Member-only story
The Illusion of a Clean Energy Future
Green energy merely adds to the world’s energy consumption.
It’s time to abandon the fantasy that humanity will ever reduce its energy consumption. The idea that conservation, efficiency, or a transition to so-called “green” energy sources will lead to a decline in global energy use is a dangerous delusion. Since the dawn of industrialization, global energy demand has followed an inexorable upward trajectory, and there is no historical precedent for a civilization willingly consuming less energy. Every technological advance designed to improve efficiency or reduce emissions has instead fueled further economic growth, leading to even greater energy consumption.
The Myth of Green Energy Replacing Fossil Fuels
Since 1973, the world has poured trillions of dollars into alternative energy sources — solar, wind, hydro, biofuels, and nuclear — yet global energy demand has only increased. Rather than replacing fossil fuels, these renewables have simply been added to an ever-growing energy mix. According to data from the International Energy Agency (IEA), total global energy use has more than doubled since the 1970s, and the vast majority of this increase has been fueled by coal, oil, and natural gas.