Technology

Bush's Cloudy Skies?

Experts debate whether Bush’s Clear Skies plan on power plant emissions clears the way for better emissions technologies.

The Bush administration has yet to deliver a detailed plan of its Clear Skies program-no legislation has been introduced. Even without many details, there's plenty to argue about. At the top of the list is whether a cap-and-trade program will truly reduce emissions more than the current command-and-control regime.
Byline: 

Jennifer Alvey

Read Entire Article

The Economists: On the Future of Energy Markets

Uncertainty clouds direction of FERC’s market engineering.

The failure of California markets, Enron, and the low-point of the merchant plant business cycle has left many executives pessimistic over the prospects that true competitive markets in energy will develop. Top economists discuss the industry’s outlook.
Byline: 

Mark Hand

Read Entire Article

Let's Be Rational About Hydrogen as a Vehicular Fuel

A response to “Forgetting Someone, Mr. Secretary?” Frontlines, Feb 1, 2002.

Mr. Stavros seems to fall into the same trap as so many of the major car manufacturers in assuming the need for a prohibitively costly infrastructure to supply this hydrogen when one already exists that offers by far the cheapest and environmentally vastly superior option—the natural gas transmission and distribution system.
Byline: 

Henry R. Linden

Read Entire Article

Demand Response: An Overview of Enabling Technologies

Oak Ridge National Laboratory engineers say residential and commercial customers must bear the true price of power, through new technologies, for electric competition to work.

Demand Response: An Overview of Enabling Technologies


 

Byline: 
<i>Robert H. Staunton, John D. Kueck, <br>Brendan J. Kirby, and Joe Eto
Read Entire Article

Wind Power, Poised for Take Off?

A survey of projects and economics.

Wind Power: Poised for Take Off?



 

A survey of projects and economics.

The amount of electricity generated from wind in the U.S. is expected to surge this year - owing in large part to hydropower shortages out West, natural gas price volatility across the country, and high capacity factors for wind turbines, which help to offset the intermittent nature of wind energy generation.

Byline: 
Christine Real de Azua
Read Entire Article