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May 20, 2013
Rising U.S. Oil Supply and the Impact on Global Markets
oil economics at the pump
The recent growth in U.S. production has helped reduce the price of Brent crude, a leading global benchmark, by about $25 a barrel. That’s big, because the cost of crude oil is the single biggest factor in the price of gasoline.[read more]
May 20, 2013
Energy Efficiency: In Praise of Waste
It’s time we stopped wasting time with brain dead energy saving mantras and got on with the real task of building a clean energy infrastructure so we can use far, far more electricity.[read more]
May 20, 2013
Grossly Incomplete: Redefining GDP for Climate Change
It isn’t about “Green GDP” or “green accounting.” It’s honest accounting. Every ton of coal, every barrel of oil causes more in external damages than it adds value to GDP. Properly measured GDP ought to reflect that fact.[read more]
Energy Innovation: “Artificial Leaf” Could Blow Up Fuel Cell Market
The idea of an “artificial leaf” sounds simple enough: Take a small, cheap, light-collecting device the size of a typical leaf, dunk it in a quart of water, and use solar energy to generate enough hydrogen gas for powering a small fuel cell.[read more]
Energy in China: Construction of Biggest Hydropower Dam Yet to Come
hydropower in China
Reuters reports that China’s environmental ministry has okayed the construction of a new hydroelectric dam on the Dadu River in the Sichuan province, which when completed will be the country’s largest.[read more]
New Draft Fracking Rules Give Industry a Free Pass
natural gas well entrance
Just released federal government draft rules for fracking fail to protect people from harm. Instead the rules protect the oil and gas industry from having to follow strong public health and environmental standards.[read more]
Wind Energy Growing Faster than Coal in China: False Math
coal-fired plants
Now, the inexorable growth of coal in China in the last decade is often news even to people who make some kind of living writing about energy, but could it possibly be slowing down? And could wind be growing faster than coal?[read more]
The Solution Is Finding New Answers
Most leaders believe they made it to the top because of their experience, knowledge and past success. The problem with that assumption is today is no longer a reflection of the past.[read more]
Climate Change vs Terrorism and the Costs of Inaction
climate change future?
Terrorism seems to be the only actionable trigger in our leaders' minds. Perhaps we need to brand Mother Nature a terrorist to provoke action on climate change?[read more]
Risks to American Nuclear Energy from "Non-Proliferation" Excesses
Attempts to impose a policy of not selling to any country that will not agree to permanently forgo domestic nuclear fuel production will lock US-based suppliers out of the most important energy technology in the world.[read more]
US Military on Track to Reach 3 GW of Solar Energy by 2025
military solar energy
The Army, Navy and Air Force are using more than 130 megawatts of solar energy, with intentions toward 3 gigawatts of solar capacity by 2025 as part of a much bigger Department of Defense commitment.[read more]
South Korea May Launch World’s Most Ambitious Cap And Trade Market
South Korean carbon emissions
With roughly 18 months until launch, South Korea appears ready to create the world’s most ambitious cap and trade market, with the highest global price on carbon.[read more]
Amazon's Belo Monte Mega Dam: Saga and Controversy Continues
Belo Monte controversies continue
The latest installment of the saga has been the expulsion of journalists from the site where they would cover the latest protest by indigenous activists who have brought the building of the dam to a halt.[read more]
The Military Microgrid as Smart Grid Asset
military microgrid?
Never-fail military microgrids are breaking new ground in distributed energy management. Now one of them is getting connected to the grid at large.[read more]
New Energy Secretary: Tackle Climate Change with Efficiency and Renewable Energy
new DOE Secretary Moniz
The budget proposal for FY2014 would give Moniz a solid start in advancing the low-carbon economy, by increasing funding for renewable energy, advanced vehicle research and development, and energy efficiency programs.[read more]
BLM’s New Draft Fracking Rules
BLM’s aim with this rule, compared to a previous version, was to take hydraulic fracturing regulation in a better direction – acknowledging the role of the states and measures including FracFocus.org, the online fracking fluid registry.[read more]
Gina McCarthy On Path To EPA Confirmation: Can Senate GOP Get On Board?
EPA nominee Gina McCarthy
As one of the most highly-qualified nominees to lead the Environmental Protection Agency in its history, McCarthy has won plaudits from Republicans like Senator James Inhofe and energy titans like American Electric Power.[read more]
Climate Change: Looking at 400 ppm and Beyond
atmospheric CO2
Our goal to be avoided, 450 ppm, is now feeling a bit close for comfort, given we are already at 400 ppm and 300 ppm was only passed under the previous British monarch.[read more]
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What's New on
Scott Edward Anderson is a consultant, blogger, and media commentator who blogs at The Green Skeptic. More »
Christine Hertzog is a consultant, author, and a professional explainer focused on Smart Grid. More »
Gary Hunt Gary is an Executive-in-Residence at Deloitte Investments with extensive experience in the energy & utility industries. More »
Jesse Jenkins is a graduate student and researcher at MIT with expertise in energy technology, policy, and innovation. More »
Jim Pierobon is the former Chief Energy & Correspondent at the Houston Chronicle, a consultant and blogs at TheEnergyFix.com More »
Geoffrey Styles is Managing Director of GSW Strategy Group, LLC and an award-winning blogger. More »
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“Nuclear power absolutely has an excellent chance for a place at the table, but it has to address the current industry environment. The last round of plants only began to look attractive when they finally were in the hands of competent operators and had been fully amortised or acquired cheaply. As Excelon and Duke have both publicly noted, large new nukes require assurance of stable gas prices in ...”
“Seeking comes before finding. Established industry leaders are not seeking. They have an inventory of the old stuff and customers who want business as usual, so what's the motivation for finding new answers? New is bad. Wall Street accounting punishes expenditures for R&D and rewards managers who cut costs. Government is staffed by industry experts and trainees ...”