Coal Slap in the Face:
Real Demand is Growing
February 5, 2018
by William P. Meyers

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Environmentalist Renewable Fantasy as off as Denying Global Warming

Solving the world's problems requires understanding those problems. Ideologies often get in the way of that. Two ideological camps that are getting the big picture wrong today are (1) free market capitalist global warming deniers and (2) most environmentalists.

Most readers of this column believe in global warming. They also believe that the solution is wind and solar power. I disagree. The only realistic solution combines: (1) a global one child policy with (2) greatly reduced personal energy consumption in the first world. Solar is nice, but not essential.

In support of my view I offer the following real-world view of coal use in India. Keep in mind that India has a population of about 1.33 billion while the U.S.A. has a population of just 0.33 billion. Carbon intensity per person in the U.S. is about 10 times that in India. Enough Indians have seen or been exposed to high-electricity consumption devices like washing machines and air-conditioners that almost everyone wants those things. As money becomes available, electricity demand in India will continue to skyrocket. Here's what I found in a trade magazine, someone saying what is really happening with coal in India:

"Singh acknowledged that renewables were an important part of the energy mix, but described them as “fashionable”.

“Let’s not shy away from the fact that raw materials for renewables are available at a cheaper price because of highly subsidised exports.”

He said battery power was also a challenge, particularly when supplying power during peak demand. "Coal makes up about 76% of India’s energy mix," said Singh. “This ratio will continue because it’s more reliable and cheaper,” he suggested.

“While we have to strike a balance with the environment, we can’t ignore people who need electricity. India only has one tenth of the energy consumption of the US. We can’t ignore poor people. We need more energy.”

He said this was a reality, with India’s burgeoning youthful population increasingly moving to urban areas.

“If we want to improve the life of the common man, we need to burn more coal . . . that is the reality."

—India’s growing economy holds promise for coal exporters in Hellenic Shipping News

India is not the only country in this situation. Think about it. Get used to it.

So I repeat: the only solution to global warming is a global one-child policy and a severe reduction of energy use in developed countries, so that a cap on energy use growth can be negotiated with the poorer, traditionally economically oppressed, minimal energy users.