Future of Energy Debate
Future of Energy Debate
Be it resolved, the future of energy is renewables.
The lowest oil prices in history thanks to stalled economies in lockdown. A President Elect and a Green New Deal that promises a carbon neutral America in a decade. Governments pledging to make the internal combustion engines illegal within a decade. It seems like the way we have powered our civilization for two plus centuries, using hydrocarbons, is on the way out as we welcome an energy revolution to combat climate change and environmental degradation. Fossil fuel proponents say that this is wildly wishful thinking that doesn’t take into account renewable energy’s infinitesimal contribution to current global demand. Moreover, most green energy is incredibly difficult to store and transit in the ways modern economies need, raising questions about whether hype has replaced common sense about replacing hydrocarbons as our dominant energy source.
“Wind prices at grid parity in Europe. Battery costs down by a factor of ten over the last decade. Solar now the cheapest electricity in history. The end is in sight for fossil fuels.”
– Ramez Naam
“For the foreseeable future we are going to see a grid that has lots more wind and solar but will depend on gas, coal, and oil fire generation for a very long time.”
– Mark P. Mills
Pro
Con
You may also like
February 10, 2026
– Listen
Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: Trump demands half ownership of the Gordie-Howe Bridge and will Carney call a spring election?
April 9, 2026
– Listen
Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: the end of Pax Americana and the Liberals are within one seat of a majority government
February 24, 2026
– Listen
Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: Trump shakes his fist at the court and will AI take everyone’s jobs?
April 28, 2026
– Listen
Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: Mark Carney’s new sovereign wealth fund is a solution in search of a problem
March 25, 2026
– Listen
Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: at this point, what is Iran’s incentive to negotiate?
March 31, 2026
– Listen
Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: Trump’s mixed messages on Iran and the NDP elects a new leader
February 4, 2026
– Listen
Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: Alberta’s separatist movement gets support from Washington and Canada needs a new security agenda
March 3, 2026
– Listen
Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: Trump strikes Iran without a strategy
April 14, 2026
– Listen
Munk Dialogue with Andrew Coyne: Mark Carney gets his Liberal Majority
April 7, 2026
– Watch
Gene Editing Debate
May 20, 2026
– Watch
Foreign Wars Debate
January 29, 2026