Apple, get your carbon footprint off my neck

287 Comments

“I love Apple. I have several Apple computers, an iPad and an iPhone. I’m a long time stockholder and I’ve always made money investing in Apple. Steve Jobs was obviously a terrific visionary but he spent 9 months after being diagnosed with cancer treating it with a special diet, a very sad lapse of judgment,” Norman Rogers writes for American Thinker. “The presence of the global warming propagandist on his board of directors, Al Gore, must be counted as another lapse of judgment. Ron Johnson, now the CEO of JC Penny, is the genius that built Apple’s phenomenal retail chain. Away from the gang at Apple, what does Johnson do? He makes the lesbian celebrity, Ellen DeGeneres, JC Penny’s spokeswoman. A noted lesbian as the spokesperson for a lower middle class department store?”

Rogers writes, “What is going on here? Surely there is plenty of arrogance at Apple. This is very worrying to some of us stockholders. Arrogance leads to mistakes. A big failure would damage the Apple mystique and quickly bring the stock down to earth.”

“Apple plays up its green side. It’s hard to know how much of this is sincere and how much is simply catering the segment of the population that is hooked on green superstitions. Certainly Apple wants to defuse crackpot environmental critics. By crackpot I mean Greenpeace,” Rogers writes. “Apple has built a new and massive data center near Maiden, North Carolina to support its iCloud service. Greenpeace complained that the center will be mostly powered by coal and nuclear electricity. Now Apple has announced that it will build a 20-megawatt solar electricity farm and a 5-megawatt biogas generating facility on the site.”

Rogers writes, “The way I see it is that Apple is throwing away $44 million of stockholder money to pacify delusional fans of green energy… Apple makes a big thing of limiting its carbon footprint. The CO2 emissions saved by Apple’s 5-megawatt solar plant is neutralized forever in less than a day by the fact that the Chinese are adding a new large coal generating plant every week. China is where Apple manufactures its products… Why does Apple make meaningless green gestures?”

Much more in the full article here.

[Thanks to MacDailyNews readers too numerous to mention individually for the heads up.]

Related articles:
How Apple took the lead on the environment – February 22, 2012
Apple’s Mothership campus solar roof will be among biggest in U.S. – December 7, 2011
Apple working with US company, Leaf Solar Power, on North Carolina solar farm – November 8, 2011
Analyst: 170-acre solar farm, ‘mothership’ campus to push Apple expenses to $8 billion in 2012 – October 31, 2011
Apple building huge solar farm around its billion-dollar North Carolina data center – October 26, 2011

287 Comments

  1. You crazy libs just don’t get it do you!!! You keep trying and argue and reason with us conservatives. But you’ll never win!! This is the way we think and feel. It doesn’t matter what science reveals or what the facts are, we will never acknowledge them or you because our ignorance and stubbornness keep us locked in a world of delusion.

    So, why don’t you just go back to your science and facts and leave us alone, while we continue to create an imaginary world around us based on how we “feel”.

    Reply

    2. The thing is you idiot Liberal Zombie, the “science” doesn’t say what you say it says. You use it to try to steal life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, destroy the constitution, destroy the US. You’re full of shit and we have caught you red handed faking the numbers and science over and over again. Go to Hell!!!!!

      Reply

  3. So many issues- so little time…

    1-Without tax credits and other subsidies, Solar & Wind power are now lower cost than using fossil fuels for the production of electricity. In a nation where the Federal and many State Governments are pinched for revenue, I would expect the price of fossil fuel based energy to be going up significantly over the next 20-30 years.
    2-Local generation eliminates the loss of long haul transmission of electricity. Efficiency ALWAYS saves money.
    3-Owning your own power source insulates you against cyclical swings in the cost of energy and gives you a backup in case of a local outage.
    4-Surplus generation can be sold to the grid at a profit or used to offset rare draws from the commercial power grid.
    5-Generation of electricity by means other than coal does not acidify our lakes and streams, does not aggravate asthma patients nearby, does not contribute to particulate pollution and does not spew mercury all over the biosphere.

    FYI- The Chinese are building wind power and solar as fast as possible- only using coal where necessary. China has bought out complete European and American green energy companies and relocated them. Why do you think that is so?

    Despite all the rants from the right about private property, the truth is that we are but stewards of the earth. We have a moral and ethical responsibility to not treat it like a garbage dump or business in liquidation. The author may not be happy about Apple’s green concerns, but I venture his grandchildren will.

