Friday, January 17, 2025

"This Is A Disaster": Fire Erupts At California Battery Storage Plant


"This Is A Disaster": Fire Erupts At California Battery Storage Plant
 TYLER DURDEN



If the raging wildfires across Los Angeles County weren't enough, California faced another crisis overnight as one of the world's largest battery storage facilities, situated about 100 miles south of San Francisco, caught firetriggering area-wide evacuations

AP News reported that a fire broke out Thursday at the Moss Landing Power Plant, a natural gas-fired generation plant with thousands of lithium batteries for energy storage. Fires involving lithium batteries, as seen with electric vehicles, are notoriously difficult to extinguish and could burn uncontrollably for days. 

"There's no way to sugarcoat it. This is a disaster, is what it is," Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church told local media outlet KSBW-TV. However, Church did not expect the fire to spread outside the perimeter of the plant. 

Local media outlet The Mercury News noted that fires at the Vistra plant, which Vistra Energy owns, and one of the largest battery storage facilities in the world boasting a capacity of 750 megawatts and 3,000 megawatt-hours, experienced fires in 2021 and 2022. The energy storage facility plays a massive role in stabilizing California's power grid.

It's unclear at this point what started the fire. Local authorities evacuated more than 2,000 people around the plant due to concerns over hazardous materials and potential chemical releases. 


There's an ongoing fire at the Vistra Power Plant Moss Landing. Heat signature can be seen in satellite imagery.


"Our top priority is the safety of the community and our personnel, and Vistra deeply appreciates the continued assistance of our local emergency responders," Jenny Lyon, a spokesperson for Vistra, said in a statement.

KSBW said Vistra confirmed the fire was detected in the 300-MW Phase I energy storage facility


BREAKING: Evacuation orders have been issued after a lithium battery plant caught fire releasing hazardous toxins into the air


Currently, numerous emergency crews are on the scene of a massive fire broke out at the Moss Landing Power Plant's lithium battery storage facility in California. Evacuation orders have been issued, and residents in the vicinity are advised to shelter in place immediately due to hazardous toxins being released into the air. Authorities are urging people to follow these safety measures Seal all doors and windows: Use tape or damp towels to cover gaps and prevent smoke ingress. Turn off ventilation systems: Disable fans, heaters, and air conditioners to avoid drawing in outside air. This incident marks at least the fourth occurrence of battery-related emergencies at the Moss Landing facility this is still developing.


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Iranian president arrives in Moscow


Iranian president arrives in Moscow
RT


Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has arrived in Moscow for talks with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, scheduled to be held later on Friday.

According to a statement on Thursday from the Kremlin, the two leaders are expected to discuss recent developments in the Middle East, such as the Israel-Palestine conflict and the ouster of Syrian President Bashar Assad. The talks will also cover Iran’s nuclear program.

Putin and Pezeshkian are also expected to sign the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement, which the Kremlin described as a framework for the long-term development of bilateral relations between Russia and Iran. The document will replace a previous agreement between the two states signed in 2001.

Commenting on the new agreement to RIA Novosti earlier this week, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called it an “important milestone” aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and providing a basis for cooperation in the  international arena.

“Iran and Russia, as two large and powerful countries, play a prominent role in shaping the new world order. The signing of the 20-year treaty between Iran and Russia is not just a political document, but also a road map for the future,” he stated, adding that the document is focused on three aspects – economic cooperation, technology, and culture.

Pezeshkian was met in Moscow by a delegation of Russian officials, including Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev and Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko. Shortly after his arrival, the Iranian president took part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a national memorial to soldiers who died in World War II.


Subversive Tactics And The Coming NAU


Globalists Use Subversive Tactics To Form NAU



 An interesting tactic taking place is the rush Mar-a-Lago by many leaders of the corporations that have been major perpetrators of the global agenda. They are now seeking to meet with Trump as they suddenly announce new policies in line with his agenda.

I call it a tactic because these leaders have never been supporters of limited government, as they fill their pockets with tax dollars and push for legislation to destroy their competitors. Free enterprise, private property protection, and national sovereignty have rarely been of interest to them. But now, they are attempting to get close enough to Trump to somehow get him to back off just a bit.

