The Hidden Costs of Fossil Fuels in America

The reliance on fossil fuels in the United States, a legacy of the Industrial Revolution, has led to significant environmental and health costs. While these energy sources initially fueled economic growth, they now pose severe risks to public health and the environment. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established in the 1970s to address pollution, but the ongoing influence of fossil fuel industries complicates efforts to mitigate climate change.

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In the mid-20th century, growing awareness of pollution prompted Congress to enact several landmark laws aimed at regulating environmental damage. The establishment of the EPA marked a pivotal moment in American environmental policy, obligating federal agencies to assess the ecological and human impacts of their actions. However, by the 1990s, the emergence of greenhouse gases as a significant threat to climate stability led to bipartisan efforts to address the issue, which have since been undermined by fossil fuel interests.

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Despite the availability of cleaner energy alternatives, fossil fuels still account for approximately 80% of the nation’s energy supply. The economic implications of this reliance are profound, with extreme weather events linked to climate change costing the economy around $150 billion annually. Furthermore, the cancellation of clean energy projects under the Trump administration resulted in the loss of over 38,000 manufacturing jobs and $30 billion in investments. The average American household has seen electricity bills rise by 5% last year, with an additional increase of 4.2% projected for the current year.

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The health impacts of fossil fuel pollution are alarming. Air pollution is responsible for approximately 200,000 premature deaths each year, and nearly 5 million children suffer from asthma, with hundreds succumbing to the disease. The psychological toll is also significant, particularly among young Americans, who report feelings of anxiety and frustration regarding the government's inaction on climate change. Vulnerable populations, particularly low-income families living in "sacrifice zones," bear the brunt of these health risks.

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EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has initiated what he describes as the "single largest deregulatory action" in history, which includes ceasing the quantification of health and ecological benefits of regulations. This shift prioritizes industry profits over public health, with the EPA projecting that the repeal of pollution limits could cost Americans $1.5 trillion, excluding health impacts.

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Critics argue that the government perpetuates the dominance of fossil fuels through substantial taxpayer subsidies and by obscuring the true costs of these energy sources. The hidden costs of fossil fuels were estimated at $754 billion in 2022, even with existing regulations. This ongoing collusion between government entities and fossil fuel interests has been characterized as a "racketeering carbon cartel," which poses long-term threats to both public health and environmental sustainability.

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• “Their dominance results from longstanding collusion between government and Big Oil.” — William S. Becker, Executive Director of the Presidential Climate Action Project

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• “The government keeps fossil-energy prices artificially low with billions of dollars in annual taxpayer subsidies and by allowing the market to hide the fuels’ actual costs to society and the environment.” — William S. Becker

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The ongoing reliance on fossil fuels in the U.S. raises critical questions about the future of energy policy and its implications for public health and environmental sustainability.

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