Political Pendulums Are Grid-Wrecking Balls

Political Pendulums Are Grid-Wrecking Balls

I could write about electricity shortages and data centers every week. Maybe I’ll attempt to keep it to one per month. There are many reasons it’s important, but the big one is that it drives load growth, strains the bajeezus out of the grid, and keeps...
Defending Utilities and RTOs

Defending Utilities and RTOs

This week, I’m providing the other side of last week’s Less for More Train. From my 30 years of observation in and around the utility industry, utilities were driven into the oncoming mess of less reliability for higher electricity costs. I use the word...
All Aboard the Less for More Train

All Aboard the Less for More Train

Michaels Energy was founded in 1984 in the wake of the 1970s energy crises when fear of energy starvation gripped the nation and world. Forecasts indicated natural gas and crude oil reserves would soon be depleted. Policymakers were so freaked out that, for a short...
Derisking Load Growth and Cost Overruns

Derisking Load Growth and Cost Overruns

If you haven’t seen my recent conversation on The False [unrealistic] Promises of Electrification with Katherine Johnson on The KJ Show with Dr. KJ, check it out. I received a lot of great feedback from folks. I don’t grade my work except for my objective,...
Pants On Fire Fact Pickers

Pants On Fire Fact Pickers

I’ll lead with the conclusion: decarbonization will continue if it costs less than conventional sources, with caveats. The caveats are externalities. Thermal sources of electricity, including coal, natural gas, and nuclear, are associated with externalities of...