Take for example the current discussion of new ways to deal with Canada. Trump began by simply joking that we should make Canada the 51st state. His real concern is to make strides to secure our northern border from more hordes of illegal immigrants. Trump is also looking for ways to strengthen and secure the American dollar as the primary world currency. Suddenly, Canadian business mogul Kevin O’Leary has expressed interest in meeting with Trump to discuss the idea of “an economic union” between the United States and Canada.

Trump needs to be very careful with such a discussion. I have strong suspicions that the real purpose of such a talk is to set him up for much more than just building a more positive relationship with our northern neighbor.


For several decades there have been talks of creating closer economic partnerships and security plans among the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It’s just for the “common good” among close neighbors. What could be better for our security?

In 2005, the idea gained serious momentum under President George W. Bush as he proposed the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) with Canada and Mexico. The joint statement from the three nations described its purpose to … “establish a common approach to protect North America from external threats, prevent and respond to threats within North America, and further streamline the security and efficient movement of legitimate, low-risk traffic across our shared boarders.”


Part of the SPP discussion centered on creating a common North America currency called the “Amero” as the U.S. Dollar was to be junked, along with the Mexican peso and the Canadian Dollar. The militaries of all three nations would be pooled, and, of course, a common government entity would have to be established to oversee it all. Helping to enforce policy, especially environmental regulations, would be Public/Private Partnerships (PPPs) among the governments, international corporations, and non-profit Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). National sovereignty would be blended into what could only be called a “North American Union”, (NAU) very similar to today’s disastrous European Union.


For the U.S., it was all being negotiated by Bush in secret, without congressional input until a group of patriots from all three countries formed a coalition to expose it. The coalition was created and led by the late Howard Phillips, founder of the Conservative Coalition, myself and my American Policy Center, and Connie Fogal, of Canada, to name a few. To make a long story short, we succeeded in at least temporarily halting the NAU aspects of the SPP.

Next, in 2019, President Trump sought a replacement for the North American Free Trade agreement (NAFTA), which was continuing to grow in the direction of a North American Union, promoting sustainable development goals that were helping to decimate American industry and agriculture, regulate economies, and prevent industrialization.

As a knowledgeable businessman, Trump had experience with the problems of NAFTA and wanted to replace it with a limited and reasonable plan that would reduce government intervention and promote actual free trade among the three nations. To that end, Trump proposed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). He said, “Americanism, not Globalism will be our credo.”

Considering that the USMCA was specifically promoted as a plan to reduce the global agenda influence on basic trade deals among the three sovereign nations, it came as a major surprise that the U.S. Congress, under the control of Nancy Pelosi quickly passed the deal. How was that possible?

Well, just before Trump was to sign the USMCA in January 2020, I received information that Pelosi and the Dems had added about 600 pages to the document that Trump had negotiated. Those 600 pages basically imposed the Green New Deal into the USMCA provisions. Those new provisions reinstated the Paris Agreement Trump had tossed aside. The new wording also used environmental policy to set up “agency governance” rather than the sovereign government that Trump was trying to restore. Sustainable Development would become the rule for USMCA trade deals.

I received inside information about the Democrat’s actions and somehow was able to get in contact with two White House policy staffers to issue a warning about the changes – before Trump was to sign the agreement. We had a conference call, and I gave them the information. They were surprised by the info but accepted it and were prepared to tell President Trump. As they prepared to approach Trump, they were stopped by C.J. Mahoney, the Deputy U.S. Trade rep and the chief negotiator for the USMCA. The staffers were instructed to say nothing. As a result, Trump never learned the truth and signed the agreement that he thought he had negotiated. It seems apparent that even today, as he continues to promote it as a historic deal, he is still unaware of the betrayal.


Finally, in January 2023, Joe Biden met with Mexican President Obrador, and Canadian Prime Minster Trudeau for the 10th North American Leader’s Summit. They created the Declaration of North America (DNA). These leaders claimed that the plan is to “fortify our region’s security, prosperity, equity, and inclusiveness through commitments across six pillars: 1) diversity, equity, and inclusion; 2) climate change and the environment; 3) competitiveness; 4) migration and development; 5) health; and 6) regional security.” How does any of that differ from a North American Union? The plan contains no mention of protection of property rights, national sovereignty, or a free market.