    Reply

  4. It never ceases to amaze me how many people are blind to what is going on in the world around them. Ma Nature does not care. Not about people, or their politics, or their education or lack there of. Ma Nature reacts to the cards she is delt, and has a pretty good win record over the past 4 billion years. Ma nature has wiped out innumerable species over those 4 eons to regain and maintain a working balance as needed to sustain life. Will the blind ego of much of the human race, made up of people who think humans are somehow the special “chosen ones” doom us all to extinction?

    Reply

  5. As a foreigner, it is just mind boggling how so many of Americans don’t even stop to think about these things. If you don’t want to bother with the science of it (and clearly, most here don’t want to), just take a look at the money trail. Who is behind which camp.

    Who benefits from “debunking” the global warming issues? The collection of the richest entities in the world (oil industry, coal industry), that stands to lose the most if an alternative energy source becomes a viable option.

    Outside the US, many countries have successfully leveraged alternative sources and power their grids with “green” (hydro, wind, tide) energy. Unfortunately, Americans seem to be quite insulated from the rest of the world, and in America, it is practically impossible to develop any solution that is based on alternative energy. American oil/coal lobby is so incredibly powerful that it can sabotage and kill pretty much any initiative to develop and implement anything that doesn’t require oil or coal. This was so very clear when GM was forced by the laws of California to develop an electric car, which they did kicking and screaming, making sure that nobody would every be allowed to actually keep that car beyond the term of their lease. Every single one of those electric cars was destroyed by GM. And same thing is now happening with that Chevrolet Volt, where GM is again doing this, kicking and screaming.

    Big oil thoroughly dominates in American energy policy, and by extension, American politics. It is incredible to see so many Americans consciously choose to disregard this and take their side.

    Reply

    1. I bought a new car last year and didn’t buy a Chevy Dolt for a number of reasons:
      1- It’s a Crapolet from Government Motors- Sign of Excrement.
      2- It’s Fugly.
      3- It’s a Crapolet from Government Motors- Sign of Excrement.
      4- It’s nothing more than an overhyped plug in hybrid.
      5- It’s a Crapolet from Government Motors- Sign of Excrement.
      6-I’d walk before I buy from Government Motors.

      I bought a Golf TDI that gets 45-50 with the cruise on at 70MPH.

      “The Dolt by Crapolet- Shitty Runs Deep”

      Reply

    2. Hey Predragqueen,

      Go crawl back under you commie rock in whatever hell hole part of the world you take up space in and leave the conversation to us ADULTS!!!!! Loser.

      Reply

      2. I started ignoring almost everything said by the anonymous cowards, trolls and flamers. I left name-calling and play-on-names as insults back in kindergarten.

        Since they don’t have the balls to post with any history, I consider them a couple of users in their mother’s basements posting bile under various sock puppet names. I feel sorry and pity for them more than angry.

        Reply

        1. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2093264/Forget-global-warming–Cycle-25-need-worry-NASA-scientists-right-Thames-freezing-again.html

          Forget global warming – it’s Cycle 25 we need to worry about (and if NASA scientists are right the Thames will be freezing over again)
          Met Office releases new figures which show no warming in 15 years

          Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2093264/Forget-global-warming–Cycle-25-need-worry-NASA-scientists-right-Thames-freezing-again.html#ixzz1p3JfL6Fo

    2. Never thought I would agree with Jean. Yes Sarah please run. We Canadians could use the silliness that is sure to ensue (Oh look, I must be an astronaut because I can see the moon from my front porch).

      BTW, add Garderp, Watermelon, Truth, Ellie and not a Lemming to the list.

      Reply

  7. I always get amazed when I hear how some people refer to nuclear energy as a great solution. As long as we don’t know how to successfully deal with the nuclear waste, this idea is beyond flawed. What’s also very alarming, to say the least, is how some people/lobbyists defend nuclear energy by using statistics. By the nature of the radioisotopes in question, we can’t tell whether it’s safe, or not, for several thousands of years (high level waste). Just sayin’.

    Reply

    1. Google/Bing
      Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster

      There is no such thing as safe Nuclear Power.
      The next time someone tells you there is, inform them that the waste will be stored right next to their neighborhood. Watch the expression on their face.

      Reply

  11. Painful lack of basic scientific knowledge among MDN readers. What’s more, the ignorant refuse to believe the experts in the field. Anthropogenic or not (it is, by the way), who cares? It’s a problem tha must be fixed or else dire consequences will be faced by all.

