[Editor Note: In time for Global Divestment Day, MasterResource is pleased to reproduce this letter to Stanford University president John Hennessy from Kathleen Hartnett-White, Distinguished Senior Fellow at the  Texas Public Policy Foundation. Dated May 30, 2014, this letter remains highly relevant today. (Ms. Hartnett-White is speaking tonight at the sold-out event at the University of Houston, “Private Profit vs. Public Good: Do Energy Companies Have a Social Responsibility?“)

“Stanford’s decision to divest in coal is a symbol for the elite that regrettably reflects indifference to the poor across the world who have never seen a light switch.”

Dear President Hennessy,

I am an Honors graduate of Stanford holding B.A. and M.A. degrees in the Humanities and served as Chairman of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for six years.…

“To colleges, universities and pension funds, we say: Please demand and ensure open, robust debate on all these issues, before you vote on divestment. Allow no noisy disruption, walk-outs or false claims of consensus. Compel divestment advocates to defend their position, factually and respectfully. Protect the rights and aspirations of people everywhere to reliable, affordable electricity, better living standards and, improved health.” 

“Social responsibility” activists have designated February 13/14 as Global Divestment Day. They want universities and other institutions to eliminate fossil fuel companies from their investment holdings. Their demand is not just unrealistic and misguided. It is irresponsible and immoral, potentially lethal–and racist in result.

Having grown up in developed countries, these activists seem to have forgotten how nasty and short life was throughout human history, until quite recently.…

“Should electric cars become ubiquitous, electricity will be taxed to yield that revenue. Electricity cost would also be higher if some 95 percent of U.S. electricity were not generated by the cheapest methods – burning fossil fuels, hydro, and nuclear reaction. Should it originate from wind and solar, it would cost three-to-eight times more: a dime per km with wind, a quarter per km with solar.”

There are many variables that determine the relative economics of an economic petro-powered vehicle (Honda Civic) and an electric vehicle (Nissan Leaf).

While the Civic had a slight advantage a year ago with gasoline at $3.50 per gallon, the advantage for conventional vehicles has jumped with today’s lower pump prices. Also, should electricity for transportation be taxed at the level of gasoline and diesel, the economic gap would widen.…

The Alliance for Wise Energy Decisions (AWED) is an informal coalition of individuals and organizations interested in improving national, state, and local energy & environmental policies. Our basic position is that technical matters like these should be addressed by using Real Science (see WiseEnergy.org for more).

For public education, every three weeks at MasterResource we offer this newsletter to balance what is found in the mainstream media about energy and environmental matters.

There is very positive news this cycle:

1- The best news in a long time is about the 12± year brawl to stop the ridiculous Cape Wind project. It finally seems to be fatally wounded, due to a combination of economic, legal and political matters. Kudos to those warriors who stuck with the fight, through thick and thin.

2- Also sensational news is the almost unanimous vote by the West Virginia state legislature to kill their RPS — the first state to actually do this.…