The mission of the Pacific Research Institute (PRI) is to champion freedom, opportunity, and personal responsibility for all individuals by advancing free-market policy solutions. Since its founding in 1979, PRI has remained steadfast to the vision of a free and civil society where individuals can achieve their full potential. Put simply, public policy is too important to be left just to the experts. Individuals are the real decision makers when it comes to their schools, health care, and environment. PRI reinforces this ideal by providing you with the information, inspiration, and opportunity to make decisions about the daily issues that matter most to you. The Institute’s activities include publications, events, media commentary, legislative testimony, and community outreach.
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2026-05-20
The Pacific Research Institute’s Wayne Winegarden Explores Energy Policy and Coal's Importancewith Wayne Winegarden
Wayne Winegarden, a senior fellow at the Pacific Research Institute, discusses energy policy and the ongoing importance of coal in the U.S. energy landscape on the Powering America Podcast. He highlights the complexities of energy costs in California, the role of coal as a dispatchable energy source, and the challenges posed by regulatory pressures that limit investment in coal. Winegarden emphasizes the need for a balanced energy strategy that includes coal, natural gas, and nuclear power to ensure grid reliability while addressing environmental concerns.
Notable quotes
“Without affordable energy, you don't have prosperity.”
“When those costs go up, the cost for everything else goes up too.”
“Coal still plays a very prominent role in keeping the world running today.”
“We have to do it realistically.”
“The ultimate problem is... it's harmful kind of to those companies, is gonna prevent them from being, having the capital they need.”
“The market will do a better job... because if we allow individual companies, individual entrepreneurs to experiment, to succeed and reap the rewards or fail and pay the consequences, then the market will do a better job.”