Dear Father in Heaven, We pray that trade and business across the globe would flourish. We pray for the leaders of the countries and various international institutions who decide economic policy. Please give them wisdom and let them uphold an economic system that is not restrictive. We also pray for an abundance of energy that will support the growing economies of the world. We ask You to help people understand the importance of conventional and clean energy sources like coal and … [Read more...]
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Gets It: Forget ‘Climate Change’, Energy Empowers the Poor
Speaking September 29 at the UN General Assembly, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made it perfectly clear: India will not stop or even slow its people's rise out of poverty to satisfy the global warming elites of the West. Modi told the UN that any climate agreement acceptable to India must function "without affecting our ability to meet the development aspirations of humanity." And India intends to meet those aspirations by providing the abundant, affordable, reliable electricity without … [Read more...]
Bishop’s “Call to Action” on Climate and Fossil Fuels May Be Less than Meets the Eye
Paul Etienne, Catholic Bishop of Cheyenne, with jurisdiction over the Diocese of Wyoming, was cited recently in Inside Energy as calling Pope Francis's encyclical Laudato Si' "a call to action" for Wyoming, the nation's largest coal-producing state. But there might not be quite so much to what Bishop Etienne said as Inside Energy would wish. The sole quote from him is this: I know this document is going to disturb many people in this state," he said, "because it is very much an energy-driven … [Read more...]
Appalachian Astronauts
Over in Harlan, Kentucky, last month, I asked a coal miner if he dreaded heading to work in the mine each morning. No, he said. It was an adventure, sort of like being an astronaut, “going where no man had gone before.” Later in the day, a half-mile underground near Pikeville, other miners talked to me about their work. (I was there gathering material for a Southern Baptist Seminary course on work and leisure.) The four men had been at it 10, 21, 25, and 40 years. One spoke of his satisfaction … [Read more...]
For Three Billion People, Coal Looks Pretty Good
Ask a typical college student about “environmentally friendly” energy sources, and the student will usually respond with comments on wind energy, solar energy, or at least “renewable fuels.” Coal would never make the list. But as an economist, I’m always teaching students about trade-offs. There is no energy source that is costless, either financially or in terms of environmental degradation. Wind energy, for example, requires metals that have to be mined, access roads and transmission lines … [Read more...]
Lord, We Thank You For Energy
Dear Lord, Thank you for giving us a planet that has such bountiful sources of energy within it. We thank you for the natural gas that keeps our homes warm, for the oil that brings food to our tables, and for the coal that gives us electricity. We pray that you would increase our wisdom in harnessing the sources of energy that you have provided for us. And we pray that the poorer nations of the earth would be blessed with the abundant supplies you have clearly provided for our use. Amen To … [Read more...]
Europe Flees Economy-Destroying Green Initiatives While Obama Presses On
C02 reduction regulations and subsidies for “green energy” are destroying the European economy, and the United States is next. But Europe’s waking up. After years of trying to lead the push to go green, it has turned around and begun steep cuts in its climate protection goals. Why? To save member states’ economies. For example, Germany, one of the strongest proponents of environmental regulations in the European Union (EU), has seen energy prices soar, making its prices the highest in Europe. … [Read more...]
Congress’ Move to Stop the War on Coal Needed to Rescue Poor
Originally Published by Religion Today. God is certainly no respecter of man (Acts 10:34–35; Rom 2:9–11; Eph 6:8–9, etc.); He shows no favoritism, and neither does His son, Jesus Christ (Matt 22:16). But God does care for the weak, poor, timid, and defenseless—He is a compassionate God, and He expects the same of us (Deut 10:18). In America, as with the rest of the planet, coal plays a crucial role in energy production, yet it is under attack in America. The Environmental Protection Agency’s … [Read more...]