Do the provisions of all these proposals look familiar? Each of these plans carry the same global agenda of Agenda 21, the Green New Deal, and the World Economic Forum’s Great Reset. That’s how the Left does it. Never go backwards. Keep pushing until the opposition collapses and finally agrees to accept your agenda.


The global agenda forces haven’t run and hid from Trump as they suffer defeat. Rather, certain members of their forces are rushing to him, looking for conversations on how they can work together on future policy. They speak in codes about security, prosperity, and neighborly cooperation. But the agenda is the goal. I feel certain that Trump is being targeted as he talks of deals with Canada that could well lead to a NAU.

What’s really behind O’Leary’s drive to speak with him about an economic forum with Canada? Another questionable example is his recent nomination of North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum as Secretary of Interior and head of the National Energy Council. Burgum is close friends with Bill Gates, who has bought up vast amounts of ND to impose wind and solar and enforce sustainable policy that is destroying small farmers. Now, Burgum will be able to oversee millions of acres of federal land and determine what activities will be allowed on it. Who pushed him on Trump?

I must say that I issue this alert very reluctantly. In no way do I want to appear that I am attacking President Trump. I believe in him, support his goals, and want him to win. But he does seem to have a weakness in listening to and trusting some of the wrong people. Despite all he’s been through, he sometimes fails to understand a lot of the rot that surrounds him.

UK and France secretly discussing troops for Ukraine – Telegraph


UK and France secretly discussing troops for Ukraine – Telegraph
RT



British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron have discussed sending soldiers into Ukraine as a peacekeeping force, the Telegraph has claimed citing anonymous sources.

Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky first mentioned the idea last week, and said he would discuss it with Starmer when he visits Kiev. According to the British outlet, however, Starmer is not fully on board yet.

“There are challenges over what we could support, what would we want to support, and the broader question about the threat that those troops may be under and whether that is escalatory,” the Telegraph quoted a Whitehall source as saying on Wednesday evening.

Spokespeople for 10 Downing Street and the Elysee Palace did not deny that Starmer and Macron discussed the peacekeeper possibility last week at the Chequers estate in the UK, but gave no details about the conversation.

One of the rumored plans US President-elect Donald Trump might propose after taking office next Monday involves Western troops deployed as peacekeepers along the demilitarized zone between Russia and Ukraine, supposedly running along the current line of conflict. No US forces would be involved, only “European” soldiers not acting under NATO command, according to media reports that have been impossible to verify.

Macron reportedly brought up the idea of “European” peacekeepers with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk last month, but Warsaw said it was “not planning any such actions.”

Earlier this week, Zelensky wrote on social media that he had discussed with “key allies” the “practical steps” for the implementation of the peacekeeper idea.

“We are getting slightly ahead of ourselves. We are not there yet,” one British official told the Telegraph.

Putting boots on the ground in Ukraine has been endorsed by former PM Boris Johnson, former Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt, and two ex-defense ministers, Grant Shapps and Gavin Williamson.

The UK has given 12.8 billion pounds ($16 billion) in military and civilian aid to Kiev since the conflict between Russia and Ukraine escalated in February 2022, and reportedly trained 50,000 Ukrainian troops on British soil.

The British government’s continued support for Kiev means London “clearly does not seek to resolve the conflict,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said recently, accusing the UK of “doing everything possible to make it drag on, thus prolonging the suffering of the Ukrainian people.”



UK’s CAN Bill: A draconian, vague law and what we can do to stop it before it’s too late


UK’s CAN Bill: A draconian, vague law and what we can do to stop it before it’s too late



On Tuesday, Bernie Spofforth released a video that exposes the catastrophic implications of the Climate and Nature (“CAN”) Bill.

This Bill could devastate the UK’s economy, destroy rural communities and jeopardise energy security – all while eroding our rights and freedoms.


The following are some highlights from Spofforth’s video.


Sponsors of the Climate and Nature Bill

The Climate and Nature Bill is being largely ignored by the media, despite being the most important bill in a decade, and its potential impact on freedom and government overreach.

“The bill aligns closely with other International initiatives like the EU’s Nature Restoration Law and the UN’s Agenda 2030,” Spofforth said.

As it nears its second reading in the House of Commons, the Bill has the support of 182 Members of Parliament (“MPs”). 