    MDN, instead of having ads for Microsoft and Android products, you should have some for tinfoil hats. You’d get a lot more clicks…

    Reply

    1. “experts” that get paid huge sums of money from the Politicians to say whatever they want them to say to advance their all out assault on our way of life. It’s not good enough that they were caught red handed, with their pants down in the entire CLIMATE GATE scandal. But you know we’re all just supposed to conveniently forget all about that now right. SCREW YOU LIBERALS!!!!!!!

      Reply

  12. CO2 aside, should we just accept all the other emissions that are being spewed out by combustion processes that undoubtedly affect human and ecosystem health? Or is that all a conspiracy theory as well? I hope all you idiots spend some time near a coal plant or suck on a few exhaust pipes and get some awareness.

    This thread goes to show that the average person has such a small amount of intelligence and awareness relative to human potential. It’s sad.

    Reply

  15. Why is that a bad lapse of judgement?!?!?!?!? (referring to the beginning of the article) We have no idea whether “current day” medicine would have helped Steve anymore than it did!! OMG… why do people thing that drugs and ‘standard’ treatments are the only way to solve something medically?!? That is so BIG Pharma… push the drugs. I commend Steve for what he did. It was hard no matter how you look at it. I have friends who have overcome brain cancer with alternative diets. Stop pushing your drugs on us. Let us do what we want & not be judged by it!. -RC

    Reply

  16. Maybe Apple is actually smarter than it customers! Maybe they are actually saving energy costs by building the solar power plant! Maybe that will actually make more money for them and provide better more reliable service for its customers.

    It funny that anything that isn’t burnt fossil fuels is a bad thing to many people. Why do they feel so threatened by the use of alternative energy? Its not always because your a left leaning greeny.. sometimes its because it makes good business sense!

    I goes its true what they say! THe bigger the truck…. the smaller the……..

    BRAIN!

    Reply

    1. Solar panels don’t save money. They cost more to install, maintain, and replace, than anything they do create energy. They immediately start losing efficiency. This is a move to try to make you commies feel all warm and fuzzy inside!

      Reply

      1. THen how do you explain the number of homes that employ solar power and actually make money by putting power back INTO the grid? I have seen it for my self here in Canada. Cripes, if we can do it here, then in the southern US it should be a no brainer.

        Reply

        1. The southern US is a “no-brainer” region. They lead in all the important categories- HS dropouts, poverty, child and spousal abuse, divorce, illiteracy, country music consumption, Republican Party membership, trailer ownership, pregnancy out of wedlock, etc.

        2. The liberal cess pools like Detroit, Chicago, Harlem, Bronx, etc. are shining examples of the complete and absolute, disgusting failure that racist-liberalism is.

        5. Oh, and another thing – saying “etc.” or “I could go on” makes you sound like you’re thin on data and need to pad your case.

          Why not just go for it if you’ve already made yourself sound stupid?

          “…and many other nasty places too numerous to list.”

          That’ll show ’em.

  17. Gee, look at all the comments. What could be responsible for coming up with a headline that would generate so much in-fighting and friendly fire, vitriol and distraction- I dunno, could it be… SATAN?!?!

    Reply

    1. +1

      The level of intelligence in these threads are amazing. I am just sad that these wingnuts are Mac users. I thought we were a little more laid back…and tolerant than PC users.

      Guess not

      Reply

  18. The writer of this article is an idiot. It is obviously cheaper in the long run to generate your own electricity from the sun and biomass than the buy it from someone else.
    We only have one planet to live on, one planet’s resources to use (and reuse) wisely and it is in our own interests to keep the planet as clean as possible which means not dumping toxic waste in rivers and landfill or the ocean, not using toxic compounds that are known to cause health problems in humans and make it harder to recycling to product at the end of its life.
    It all comes down to not shitting in your own nest. We ruin this planet at our own peril.

    Reply

  19. Global warming is a fact. The jury is out on what is causing it, but it is most likely accelerated by green-house gases. The current rate of global warming will cause climate change that will cause untold human misery. We are already seeing this.

    Now here’s the puzzling thing. I have always thought that people who read MDN are a bit brighter than average. I also thought that the US prides itself about being a compassionate nation.

    Even if there is just a 20% chance that the scientists are only 50% right, doesn’t it make sense to take some precaution against a terrible scenario.

    If the scientists are right, or even partially so, what’s the harm in using 6% less energy. That’s all the scientists are asking for.

