economy

  • Nuclear Power: A Critical Pillar for U.S. Economic Growth and National Security

    Nuclear power has emerged as a linchpin for U.S. goals for energy and national security. The nuclear sector has a long history of bipartisan support in the federal government.

  • China Coal-Fired Generation Additions Tied to Economics, Energy Security

    China’s construction of coal-fired power plants reached nearly a 10-year high in the past year, even as the country also continues a massive expansion of renewable energy installations. A February report

  • Brazil Oil Major Buying Renewable Energy Assets

    Renewable energy in Brazil will get a boost after the chief executive of Petrobras, the country’s state-run oil giant, said the company will begin buying solar power and onshore wind projects in an effort to build a clean energy portfolio. Jean Paul Prates, in an interview with the Reuters news service published Jan. 22, said […]

  • Carbon-Neutral Blue Hydrogen Can Be More Than a Bridge in a Transformed Hydrogen Economy

    Many advocates for a hydrogen economy believe “green” hydrogen, which is produced through electrolysis using renewable energy, will eliminate the need to curtail wind and solar generation. However, there

  • Looking Ahead: It’s Time to Plan for and Build a Robust, Sustainable U.S.-led Recovery

    While scientists and health professionals huddle with public officials to determine the best course forward to combat COVID-19 and relax social distancing, more of our leaders must address the need to quickly create high paying, sustainable jobs—lots of them. COMMENTARY Frankly, the need has never been greater. Regardless of political ideology, our politicians must put […]

  • Restructuring Report: Eskom ‘Fundamentally Insolvent, Permanently Impaired’

    Eskom, South Africa’s state-owned utility that produces nearly 90% of the African powerhouse’s electricity, is saddled with liabilities, unavoidable expenses, and stranded costs that exceed $113 billion, and for various reasons, it is “fundamentally insolvent, permanently impaired, and will never be a true going concern enterprise under its current legal, operational, and governance structure,” concludes […]

  • Financially Flailing Eskom Scrambles to Complete Defect-Ridden Coal Plants

    South Africa’s state-owned utility Eskom was forced to slash 2,000 MW on a rotational basis nationwide on Oct. 16 and Oct. 17. The newest round of power cuts—the first in nearly seven months—highlight the state-owned utility’s scramble to avert financial disaster stemming in part from the fast-tracked construction of two 4.8-GW coal-fired power plants: Medupi […]

  • Germany Announces $44.4 Billion Plan to Lessen Impact of Coal Plant Closures

    German officials on Aug. 28 approved a plan to spend as much as €40 billion ($44.4 billion) over the next 20 years on projects designed to lessen the impact of the country’s complete move away from coal-fired power generation. Peter Altmaier, the country’s economy minister, said the money will become available after lawmakers pass legislation […]

  • Coal Rebound Is Vital to Local Economies

    In President Trump’s State of the Union address, he said, “We have ended the war on American energy, and we have ended the war on beautiful, clean coal.” It’s safe to say that things have gotten better

  • Babcock & Wilcox Will Cut 30% of Renewable Workforce on Profitability Woes

    Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises Inc. (B&W), which is already in the midst of a restructuring plan and ongoing cost controls, will slash 30% of its renewable energy workforce and implement cost-saving measures across the company to combat falling revenues. The global energy and environmental technology and services provider said as it announced its 2017 third […]

  • Report: Losing Nuclear Would Blight Economy

    The nation’s 99 nuclear plants produce about 19% of the country’s power, but they also contribute about $60 billion annually to gross domestic product (GDP), a new Brattle Group report finds.  The report, “The Nuclear Industry’s Contribution to the U.S. Economy,” prepared for pro-nuclear group Nuclear Matters says, “Several factors are at play that may […]