energyPulse

Articles

1-10 of 328 items listed          First    Previous    Next    Last   

From Shovel Ready Projects to Sustainable Partnerships

By Roger Feldman, Counsel, Andrews Kurth LLP, December, 02, 2009 - The most important of all the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the "Stimulus Act" or "ARRA") initiatives could be the reformulation of the DoE Renewable Energy Loan Guarantee Program. This could be true not because of what facilities actually commence construction before the September 30, 2011, cut off established by ARRA, but because it could be the precursor of several new forms of public-private partnerships ("P3") for alternative/renewable energy and for cleantech. While difficult economic situations and their legislative fixes come and go, innovative ways of doing business take root and proliferate.  more...
Article Viewed 1621 Times  |  4 Comments

The American (Energy) Patient

By Ferdinand E. Banks, Professor, , October, 12, 2009 - I would like to begin by stating that while the subject of energy economics has still not attained its 'critical mass' where book-length literature is concerned, there are an increasing number of short, non-technical papers that everyone should attempt to read and understand. Where my energy economics students are concerned, I mean read and understand perfectly, especially if they prefer a passing to a failing grade.  more...
Article Viewed 2322 Times  |  24 Comments

Kyoto and the Stern Review of Climate Change

By Ferdinand E. Banks, Professor, , July, 20, 2009 - In preparing the new printing of my energy economics textbook, several widely publicized topics were deliberately omitted. One of these was the Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change. On several occasions I heard this document mentioned when I was visiting professor at the Asian Institute of Technology (Bangkok), which caused me to immediately make it clear that it was not to be discussed in my classroom in the course of what might be described as normal business.  more...
Article Viewed 4167 Times  |  140 Comments

Public Service Company of Colorado Advocates a Resource Selection Process that Places Ratepayers at Risk by Favoring Fossil-Fuel Resources Over Renewables

By Dr. Andy Bardwell, Founder, Bardwell Consulting Ltd., June, 19, 2009 - Abstract: Public Service Company of Colorado (PSCo)'s 2003 resource selection process selected electrical generating resources that will cost ratepayers billions of dollars in avoidable costs. PSCo advocated the use of the same procedure in its 2007 resource plan.1 PSCo's assumptions for discount rate, fuel price escalation, and CO2 costs favor fossil-fuel over renewable resources. PSCo proposes fuel price forecasts that represent an average decrease of over 1% per year in real fuel costs for both natural gas and coal. In 2003 PSCo used a non-escalating $6 per ton cost of CO2, far lower than PSCo's 2007 proposed cost of $20 per ton starting in 2010, escalating at 7% per year.2 PSCo's low fuel and CO2 forecasts have failed to anticipate escalating costs, and fossil fuel forecasts will continue to to be extremely volatile. In conjunction with PSCo's high discount rate, these faulty assumptions select natural gas and coal-fired generation over wind and concentrating solar power resources. The results will be higher and more rapidly rising generating costs for ratepayers. Because renewable resources are more capital-intensive than fossil-fuel resources, and because PSCo's profits are largely tied to capital investments, PSCo's assumptions also select resources which produce lower profits for the company's shareholders.  more...
Article Viewed 2323 Times  |  1 Comments

US Energy Independence: Not Likely, Not Necessary

By Michael Beck, Managing Director, M.J. Beck Consulting, LLC, May, 08, 2009 - The U.S. goal of energy independence, typically defined as complete self-sufficiency for indigenous energy requirements, is an ill-conceived and unachievable objective. This holds for the foreseeable future and most likely beyond. A more realistic -- and achievable -- goal is to reduce and diversify energy dependence on any one fuel, geography, or technology. This route, of reducing and diversifying energy dependence, is also likely to pay more dividends in terms of the environment, the economy, and national security than the achievement of complete energy independence.  more...
Article Viewed 3452 Times  |  12 Comments

Is Utility Construction the Silver Lining?

