Says crisis is “good for the long run.”
QUICK FACTS:
- Microsoft founder Bill Gates also spoke to the media to promote his clean energy projects with the tech mogul offering positive comments about the European energy crisis, calling it, “good for the long run.”
- The Microsoft founder told CNBC that the lack of Russian oil is forcing the countries in Western Europe to push their plans to exit oil-dependent energy forward.
- Bill Gates and other climate-concerned officials spoke at the energy summit in Seattle this week talking about clean energy and the cost of renewable power sources.
- Several US officials, including United States Energy Secretary John Kerry, attended Gates’ event.
GATES COMMENTS:
- Touting his Breakthrough Energy Ventures climate-technology (carbon tax) investment company, Gates told CNBC that “People did get a little optimistic about how quickly the transition could be done. Without the Russian natural gas being available in Europe… it’s a setback.”
- “We need to find non-Russian hydrocarbon sources to substitute for those so there’s coal plants running and variety of things, because, you know, keeping, you know, people warm, keeping those economies in decent shape is a priority,” Gates asserted.
- “Now, on the other hand, it’s good for the long run, because people won’t want to be dependent on Russian natural gas so they’ll move to these new approaches more rapidly.”
BACKGROUND:
- Gates has a history of support for progressive causes, including donating $200 million to help promote an invasive global digital ID system, American Faith reported.
- The money will be used to create an infrastructure that “encompasses tools” like digital ID, according to a press release published on the foundation’s website.
- The website claims that the system aims to make countries “more resilient to crises such as food shortages, public health threats, and climate change, as well as to aid in pandemic and economic recovery.”
