When the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 was first enacted, it was a bit of an abstraction. A response to the energy crisis of the early 1970s, and championed by […]
Here’s How Nearly 15 Gigawatts of Solar Gets Built in One Year
In 2010, the U.S. installed 852 megawatts-DC of solar photovoltaics from just over 53,000 individual projects. The non-residential (aka commercial) segment took the largest share (40 percent) of that capacity, and the […]
The Discounts Are Over: U.S. Shale Is About To Get More Expensive
The U.S. oil rig count has surged for the better part of three quarters, rising by 281 rigs since bottoming out in May 2016, an increase of nearly 90 percent. The […]
Nuclear power’s rapidly accelerating crisis
A fire-sale is underway as the punch-drunk nuclear power industry tries to stop the rot. The French government is selling assets so it can prop up its heavily indebted nuclear utilities. Électricité […]
Forget Tax Credits. These Two Federal Policy Changes Are a More Immediate Threat to Solar
When Donald Trump won the presidential election in November, some in the solar industry worried they might become a political target. Eliminating federal tax credits or stripping funding for Department of Energy’s […]
Carbon Storage or Use?
Last week I was at a meeting of major industrial emitters and the discussion moved on to the subject of carbon capture. This shouldn’t have come as a surprise, but one aspect […]
Solar Leasing Continues to Lose Share to Loans
Recently released data from NYSERDA demonstrates the increasing trend of consumers electing to purchase solar vs. lease (lease or power purchase agreement). In January in New York, the percentage of residential solar systems […]
Are shale’s days numbered?
Courtesy U.S. Energy Information Administration The Texas shale revolution will not last forever. U.S. shale and tight oil production will increase to more than 6 million barrels per day in the coming […]
Do You Hear That? It’s the Fat Lady, Singing: Nuclear Revival Ends Almost Before It Starts
Five years ago almost to the day (Feb. 9, 2012, actually), the Nuclear Regulatory Commission voted 4-1 to issue a construction and operating license to Southern Company for the 2,234 megawatt Vogtle […]
Addressing the Plight of Existing Nuclear Retirements, Part 3
Highlights: While states have a major role to play in preventing nuclear retirements, regional and federal solutions offer alternative avenues to keep nuclear plants operating. For ISOs, capacity market reform can reduce […]
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