“Let’s be clear: the frequent comparison of the fossil fuel and tobacco industries is nonsense. Fossil fuels are a valuable energy source that has done yeomen service for humankind.” – James Hansen (below)
At the time, this environmental workshop was not secret. That is the first thing worth saying about the June 2012 meeting at the Martin Johnson House, on the grounds of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla.
On June 14 and 15, the Union of Concerned Scientists and the Climate Accountability Institute brought together about two dozen scientists, lawyers, historians, and public-opinion hands. The workshop was conceived by Naomi Oreskes, then at the University of California–San Diego; Peter C. Frumhoff and Angela Ledford Anderson of the Union of Concerned Scientists; Richard Heede of the Climate Accountability Institute; and Lewis M.…
Ed note: Travis Fisher, a protege of economist Roy Cordato at North Carolina State University, has blossomed into one of America’s top energy analysts and public policy entrepreneurs. With a grounding in classical liberalism and Austrian school (realistic) economics, Fisher represents the future of applied energy analysis. “Travis stood out because he was genuinely interested in ideas,” recalls Professor Cordato. “His intense interest, as a graduate student, led him to do an independent study with me in Austrian Political Economy, which he has built upon ever since.”
Travis Fisher has emerged as a thoughtful, principled, and influential voice in contemporary American energy policy. As Director of Energy and Environmental Policy Studies at the Cato Institute, he brings a rare combination of intellectual rigor, hands-on governmental experience, and an unwavering commitment to free-market principles.…
“We’ve got to call out the greenwishing of energy’s future. Excitement is good; delusion isn’t. Let’s demand proof, not promises. Reliable, affordable energy isn’t a luxury—it’s the foundation of modern life—time to get serious about what energy technologies actually scales.”
I’ve been watching this energy debate for years, and I’m tired of the hype. We’ve got politicians, billionaires, and startups promising the next big “green” breakthrough that’ll solve everything from climate change to data center power demands, with no downsides.
But most of it is what I call greenwishing—a cousin to greenwashing, where they polish up promising energy ideas, but unproven, unscalable technologies with fancy renderings, press releases, and government grants, all while the real engineering and economics lag behind.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for clean, reliable, affordable energy.…