A Free-Market Energy Blog

Houston’s Robust Fossil Future (Chronicle’s CERAWeek op-ed misdirects)

By -- March 25, 2024

“Do we need a clean energy industry that depends on government handouts forever? Yes, if you ascribe to the climate disaster mantra…. Does anyone consider letting market forces drive technology development?”

An op-ed in Monday’s Houston Chronicle, “Houston is making a losing bet on fossil fuels,” greeted visitors to CERAWeek. Author Randall Morton attacked oil company CEOs and Houston business leaders for defending a “declining” industry. His opening sentence? “Leaders of the oil and gas industry are in Houston for CERAWeek, grappling with the inevitable decline of the industry.”

Morton then goes after the “economic development leaders at the Greater Houston Partnership [who] are doubling down on this declining industry.” He specifically identifies the GHP’s Energy Transition Initiative – hydrogen and carbon capture – as failed technologies.

Fair enough, but he misses a critical point. …

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No Federal CO2 Tax! (H. CON. RES. 86)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- March 22, 2024

Editor Note: The House yesterday passed a concurrent resolution “expressing the sense of Congress that a carbon tax would be detrimental to the United States economy.” Ten Democrats joined all but one Republican (Brian Fitzpatrick, PA) in the 222–196 victory. A free-market, winning policy on climate is to not support any legislation that increases either taxes or energy prices, directly or indirectly.

Expressing the sense of Congress that a carbon tax would be detrimental to the United States economy.


IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 25, 2024

Mr. Zinke (for himself, Mr. Scalise, Mr. Bost, Mr. Clyde, Mr. Crenshaw, Mr. Perry, Mr. Ogles, Mr. Jackson of Texas, Mrs. Miller of Illinois, Mr. Lamborn, Mrs. Miller of West Virginia, Mr. Carey, Mr. Langworthy, and Mr. Pfluger) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means


CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of Congress that a carbon tax would be detrimental to the United States economy.…

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Climate Policy vs. Social Justice (‘Bloomberg Green’ decries rollbacks)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- March 21, 2024

“Apologies are in order from Bloomberg Green. In terms of social justice, why hurt the average person as consumer, ratepayer, and taxpayer?”

Trump’s Green-Bashing and Europe’s Right Put Climate Goals at Risk,” write Laura Millan, Zahra Hirji, Olivia Rudgard, and Jonathan Gilbert (maybe it takes four writers to tip-toe around the climate vs. social justice issue).

The Bloomberg Green authors call it “the campaign against climate.” Realists would call it a long overdue populist campaign for energy justice and against alarmism and energy rationing. And expect a lot more such protest in the future as Net Zero fails–and an “energy transition” back to the real thing (dense, stock, affordable, plentiful, reliable energies) occurs.

Here is the Bloomberg Green Daily story:

Politicians are vowing to roll back green policies and downplaying climate change ahead of key elections on both sides of the Atlantic, casting doubt on whether countries can maintain momentum in the transition away from fossil fuels.…

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Nasser at CERA: Energy Exceptionalism vs Climate Politics

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- March 20, 2024
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Nuclear Subsidies Galore …

By Kennedy Maize -- March 19, 2024
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Energy & Environmental Review: March 18, 2024

By -- March 18, 2024
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Offshore Wind Bribe Falls Short

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- March 15, 2024
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Marine Power?  More Magical Thinking

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- March 14, 2024
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“Prove It” CO2 Tariffs: The Wolf Is At the Door

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- March 13, 2024
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Exploding Energy Prices in California

By Steve Goreham -- March 12, 2024
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