Claim: Fossil fuels helped us overcome COVID-19

Why aren’t renewable energy advocates discussing the thousands of essential products (incl. hand sanitizer, disinfectants, and medical masks) that require fossil fuels during production? In Fox & Hounds Daily, independent public policy consultant Todd Royal contends that suppressing the COVID-19 pandemic required more than “green” energy, and that banning natural gas production locally has dangerous public health ramifications.

The howls to divest from fossil fuels, and consider climate at all costs seem even more inappropriate when nations and global economies are placed at risk without the vast amount and variety of products derived from oil and natural gas. Political agendas satiate uneducated masses who have little understanding of how their lives are enriched by fossil fuel companies.

In truth, increasing burdensome regulations on fossil fuel companies only hurts working Californians and Americans yearning to provide for their families. Public health and environmental protection are not mutually exclusive but impeding energy companies that are providing much needed support to deal with COVID-19 is short-sighted and counterproductive.

If California environmental activists want to divest from fossil fuels and push for lower emissions no matter the outcome, then are they willing to do away with the products helping the U.S. and world win the fight against the coronavirus? The brightest spot in the American economy the past decade is still our best hope for important commodities to rid the world of the scourge from COVID-19. 

This article originally appeared in Fox & Hounds Daily. Read the whole thing here.

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