Huh, What is It Good For?
Steve Mitnick is President of Lines Up, Inc., Executive Editor of Public Utilities Fortnightly, and co-author of a new book, “Front Lines to Power Lines,” and before that the author of “Women Leading Utilities, the Pioneers and Path to Today and Tomorrow,” “Lewis Latimer, the First Hidden Figure,” and “Lines Down: How We Pay, Use, Value Grid Electricity Amid the Storm.” Mitnick was formerly an expert witness in proceedings before the utility regulatory commissions of six states, the District of Columbia, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and in Canada, and a faculty member at Georgetown University teaching undergraduate microeconomics, macroeconomics and statistics.
Just returned from CERAWeek by S&P Global. CERAWeek is basically Davos for the world's energy industries. Nearly six thousand energy company and government leaders spoke, listened, and networked at the Hilton Americas Houston.
When CERAWeek was planned months earlier, the climate change challenge was undoubtedly the dominant topic for the hundred-plus sessions. As the conference neared, however, the initial plan must have needed some rethinking and readjustments. A man named Vlad decided to go to war in Ukraine, wrecking that nation, and his own in the process.
The world responded in part by reconsidering energy dependencies. CERAWeek apparently responded too. The conference pivoted, covering how companies and governments will combat energy dependence as extensively as how they'll combat climate change.
Maybe you weren't at CERAWeek. You've likely seen in the news however that the production and transportation of natural gas (pipeline and LNG), and the continued operation of existing nuclear power plants and construction of new ones, are getting looked at in a new light. In Europe especially. And globally too. Even by many of those who have vehemently opposed gas and nuclear for years or decades.