Last week I was interviewed on the Reason.com podcast by leading libertarian thinker Nick Gillespie. The subject was the new administration’s energy policy–and, more broadly, what the right energy policy is. The interview was supposed to last 20 minutes but it ended up lasting an hour. Nick asked great questions and we covered some ground I haven’t covered in other …
Empowering the Next Generation of Petroleum Engineers
Last week, Professor Dan Hill of Texas A&M’s Petroleum Engineering program gave this presentation and a copy of The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels to a group of approximately 150 incoming petroleum engineering students. Why distribute the book? As he said in the presentation: I want you to know the facts about the vital importance of oil and gas production …
A new strategy for industry to win hearts and minds
Ever since I became passionate about fossil fuels 9 years ago, I have regarded the fossil fuel industry as a crucial potential ally in winning hearts and minds. I say “potential” because historically the industry has often done more harm than good for its cause—which is really the cause of everyone who care about human flourishing. The dominant message from …
Opportunities to win the hearts and minds of students
A few weeks ago, in a note titled “Why I speak,” I told the story of the powerful impact the moral case for fossil fuels had on students in Missouri several weeks ago. Last week, I had a similar experience at Bethel University. Except this time, I made sure I recorded a couple of the student reactions so you can …
Watch my latest debate!
Late last year I did a series of TV debates in Colorado where I took on a climate scientist and a 350.org leader, among other people. I’ve been excited about the release of this footage because I think I’ve gotten way better at debating since I wrote my book. You can see some of the initial feedback from Facebook below. …
Why I speak–an unforgettable day in Missouri
I did not expect one of the most rewarding speaking experiences of my career to occur at the Missouri Institute of Science and Technology, a school I had never heard of, in Rolla, MO, a city I had never heard of. But that’s exactly what happened this past Wednesday evening. But first, let me go back to how it got …
“I Once Believed Fossil Fuels Were Killing Our Planet”
Recently, I (Alex) asked some friends and colleagues from outside the fossil fuel industry to take a look at some of the advertising campaigns of the fossil fuel industry. In particular, I was interested in what they thought of the effectiveness of one popular approach: just focusing on the positives of fossil fuels to people’s lives without significantly engaging the …
How to Win Hearts and Minds on Energy, Part 2: From Energy Advocate to Energy Champion
Last week I discussed how an energy supporter becomes an energy advocate. Recall: Energy Supporter: An individual who is generally in favor of the most important sources of energy abundance, including fossil fuels, but lacks the motivation and/or capability to persuade others in favor of energy abundance. Energy Advocate: An individual with the clarity, confidence, and motivation to persuade others in …
Fossil Fuels Are The Food Of Food
We all know that fossil fuels power our machines. Often overlooked however is the vital role they play in powering humans, as the food we eat is made possible by fossil fuels. To take just one example, synthesized fertilizers are the plant-nutrient inputs that feed humanity’s food crops, and this plant food is overwhelmingly made possible by fossil fuels. The …