December 2010

Chinese Government Having Trouble Getting Fuel Prices Right

Michael Giberson From the Financial Times beyondbric blog, some somewhat puzzling news from China about how the government’s decision to raise gasoline prices was leading to long lines at gasoline stations. In Beijing on Tuesday, long lines began to form around gas stations across the city. It was one of the first tangible signs of the …

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Iran Cuts Fuel Subsidies and Other Energy and Economics Links

Michael Giberson A couple of interesting readings: The New York Times reports, “Gas Prices Soar in Iran as Subsidy Reduced.” (Also: Washington Post, Wall Street Journal.) Cape Wind Project still has half of its capacity up for sale. (Local utility claims it can find cheaper renewable power elsewhere.) The Economist, “Why do firms exist?” on …

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Oil Flows in Ghana, is the Resource Curse Soon to Follow?

Michael Giberson TAKORADI, Ghana — The impoverished West African nation of Ghana become the world’s newest oil producer Wednesday, pumping crude for the first time from an offshore field worth billions of dollars in the Gulf of Guinea. President John Atta Mills turned the oil valves Wednesday during in an inaugural ceremony broadcast live from a storage vessel …

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Did They Really Say That? Gasoline Market Stress Coming to Eastern Washington, So Officials Offer Advice

Michael Giberson One consequence of a 14-week project to replace several locks on dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers is that gasoline transportation costs will rise in the area. Some gasoline that would have traveled up the river will have to move by train and truck instead, a more expensive process and one much …

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Chinese Wind Power Company Seems to Understand American Political Capitalism

Michael Giberson American University’s Investigative Journalism Workshop has published reports detailing the extensive political connections in the United States developed by Chinese wind power company A-Power Energy in its effort to build a 600-MW wind farm in West Texas.  A-Power and their partners were seeking $450 million in section 1603 grants and U.S. Department of …

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Texas Transmission Route to Avoid Crossing Scenic Canyon

Michael Giberson Last week the Texas PUC approved routes for the northwesternmost link in the CREZ transmission expansion, choosing one of the longest of several possible transmission routes in order to avoid crossing parts of Palo Duro canyon.  The canyon is the nation’s second longest and includes a state park.  None of the routes would …

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Industry Advocates: Jobs Will Be Lost if Congress Doesn’t Act

Michael Giberson My title is taken from the subtitle of a story in the Arizona Republic, the headline is: “Solar supporters link future to subsidies.” The “solar supporters” and “industry advocates” referred to are the Solar Energy Industries Association and the American Wind Energy Association, both actively lobbying Congress for extension of the so-called 1603 …

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Hotel Rate Price Gouging During Snowstorm

Michael Giberson Or maybe I should title this post, “Hotel charged peak prices during peak demand period,” or better still: “Hotel price gouging promotes public safety.” A Sea-Tac Airport area hotel raised its rates dramatically as it filled up during a snowstorm one night last month, and several patrons were shocked by bills from almost …

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