Michael Giberson Geothermal power generators use temperature differences between the surface and areas deeper in the earth to move a gas or liquid through a loop and drive a turbine. (One example is the Chena Geothermal Power Plant in Alaska. See the related project at the Chena Hot Springs Aurora Ice Museum, which uses 165°F …
Ocean Thermal Power Systems Back Under Development Read More »
Michael Giberson Today a Washington Post article discusses the most recent oil price forecast from Goldman Sachs analysts Arjun N. Murti and Jeffrey Currie, which have oil prices averaging $141/bbl for the second half of 2008. As usual, it isn’t hard to find an analyst with a contrary view, and the article presents some counter …
Michael Giberson Tom Igoe, a physical-computing researcher at New York University, said the Prius mpg display is one of the best examples of technology “where green meets information systems.” “For a long time,” he said, “we have known that people will change their habits if they are exposed to feedback in real time.” From “For …
Real-time Feedback Promotes Efficient Use of Energy Read More »
Michael Giberson Stephen Hadden and Shannon Messer, writing at Energy Central/T&D Automation: The concept of an intelligent electric utility infrastructure or “Smart Grid” is attracting wide interest among utilities, consultants, regulators, and other utility stakeholders. The widespread interest, however, is accompanied by widely differing expectations about when Smart Grid will emerge. Some consultants and vendors …
Michael Giberson Word is, the Alaska natural gas pipeline is just about ready to get started. The thing is, it has been just about ready for 30 years. In the Energy Tribune, Alaska-born Ron Oligney diagnoses the problems that have kept progress on the Alaskan gas line at bay. Posturing by populist politicians plays a …
Alaska Natural Gas Line Ready to Take Off, Just As Soon As Politicians Get Things Sorted Read More »
Michael Giberson At yesterday’s open meeting of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Commissioners established a hearing to determine whether Energy Transfer Partners, L.P. and its affiliates engaged in market manipulation in violation of FERC rules. At stake is a possible penalty of over $200,000,000 in proposed fines, recovery of “unjust profits”, and interest. As …
FERC Proceedings Continue for Alleged Gas Market Manipulator Read More »
Michael Giberson No doubt consumers think oil prices are too high. For the moment I’m wondering if oil prices are too high even for OPEC. High prices induce a number of adjustments, some of which have long term repercussions. Last time there was an oil price shock at all comparable to the present was around …
Michael Giberson We’ve played the food-into-fuel answer to the title question in previous posts, but Ajay Shah posts a deeper, more thoughtful explanation in which biofuel subsidies and mandates just barely warrant a mention. He is not persuaded by the hypothesis that the “pike in world food prices is caused by increased demand in China …
Michael Giberson You don’t want them picking up their ideas about oil on the streets: And the education must begin early, he told a luncheon crowd of industry professionals at OTC. “When we don’t inform our children about petroleum facts,” he said, “someone else is going to do the job for us.” “He” is Abe …
Michael Giberson The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission is thinking about prediction markets and is inviting public comments on several questions as it attempts to sort out questions of public interest and appropriate regulatory treatment. (Now that I’ve mentioned that the CFTC is concerned with prediction markets, I’ll switch to the term the CFTC uses, …
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