https://alexepstein.substack.com/p/the-dangerous-executive-order-no?justPublished=true
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Last month, President Biden issued an Executive Order that threatens the very existence of our nation. And yet he has received very little pushback. Here’s what the Order says and why it’s so scary.
The Biden Administration recently issued an Executive Order that commits the Federal Government to reduce emissions 65% by 2030 and be “net zero” by 2050.
This commitment is suicidal because 3/4 of government energy use is for defense—and most of that must come from fossil fuels.1
- Our government has a sacred obligation to do everything it can to protect our lives and freedom—including those of our troops. Joe Biden recently violated this obligation flagrantly by committing the Federal government to wildly inferior “net zero” energy sources.
- Our lives, freedom, and troops depend on a defense system that is committed to using the absolute best possible tools to protect America. Above all, this means the best forms of energy to power the myriad machines, including weapons, that this country’s defense depends on.2
- Defending our country requires so much energy that over 3/4 the Federal Government’s energy use is for defense. The vast majority of this energy is fossil fuel—the most cost-effective and often only way to power our defense. Oil-based jet fuel alone is over 50% of DOD’s energy.3
- Can biofuels make Biden’s net-zero commitment work by replacing oil? Not even close. Biofuels scale terribly, because they require huge amounts of scarce farmland. They are also a security risk because their supply chain is heavily dependent on China (e.g., for phosphate).4
- Can synthetic oil fuels be a net-zero replacement for oil, especially jet fuel? Not even close because: 1) they are extremely expensive to produce—and 2) for the foreseeable future they will require huge amounts of fossil fuel to produce.5
- The bottom line is that actually pursuing “net zero” would destroy our military and lead the US to be conquered by our enemies. Thus, our government will not pursue “net zero” at all consistently. But Biden’s public commitment to “net zero” guarantees myriad deadly half-measures.
- The Biden Administration knows that most of our government’s energy comes from defense, and most energy for defense must come from oil for the foreseeable future. That’s why the “commitment” to “net zero” has a hidden exemption for national security that renders it fraudulent.6
- The inevitable consequence of Biden’s fraudulent governmental “commitment” to “net zero” is that the government will continue using huge amounts of fossil fuel, but that it will constantly sacrifice what is best for our security in the name of marginal fossil fuel reductions.
- An example of sacrificing security to “net zero” symbolism is a much-touted solar+battery installation for the Navy’s Pacific Missile Range. Given the cost of batteries and vulnerability of solar arrays, this is far more costly and less secure than using compact diesel generators.7
- Resources are limited, especially in an era of significant inflation and necessary government cutbacks. Every dollar the government wastes on more expensive defense supplies, such as “Sustainable Aviation Fuel” that costs 4-8X regular jet fuel, is a failure to put security first.8
- Every strategic/tactical concession our government makes can mean the difference between life and death for our troops, for our citizens, and even for our existence as a nation. It’s terrifying that government is making countless security concessions in the name of “net zero.”
- Recent history should have taught us that our national defense needs to be rigorously focused on the goal of protecting the lives and freedom of our citizens. It shouldn’t go on democracy-building adventures, nor should it ignore threats. And it shouldn’t try to be net-zero.
- In a world where Russia is becoming more aggressive and China is testing hypersonic missiles in its quest to be the world’s superpower, our military is focused on adopting as many forms of inferior energy as possible to achieve net-zero fantasies.
- President Biden must immediately reassure us that he will not commit our defense to being “net zero,” but rather give it whatever energy it needs to protect America, period. If he does not, he deserves to be removed from office for deliberately sacrificing national security.
“Energy Talking Points by Alex Epstein” is my free Substack newsletter designed to give as many people as possible access to concise, powerful, well-referenced talking points on the latest energy, environmental, and climate issues from a pro-human, pro-energy perspective.
