America currently uses more air conditioning than the rest of the world combined. That could change. Stephen Lacey: August 13, 2013 America used to be the king of car sales, but China took that crown in 2009. America also used to be the world’s biggest polluter, but China now has that dubious distinction… Keep reading →
Chesapeake Energy – one of the largest US independent natural gas producers – continues restructuring in the wake of founder, chairman and CEO Aubrey McClendon’s departure. The company just let go 4 top executives, including the COO, EVP of production, SVP of drilling and SVP of human and corporate resources. “Termination without cause would provide… Keep reading →
A recent Wall Street Journal article discussed major oil company reserve holdings and how investors should evaluate a company’s reserve quality, quantity and global geographic distribution. It is an interesting story about a very important topic, but a lack of clarity with regard to some of the methodology and terminology leaves many questions unanswered. However,… Keep reading →
The world’s 11 “largest” listed oil companies were recently compared on a reserves basis, ostensibly to help investors analyze the firms. But “largest” and “resources” were not defined, and international oil companies were compared with national oil companies, which leaves plenty of questions. [Wall Street Journal] Mexico announced it will alter its constitution to allow… Keep reading →
Quick Take: A decade after its original publication, a coalition of industry organizations has updated its Electricity Storage Handbook. The document was produced in collaboration by Sandia National Laboratory, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). Although focused on transmission and distribution… Keep reading →
There’s little appetite for big new dams in the United States. While hydro provides undeniable benefits, particularly in the Pacific Northwest, that power comes at costs that were either not understood or were simply ignored in the heyday of dam building (check out Cadillac Desert and/or A River Lost for more on that). But improving existing… Keep reading →
Some of the world’s leading oil field service companies are accused of anticompetitive behavior in which the firms allegedly colluded to manipulate the hydraulic fracturing services market. The companies face a class action lawsuit under the Sherman Antitrust Act. “The class action complaint alleges that major oilfield services companies conspired to manipulate the market for… Keep reading →
By Jenny Cosgrave, Staff Writer The rise of North American oil supplies could test the future of OPEC which may have to curb supply to accommodate rising shale oil volumes, a new report has found. The increase in U.S. output is a “defining feature of tomorrow’s market” according to International Energy Agency’s oil market report… Keep reading →
The unpredictability of renewable energy sources like wind and solar creates reliability challenges for utilities seeking to balance power supply and demand across centralized grid networks. Policies compelling energy providers to incorporate more renewable energy into their portfolios make the challenge more urgent, but also create business opportunities for companies finding solutions. Those who crack… Keep reading →
In a new white paper on EVs, SoCal Edison reports that it encountered fewer grid problems than expected, though certain challenges remain. For years, we’ve heard the warnings that plug-in electric vehicles could overload power grids, disrupt utility business models, and leave their owners stranded at the side of the road with no charging… Keep reading →
