Study: Renewable energy boom fails to displace fossil fuels

By ramontomeydw // 2025-05-28

Mastodon

Parler

Gab

Copy

A study analyzing U.S. energy data (1997-2020) found that despite rapid renewable energy growth, fossil fuel production (coal, oil, natural gas) has not declined, challenging assumptions that renewables naturally reduce carbon-intensive energy use.
Over 96 percent of fossil fuel output variation was tied to geological reserves – states with abundant resources continued extraction regardless of renewable investments, undermining "zero emission" policy effectiveness.
The study's author Ryan Thombs argues that market forces alone won't phase out fossil fuels. Measures like carbon taxes, production caps, or state-level mandates – green tyranny in action – may be necessary to force a transition.
Critics like Olivia Murray highlight renewables' dependence on fossil fuels for manufacturing, transportation and backup power, noting their intermittent nature and infrastructure limitations make full replacement unrealistic.
The study fuels calls for aggressive policy overhauls (e.g., subsidies, permitting restrictions). But there are serious risks – such as the blackouts in Spain and Portugal – when fossil fuels are removed without reliable alternatives.

A study has found that despite rapid growth in renewable energy production in the U.S., the country has not seen a corresponding decline in fossil fuel use. The study published March 11 in the Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences analyzed fuel production data from 1997 to 2020 across 33 fossil fuel-producing states. It found that renewable energy expansion has not displaced coal, oil or natural gas – energy sources the climate alarmists are so keen on eliminating. The findings by the study's lone author Ryan Thombs – an assistant professor of rural sociology at Pennsylvania State University – challenge long-held assumptions that increasing wind, solar and biofuel capacity would naturally reduce reliance on carbon-intensive energy sources. They also raise urgent questions about the effectiveness of so-called "zero emission" policies to address "climate change." Thombs found that more than 96 percent of fossil fuel production variation was tied to fixed factors like geological reserves. This essentially meant that states with abundant oil or coal continued extracting them regardless of renewable investments. "Many policies assume that growth in renewables corresponds with a proportional decrease in fossil fuels," he said. "If it doesn’t, then we may need additional measures like carbon taxes or production caps." Fossil fuels still dominate U.S. energy systems, with data from the United Nations saying they account for nearly 90 percent of carbon dioxide emissions globally. But commentator Olivia Murray pointed out in a piece for the American Thinker that "when 'renewables' inevitably fail, people rely on what's always worked" – fossil fuels that generate stable power.

The myth of renewable energy: Why fossil fuels aren't going anywhere

Murray further argued wind and solar infrastructure remains dependent on fossil fuels for manufacturing, transportation and backup power. "Until [advocates] start mining lithium by hand and walking it to refineries, I don't want to hear about 'green' energy being renewable," she wrote, dismissing the idea that current technology can fully replace hydrocarbons. (Related: LITHIUM mining for electric vehicles is incredibly destructive to the environment and about as far from "green" as you can imagine.) Thombs wrote in his study that policy shifts, not just market forces, are needed to accelerate a transition. He suggested that state-level mandates could force a decline in extraction, insinuating the need for green tyranny to make Net Zero come true. The debate reflects a broader divide in climate strategy. While renewables now lead new energy generation, their intermittent nature and reliance on existing infrastructure complicate efforts to phase out fossil fuels. Historical context amplifies the challenge: The U.S. has subsidized oil and gas for over a century, entrenching political and economic interests. Thombs' research implies that without direct intervention, such as the production limits seen in France and Germany emissions reductions may stall – at the cost of dependable power. As temperatures rise and extreme weather events multiply, the study adds fuel to calls for aggressive policy overhauls. Whether through taxation, permitting restrictions or federal clean energy mandates, the data suggests that hoping renewables will "crowd out" fossil fuels is insufficient. But actual experience, such as the blackouts in Spain and Portugal in late April, would show that eschewing fossil fuels comes with dire consequences. Visit GreenTyranny.news for more similar stories. Watch this clip arguing that fossil fuels are vital to society's future. This video is from the CONSERVATIVE POLITICS & NWO channel on Brighteon.com.

CITIZENS NEWS

The myth of renewable energy: Why fossil fuels aren't going anywhere

More related stories: