Robert Seitz: Yes, I am indeed qualified to talk about climate and energy issues

By ROBERT SEITZ

I have read 25 comments from my last comment “It’s time to fight the energy attack,“and 24 comments on my previous column, “More on Alaska’s climate, politics and energy.”

Some commenters question my motives for writing columns, thinking I am funded by dark money or have a hidden political agenda. Some think I am not qualified to look at data and draw conclusions that contradict the thousands of climate scientists they vaguely quote. And then there are those who show they understand what I am presenting and support my comments and recommendations. I thank them.

My motivation for writing articles about electrical systems, renewable energy in Alaska, and climate issues is to provide Alaskans with the real facts that will guide them in properly understanding and applying energy resources and the urgency of energy progress. When I work on an electrical project, I make sure I know what problem needs to be solved or what goal needs to be achieved, and then I make sure that is taken into account throughout the design, construction, and installation process.

Since 1980 I have been researching renewable and alternative energy sources, considering their application in remote communities. Diesel fuel was expensive and had a high risk of leakage. Collecting wood is very time consuming. I lived in a remote place in Alaska where the temperature dropped to -73^aboutF. I am qualified, through training, education and experience, to discuss the range of topics I deal with.

And yes, I will challenge the reports of thousands of climate scientists, if what they say is wrong, is wrong. In graduate school, I studied physical oceanography, which included wind waves, ocean currents, tides, and tidal currents. I also studied meteorology, where I learned about measuring air temperature, winds, radiation, rainfall, and other features. In my Arctic engineering studies, I learned about permafrost, soil temperatures, snow, ice (including sea ice), and other aspects of the Arctic.

Over 50 years of experience as an engineer in Alaska has allowed me to design and supervise systems tailored to Alaska conditions.

I support the connection of wind, solar and other renewable energy sources to the Railbelt Electrical system if it is to address a specific problem for the benefit of the system, provided it is done in a free market approach to providing cheap and reliable electricity and is not done under any statutory mandate.

There are practical reasons to incorporate renewable energy sources into the Railbelt system. One application would be microgrids distributed across the system to supply power to isolated sections of the Railbelt system to provide local power in the event of a system-wide power outage. Battery storage systems have proven over the past 20 years to provide stabilization of electrical systems.

At least one commenter believes that I may not have the skills, abilities, or access to the appropriate data to make an assessment of the Alaska temperature data. Others wonder whether I had access to HAD-CRUT (HadLey Center/Climatic Rtest Younit Ttemperature) raw data. Most of the HAD-CRUT and other data analyses were done by comparing mean annual temperatures, which provide very steep increases (to show global warming) in years with cooler temperatures, but do not reveal that the high temperatures are still within the normal range and do not show a large warming trend. This was the point of my earlier article, where I questioned whether Alaska is warming 2 to 4 times faster than the rest of the planet.

My positions were as follows:

• The integration of renewable energy sources into the Railbelt Electrical system requires long-term energy storage, e.g. in pumped storage plants, to provide the greatest benefits;
• Any additions or modifications to the electrical system must be made in accordance with best and proper engineering practices and must be intended to solve a specific problem or improve the system;
• There is no need for regulations imposing a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) or other forms of mandatory increase in the share of renewable energy (wind and solar), but one must trust the proven need and the forces of the free market;
• Cook Inlet gas production must be immediately increased and expanded sufficiently to ensure that Railbelt utilities can provide year-round electricity and heat to ensure the safety and economy of the Railbelt for the foreseeable future. In the meantime, our future fuel supplies can be determined and secured;
• Alaska is not warming 2 to 4 times faster, or even 2 to 3 times faster, than the rest of the planet. The temperature data is in a form that is misleading. Temperatures are not warming, we have simply had less cold in recent winters.

I will continue to provide additional information and commentary on these and related topics, all of which will be topics that are within my ability and qualifications to discuss. We will present the truth and assess the energy needs and condition and needs of Alaska and its people fully and accurately. For those who have doubts, read on. I hope to ultimately convince you of the real reality in which we live.

Robert Seitz is a professional electrical engineer and a native Alaskan.