By Mark Bridgers, Consultant, FMI Corporation, April, 29, 2009 - The Look Ahead for the 2009-2010 U.S. Power Utility Construction Market  more...
Article Viewed 3273 Times  |  Be the first to comment on this article.

Smart Grids: How Smart?

By Mark Sardella, PE, Writer, Local Energy News, April, 13, 2009 - President Obama's stimulus package, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, appropriates nearly $24 billion to modernize our country's electric power grid, including an $11 billion outlay to make it "smart". Those appropriations are stirring the hopes of renewable energy advocates, who foresee expanded opportunities for solar and wind technologies as well as a big, new role for plug-in electric and hybrid-electric vehicles.  more...
Article Viewed 4694 Times  |  56 Comments

Energy Policies are Complex Energy Solutions Are Even More So -- The Pickens Plan --

By Andrew C. Givens, President, Cardinal Energy Service, Inc., March, 27, 2009 -

The energy market is extremely complex and crosses international boundaries. On the supply side there are many participants including sovereign nations that own and develop reserves; multinational integrated producers; regional and local fossil fuel developers, drillers, miners and producers; refiners and processors; transporters; local dealers and utilities. With regard to nuclear fuels there are issues about politics, the environment, and security as much as there is about fuel supply. Politics, weather, and public perceptions all impact the energy supply and price from each of these components.  more...
Article Viewed 3052 Times  |  10 Comments

The Financial Benefits of Flexibility with Real-Time Asset Optimization

By Peter Spinney, Director of Market & Technology Assessment, NeuCo, Inc, March, 20, 2009 -

Introduction  more...
Article Viewed 3110 Times  |  Be the first to comment on this article.

Alternatives in Ontario Electric Power

By Harry Valentine, Commentator/Energy Researcher, , March, 09, 2009 - Over the past several years there has been much ongoing reporting on and discussion about electric power in Ontario. Most of that reporting and discussions have revolved around such issues as the $32-billion debt the utility once incurred and the projected shortfall in future generation capacity. There is much political support for shutting down the coal fired power plants and much opposition to expanding nuclear power generation. Over the next few years Ontario will likely exhaust the capacity to develop new mega-hydroelectric power installations.  more...
Article Viewed 4464 Times  |  123 Comments
1-10 of 328 items listed          First    Previous    Next    Last   
 

White Papers:

 

Case Studies:

 

Receive Energy Central eNews & Updates






 

How Optimization Addresses Your Most Critical Issues in Energy & Power

 Mar 19, 2010 - 1:30PM Eastern - Your City

One IBM client is saving over $65 thousand per day on unit commitment while reducing its carbon footprint by 100 thousand tons annually. Unit commitment applications based on IBM optimization technologies are running at major system operators; one of them more...
All Webcasts »

KEMA's 21st Executive Forum

 Mar 30, 2010 - Mar 31, 2010 - Irving, TX - USA

As the leading event in the US retail energy industry, KEMA's Executive Forum will gather senior executives, regulators, energy buyers, investors and other stakeholders from across North America to discuss the key business and policy issues facing retail energy markets.

 more...
All Conferences / Shows »

Electric Business Understanding Seminar

 Apr 19, 2010 - Apr 20, 2010 - Chicago, IL - USA

Electric Business Understanding provides a comprehensive overview of the electric industry. Position yourself for career advancement by gaining a solid understanding of how the electric business works including key physical, market, and regulatory aspects and how market participants navigate this more...

Electric Market Dynamics Seminar

 Apr 21, 2010 - Apr 22, 2010 - Chicago, IL - USA

Electric Market Dynamics offers participants an in-depth understanding of North American electric markets and how they function. Enhance your career by furthering your knowledge of market structures, pricing mechanisms, services offered in markets, and how various participants use the markets more...
All Training »
 

Contribute Your Work

It's easy to contribute articles, article proposals, commentary and analysis and be published online through Energy Central!

Sound interesting? Contact the editor for more information.