Edison Shrugged
The crisis of confidence in today's power industry is, at its heart, a crisis of ideas.
A market-based system requires that regulators establish a level playing field but not interfere unduly with the game itself.
Cycle Frequencies Drive Turbine Choices
The 50 hertz market is poised for growth as the 60 hertz market levels off.
At the beginning of 2003, 59.2% of the world’s installed generating capacity operated on 50 hertz and 40.8% on 60 hertz. As markets such as Southeast Asia and China, which run on 50 hertz, begin to surpass traditional markets in capacity additions, this balance will shift even further toward 50 hertz.
Letters to the Editor
Letters from Andrew Paterson, a principal at Environmental Business International, and Professor Sheldon Landsberger, Director, Nuclear Engineering Teaching Lab, University of Texas at Austin.
People
People for September 2003.
New positions at Mirant, Chesapeake Utilities, Mid-Atlantic Conference of Regulatory Utilities Commissioners, and others.
Aquila: Better Off Dead?
Bankruptcy may not be better for ratepayers.
In an ironic twist, Aquila now looks more and more like a traditional, stick-to-the-knitting electric utility. There is no longer any unregulated operation to worry about.
A Thousand Maine Customers See the Light
In this Fortnightly parody, Interfaith Power & Light employees and users gather to celebrate a milestone.
Zealous disciples of the gospel of "green energy" gathered in Maine recently, rejoicing that Maine Interfaith Power & Light (IPL) had achieved its goal of 1,000 customers for its environmentally friendly renewable energy program.
The Economics of Wind: Looking at MidAmerican Energy
How the wind farm capacity factor and a tax subsidy can beef up a utility's bottom line.
These analyses illustrate the economics of wind farming, the importance of the wind farm capacity factor, and that a tax subsidy can generate much cash to the bottom line of a utility in a specific and properly chosen wind-farm site.
Gas Crisis Forum: Is It Real, or Is It Hype?
Chicken Little has cornered the market on gas price doom and gloom, but the data is inconsistent on whether high gas prices are here to stay.
“Crisis” makes for good business to an interesting assortment of players in the energy industry, but such talk could lead to unnecessary and untimely legislative and regulatory intercession. Investment, not government intervention, could be the answer.
Gas Crisis Forum: Prices Pointing Skyward!
Gas prices are likely to remain high in the near term.
The prospects aren’t good for a dip in natural gas prices. An overview of Canadian imports, Mexican exports, LNG, the Rockies, and the overall demand for gas points to higher prices for gas in the near term.
The Carbon Conundrum
Technology exists to sequester carbon-but will utilities ever buy in?
Is carbon sequestration part of the vision of inexpensive, secure power? The current economics of capturing carbon don’t lend themselves to an affirmative answer, but projects backed by federal dollars could provide crucial information.