    This is not a liberal vs conservative thing. It is a very conservative thing. I have children, I love them and I want them to have a good future.

    We all go to crazy lengths to protect our children against statistically insignificant risks. This has a much higher risk weighting.

    Only 6%

    Reply

      2. So let me understand, is pollution good for anything? There seems to a very agitated response to anybody saying that we want to protect the planet for out children and grand-children. I am really OK if people don’t believe in gravity. It does not mean it doesn’t exist. But to force other people to jump from a place without a parachute just because you don’t believe in gravity is immoral.

        Reply

  20. Norman, Norman, Norman… Please say what you mean instead of beating around the bush all the time. With his imaginary PHD, Rogers posthumously diagnoses Jobs’ cancer, hinting that some mainstream treatment would have cured the man. Pure speculation on Rogers’ part, leading to judgement against the late Jobs. What poor taste.

    But Rogers just keeps going. With his dull axe to grind, he whines about one Apple boardmember, but completely fails to connect political leanings to actual board performance. Can Rogers offer any specific evidence to show if Gore failed or underperformed in any way his duties? No. Rogers is totally off point, using shallow political thinking as a substitute for honest performance evaluation. Two things are certain: Gore’s service to Apple hasn’t slowed the company’s success in any measurable way, and Gore is much better at selling books & movies than Rogers is. Oh, how about third certainty for good measure: at least Gore offers some reference data. Opinionists like Rogers spew nothing but hot air (pun intended).

    Rogers continues his hateful tirade, taking a swing at Degeneres, who has by most peoples’ measures been a reasonably successful entertainer and now corporate spokesperson. Does being a “noted lesbian” disqualify her from entertaining or speaking? By what logic? Or is Rogers point that he believes most lesbians are above “lower middle class”? Regardless of Rogers’ disrespect of people of different orientation, it smites of sour grapes that Rogers didn’t/can’t achieve the same level of success that Degeneres has. Perhaps it is because Degeneres tends to offer comedy without personally attacking others?

    Finally Rogers continues his insults against the financial management team at Apple, which has guided the most successful decade of practically any single company in history. Does Rogers honestly believe that Apple’s choice to install solar power is wasteful? $Does Rogers offer any technical or fiscal assessment? Nope, he merely offers his opinions. He doesn’t even put the expense in context. $44 million for 5 megawatts of power generation that allows Apple some reprieve from volatile utility rates and rolling CA brownouts is dirt cheap compared to, say, the executive compensation of Tim Cook, who was handed $376 million in stock awards for 2011. Why isn’t Rogers complaining about the wasteful spending of money on one individual who would have absolutely, without question, remained at Apple and continued to serve the company without the obscenely overpaid hundreds of millions of dollars? Giving away stock grants beyond any individual’s ability to spend it in their lifetime is a true waste of Apple’s capital.

    Reply

  21. The article and the comments have so little to do with Apple. Endgadget and Gizmodo have much better articles about Mac Products without the fanboy articles we read here. I personally think that MDN post these articles because he gets a kick out of the right wingers making fools of themselves. You conservatives are so lame that you don’t even recall MDN’s actual political position over the years.

    So we read your right wing, anti-science, creationist, xtian loving, climate change denialism, and MDN and the rest of us laugh forever.

    Reply

    1. It’s a waste of money. It doesn’t work and the solar panels immediately start degrading and need constant cleaning. One hurricane and game over. Fool.

      Reply

  24. the expensive part of solar arrays are not the solar cells themselves, but the arrays – the brackets, mounting hardware, electrical wiring, batteries, alternators, etc.

    As solar cells become more efficient over the next 25 years, they will be swapped out and the array will be much more cost effective than today.

    Reply

  25. Wow. Americans really are dumber than I thought. They still think global warming is false and burning oil and coal is fine. Wow.

    Good on Apple for building such a large solar farm.

    As for the knuckle head who mentioned the GM Volt was a coal burning car, he has been totally brainwashed by big oil. Electricity can be made many different ways, oil can only be made one way, and when it runs out, America will fight to the death for the very last drop.

    I know not all Americans are as dopey as this guy who wrote the article, but it doesn’t paint a good image for the country.

    Reply

        1. Please Chrissy, that is not a good idea at all. Many people of foreign persuasion frequent this site and anonymously sully the name of our once great nation but you are taking things too far. If there country of origin was so superior why wouldn’t they announce it with pride and vigor?? Vigorous debate is the rational response to your progressive induced confusion…

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