Tag Archives: gas
Net Metering: Whats Not to Like?
There’s been a lot of talk lately about net metering. What’s so special about net metering, and why all the fuss? Net metering is a simple concept that’s policy in 43 states. It’s like rollover minutes on a cell phone bill — it lets utility customers who install solar systems feed energy they generate into [...]
MPG at All Time Highs for Cars and Trucks
Not that it’s anything to be particularly proud of, but the average fuel efficiency of cars and light trucks hit their highest levels ever for 2012 model year vehicles. On average, the 2012 fleet gets a puny 23.8 miles per gallon (mpg), according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a 1.4 mpg improvement over [...]
BMW Tests Fuel Cell Technology for Future Vehicles
BMW and Toyota are reportedly close to locking down a deal in which BMW will license future fuel cell technology from Toyota. According to Nikkei, as reported by Reuters, “BMW will use the technology to build a prototype vehicle by 2015, with plans for a market release around 2020.” Reuters reports: The two automakers have been expanding [...]
U.S Energy Independence: Is 2013 The Year?
Here’s a little energy investment 101: when oil moves up, so does the dollar. Energy bulls bet on increasing momentum, whereas gold bugs amass hard assets for the day the dollar collapses. Well, that’s the way it used to be; global energy markets have become so schizophrenic that this once self-evident correlation is about as [...]
2012′s Top 5 Oil & Gas Plays
2012 has been a stellar year for oil and gas. From East Africa to North America, new technology, major new discoveries, an unparalleled appetite for exploration and a metamorphosing perception of risk have changed the playing field. We’re looking at potential rather than existing production, and here are our Top 5 picks for this year: [...]
Shale Gas: The Next Bubble to Burst?
The “shale revolution” has been grabbing a great deal of headlines for some time now. A favourite topic of investors, sector commentators and analysts – many of whom claim we are about to enter a new energy era with cheap and abundant shale gas leading the charge. But on closer examination the incredible claims and [...]
In Focus: U.S Alternative Energy Subsidies
Subsidies. We’ve all heard about “energy subsidies” and “oil subsidies” but what are they really? Subsidies in a general sense are money given by the government to various industries in order to make their goods more affordable than they would be in the open market. There are agricultural subsidies, energy subsidies, and technology subsidies, [...]
Why Natural Gas Prices Matter
U.S. natural gas prices have fallen to lows not seen in a decade and have stayed at the lowest levels we’ve seen in a decade. As I write this in late October 2012, the Henry Hub price is $3.43, which is at least half what was considered “normal” fall pricing in the last 10 years. [...]
Ed Dolan Discusses Affordable Energy
We were fortunate enough to speak with the well known economist Ed Dolan on various energy and economic issues. In the interview Ed talks about the following: • Why cheap energy is not vital to economic growth • Why high oil prices aren’t necessarily a bad thing • Why the U.S. Oil and gas boom is hurting [...]