Note from The Exposé: Over time, the Bill has changed names and had various sponsors.  Former Green MP Caroline Lucas initially introduced the Bill to the UK House of Commons in September 2020 and has continued to support the bill and co-sponsored it multiple times.   When Lucas introduced it, the Bill was titled the ‘Climate and Ecology Bill’.  Labour MP Olivia Blake reintroduced the Bill in May 2023. 

Labour MP Alex Sobel reintroduced campaign group Zero Hour’s Bill under the new title ‘Climate and Nature Bill’ in May 2024, and was a co-sponsor of the Bill. Liberal Democrat MP Roz Savage, the current sponsor of the Climate and Nature Bill, reintroduced it on 16 October 2024.  In her report, Spofforth has focused on the previous sponsor of the Bill, Alex Sobel.

Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse has been involved with the bill since April 2023.  And Liberal Democrat MP Ed Davey, Labour MP Clive Lewis and Alliance MP Stephen Farry, for example, have sponsored the Bill multiple times.   You can see a full list of MPs supporting the CAN Bill HERE and view an interactive map of MPs supporting the Bill HERE.


The Bill, reintroduced in May 2024 and sponsored by Labour MP Alex Sobel, claims to save the planet but instead destroys individual freedom and opens the door to massive government overreach, Spofforth said.

Alex Sobel has a strong ideological commitment to environmental issues but lacks business or economic experience in the private sector, making his vision a socialist dream of control and conquest.

The UK already has robust climate laws, including the Climate Change Act of 2008 and the Environment Act of 2021, which are already crippling some farmers and will likely bankrupt the country by 2050, Spofforth warned.

The Climate and Nature Bill lacks clarity and detail, with no dates, economic balance or economic analysis, making it a vague overarching framework that can be easily misused and interpreted in countless ways.

Its use of broad language allows this or future governments to do almost anything they want and justify it in the name of saving the planet, which is a great concern.

Fossil Fuel Ban and Its Consequences

Clause 2[d) of the bill proposes banning fossil fuels, including exploration, extraction, export and import, which could lead to bans or heavy taxes on petrol, diesel and heating fuel, making them unaffordable for millions.


Additionally, the Bill will lead to a ban on importing fuel, making it difficult for people to maintain their petrol or diesel cars, and forcing them to switch to electric vehicles, especially in rural areas where transport is already sparse.


Unrealistic Emission Targets and Personal Carbon Allowances

The bill aims to reduce emissions from UK activities and imports to meet the 1.5 degree Celsius global warming target, which was part of the Paris agreement that became law through Royal Ascent, not through a parliamentary vote.

The Bill’s premise to control economic and social activities within the UK is a “global carbon budget.”  Among other controlling measures that the Bill empowers a selected, appointed few to use, the Bill aims to limit the United Kingdom’s “total emissions of carbon dioxide to no more than its proportionate share of the remaining global carbon budget.” In the Bill, the “remaining global carbon budget” means “400 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide.” (Where has that figure come from?  Is it made up, pulled out of thin air? Has anyone sponsoring and supporting the CAN Bill even bothered to check where that figure comes from?  Or, are they simply making decisions based on campaign mantras and ideologies?)

To achieve this target, personal carbon allowances may be introduced, which would track people’s energy use, travel and food choices through digital IDs and smart meters, and penalise those who exceed their quota.

The wealthy, including those in the public sector, may be able to afford to live without these restrictions, while ordinary people would face penalties and restrictions.


Ecosystem Restoration and Land Grabs

The bill also aims to restore ecosystems and prioritise conservation, which could lead to compulsory land purchasing for rewilding projects, solar farms and other initiatives, potentially forcing farmers and rural residents to lose their homes and livelihoods.

This could lead to rural areas becoming emptier and more food insecure, forcing families into overcrowded urban centres, which aligns with the international vision of C40 Cities and Agenda 2030.

Offsetting Impact and Widening Inequality

The bill’s offsetting impact provision could allow the wealthy to buy their way out of restrictions through carbon offsets, while the rest of the population would have to ration energy and potentially sell their excess carbon quota to richer people.

This could also lead to taxes on everyday consumer items, widening the gap between the wealthy and ordinary people.


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