Author name: Michael Giberson

New York Electric Power System Operator Reports Power Prices Drop As Fuel Costs Fall

Michael Giberson A news release recently put out by the New York ISO – the organization that manages the electric transmission grid and the integrated wholesale power market in the state – observes that electric power prices are dropping along with fuel prices. The statement noted that power prices had increased as natural gas prices …

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Gasoline Prices in New York Three Weeks After the Zone Pricing Ban

Michael Giberson Gasoline prices are making the headlines across the country (these headlines found via Google News): Salt Lake City Tribune: When gas prices fall, retailers rejoice, too. Why do they rejoice? See our post on Rockets and Feathers. An Associated Press story: Price of gas hits lowest point in nearly 5 years. Hartford Courant: …

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Steven Chu to Be Next U.S. Secretary of Energy

Michael Giberson In the news, reports that Steven Chu will be nominated to become the next U.S. Secretary of Energy. Chu, a physicist who won the Nobel Prize in 1997, has been Director of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory since August, 2004. Tom Fowler at Newswatch: Energy observes that “Saying ‘the University of California-Berkeley’ and ‘U.S. …

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Notes on “Energy Czar”; a Reading Recommendation for the “Car Czar”

Michael Giberson “Energy czar” is a term with a pedigree in the United States, being applied at least as early as December 1973 to William E. Simon, who Nixon appointed to head the Federal Energy Administration. The Time article in the link observes that Simon was advocating a 50 mph national speed limit and a …

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Czar Talk

Michael Giberson What is with all of the czar talk? Most prominently in the news: “House Speaker Nancy Pelosi touted the notion of a ‘car czar’ Tuesday to supervise an auto industry bailout, saying Big Three executives haven’t adapted well to changing conditions,” reports the Associated Press. Who wants a czar? I believe the appropriate …

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You, Too, Can Arbitrage the Premium-midgrade-regular Gasoline Price Spread

Michael Giberson At Overcoming Bias, Robin Hanson discovers he can save money by mixing premium and regular gasoline rather than buying the mid-grade product, and if you buy mid-grade gasoline for your car then you may be able to save money too. The opportunity to save depends on the relative octane ratings and prices of …

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(Almost) Live from New Orleans, Blogging the 2008 Usaee Conference

Michael Giberson No, I’m not in New Orleans, but at the Morgan Energy blog, Cheryl Morgan is blogging about her experience at the U.S. Association for Energy Economics conference. She has been kind enough to respond to my questions, so be sure to read the comments. As of Friday morning: Live From USAEE 2008 USAEE …

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Do You Know What the Car Company of the Future Should Look Like?

Michael Giberson From the Steven Mufson article in the Washington Post, The Car of the Future — but at What Cost?: Many members of Congress believe they know what the car company of the future should look like. “A business model based on gas — a gas-guzzling past — is unacceptable,” Sen. Charles E. Schumer …

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