Fossil fuel energy is the lifeblood of the modern world. Before the Industrial Revolution, humanity depended on solar energy captured in living plants. But with the ability to harness the energy in coal and other fossil fuels, human quality of life and capacity for progress increased exponentially. With the recent advent of safe fracking techniques and incredible innovations in the energy industry, fossil fuels are as promising an energy resource as ever. Yet, highly politicized climate policies are pushing a grand-scale shift to new and less efficient energy sources. Is such a shift really necessary? If fossil fuel energy is supplanted by less efficient and less affordable alternatives for political reasons, will the modern world suffer?