A Free-Market Energy Blog

“The State of Energy: Strong and Transformative” (Exxon Mobil’s Tillerson Right On)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- October 15, 2014

Each year, the Progressive Policy Institute publishes its list of ‘investment heroes’ – non-financial companies that are investing the most in the U.S. economy. Of the 25 companies that make up the Institute’s ‘investment heroes’ list this year, 10 are involved to some degree in the exploration and production of oil and natural gas or involved in energy distribution and power.”

For decades now, the United States has pursued energy policies based on the fear of scarcity. The thinking in Washington, D.C. – and even at some energy companies – was that reviving domestic energy production was a dream…. Now, we need energy policies that are designed for this new era of abundance.”

ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson recently addressed the Greater Houston Partnership on the State of Energy. He paid homage to Houston, where ExxonMobil’s far flung operations are about to be brought together at one campus.…

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Neil Frank to Houston Chronicle: Get Real on Climate

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- October 14, 2014

“Over the past 15 years, the U.S. has spent $150 billion on global warming, and this year’s budget calls for another $18 billion. What do we have to show for all this spending – numerical models that can’t make accurate forecasts for 17 years and numerous failed green energy projects (i.e. bankrupt Solyndra that cost U.S. taxpayers a half-billion dollars)?”

– Neil Frank (Ph.D), Letter to the Editor, Houston Chronicle, October 3, 2014.

The mainstream media, including the Houston Chronicle in my hometownhas neglected to expose the falsified, exaggerated claims of climate alarmism. For example, no Chronicle reporter bothered to cover the expert-laden energy/climate conference hosted by the Texas Public Policy Foundation last month here in Houston, At The Crossroads: Energy & Climate Policy Summit.

Eric Berger, the paper’s science reporter, and yesteryear’s straight shooter on the skeptic-versus-alarmist climate debate, has largely disengaged (his last climate piece, at least according to his blog, was last Spring).

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John Hofmeister’s War on Oil (ethanol and methanol for the masses?)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- October 13, 2014

“In terms of affordability, availability and scalability – methanol and ethanol are the best prospects to [displace oil in transportation] quickly.”

– John Hofmeister, quoted in John Holeywell, “Q&A: He Ran Shell Oil Co. – and He Thinks We Use Too Much Crude,” Houston Chronicle, September 19, 2014.

Milton Friedman once opined: “The two greatest enemies of free enterprise in the United States … have been, on the one hand, my fellow intellectuals and, on the other hand, the business corporations of this country.”

Enter T. Boone Pickens, crony capitalist extraordinaire. Enter John Hofmeister, former president of Shell Oil Co. (2005–2008), the Houston-based U.S. subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell. [1]

Hofmeister maliciously titled his signature book, Why We Hate the Oil Companies: Straight from an Energy Insider.

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Climate Policy Implications of the Hiatus in Global Warming

By Ross McKitrick -- October 10, 2014
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Texas Gov. Perry’s Muddled Energy/Climate Keynote

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- October 9, 2014
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Wyoming-to-L.A. ‘Stored’ Windpower? Think Twice the Cost

By -- October 8, 2014
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More Hansen, More Eco-Civil Warring

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- October 7, 2014
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Stones Into Bread: False Claims of CO2 Taxation

By Robert Murphy -- October 6, 2014
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Enron: Robert Kennedy Jr.’s Corporate Climate Champion?

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- October 3, 2014
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Low Climate Sensitivity: Accumulating Evidence

By Chip Knappenberger -- October 2, 2014
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