AI, Subsidies, Corn, and Climate

AI, Subsidies, Corn, and Climate

I spent a few days farming last week, resulting in a lot of podcast time. A couple of them provided kindling for this Energy Rant or two. The first noteworthy podcast included an interview with David Sacks, Chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science...
100 Years and 50,000 Feet Over Ukraine

100 Years and 50,000 Feet Over Ukraine

I’m breaking my word from last week’s natural gas shakedown in which I noted I would write about customer intolerance for high energy prices this week. Since then, a kerfuffle has broken out in the Eurasian landmass. I was asked if I might be interested in writing...
Does Green Investing Work? Expert Says No

Does Green Investing Work? Expert Says No

I’m just a mechanical systems[1] engineer but assume for a moment that I was a structural or civil engineer, and you asked me what it would take to build a bridge from Los Angeles to Honolulu. We can build anything, including that bridge. If the Golden Gate Bridge...
Regulation v Deregulation in True Color

Regulation v Deregulation in True Color

Recent projects have led me to examine how deregulated electricity markets work. Since I am naturally curious, I wanted to investigate differences between electricity price performance of deregulated states versus those of regulated states. This week we examine the...
Regulation v Deregulation in True Color

Betting with Deregulation – A Risky Proposition

Energy is a commodity, and like all commodities, it is wise to hedge risk; not go the other way and place bets. Unless you are a certain presidential candidate with privileged information on cattle futures, I would stay away from betting, er investing in, commodities...