Commentary

It’s all well and good to suggest the U.S. needs to be open to all solutions in the pursuit of its energy future, but at some point "try everything" needs to give way to a well-thought plan implementing the best, most cost-effective options.

It’s time to banish a few common terms that are hindering good thinking and obstructing progress in the power sector.

Most professionals in the energy industry know about biomass; fewer of us are conversant with biogas. This commentary explains the basics of biogas, with a focus on its current use and future potential as a source of electrical power.

The electricity industry is being transformed by the so-called “shale gas revolution” in the United States. Production of natural gas from shale rock using hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) has boosted supply and reduced prices, making gas-fired power competitive with coal-fired power on price. Historically, coal-fired electricity generation has dwarfed generation from gas-fired plants in the U.S. […]

Embattled Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson announced her resignation on December 27 citing the pursuit of “new challenges” and “opportunities to make a difference” as the reasons for leaving her high-profile post. I suspect her departure was caused less by altruism and more by self-preservation.

An open letter published in the Washington Examiner by a group of climate scientists and meteorologists states why they believe the theory of anthropogenic warming is far from settled science and the actions of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have disregarded established methods of scientific inquiry.

Interest in a carbon tax seems to be growing in Washington as a means to increase revenue for the federal government and to fight climate change. There are three good reasons why instituting a carbon tax is a very bad idea.

Human beings have a tough time balancing risks rationally–but this task isn’t made any easier by how the media communicates information about them. Often, the usual approach makes things even worse.

Forethought and analysis have their place, but good leaders need to be ready to act boldly when the time comes.

How do you get "beyond" perfection? With a willingness to course-correct and an awareness of when it’s necessary.

President Obama enters 2013 with a solid win in his pocket—and a host of challenges and decisions awaiting him.

With the passing of the 2012 election, one is reminded of the saying, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.”

A convergence of new environmental regulations and practical realities is creating a boatload of challenges for power producers.

The 15-year-old Kyoto Protocol expires at the end of 2012. With U.S. CO₂ emissions at a 20-year low, what’s the point in the U.S. signing a new agreement?

Supporters of a new carbon tax are using arguments aimed at conservatives (it can be revenue neutral) and liberals (it can help the environment) alike. The damage to the U.S. economy, manufacturing competitiveness, and society’s poorest citizens outweighs the government’s need for a new revenue stream.

Expect the EPA to increase the use NEPA data requests, ostensibly related to climate change analysis, as an excuse to slow or stymie new energy system development.

Adaptive, creative, and flexible, the humble octopus has much to teach managers in the modern world.

It’s time for the leaders in the power generation business to step up and provide some leadership on cybersecurity

The first conquest of Mount Everest was not just a triumph of the human spirit but also a classic example of solid project management and good leadership. Hillary’s example offers sound lessons for today’s business leaders.

All leaders want to be liked, but letting that desire set your course is a path to frustration and drama. Though it sometimes seems counter-intuitive, the ability to set good boundaries is the mark of a good leader.

With the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) issuance of a final rule regulating cooling water intake structures at existing facilities potentially less than a year away, facilities should be paying close attention to the proposed rule’s provisions, data requests, and study requirements as they evaluate their compliance options and begin to formulate their compliance […]

The brave men and women of the U.S. military spend years crafting special skills and developing traits that prepare them for the challenging assignments they will be given throughout their terms of service. They receive orders for tours of duty and venture without hesitation into places steeped in peril and instability. Because of their consistently courageous responses to unimaginable challenges, civilians herald America’s servicemen and women as heroes. How can we begin to repay our veterans for defending our freedom?

The Boilermakers union has been a leader among the labor and business organizations that seek to shepherd the coal-fired energy sector through the worst effects of these forces. And we continue in those efforts.

President Obama’s Executive Order on industrial energy efficiency is another incursion of the federal government into the day-to-day operations of American industry. The symbol of a free enterprise is autonomy in determining how to efficiently invest capital, an activity that the government has proven inept time and again.

The American Wind Energy Association’s number one priority is renewal of the production tax credit in order to protect industry jobs. But wind isn’t the only industry sector that’s scrambling to protect jobs.

The recent London Olympics were not just a triumph of athletics. They also showed how solid project management can bring an enormously challenging job to a successful conclusion, putting on one of the most successful Olympic Games ever.

Success in life and business is all about seizing the right opportunities at the right time. Opportunities abound today in the electric utility business. Our industry is in the midst of an extraordinary period of transformation and investment that will affect how we produce and deliver electricity—and what customers pay for it—for decades. By 2020, […]