January 14, 2011

America is up for the challenge of leading the world in energy technology, says a leading expert in business and energy innovation. Nicholas M. Donofrio, a senior fellow at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, says that the United States will be able to assert its technological leadership developing the next generation of safe, reliable nuclear power plants.

Nuclear power plant construction is undergoing a global resurgence, particularly in China. A program of federal loan guarantees is intended to spur a nuclear renaissance in America. But many industry experts say that for nuclear to take off a business case must be made for it free of government supports.

December 20, 2010 

Can the Courts Order Carbon Cuts

Various sources have estimated that approximately one half to two thirds of annual anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions are removed from the atmosphere by natural processes, primarily by absorption into the world's oceans. Some have suggested that global annual anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions would therefore have to be reduced by roughly one third to one half to halt the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations. However, the history of the increase in global atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations suggests that the percentage reduction in global annual carbon dioxide emissions would have to be far greater, arguably total, to halt the accumulation of anthropogenic carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Others have reached similar conclusions based on modeling of CO2 in the atmosphere.

Seotember 23, 2010 - RECESSIONS ARE TOUGH ON BUSINESS AND THEY ARE ALSO TOUGH ON stocks. But the utility sector has weathered the storm. It's not just because utility stocks are known as a good hedge during hard times. It's also because the fundamentals in many cases favor them.

Utilities have long been known for generating stable revenues and paying predictable dividends. It's a heritage that has paid off in the current economic environment. It's because electricity is an essential commodity that must always be purchased. Regulated utilities, meantime, are able to pass through their reasonable expenses that include fuel adjustments while unregulated utilities are positioned to take advantage of volatile fuel costs and the expected increase in future demand.

Sep 12, 2010

Recessions are tough on business. And they are also rough on stocks. But the utility sector has weathered the storm. It's not just because they are known as a good hedge during hard times. It's also because the fundamentals in many cases favor them.

Utilities have long been known for generating stable revenues and paying predictable dividends. It's a heritage that has paid off in the current economic environment. It's is because electricity is an essential commodity that must always be purchased. Regulated utilities, meantime, are able to pass through their reasonable expenses that include fuel adjustments while unregulated ones are positioned to take advantage of volatile fuel costs and the expected increase in future demand.

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.

________________________________________