Common Resources

Is the Natural Gas Revolution Real?

Is the natural gas revolution the real thing? For all the talk about revolution, at least from forecasts, you would hardly know it. In the EIA’s 2013 Annual Energy Outlook, released last week, natural gas’ share of the energy mix goes up only 1%. So what is the big deal? I see five major impacts […]

Energy Independence - What Then? (Part Three: The Broad Goal of North American Energy Independence)

This post is the third in a four-part series on energy independence and its significance (or insignificance). Click to read the first, second, and fourth installments. In its recently-issued World Energy Outlook, the International Energy Agency (IEA) underscored the likelihood and significance of North America becoming “a net oil exporter around 2030.” Here, we ponder […]

Energy Independence - What Then? (Part Two: Benefits—but Lurking Uncertainties)

This post is the second in a four-part series on energy independence and its significance (or insignificance). Click to read the first, third, and fourth installments. International Energy Agency (IEA) projections show the US overtaking Saudi Arabia as the world’s lead oil producer and, in the light of Canada’s oil sands production, North America becoming a […]

Energy Independence - What Then? (Part One: The Centrality of Oil)

This post is the first in a four-part series on energy independence and its significance (or insignificance). Click to read the second, third, and fourth installments. “By around 2020, the United States is projected to become the [world’s] largest oil producer…” so states the International Energy Agency (IEA) in its World Energy Outlook 2012, issued […]

BP Settles - But the Story is Far from Over

Reports of a $4.5b settlement between BP and the federal government over criminal charges related to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill have emerged today. If the reports are correct, the settlement will be the largest criminal settlement in U.S. history. The criminal settlement in the Exxon Valdez disaster was only $150m, of which $125m was immediately […]

Searching for a Debate on Climate Policy?

As Nathan just noted, the presidential debates are in the books with nary a mention of climate change, or any other environmental issue for that matter. Part of the explanation is that the mainstream political press generally detests having to cover environmental issues, which require a pretty deep engagement with science as well as policy details that are […]

Energy in the Second Debate

The debate last night was a disheartening display of misinformation on energy policy. One questioner asked whether the DOE should be helping to lower gasoline prices. Neither candidate answered this question. Here’s the answer: The price of oil and gasoline is basically set on the world market and there is nothing the U.S. government can […]

Less Coal, More Gas, Less Carbon, Cheaper Power

Brad Plumer at the Washington Post wrote yesterday that coal power generation in the U.S. is in sharp decline—but market forces, not environmental regulation, are driving the recent trend according to analysis in a new Brattle Group report. The primary reason is natural gas prices. RFF research generally bears this out—and indicates that it should […]

Recycling Debates on Energy Independence and Energy Security

As illustrated by the Presidential candidates’ perhaps unexpected diversion into discussion of energy independence during their first debate, energy remains a contentious political issue - as it has been for the last few decades. We seem to be making little progress, however - either on the pursuit of energy independence (as if that were even […]

China Losing Money on Solar - a Good Thing, But Not For the Reason You Think

The NYT reports (h/t Alex Tabarrok) that Chinese subsidies for solar panel production via state-owned banks have led to huge overcapacity, with up to 33% losses on panel sales. Tabarrok points out the parallels between Chinese officials’ reactions and the political fallout from failed U.S. government investments in solar. The rhetoric is similar but there […]