Fossil Fuels Compete for Generation
Today, power plants in the United States rely primarily on fossil fuels. In 2011, more than 2/3 of the electricity generated domestically came from coal and natural gas. But, the ratio of electricity production from coal to natural gas to petroleum has shifted over time. This month, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration (EIA) published a report that explores this... Read More
U.S. Natural Gas – Spot Price Low, Inventory High
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has released data showing the continued downward trend of natural gas prices in the United States. In the face of warmer-than-normal winter temperatures and rising domestic natural gas production, natural gas spot prices hit near 10-year lows. Subsequent to the release of these spot price data, the EIA released its projections related to natural gas... Read More
CleanTX Forum: Natural Gas and Clean Energy – Friends or Foes?
On Thursday, Aug. 12th the CleanTX Foundation will host a CleanTX Forum titled Natural Gas and Clean Energy – Friends or Foes? at Austin City Hall on 2nd Street. Moderated by Dr. Michael Webber, from UT’s Mechanical Engineering Department (he is also my advisor), this forum will include seven panelists: Paul Ballentine: CNG Analytics Michelle Foss: Center for Energy Economics Paul... Read More
A Hippie and an Engineer – on Energy
In my “happy place” the entire world would have access to clean, renewable, affordable energy. We would have extremely cheap and efficient solar panels that could be economically placed on buildings in the cloudy Pacific Northwest and the poorest regions of Africa. Our energy would run in harmony with Mother Earth, provide access to education and higher standards of living for all, and... Read More
Worker dead in TX gas line explosion
A natural gas line explosion near Cleburne, TX (about 50 miles southwest of Dallas) has killed one man and injured several others. The explosion happened yesterday afternoon. Small blessings – there was only one house near (within 1/2 mile) the site of the explosion and subsequent fire. Texas generates almost half of its electricity using natural gas, in contrast to the national average of about... Read More
Venezuelan Natural Gas Rig Sinks into Caribbean
Earlier today, a Venezuelan natural gas exploration rig sank in the Caribbean sea. According to Venezuela’s Energy Minister Rafael Ramirez, no gas escaped from the Aban Pearl rig site after the platform disappeared beneath the waves and sank of Venezuela’s northeast coast. This incident was announced by President Hugo Chavez via Twitter. He stated that all 95 workers on the rig had been... Read More
