A Free-Market Energy Blog

“Petroentrepreneurs” are Environmentalists Too (DEPA tribute rings true)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- April 29, 2020

Fossil fuels would never brag, but they offer more versatility to create modern comforts than probably any other natural resource.

Fossil fuel [technology] … has made this quarantined Earth Day bearable.

– DEPA, “Earth Day; 50 Years of Overlooking Fossil Fuels,” April 22, 2020.

Last week, an Earth Day tribute by the Domestic Energy Producers Alliance (DEPA) went largely unnoticed. “Earth Day; 50 Years of Overlooking Fossil Fuels” noted how individuals of the upstream oil and gas industry are directly connected to the wilds of earth (and probably more so than the Washington DC staffers of the major environmental organizations who think that wind turbines and solar panels are environmentally preferable).

The piece highlighted the taken-for-granted goods and services made possible by fossil fuels.

DEPA’s 389-word tribute follows in its entirety.…

Continue Reading

Robert Bryce: Guilty as Charged (DeSmog hit piece boomerangs)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- April 28, 2020

It’s time to move the debate past the dogmatic view that carbon dioxide is evil and toward a world view that accepts the need for energy that is cheap, abundant and reliable. (Robert Bryce)

“Despite the endless hype about electric cars, vehicles that plug into the grid remain a niche product that is sold almost exclusively to the affluent…. Lower-income taxpayers should not be subsidizing wealthy motorists who buy EVs. (Robert Bryce)

From time to time, MasterResource has posted on the profiles by DeSmog Blog: climatologist John Christy, Reaching America’s Derrick Hollie, and myself. Strangely, the targets of DeSmog can agree with the profiles in a guilty-as-charged way. The litmus test seems to be that if you do not agree with climate alarmism and forced energy transformation, you are ipso facto wrong.…

Continue Reading

Wind Power: Subsidy after Subsidy after Subsidy ….

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- April 27, 2020

[The new proposal] would qualify as the 13th federal subsidy extension for wind power, dating back to 1992. Yet back in 1986, amid California’s wind subsidies, a representative of the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) stated: “The U.S. wind industry has … demonstrated reliability and performance levels that make them very competitive.”

Bipartisan senators ask Mnuchin to extend safe harbor deadlines for wind, solar projects,” reads the April 24th headline from Utility Dive.

The Brief explains:

  • A group of bipartisan senators on Thursday asked the Department of Treasury to extend safe harbor deadlines to ensure renewable energy developers are able to secure the tax credits they need to finance their projects.
  • In order to qualify for the production tax credit (PTC) or the investment tax credit (ITC), project developers have to meet certain construction deadlines, but many in the industry are seeing lengthy project delays as a result of supply chain disruptions, workforce shortages and other COVID-19-related setbacks. 
Continue Reading

‘A Look at Resourceful Earth Day’ (Fred Smith Jr. on Julian Simon)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- April 23, 2020
Continue Reading

“Happy Earth Day” (Julian Simon’s 25th anniversary essay speaks to us on the 50th)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- April 22, 2020
Continue Reading

Bryce’s “A Question of Power”

By -- April 21, 2020
Continue Reading

Energy & Environmental Newsletter: April 20, 2020

By -- April 20, 2020
Continue Reading

Trump’s New CAFE Rule: Better than Obama, Still Too Much

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- April 16, 2020
Continue Reading

‘Eco-fascism’ Troubles Climate Alarmists

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- April 14, 2020
Continue Reading

Climate Intelligence Foundation to Poynter Institute: Debate Climate Science, Don’t Insult

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- April 13, 2020
Continue Reading