A Free-Market Energy Blog

Resourceful Earth Day: Fred Smith on Julian Simon

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- April 22, 2026

Editor’s Note: Today has been celebrated since 1970 as Earth Day. With the Progressive Left all but abandoning its significance, the opportunity is to rebrand April 22nd as Resourceful Earth Day. Human ingenuity, despite Statism, has proven optimist/realist Julian Simon correct, as noted by CEI founder and longtime head Fred Smith in this 1999 tribute.

“The problems of famine, overpopulation, poverty, and disease are resolvable. In fact, they have been resolved in the United States and other places where human ingenuity is free to solve them.”

April 22, once associated with the optimism of revolutionary Marxism (as the birthday of Lenin) and then with the pessimism of modern Malthusianism (environmentalism’s Earth Day since 1970), merits redemption. A new label, Resourceful Earth Day, is appropriate as we enter the 21st century, a title selected to honor mankind’s increasing ability to solve environmental as well as economic problems.…

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Decarbonization Threat in Alaska: Pushback Opportunity (elections have consequences)

By Todd M. Lindley -- April 21, 2026

Editor’s Note: Free-market energy advocate Todd M. Lindley is running for a board position at Anchorage-based Chugach Electric Association, the largest power distributor in the state.

On April 29, voting opens for Chugach Electric to elect two board members who will determine the future of the utility. A reset in the name of energy exceptionalism is needed.

Much of the policy adopted in recent years has favored organizations that invest in alternative energy. For an electric utility that serves more than 90,000 rate payers, this strategy is shortsighted and heavily reliant on regulation to even the playing field with traditional energy sources. This is not a sustainable path, nor does it provide an economy of scale to address risks associated with generation and transmission in Alaska. After voting opens, rate payers have a chance to accept the status quo and get more of the same or take a risk and make a change at the May 29 election.…

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New Food Pyramid: Another Blow to Climate Activism

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- April 20, 2026

“Living small is not going to sell with the public and the voters. And the call for a meatless cuisine is not even culturally correct.”

EuroNews’s Liam Gilliver (AP) summarized the new political reality in “Trump Tracker: How the US is Rolling Back Climate Progress in 2026“). In addition to

  • withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement,
  • withdrawing from the UN climate programs;
  • liberating Venezuelan oil and gas; and
  • cancelling or reversing renewable energy subsidies,

Gilliver also singled out New Dietary Guidelines, with the comment: “The US Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture have come under fire after releasing their 2026 dietary guidelines, which encourage American households to prioritise diets built on “whole, nutrient-dense food.”

The “Eat Real Food” pyramid recommends “significantly limiting highly processed items.”…

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The Increasing Sustainability of Conventional Energy: Shell Offshore

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- April 16, 2026
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Breakthrough! Houston Chronicle Publishes Non-alarmist Climate Op-ed

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- April 15, 2026
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“World Should be Optim­istic About Our Fossil Fuel Future” (Bradley op-ed in Houston Chronicle)

By -- April 14, 2026
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Energy & Environmental Review: April 13, 2026

By -- April 13, 2026
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Rooftop Solar Litigation: Find a Lawyer

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- April 10, 2026
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UPRISE: More Federal Nuclear Subsidization

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- April 9, 2026
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Wind Ecology Pushback (biodiversity loss joins the list)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- April 8, 2026
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