Testimonials for CIP founder Alex Epstein
[The] work of CIP has helped me to appreciate the importance of ensuring the benefits of fossil fuels are taken into account when discussing energy issues.
—Kevin Douglas, Stanford Law School
The biggest impact that Alex has had on me is by providing intellectual ammunition about how to think about energy, how to take the moral high ground, and how to frame the argument.
—Conrad Lagowski
Alex provided me with tools needed to change the pattern of how the discussion with the environmentalist could be changed, by simply using some simple facts to put them on the defensive regarding energy and environment.
—Terry Cunningham
Alex Epstein has helped me re-frame my thinking, as Julian Simon set out to do, to take into account all facets of the human environment when dealing with environmental issues. He illustrates very effectively that the “natural” environment is not conducive to human progress, and thus we must set out to improve it if we wish to improve ourselves.
—Travis Fisher
The fracking pieces have given me great ammunition to counter the attacks in discussions with friends and on online debates.
—Thomas Cowan
Less than a year and a half ago I could not make a moral case for energy, even though I knew what I was advocating for was right. Alex Epstein gave me the right ideas and inspiration to be an effective advocate.
—Thomas Eiden
Alex has awakened an interest in energy that I did not know I had. I had never thought about oil or energy in the conventional negative ways, but I also did not find it especially intriguing – that is until I began to see how fundamental it was to everything else I love. Seeing these connections turns energy into a topic that is truly exciting.
—Philip Hopkins
Alex’s work . . . woke me up to the marvels of our modern world. We have abundant, cheap, safe materials (like plastics) that allow us to accomplish all sorts of almost-miraculous things (medical instruments, bacteria-resistant plastics in refrigerators, affordable insulated clothing for the winter, etc.). We also have abundant, cheap, safe fuels for transporting ourselves effectively anywhere we want to go, any time.
—Thomas Hochmann
Alex has taught me that fossil fuels are good . . . really good.
—Maryallene Otis
I used to think there was a trade-off between energy and environment.
—Charles Tew
It would be an understatement to say that Alex Epstein has completely and absolutely changed how I think about energy. No longer do I feel guilt for enjoying the use of products powered by fossil fuels, in fact, I now embrace them — see me wearing my ‘I Love Fossil Fuels” shirt in public. I now, thanks to Alex, see fossil fuels as a source of life rather than a source of death as is widely quoted by environmentalists.
—Alex Evans
Alex has provided well researched and well presented information that has deepened my appreciation of industrial scale energy production and the fundamental morality underlying it’s production and use. I have always had a “gut” level feeling that industrial scale energy was fundamental to our civilization, but he has helped me clarify my understanding and given me cogent arguments that I can use in discussions with others.
—Brandon Bartlett
My perspective has changed completely. Not only am I more knowledgeable on the subject, but I see the energy industry in a new light- as a value instead of an enemy.
—Miranda Marks
I no longer take energy and the role of fossil fuels in my daily life for granted. I now realize how critically important a plentiful, reliable source of energy is to maintain my standard of living.
—Mark Wickens
I’m associated with energy in my work. CIP hasn’t changed so much of how I think about energy (already aligned with is POV) as it has provided foundation for supporting the positive view of energy. Taking the moral high ground on energy has been an extremely empowering/enabling conceptual framework for me.
—Leonard Mignerey
Over the years, Alex has expanded my mind to all of the benefits of energy production. As an undergraduate student of economics, Alex’s work was inspiring on the various ways the economy benefits from expanding energy production. This led to my desire to study energy economics in graduate school. I now consider myself a champion of the energy industry, which makes me something of an outsider in my graduate program.
—Brandon Bridge
CIP has broadened my knowledge of the industry, and provided valuable insights/arguments to help defend it.
—Joe Meuth
I am 1,000 times more appreciative of fossil fuels now than I was two years ago!
—Kristoffer Walker
I think more about the specific benefits that fossil fuels bring to my life, and how much worse off I’d be without them.
—Andrew Whallon
Learning more about how energy is produced has made me more optimistic about the future. (I used to worry about peak oil. I don’t anymore.)
—Malini
I’m not sure how I didn’t see it before, but Alex made me realize that cheap, abundant energy is a prerequisite to prosperity. To paraphrase Alex, “What is a gallon of fuel worth when it’s powering the helicopter that’s airlifting you to the hospital?” While this concept was not new to me, Alex’s quote so succinctly brought the externalities of energy use into perspective like nothing else I’ve heard.
—John Eini
I have moved towards a more industrial and what I feel is a pro-human mentality in regard to energy.
He has reaffirmed my confidence in fossil fuels and that we can have a long, prosperous future with them, so long as we fight for them against those who would take them away from us. In no significant way.
I went from feeling guilty about using gas every time I drove to feeling reverence towards those men who produce every gallon that I burn for enabling me to be productive and enjoy my life. Works of Epstein’s that debunk the so-called “renewable” energy sources are also a great asset for those who are concerned about having a viable energy source in the future. I definitely have a greater appreciation for industrialization vastly improving the human environment.
The keynote speech at the american coal council conference (Aug 21, 2012) was illuminating. I guess I never really thought about how coal/energy can make our environment better. Now it is pretty obvious, but I guess Alex said what I always knew but I never put into words.
