A lot of attention has been paid to the role of growing electricity use by data centers; however, most commentary has proceeded without much in the way of thoughtful analysis. A study on drivers of state-level trends in U.S. retail electricity prices from the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab begins to fill the gap.
Virginia Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger warns state heading toward “energy crisis”
Virginia Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger — who promised during her campaign to prioritize affordable energy if she won — on Sunday doubled down on her views of the “energy crisis” that her state will face without new policies to hold the biggest users accountable. “There’s some bad energy policies in some of our neighboring states that have driven...
US cementing higher inflation regime
With the exception of goldbugs, almost everyone seems to have abandoned their inflation worries. The Federal Reserve is easing again, Wall Street stocks and bonds are rising in tandem, and even the bruised dollar has perked up a bit. The Fed’s strict 2% inflation target seems to be a thing of the past. And yet...
Nobel Prize Winners Show Why Innovation is Essential for People and the Planet
Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion, and Peter Howitt won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Economics for their work on innovation-driven economic growth. Innovation spurs technological advancements that improve human flourishing and quality of life. It is also essential for a cleaner environment. As we remind policymakers in the U.S. and abroad, free economies are clean economies.
Cities Redefine Resilience as an Investment Strategy
With the escalation of climate risks and surging insurance rates, local governments worldwide face an urgent financial reality. Cities that fail to adapt face economic erosion, declining tax bases, and increased exposure to disasters. A new report from Resilient Cities Network and Tokio Marine Group, “Under Pressure, Overdue: The Portfolio Approach and Financing Cities for Resilience”,...
Entergy Will Power $4-Billion Google Data Center in Arkansas
Google announced the first phase of a $4-billion data center project in West Memphis, Arkansas, an initiative that state officials have called one of the largest economic investments in state history. The facility, located near the Arkansas-Tennessee state line, will be powered by Entergy using solar power and existing generation in the area. Speakers at...
New California law could expand energy trading across the West
After years of failed attempts, California lawmakers have cleared the way to create an electricity-trading market that would stretch across the U.S. West. Advocates say that could cut the region’s power costs by billions of dollars and support the growth of renewable energy. But opponents say it may make the state’s climate and clean-energy policies...
Oil gains as market weighs Russia supply risk, US rate decision
Oil prices rose on Tuesday as markets weighed a potential disruption of supplies from Russia due to Ukrainian drone attacks on its ports and refineries as well as the prospect of a U.S. central bank interest rate cut. Brent crude futures were up 67 cents, or 1%, to $68.11 a barrel at 1318 GMT, while...
Congress splinters into unlikely factions over looming government shutdown
Battle lines are emerging on Capitol Hill in the fight to avert a government shutdown in three weeks — and it’s not just Republicans vs. Democrats. On one side, fiscal hawks are joining with the White House to keep federal agencies running on static funding levels, ideally into January or longer. On the other, Democrats...
Energy secretary says he worries most about high electricity bills
Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Tuesday that rising electricity prices are what he “worries about most” as Americans face high power bills. “It’s what I worry about most — seven days a week. We want to stop the rise in electricity for Americans and reshore jobs and opportunity here,” Wright said in an interview on the Fox Business...









