The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels

Epstein, the author, is an energy commentator and climate change skeptic who founded and runs the Center for Industrial Progress, which he describes as a for-profit think tank.[1][2][3] The book outlines the societal benefits of coal, oil, and natural gas,[4][5] as well as climate livability, the effects of carbon emissions, and the environmental movement.[6][7] Epstein writes that alternative energy sources like wind, solar, and biofuels are inferior to fossil fuels because they are more expensive and less reliable.[8] Examining trends in storm energy, global temperatures, and sea level changes, he claims that any changes are minor and do not justify predictions by experts.[9]

The book was a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller.[10][11]

Positive reviews of the book were published by The Wall Street Journal,[1] Barron's,[12] National Review,[13] Reason,[14] The Washington Free Beacon,[15] and The Morning Sun of Pittsburg, Kansas,[16] along with the Independent Institute[17] and The Heartland Institute,[18][19] two conservative think tanks.

Critical reviews were published by Inside Higher Ed,[20] The Huffington Post,[21] The Guardian,[22] and Our World, a publication of the United Nations University.[23] Jason Wilson of The Guardian wrote that Epstein has a close association with conservative advocacy groups and receives funding from the Koch brothers and that "Epstein's work has been popular and influential on the right because it is a particularly fluent, elaborate form of climate denialism."[22]

In 2014, Epstein was interviewed by Peter Thiel at an event hosted by the energy startup Tachyus. Thiel also provided a blurb for the book.[24]

In December 2014, political commentator John McLaughlin called Epstein "most original thinker of the year" for his book during McLaughlin's yearly The McLaughlin Group roundup.[25]