Ed. note: Geologist and petroleum engineer Julián Salazar Velásquez, with nearly a half-century in the Mexican and Venezuelan oil industries, is a leading educator and proponent of free market energy. In addition to numerous articles, his book Gerencia Integrada de Campos de Hidrocarburos (2020) is a primer on the oil industry value chain. His four-part summary (see Part I, Part II, and Part III) ends today.

“I have two options: to remain silent in the last years of my life and witness the destruction of the world economy, as just happened in Venezuela. Or alert many to the threat to blessed living to avoid a repeat of destruction. In clear conscience, I opt for the second!”

The role that fossil fuels have played in the progress of humanity in four revolutions is undeniable:

• Mechanization with steam engines powered by coal;
• Massification of electricity, generated first by coal and later by falling water, oil, and natural gas
• Computing
• Digitization and artificial intelligence

The mineral energy story can incorporate another of the highly important indicators in the quality of life, such as agricultural and livestock development and food production.…

David Siegel is a man with a message. His Deep Optimism Manifesto spells out a new approach to viewing the world that is at once realistic and optimistic. Written last year, its message is timeless and timely. His opening quotation comes from Julian Simon’s essay in The State of Humanity, p. 642.

I am writing this in response to the Ecomodernism manifesto. It’s a group of smart people doing very important work to help improve the future for humanity and nature.

I think if they looked more into the science of climate change and the economics of abundance, they would arrive at Deep Optimism, a term coined by Matt Ridley, the rational optimist.

People who understand the economics of abundance don’t apply enough critical thinking to understanding climate and the natural world (Hans Rosling, Bjorn Lomborg, Peter Diamandis, Tyler Cowen, Steven Pinker).…

“In my period at Cato (1990–present), “Renewable Energy: Not Cheap, Not ‘Green’“, is probably our most important Policy Analysis in the energy/environment area. Bradley’s thorough review and analysis (60 pages, 325 footnotes) was a real pushback against the viability of ‘green’ energy in theory and practice.”

– Jerry Taylor, Senior Fellow and Director, Natural Resource Studies, Cato Institute, 2012

On the fifteenth [25th] anniversary of “Renewable Energy: Not Cheap, Not ‘Green’” (yesterday’s post), I recall, with pride, a lot of hard work that went into supplying the author with information about California’s wind and solar experience.

At the time I was working in the belly of the beast, the California Energy Commission (CEC) in Sacramento. The Commission was a major proponent of all things renewable, almost to the point of fanaticism.…

Ed. note: This post excerpts energy and climate material from the Media Balance Newsletter, a fortnightly published 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 to those who embrace Julian Simon’s vision of innovation’s unlimited potential is an article from the Max Planck Society annoucing a major advance in fusion technology.

Greed Energy Economics:
*** Cost and Reliability Implications of the Virginia Clean Economy Act
*** The high cost of the Virginia Clean Economy Act
Upstate Economy at Risk Under NYC Renewable Energy Plan
Virginia and Climate Change – Separating fact from fiction
High Electricity Prices Are Unavoidable with Solar and Wind!

Wind Energy:
*** Green energy cannot save us
Worthless Wind & Solar: Once Again Output Totally Collapses During Freezing Weather
Virginia Taking An Overdue Hard Look at Green Energy Scams
Turbine ‘torture’ for Greek islanders as wind turbines proliferate
Ohio residents challenge first-of-its kind wind farm on Lake Erie
The Sierra Club Loves Wind Turbines, Not Whales

Solar Energy:
*** Report: Solar Energy and the Threat to Food Security
Maine official warns community solar projects might not be as ‘clean’ as they suggest
Overwhelmed by Solar Projects, the Nation’s Largest Grid Operator Seeks a Two-Year Pause on Approvals
Tesla supply chain issues now extend to solar roof, stops scheduling new installation
California’s Solar-Power Welfare State
Arnold Schwarzenegger Gets a Sunburn
Homeowner calls utility on huge $1,247 bill — finds it maybe due to solar

Nuclear Energy:
*** Why nations are backing Nuclear and Gas
*** France announces a major buildup of its nuclear power program
*** TVA Unveils Major New Nuclear Program, First SMR
*** Fusion facility sets a new world energy record
Archives: Nuclear Cognition

Fossil Fuel Energy:
*** How Russia and green activists killed shale gas and paved the way for Putin’s energy war
*** Biden is disconnected from American’s reliance on fossil fuels
A Russia-Ukraine war would mean global energy shock
EU Unveils Controversial Green Label for Gas and Nuclear
Pennsylvania sent more electricity to neighboring states than any other state in 2020
Pennsylvania Power Plant Closures Would Cause Real Harm for Illusory Environmental Gains

Miscellaneous Energy News:
*** Energy is the most important issue in the world
*** Electric power reforms gain ground in Virginia
There’s a big supply problem in New York’s energy plan
How Green Energy Fantasies Can Amplify Civil Unrest
Wall Street’s Green Push Exposes New Conflicts of Interest
Are electric cars the new ‘diesel scandal’ waiting to happen?…