“Using moralistic yet blatantly dishonest slogans and pseudo-science, the environmental movement has digressed dangerously…. One of the most fundamental truths rarely surfaces among the movement: there is no credible alternative to hydrocarbons in both the near and far foreseeable futures.” (Michael Economides, below)

He was irascible in person but a rare energy realist in thought and action. Michael Economides (1949–2013) was many things, including leading oil consultant and Lecturer in Petroleum Engineering at the Cullen College of Engineering at the University of Houston. [1]

With Ronald Oligney, he authored an important book, The Color of Oil: The History, the Money and the Politics of the World’s Biggest Business (2000). Some quotations follow:

“… energy is the world’s biggest business, and it continues to move unstoppably forward.” (p. 17)

“We predict that the world will not run out of oil for the next three centuries, at least.”

This fortnightly Master Resource post excerpts energy and climate material from the Media Balance Newsletter, published every other week by physicist John Droz Jr., founder of the Alliance for Wise Energy Decisions. The complete MBN for this post can be found here.

Of special interest in this issue is Jim Clarkson’s essay on the future role of natural gas.

Renewable Energy Health and Ecosystem Consequences:
A Closer Look at Renewable-Energy Disposal
More endangered right whales using New England wind energy areas
Turbines aren’t running at night, to save bats. Should customers pay for that?

Wind Energy:
China’s Stunning Green Energy Collapse Should Come As No Surprise
Dr. Ausubel: Wind may be renewable, but it is not green
Filmmaker annoys climate freaks by telling the truth about wind energy
Biden administration plans for massive expansion of offshore wind projects

Solar Energy:
How Virginia farmers say solar project is destroying their land
NY DEC Releases New Regulations for PFOA, PFOS, and 1,4-Dioxane in State Waters

Nuclear Energy:
Nuclear Energy Could Bridge The Energy Transition Gap
Macron pushes nuclear, hydrogen power in €30 billion plan to reverse industrial decline
Dominion asks for VA’s approval of plans to extend life of nuclear plants beyond 2050

Fossil Fuel Energy:
Left-Wing Groups Plan ‘Civil Disobedience’ to Ban ‘Fossil Fuels’
Natural Gas WILL Play A Big Part in America’s Energy Future!…

“Thanks Rob Bradley for coming here to confirm Exxon’s (and by extension your) lies.” (Gunnar Schade, Texas A&M University)

“Enron was the bad firm; ExxonMobil under Lee Raymond was the good firm. Energy affordability matters! Happy to debate this with you at Texas A&M!” (Bradley, below)

On social media, Goran Janjic, self-described “Head of Sustainability | Business Strategist | Managing Director | Corporate and Government Affairs Leader,” shared a recent article (Tracing Big Oil’s PR War to Delay Action on Climate Change” Harvard Gazette) and stated:

ExxonMobil has misled the public about #climatechange by telling the public one thing and then saying and doing the opposite behind closed doors.

The latest work shows that while their tactics have evolved from outright, blatant climate denial to more subtle forms of #lobbying and propaganda, their end goal remains the same.

“On-the-ground weather forecasts contradict the narrative that winters will be milder…. False climate forecasts can lead to chaos due to unpreparedness.”

Right in the midst of a global political effort to reduce fossil fuel consumption, Japan is set to increase its fossil fuel use and imports as an expected colder-than-normal winter approaches.

The country’s meteorological department recently released its weather outlook for the upcoming winter, which expects that most regions will experience either 30-year-average or below average temperatures between December and February.

Climate Narrative vs. Energy Reality

Blind belief in the global warming narrative can catch nations off guard, risking severe energy crises due to unpreparedness. There is an old axiom that says, “Measure twice, cut once.” It reiterates the need for careful planning before embarking on a task. Doing so saves time and energy and prevents mistakes.…