Energy Realism this past week demanded energy affordability, reliability, and security. Green dreamers are simply, but incredibly dangerously, not being practical. Erik Milito got us started last week. Some 20 years ago, the U.S. was expected to be looking at a future filled with imports of liquified natural gas (LNG) from countries like Russia, Qatar, Algeria, and Trinidad. Today, not only is the U.S. self-reliant on natural gas supplies, but our LNG exports have also enhanced the geopolitical security of our allies around the globe. President Biden's recent decision to halt LNG export approvals undermines these critical advancements, unnecessarily threating the economic, energy, and national security of the U.S. and our allies. Indeed, the “only wind, only solar” climate chant from green dreams is dangerously unrealistic. Rick Whitbeck has a clear message for red states: stay away from renewable portfolio standards. Here’s their warning. Unless you want to pay more for energy than you do today, with less reliable power potentially available when you need it most, fight against any attempts by your state’s governmental leaders to impose RPS mandates on you. Americans must demand affordable and reliable electricity. Emily Arthun argues why even coal, yes coal, will need a seat at the table. Coal’s opponents have been loud in their criticism of reliable energy sources: first nuclear, and now coal and natural gas. Their arguments often over-blow supposed risks, with the hot topic of late being CO2. When we consider the various weather events that have hit the U.S. in recent years, including winter storms Uri and Elliott, our need to stabilize baseload electric power grids that are increasingly supplied by solar and wind is obvious. Thankfully, Paul Alexander also realizes all of this and makes the case for utilities to check their progressive, activist political agendas at the door. The Essential Reading this week then can only come from Paul Joskow at MIT. Levelized cost analyses of intermittent (e.g., renewables) versus dispatchable (e.g., hydrocarbons) power generating technologies are incomplete. They fail to consider a variety of additional costs that intermittency brings into the system. Using a true market-based approach to account for these costs is required for best designed power auctions, tax credit evaluations, and renewable mandates. In the News Steve Hanley, CleanTechnica Mrinalika Roy, Yahoo Finance Colin Kinniburgh, New York Focus Darren Dodd, Financial Times International Atomic Energy Agency Leo Chiu, Kyiv Post Zack Budryk, The Hill Kristen Walker, RealClearEnergy Scott DiSavino, Reuters Josh Saul, Chicago Tribune Tilak Doshi, Forbes Francis Menton, Manhattan Contrarian Jeffrey Kupfer, WSJ Neil Caskey, RealClearEnergy David T. Stevenson, RealClearEnergy CNBC Television Mark Zandi, Moody's Analytics chief economist, joins 'Squawk on the Street' to discuss his expectations from the Fed's next move, whether the soft landing is too much of a good thing... CNBC Television 'Mad Money' host Jim Cramer talks oil drilling stocks SLB and Halliburton following earnings. Sign up and learn more about the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer. Bloomberg Television The Biden administration halted the approval of new licenses to export US liquefied natural gas while it scrutinizes how the shipments affect climate change, the economy and national... |