Publications: Notes at the Margin

Fossil Energy's Pearl Harbor (March 16, 2026)

 

US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright is a strong proponent of fossil fuels. On March 5, while at a United Nations conference, he made these statements:

 

"Energy is life. The absence of energy is poverty, despair, and death.

It is how we grow our economies, it is how we innovate, power our daily lives, and secure our nations. Energy provides stability, competitiveness, and opportunities for a better future.

In recent years, many governments have adopted aggressive climate policies. These policies made in the name of climate change have been unrealistic and poorly planned. The energy delusions implicit in climate policies represent real and growing threats to nations and peoples around the world."[i]

 

Wright then went on to promote fossil fuels:

 

"Energy and critical minerals power every sector of our economy and underpin everything in our lives. If a device has a button, or it turns on and off, it requires magnets made from rare earth elements and the energy needed to produce them. That’s why we need to strengthen our supply chains and increase our access to energy."

 

Officials from nations that have to import fossil fuels must have been taken aback by his words. As Iran attacks vessels in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz with missiles and drones, these leaders are working to reduce or eliminate their vulnerability to disruptions by ending their fossil fuel dependency.

 

A single word describes their new energy policies: AUTARKY, i.e., self-sufficiency or independence.

 

To receive the full report along with future issues of Notes at the Margin, please Contact Us or send us an Information Request for subscription information.