Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is often regarded as extremely dangerous and toxic with container ships called floating bombs. But is this perception accurate? The historical reality is that LNG has the best safety record of all common fuel types and is completely non-toxic. Of course natural gas vapors are flammable and present safety hazards that… Keep reading →
There is a saying in Brazil, “he who steals a little is a thief but he who steals a lot is a baron.” Apparently, executives at Brazilian oil giant Petrobras were stealing a lot. Corruption charges are turning the company upside down as investigators unravel kickback schemes and inflated construction budgets that involved some of the country’s largest firms.… Keep reading →
For climates with moderate heating and cooling needs, heat pumps offer an energy-efficient alternative to furnaces and air conditioners. Like your refrigerator, heat pumps use electricity to move heat from a cool space to a warm space, making the cool space cooler and the warm space warmer. During the heating season, heat pumps move heat… Keep reading →
In 2012, the city of Philadelphia announced plans to privatize the Philadelphia Gas Works (“PGW”). PGW is the nation’s largest municipality-owned natural gas utility with more than 6,000 miles of gas mains and service pipes supplying approximately 500,000 customers in the city of Philadelphia. The sale was positioned as a means to fix the municipal pension fund as well as the first step in developing Philadelphia as an energy hub, taking advantage of its proximity to the Marcellus and Utica Shale plays as well as its status as a coastal port.
Although the 30% business investment tax credit (ITC) for installing solar expires at the end of 2016, the window for taking advantage of the ITC is actually much sooner. Unless Congress extends the ITC – which is an open question at this time – business owners should begin planning now for solar projects to be… Keep reading →
It appears the largest oil price decline since the 2008 economic and financial crises could be reaching a bottom. Maybe. Luckily we don’t have the displeasure of making oil price forecasts, like our colleague Ed Crooks the US Industry and Energy Editor at the Financial Times: Anyway, benchmark global oil futures prices rebounded today partially… Keep reading →
Across the US, the historic relationship between GDP and electricity demand growth is projected to drastically change. At the same time, utilities’ average capital and operational and maintenance (O&M) expenses are increasing due to aging infrastructure, integration of smart grid technologies and increased need for cyber security. Conflicting market forces such as these can be… Keep reading →
Researchers from the University of Minnesota (Minneapolis) found in a new study assessing the life cycle air quality impacts on human health of 10 alternatives to conventional gasoline vehicles “that electric vehicles (EVs) powered by electricity from natural gas or wind, water, or solar power are best for improving air quality, whereas vehicles powered by… Keep reading →
Smart meters, which provide detailed electricity use data throughout the day, are a critical piece of a smarter, more resilient 21st century energy system. But they are not a cure-all for modernizing our antiquated power grid. In Matthew Wald’s recent New York Times article, entitled “Power Savings of Smart Meters Prove Slow to Materialize,” he… Keep reading →
Opinion: The Gas Station Isn’t the Only Place Americans Pay for Oil
By Lt. Gen. Richard Zilmer, USMC (Ret.)With gasoline prices lower than they’ve been in years, it’s easy to get complacent about weaning ourselves from petroleum. Sure, you might be spending less at the pump. But don’t forget the high cost our country pays for its over-dependence on oil – not just in terms of dollars, but in terms of national security, our economy… Keep reading →