Rural America Rejects Renewable Energy as China Avoids Military Talks

On December 12, 2023, guest host Allen Thomas fills in for Kim Monson to explore critical issues facing America, from the growing grassroots resistance to renewable energy projects in rural communities to the dangerous breakdown in military communications between the United States and China, with energy expert Robert Bryce and national security correspondent Andrew Thornebrooke.

Rural Communities Fight Back Against Alternative Energy Projects

Start listening at 30:59 – Hour 1

Robert Bryce, author and documentarian behind Juice: How Electricity Explains the World, exposes the explosive growth of local resistance to wind and solar projects across America. His Renewable Rejection Database documents over 600 cases where county commissions, townships, and local governments have said no to massive energy installations in their backyards. Bryce challenges the conventional marketing of these projects, arguing they should be called what they truly are: alternative energy, not clean, green, or renewable.

The data reveals a troubling pattern. Since Ohio passed SB 52 in 2021, which gave local communities zoning authority over alternative energy projects, dozens of townships have exercised that power to ban big wind and big solar. Yet four heavily Democratic states, California, New York, Illinois, and Michigan, have moved in the opposite direction, passing measures allowing state bureaucrats to override local opposition and force communities to accept projects they voted against.

Bryce argues the push for these projects has nothing to do with climate change and everything to do with tax credits and money. Prime farmland in Wisconsin covering eight square miles nearly fell to solar panels, driven not by environmental concerns but by financial incentives. Meanwhile, the COP28 summit in Dubai produced no meaningful agreement on phasing out hydrocarbons, while 204,000 megawatts of new coal-fired capacity remains under construction worldwide.

“I don’t call them, I know it’s the Renewable Rejection Database, but I’ve decided these projects, what we’re seeing is a lot of branding. They call them clean, they call them green, they call them renewable. They’re none of that. They’re not clean. They’re not green. They’re not renewable. They’re alternative energy.”

Robert Bryce, Author and Energy Expert

Insurance Protection Against Uninsured Drivers

Start listening at 63:45 – Hour 2

Jon Boesen of Boesen Law shares a cautionary tale about a friend involved in a hit-and-run accident, highlighting the critical importance of carrying adequate uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. With state minimums woefully inadequate at just $25,000 per person, Boesen recommends minimum coverage of $100,000 to $500,000, plus an umbrella policy.

The attorney notes an alarming trend of more drivers on the road without any insurance coverage. When a driver hits you and flees the scene, uninsured motorist coverage allows your own insurance company to step in and handle the claim as if they were the at-fault driver’s insurer. This protection extends even to pedestrians struck by vehicles.

“If you get involved in an accident with a driver that doesn’t have insurance coverage or someone that hits you, leaves the scene, it’s an uninsured situation. If you have uninsured motorist coverage, your insurance company steps in to the place of the at-fault driver, and then they take over and handle the claim.”

Jon Boesen, Boesen Law

China Blocks Military Communications Despite Biden Summit Promises

Start listening at 72:24 – Hour 2

Andrew Thornebrooke, national security correspondent for The Epoch Times, reveals that military-to-military communications between the United States and China remain in limbo despite promises made at the San Francisco summit between Biden and Xi Jinping. This communications breakdown raises the risk of dangerous incidents as Chinese forces continue aggressive interceptions of American aircraft and ships near Taiwan.

The situation grows more complicated as Xi Jinping systematically purges Chinese military leadership. The former defense minister Li Shengfu was reportedly removed after privately expressing doubts about China’s ability to successfully invade Taiwan. With no one currently available to meet with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, China has a convenient excuse to avoid fulfilling its end of the bargain on reestablishing communications.

Thornebrooke explains that a congressional commission has urged the United States to expand its nuclear arsenal to counter the growing threat from both China and Russia. China refuses to participate in non-proliferation talks while rapidly expanding its nuclear warheads from 250 to over 500, with projections of 1,500 by 2035. Meanwhile, China-Russia military cooperation has reached unprecedented levels, including the largest joint naval fleet ever to pass Alaska.

“There’s certainly not been a resumption of military-to-military communications between our two nations, which was kind of what was promised at the summit in San Francisco, which is a pretty big deal. This is how we allegedly are supposed to prevent crises such as the near ramming of ships that we’ve seen over and over again in recent months.”

Andrew Thornebrooke, The Epoch Times