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By refusing to play by the European Union’s restrictive climate rules, Poland has begun to build one of Europe’s most energy-secure economies. While much of the bloc marches in lockstep toward a self-inflicted economic wound called “net zero,”

At the heart of Poland’s defiance is a steadfast refusal to abandon coal, the bedrock of its energy system. In 2024, coal, oil, and natural gas accounted for more than 85% of total primary energy supply, the highest share in the EU. Coal alone generated 55% of the nation’s electricity in 2024, powering homes, factories, and businesses.

Maciej Bando, Poland’s deputy climate minister, has been unequivocal on this point: “I have no doubt that coal units will be needed in the system until they are naturally replaced by nuclear power plants.”

The idea that you can power a modern industrial economy with intermittent and unreliable sources of energy like wind and solar is a dangerous fantasy. Poland must be careful to not follow the examples of Germany and the United Kingdom, where domination of power grids by wind and solar has resulted in unstable power supplies, surging imports, and unaffordable power prices.

The green deal fantasies of the EU would have been quite disastrous for Poland. I am glad they have the balls to defy the EU, at least somebody in this region has some common sense. I wonder if they will be able to build few nuclear reactors. But they built autobahn everywhere, so I am optimistic.