So, I think it’s safe to say that, after this blog post, Cato’s Jerry Taylor is not going to be asked to contribute a piece to the Wall Street Journal’s ($) next special section on alternative energy:

One could spend a lifetime slamming dross in the news pages of the Wall Street Journal – particularly when it comes to energy. Only the driving need to be more productive with my time keeps me from doing so on a daily basis. But when something as bad as this insert comes along, something must be said.

Taylor is not impressed with Houston-based Peak Oil advocate, Matt Simmons, either:

Moving right along, page two features recommended readings from Matthew Simmons, the most prominent proponent of the idea that the worldís oil fields are about to run dry. This, to put it charitably, is a minority perspective among oil analysts. That the Journal turns to someone like Simmons – and only Simmons – to lay in print the groundwork for readers interested in knowing more about the oil industry speaks volumes. Much more intelligent conversations about oil with Daniel Yergin and Robert Mabro are briefly referenced as on-line supplements.

Then, Taylor takes off on the John Biers article about Houston’s leadership in promoting alternative energy initiatives:

Reporter John Biers mails in a vacuous piece titled ìTexasí New Teaî about how Houston is poised to become the center of the renewable energy biz, transforming the former oil town into the international headquarters of Big Green, Inc.. While his article might as well have been written by the cityís Chamber of Commerce, it would be nice to provide some perspective. For example, how much capital is flowing in to Houston to underwrite renewable energy investments versus how much capital is glowing in to Houston to underwrite fossil energy investments? I can guarantee you that the dollars associated with the latter are light years beyond those associated with the former and that rising oil prices are doing far more for the cityís economic health than anything else. He might have also asked how much of that venture capital is being driven by government regulation and subsidies. The answer would be ìall of itî – which speaks volumes about how precarious those investments might be.

Here is Taylor’s entire piece. Enjoy.