A Free-Market Energy Blog

Call for Clexit (as in EU CLimate Exit)

By Viv Forbes -- August 4, 2016

“Carbon dioxide does not control the climate. It is an essential plant food, and more carbon dioxide will produce more plant growth and a greener globe.”

“Clexit as a movement is spreading world-wide (16 countries already).”

For a while now I have been engrossed in helping to launch “Clexit”, whose aim is to get us all out of the Paris Climate Treaty and all of its associated Agendas. This will tell you all about it: The Paris Climate Treaty Should Be Torn Up.

Our initial goal was to assemble a small but impressive list of supporters spread across the globe with good credentials to speak about climate science, climate history, carbon dioxide, hydrocarbon energy, energy economics, business or politics. We have reached that goal and are now going public to seek further support and more members.…

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‘Fear Not: The Malthusians Are Wrong’ (2000 Op-Ed for Today)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- August 3, 2016

Editor note: This op-ed, published on April 21, 2000, in the Houston Chronicle, can be revisited to see how the arguments have held up for today. One unanticipated development was the BP Horizon oil spill of 2010, which resulted in a cumulative cost to BP of $61.8 billion. (One only wonders if the spill would have occurred if ‘beyond petroleum’ BP would have focused on real environmental and safety issues instead of global-warming greenwashing in the decade prior to its historic, infamous environmental mess.) The fundamental question remains: are fossil fuels more or less ‘sustainable’ today versus 16 years ago?

A great hue and cry is being heard this Earth Day about how our hydrocarbon-based energy economy is unsustainable.  Air pollution is worsening, hydrocarbon resources are depleting and greenhouse gas emissions are destabilizing the planet, a chorus of individuals and groups contends.

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Anti-Public Utility Regulation, Pro Business (political vs. free-market capitalism)

By Jim Clarkson -- August 2, 2016

“You must separate out being pro free enterprise from being pro business. The two greatest enemies of the free enterprise system, in my opinion, have been, on the one hand, my fellow intellectuals, and, on the other hand, the big businessmen.” (Milton Friedman)

“Utility regulation is the unholy union of vested privilege and authoritarian ideology that produces the Rosemary’s baby of flagrant cronyism.” (below)

When an economic libertarian criticizes Georgia Power and Atlanta Gas Light (the utilities in my service area), it doesn’t mean that big corporations or business in general is bad. Quite the contrary, business operating in a free market is morally legitimate and has a sound public policy purpose.

What is opposed is the use of government power to enrich an enterprise instead of winning consumers through superior performance in a competitive market.…

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Energy & Environmental Newsletter: August 1, 2016

By -- August 1, 2016
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Federal Coal Leasing: First, Do No Harm (to consumers, taxpayers, industry)

By Betsy Monseu -- July 28, 2016
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ExxonMobil, Climate Change And Free Speech: Down from Climategate

By -- July 27, 2016
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Wind Power Misinformation in the Empire State

By Mary Kay Barton -- July 26, 2016
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Fossil Fuel Divestment: Futile, Misguided, Morally Questionable

By Pierre Desrochers -- July 25, 2016
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GOP Environmental Platform: Free Market Directions

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- July 21, 2016
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GOP Energy Platform: Free Market Directions

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- July 20, 2016
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