectly fine places for solar panels but they would rather put them in the little bits of public land we have left. Then you consider that wind and solar are absolutely not a viable alternative to fossil fuels because they aren't nearly as reliable and we also don't have anywhere near the battery tech to be able to store the energy. Makes it really hard to see how these liberal "environmentalists" give a shit about the environment. Seems like they just want to do anything so that nasty politicians can say they did something so the dim wits continue voting for them.

[@gypsyangler4937]

This should be part of the discussion. A lot of coal is going to need to be mined and burned to create these solar panels. The panels are not manufactured with out the use of fossil fuels and a lot of it

[@gypsyangler4937]

To make a single solar panel, approximately 11 tons of coal - or 3,000 pounds - must be burned in a furnace at a very high temperature and pressure

[@jerelem]

Shhhhh, that's not the point 😉

[@ktvlm3987]

and lets also ask where those panels are manufactured ;)@@gypsyangler4937

[@danc6402]

"Why wouldn't we transition to solar instead of sticking with fossil fuels?" Is a false dichotomy. If you're not talking about nuclear, you're not speaking genuinely or taking the problem seriously.

[@jake9705]

Liberal Californians want offshore windmills. Those windmills are expensive, dirty, and inefficient of course, but at least they will become amazing fish aggregation devices for sportfishermen. Hopefully they help repair the destroyed marine environments here in Los Angeles.

[@David-su7mj]

Massive investors recently pulled out of renewable energy projects. Even they know it’s all a sham.

[@TrapperDavido]

I miss bow season…..

[@kevinnitti228]

The problem with solar farms are that overtime they ruin the soil especially on farm land that is now solar farms and if they want to grow again on that land they couldn't because how the soil is ruined from the radiation and heat that Solar produces. Thats what I've been hearing from the arizona farmers and Solar is great and dandy, but I think it's not the way of the future, in my opinion. See you guys in mesa. I can't wait

[@andrewboles4202]

The cost/energy production figures Brendan claims for the wind turbines seem far fetched...best case scenario. The costs/recoup time strikingly optimistic. The turbine may be able to recoup the amount of energy it took to produce it within a year...but it certainly hasn't made a dent in its cost basis. This only works as a taxpayer subsidized industry...who gets the subsidies depends upon who falls in favor of the current administration. Either way...we're stuck with the bill and we get to enjoy looking at miles of solar panels and spinning turbines with blinking lights. Joy.

[@jamesmosley8837]

There's always been take,but very seldom any give back,that's the overall issue

[@VictorB96]

I can see them from Nantucket and I wish I couldn’t!

[@smicksmookety]

Please tell backfire tv to let me run their 600yd hunter challenge.

[@douglasodom4992]

Monhegan Island is a proposed site. They blocked off 1 square or more miles of the area to ALL use! Such BS

[@adevincenzo]

I am even more suspicious of wind energy than before. This guy didn’t have answers and worse yet, sounded like a huckster.

[@davidhunt3881]

Ya'll also need a scalder before the plucker

[@huntingkc1]

13 mile deep wells are being built and used now with fracking tech for energy.

[@JohnCantu-yt9mt]

Deepest well ever drilled is like 50,000 feet…..

[@nicholasverbanic1328]

I'm sorry, I just can't take anyone who pushes wind and solar without advocating for nuclear as well seriously. I fully agree we need to be dumping a lot of resources and R&D into renewables, but wind and solar are just not efficient enough currently, and may never be. We have the ability to produce clean nuclear energy now, and arent focused on it, or actively trying to turn away from it. Its the stop gap we need to be focusing on now, while other options are explored.