Tag: externalities

After my stand-alone talk at the International Trade Forum last Friday, I was asked to participate in a panel on the future of the energy industry, where the moderator peppered us with excellent questions on the promises and challenges associated …

Fossil Fuels and Externalities Read More »

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Here’s an article that suggests our power utilities don’t really want to see more rooftop solar. While that’s not really news to anyone, it certainly does raise a good question: what are the changes we need to make in our …

Electric Utilities vs. Rooftop Solar Read More »

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A reader asked me to comment on this article by Andrew Follett, “Top 11 Problems Plaguing Solar and Wind Power,” in which the author makes his assertions and I respond to each.  Here goes: 1: Power Storage Is Incredibly Expensive …

The Economic Validity of Solar and Wind Power Read More »

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Externalities are the costs associated with a certain transaction that are not captured in the transaction itself, but are passed along unaccounted for (“externalized”) onto other parties who are often unaware of what’s hitting them, or, at best, unable to …

“Externalities” of Fossil Fuels Read More »

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As Jon Wellinghoff steps down from his position as chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) we read various articles summing up his accomplishments. In my estimation, Wellinghoff will be best remembered for establishing “dynamic pricing,” aligning consumer and …

Jon Wellinghoff, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and the Pricing of Electricity Read More »

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Here’s an article co-written by environmentalist superstar Bill McKibben that speaks to the need for better public transportation.  The authors point out that transportation generally contributes 27% of the total greenhouse gas emissions.  Since transportation is 98%+ based on gasoline …

We Need Better Public Transportation — But Can We Afford It? Read More »

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In reference to my post on the lifecycle analysis (LCA) of wind turbines, Peter Leach writes: The LCA of fossil fuel (or nuclear) powered electricity production presumably shows a good return in terms of direct power out vs. power consumed.  …

How Big Are the Externalities of Fossil Fuels? Read More »

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I was in a meeting this morning in which the subject of myth-busting on energy issues arose.  Unfortunately, we live in a world in which there exists a great deal of misinformation, both deliberate and accidental, on the subject.  I …

As Energy Misinformation Proliferates, The Need For Myth-Busting Grows Read More »

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Garth asks: Craig, just a question concerning fossil fuel subsidies. EXACTLY what is paid or tax credited in the fossil fuel industry? I have two ways of answering this: 1) If you want an extremely carefully done and conservative approach, …

Fossil Fuel Subsidies Read More »

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A reader asked that I comment on this fairly euphoric piece, suggesting that the world economy can and will be revived with the aggressive adoption of electric transportation and photovoltaics. Here are a few bits and pieces of my reaction. …

Electric Transportation and Solar Energy Read More »

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