September 28, 2010

The country's energy infrastructure is becoming a bit archaic. Bringing it up to speed, however, is problematic as the nation is struggling to overcome partisan politics and a fledgling economy.

The cyclical nature of economies means that at some point a sustained recovery will occur. And when it does, policymakers must bargain in good faith and create a durable energy policy in which utility planners can bank. The capital markets will then loosen, allowing bankers, bondholders and investors to finance projects and bring the generation and transmission systems up-to-date.

Sep 13, 2010

General Motors is hitting the pavement trying to sell its initial public offering to potential investors. Despite the iffy circumstances, some say that the auto maker might succeed as it has cut costs and benefited from the tenuous uptick in the overall climate.

GM has given market insiders a look at how it sees not just its future but that of the overall auto market. It will "invest heavily" in alternatively fueled vehicles over the next few years. First up: It's Chevy Volt that will hit show rooms in November and which can go 40 miles on electricity and another 300 on gas, all before it has to be juiced up again.

August 16, 2010

Keeping those air conditioners flowing is a summer necessity. But getting the most out of them has become national priority. The long-term goal is to equip utilities and consumers with the technologies they need to make better energy decisions.

While private entities are the most integral part of the mix, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is also emerging as a vital facilitator. When it comes to establishing smart grids, the national energy regulator's role is to set the agenda and to become a meeting place so that the stakeholders can advance their ideas. As such, FERC has said that improving reliability, increasing the use of green energy and enticing investors are among its highest objectives.

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.

May 07, 2010

Nuclear energy's prospects are even better now that the Obama administration has promised $4 billion for uranium enrichment projects. That's double the previous limit -- a move meant to complement a separate loan guarantee program to promote the development of nuclear power in this country.

Uranium, of course, is the fuel used to run nuclear power plants. At issue is the centrifuge technology, long used by European plants but fairly uncommon in the United States. Here, the efforts are centered on advancing older and more energy intensive models -- all to accommodate two decades of underinvestment in uranium mining and enrichment.