CIP’s argument that industry has actually improves our environment was a perspective that I hadn’t considered before.
I didn’t think a lot about energy issues… But now, the first thing I think about when I think of energy is: “Energy is vital. Without vast amount of cheap and reliable energy, none of the things that make my life possible would exist. And if that flow of energy ever stops, everything I care about, from medical research to fine art to food on my dinner table, stops with it shortly thereafter.” What I didn’t know or hadn’t really thought about was how important energy was to every modern technology and comfort.
CIP has broadened my knowledge of the industry, and provided valuable insights/arguments to help defend it..
Alex makes me want to consume fossil fuels, and in a good way. Alex makes a sound moral argument for energy consumption.
Where to start?! Alex has had a profound effect on my thinking on energy. He has opened my eyes to value and virtues associated with industrial energy. I have a new respect for the energy industry (particularly oil, gas and nuclear) and everything they do to improve our lives. It has almost made me regret that I have not followed a career in energy production.
Alex has awakened an interest in energy that I did not know I had. I had never thought about oil or energy in the conventional negative ways, but I also did not find it especially intriguing – that is until I began to see how fundamental it was to everything else I love. Seeing these connections turns energy into a topic that is truly exciting.
Finally his realization that to truly inspire change we must claim the moral high ground is truly brilliant: energy is not something to be defended as though its creation was an action to feel guilty for, energy is something noble and for which we should be proud as a species for creating in cheap and abundant forms.
Over the years, Alex has expanded my mind to all of the benefits of energy production. As an undergraduate student of economics, Alex’s work was inspiring on the various ways the economy benefits from expanding energy production. This led to my desire to study energy economics in graduate school. I now consider myself a champion of the energy industry, which makes me something of an outsider in my graduate program.
Since listening to Alex, I have changed the direction of my life quite drastically. While I have no formal education in science, I am in the middle of my first year of a science degree with the aim to work in the energy industry. I’m not sure I would have done this without listening to Power Hour and without the moral ammunition required to defend it (which I now plan to do!).
Less than a year and a half ago I could not make a moral case for energy, even though I knew what I was advocating for was right. Alex Epstein gave me the right ideas and inspiration to be an effective advocate.
I’m associated with Energy in my work. CIP hasn’t changed so much of how I think about energy (already aligned with is POV) as it has provided foundation for supporting the positive view of energy. Taking the moral high ground on energy has been an extremely empowering/enabling conceptual framework for me.
Alex provided me with tools needed to change the pattern of how the discussion with the environmentalist could be changed, by simply using some simple facts to put them on the defensive regarding energy and environment.
The biggest impact that Alex has had on me is by providing intellectual ammunition about how to think about energy, how to take the moral high ground, and how to frame the argument.
The fracking pieces have given me great ammunition to counter the attacks in discussions with friends and on online debates.
Exposure to the idea of aspirational advocacy has been great. Alex touched on this in early Power Hours. It is a much more rewarding way to think about things, rather than just thinking and saying things like “environmentalists are morons”, it’s much more effective and pleasant to talk about the unlimited benefits of abundant, cheap energy. I would reference my comments regarding the effectiveness of aspirational advocacy in question two and add that framing environmental issues/questions in terms of “the human environment” is brilliant. This argument instantly reclaims the moral high ground. I really enjoyed the OWS debate video series. I would also say that just the positive attitude of Alex and the positive mission of CIP has been fantastic. The internet is filled with plenty of venom and rage (some of it is even fairly intelligent or humorous) about energy/environmental issues so the approach of Alex and CIP is very refreshing.
The great aspect of the term “Human Environment” is the idea that instead of defending the environment on the environmentalists terms you have the environmentalists defending themselves on your terms. It also helps dispel the theory that our environment has never been dirtier because you can easily show how the “Human Environment” has been getting cleaner and has been at it’s cleanest for years.
Among active writers, Alex Epstein makes the clearest and most compelling case that abundant energy owns the moral high ground.
Alex Epstein has helped me re-frame my thinking, as Julian Simon set out to do, to take into account all facets of the human environment when dealing with environmental issues. He illustrates very effectively that the “natural” environment is not conducive to human progress, and thus we must set out to improve it if we wish to improve ourselves.
He’s encouraged me to think about it at all! He explains things in a way that makes it not just interesting, but awe-inspiring. I never really thought of how fossil fuels make our lives possible and better in every way. I love the philosophical base behind everything.
Alex has an excellent way of discussing energy and the arguments that should be taken when discussing it. He is incredibly scientific in the way he approaches the subject, providing very rational arguments that make it so easy to understand. Dr. Eric Dennis is also one of my favorite guests that Alex has had on and he too provides very interesting discussions of important points.
He brings a complicated subject down to understandable terms for the lay energy Citizens to make up their own minds.
In a word, Alex is a master of his facts.
There are a multitude of excellent book and articles about the economic and the polluting aspects of energy use but CIP and Alex are almost unique in approaching the issue from the too often ignored, ‘human well-being’ aspect. With the determination to make each of us realize that aspect of our lives that depends on energy production, Alex make the issue personal and understandable on a level others often fail to communicate to their audiences. Without that ‘important to the listener’ even the best of ideas seldom leave the room with the listener. Alex has reintroduced ‘man, the builder’ into the environmental movement.