Here’s an interesting look at the peculiar personalities that often accompany top leadership in major oil producing countries like Russia, Iran and Venezuela. “If oil is a factor in the petrostate personality, one might ask whether we might see some change in the leaders, since oil prices have tanked by about 40% in the last… Keep reading →
After a landmark U.S.-China climate announcement and combined pledges of nearly $10 billion to the Green Climate Fund, there is strong momentum leading into the annual United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP 20) in Lima, Peru. At COP 20, climate change negotiators will meet to help build the… Keep reading →
The Middle East and North Africa region is on the cusp of a new energy revolution. US$50 billion has been set aside for investment in solar power projects by 2020, as MENA governments seek to maximise the long term value of their hydrocarbon resources by utilising solar energy to meet growing domestic consumption. Whilst these ambitious targets present a significant opportunity for potential sponsors of solar power projects in the region, there are a number of key considerations which sponsors may wish to bear in mind in establishing a framework for their investments.
As media reports explode about WTI crude oil futures prices closing below $60 per barrel today, there is no shortage of opinions about how far oil prices will go in the current bear market. The last major oil price crash in 2009 saw WTI prices fall to $34/bbl, before recovering fairly quickly. This time the… Keep reading →
2014 was certainly a busy and productive year for the energy industry and energy policy. We saw a relaxation of crude export regulations for the first time in decades, allowing the glut of condensate the United States is producing to be shipped overseas. We saw high profile political battles over greenhouse gas emissions, hydraulic fracturing,… Keep reading →
The FERC has directed RTOs/ISOs to identify fuel assurance issues relevant to their respective markets and file a report on the status of their efforts to address the issues. On November 20, 2014, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued an order directing regional transmission organizations and independent system operators (RTOs/ISOs) to file reports on… Keep reading →
A recent report from the advocacy group Environment America said U.S. solar power capacity would need to grow at an annual rate of 22 percent in order for solar to provide 10 percent of the nation’s electricity in 2030, from less than 1 percent now. So far, so good. Fresh industry data shows 1,354 megawatts of… Keep reading →
Even more can be done without too much pain US energy-related CO2 emissions have declined in 5 of the past 8 years, almost without trying very hard, mostly due to reductions in the electric power sector. Current trends, including lower energy demand growth rates (graph below), continued substitution of gas for coal and increasing the share… Keep reading →
Ed. note: This is a new weekly column by Elie Mystal, Managing Editor of Above the Law Redline. This space will focus on the laws that exist, should exist, and should be put out of their misery. OVER-REGULATED Iranian Sanctions: You probably know that crude oil prices are ridiculously lower than they were a few… Keep reading →
Energy Storage Is Going Primetime in 2015
By Bill RadvakThe electricity grid is set for a major transformation – arguably one of its biggest since the inception of the grid – and energy storage is going to play a center stage role. The radical pace of innovation is driven by governments, utilities and energy companies whose understanding and acceptance that the way energy is… Keep reading →