Home » Posts tagged 'Leonard Hyman'
Tag Archives: Leonard Hyman
Who’s To Blame For The Texas Power Crisis?
Who’s To Blame For The Texas Power Crisis? Our last report focused on the uniqueness of the Texas wholesale electricity market, ERCOT, and how it was specifically designed to evade federal utility regulation. And as if he were our paid spokesperson, former Texas governor Rick Perry stated publicly that Texans were happy to suffer blackouts […]
California’s Blackouts Are Part Of A Far Bigger Problem
California’s Blackouts Are Part Of A Far Bigger Problem This past weekend, Pacific Gas & Electric had to resume electricity blackouts to 930,000 customers affecting upwards of three million people around San Francisco. Meanwhile, two major wildfires, one of which may have been caused by malfunctioning utility equipment, are burning and evacuations are underway. PG&E has informed […]
What’s Behind the US-Saudi Nuclear Mega-Deal?
What’s Behind the US-Saudi Nuclear Mega-Deal? Up to 16 nuclear power plants for civilian purposes? Really? Last week, the NY Times ran a front-page story on Saudi Arabia’s efforts to purchase nuclear fuel enrichment capabilities and as many as 16 nuclear power generating plants from the US. The principal concern expressed here was the Saudi’s insistence on […]
The Return of “Beyond Petroleum”: All Talk and No Strategy?
The Return of “Beyond Petroleum”: All Talk and No Strategy? BP even changed the logo. “Oil and gas companies are becoming energy companies,” according to Bob Dudley. He heads the giant British oil company, BP, and stated this in a National Public Radio interview. Interestingly, his company under legendary CEO Lord Browne changed its name […]
China’s Global Electricity Takeover
China’s Global Electricity Takeover Powered by low-cost state-funded capital There has been no shortage of stories recently about looming trade wars and foreign investments with questionable implications for national security. But the business press recently took notice of one particularly large investment number: $452 billion. This is the amount China’s state controlled power companies have […]
Another Nuclear Bailout?
Another Nuclear Bailout? As pulp fiction aficionados, we love a good hostage situation. Last week, New Jersey joined the list of states seemingly eager to bail out politically well-connected nuclear power plant operators. Governor Phil Murphy signed a bill that would grant subsidies of up to $300 million per yearto the owners of the Salem […]
Nuclear Follies in the UK: in Search of High-Cost Power without Strategy at the Wrong Time
Nuclear Follies in the UK: in Search of High-Cost Power without Strategy at the Wrong Time Then there is the issue of long term predictions. It was the February 4 article in the Financial Times titled, “Nuclear Hazards: struggling industry aims for power surge,” that got our attention. There’s been so much going on in […]
Can You Really “Shut Down” a Nuclear Power Plant before a Hurricane?
Can You Really “Shut Down” a Nuclear Power Plant before a Hurricane? Soothing words before the storm: “Our nuclear plants are now shut down.” There are those who believe the answers to life’s most pressing questions can be found in one of two movies: “The Godfather” (part one) or “The Princess Bride.” In the latter […]
Two U.S. Utility Giants Just Got Even Larger
Two U.S. Utility Giants Just Got Even Larger Two major electricity industry takeovers were announced within a few days of each other. Energy Capital Partners, a private equity firm, announced its planned acquisition of Calpine, the nation’s largest generator of electricity using natural gas as a fuel. The acquisition valued Calpine at $17.3 billion ($5.6 […]
What A Westinghouse Bankruptcy Could Mean For U.S. Utilities
What A Westinghouse Bankruptcy Could Mean For U.S. Utilities International news services now report that Japan’s Toshiba Corporation (9502.T) is preparing to make a chapter 11 bankruptcy filing for its Westinghouse Electric subsidiary as soon as this Monday, March 27. For most of our readers this news evokes little surprise. This is merely another chapter […]
