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The ‘nuclear renaissance’ envisioned a decade ago has stalled to the point of near fantasy. While there are Chinese programs that keep open the promise of ‘traditional’ large nuclear power plant projects, constructing such plants does not seem viable in current economic and energy market conditions. With (relatively) rapid changes in electricity markets (efficiency driving […]

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At least some more reporters and at least some polling organizations are looking out their windows, paying attention to wildfires in California and heat waves in Australia and floods in …, and starting to address climate change. https://twitter.com/rebleber/status/1069985291140780032?s=11 These (so-to-speak) newcomers to the beat of the most critical issue facing mankind are approaching the topic […]

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Human-driven climate change creates many challenges for humanity from driving mounting extinction rates (and thus reducing biodiversity and undermining ecosystems) to disrupted weather patterns to fostering more extreme weather events to … Well, that list is distressing long.  Many of these risks and threats are difficult to project with exactitude: yes, climate change will lead […]

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Looking back a decade, solar photovoltaiic (PV) prices were over 20 cents per kilowatt hour (kwh), uncertainty existed as to polysilicon pricing (one of the reasons why Solyndra, potentially, seemed to make sense if silicon prices wouldn’t drop), and the future seemed extremely bright for concentrated solar power (CSP) leveraging solar power for heat to […]

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Governor Northam has a real opportunity – assuming he seizes it – to set Virginia on a path toward increased prosperity, improved security, and global leadership this fall. “Virginia law requires the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (DMME) to write a ten-year Energy Plan in the first year of every new administration. The statute lists […]

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A decade ago, Google came out with its RE<C initiative. That formula: Renewable Energy less than Coal In short, an announced plan to invest to spark innovation and deployment of clean energy systems that would be less expensive than coal in traditional economic terms — without requiring inclusion of the substantial externality costs from exploiting […]

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BP’s chief economist, Spencer Dale, is perhaps one of those for who the old EF Hutton ad applies: when Spencer Dale speaks, people should listen. Thoughtful, substantive, and often incisive about what has happened, is happening, and might/potentially could happen in the energy sector. Dale’s presentations aren’t only substantive, but articulately engaging and done in […]

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Let’s be clear: bottled water is an ever growing problem around the world. Rather than using tap water, where it is safe (perhaps with a filter), or creating good public water systems, an ever-growing number of people are getting their H20 in plastic water bottles. That plastic contributes to climate change (lots of oil to […]

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Forecasting is tough. And, there is a perception problem, forecasts are taken all too often as some form of firm projection that can be taken to the bank rather than a look to the future within a set of assumptions.  Forecasting amid great change — technological or otherwise — is even tougher. And, we are […]

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When it comes to energy prices, gasoline has been and remains the most visceral touch point for Americans (and, well, likely drivers around the world). Few really connect the turning on of a light bulb to that monthly electricity bill while essentially everyone with a (non-electric) car has experienced the smelly hands while watching the […]

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