June 11, 2010

The BP oil disaster is spilling over and affecting other fossil-fired fuels as well as the prospects for climate change legislation.

While deeply saddened by the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico, environmentalists are using the occasion to ensure that future energy projects get the scrutiny they deserve before such facilities are allowed to operate. And they will have a sympathetic ear both from federal and state regulators as well as the constituencies who are involved. Ironically, though, that strategy will likely cost them a favorable vote this year on climate change.

June 09, 2010

BP's nightmare is of its own making. But it didn't have to be that way. The massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico underscores the dilemma of not actually backing up an advertising slogan with the appropriate actions.

While branding is about creating a corporate image, it's also about carrying through with the implicit and explicit promises that are made in that outreach program. It's about taking the message beyond the four walls of a company and into the marketplace which could, in turn, embrace the mission. If done right, it not only conveys a company's goals but it will also help improve the bottom line.

June 07, 2010

Getting consumers to learn how electricity is priced is a good thing. That could lead to efficiency and conservation, resulting in lower rates. That's understood. But do those benefits outweigh the costs and will investors step up?

The issue is now before a multitude of state regulators who must decide how the assets that make up the intelligent utility will get financed. Utilities oftentimes are making the investments after getting regulatory approval to pass the cost of them along to consumers -- just as power plants are handled. Indeed, constructing a grid that allows utilities and consumers to talk with one another might possibly cut down on peak energy consumption and thereby avoid the build-out of expensive infrastructure.

June 04, 2010

Just as offshore natural gas drilling got its legs, the rug has been pulled out from underneath it. The mammoth oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is to blame.

The question of whether to allow more production in light of the BP oil disaster is one that is likely to haunt the oil and gas sectors for a long time. It's tantamount to how the accident at Three Mile Island has derailed nuclear development for three decades. For now, the Obama administration has pulled back on its earlier commitment to allow more offshore drilling and instead has decided to "study" the issue.

Below are a few letters received at EnergyBiz Insider on topics that appeared in the past few weeks. They capture the essence of how many readers say they feel.
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