"Wind and solar don’t need to pay for fuel, so they can deliver low-cost power to ERCOT whenever the weather is favorable. That pushes down the prices that coal owners can earn during those high-renewables hours, reducing the amount of time when it makes economic sense to run their plants. Solar can only operate in the sunlight, yet it still managed to produce more megawatt-hours in March than Texas coal plants, which technically could run at any time of day."
How Innovation Boosts Growth And Why We Need More Of It
"More pro-growth policies are the only way to ensure that the United States remains the world’s innovation leader. These policies include light-touch regulation on new technologies such as AI, tax policies that encourage investment such as full expensing, new free-trade agreements with friendly countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines, and a better immigration system that encourages the best and brightest to live and work in America. If we continue to take innovation and growth for granted, eventually we will fall behind."
Bill Gates’ TerraPower Ready to Build New U.S. Nuclear Power Plant
"The Natrium reactor, which has been developed by TerraPower along with GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, is a bit larger than most SMRs, with a generation capacity of 345 MW. The reactor also includes a molten salt-based energy storage system (ESS). TerraPower has said the ESS could increase the power output to 500 MW for a period of more than five-and-a-half hours if needed."
Exclusive: Exxon CEO says company is “keeping a very close eye” on geothermal
"'We're keeping a very close eye on it, recognizing there is a very strong alignment and synergies with what we already know how to do.'"
Keurig Plans Launch of Compostable Coffee Pods
"Keurig Dr Pepper said that it would begin beta testing of the new Alta system, which will take the compostable pods, as early as this fall. The company plans to refine the product further before wide release of the Alta."
US electricity prices outpace annual inflation
"The BLS inflation data released yesterday is 'especially damning,' said Paul Cicio, chair of the Electricity Transmission Competition Coalition. While electricity generation costs have fallen due to low natural gas prices, 'transmission costs continue to accelerate,' he said."
Rising Energy Demand is Not the Enemy. It’s the Opportunity
Lamenting the “obscene” energy demands artificial intelligence (AI) will command, a recent New Yorker article asks, “How can the world reach net zero if it keeps inventing new ways to consume energy?” The energy needs of cryptocurrency mining and clean-tech manufacturing have also raised concerns that the world will not meet climate targets. The reality...
To Reduce Climate Risk, the SEC Should Ease the Cost of Doing Business
The SEC’s decision to exclude Scope 3 emissions was a win for businesses. However, the Commission’s complex reporting rules still add undue costs to consumers and the private sector.
Why the world’s mining companies are so stingy
"Another reason for miners’ lack of investment is woefully lengthy permit processes, which delay projects and add uncertainty. In America obtaining permits often takes between seven and ten years, with companies required to consult a variety of government agencies and other interested parties. In some countries environmental concerns have led to approvals being withdrawn. The Serbian government revoked the licence of Rio Tinto, another mining behemoth, for a $2.4bn lithium mine after environmental protests broke out in the country in 2022."
UN nuclear watchdog head urges development banks to fund new projects
"The Asian Development Bank does not finance investment in nuclear energy, citing barriers to deployment including low public acceptance, risks related to nuclear proliferation, safety issues and high investment costs, according to a 2021 review."