Coal boosters like to tout coal as cheap and plentiful - well, not anymore. At least not in China.

In the world of energy politics, the sudden vanishing of the word 'coal' is a remarkable and unprecedented event.

When it comes to climate and energy, Gates is a radical consumerist. In his view, energy consumption is good - it just needs to be clean energy.

Have we failed to slow global warming pollution in part because climate and environmental activists have been too polite and well behaved?

So if you want to know how Exxon Mobil can make $10 billion profit in 90 days, just look around. The whole world was built for them.

When it comes to global warming, coal is the gorilla in the room.

Americans don't pay much attention to environmental issues, because they aren't sexy. I mean, cleaning up coal plants and reining in outlaw frackers is hugely important work, but it doesn't get anybody's pulse racing.