For the past two years, the United States has set oil production records. This growth is a continuance of the surge in oil production resulting from the shale boom that began earlier this century. According […]
Inside the Complex Machine Behind U.S. Electricity Costs
When we see prices rise and fall at the gas pump, we generally have an idea of what is driving the changes. Typically, it’s movements in the underlying price of oil, or sometimes there are […]
Rising Demand Puts U.S. Grid on the Edge of Crisis
America’s power grid is straining under the weight of a fast-changing energy landscape. Beyond the usual summer hum of air conditioners, power demand is surging from electric vehicle chargers and sprawling new data centers. At […]
Battery Storage Is the Hottest Corner of Energy
As the global energy system adds more intermittent renewables, one fact is becoming increasingly clear: Affordable, large-scale energy storage remains the enabling holy grail for these clean energy sources. Solar and wind are providing exponentially […]
The Truth About Falling Gas Prices and U.S. Oil Production
Simple answers are easy, but often wrong. The real ones take context, and a little more work. Below I provide the context for the question in the title, if you put in the work to […]
How Data Centers Are Hijacking Your Electric Bill
Over the past month, friends, family, and acquaintances have asked why their electricity bills have skyrocketed. One friend wrote, “I am curious if you have any thoughts about why electric bills are doubling and, in […]
Nuclear Power’s Record Year
Nuclear power has always been a paradox. It can produce massive amounts of low-carbon electricity, yet it must constantly battle the headwinds of politics and public perception. The latest Statistical Review of World Energy shows […]
Solar’s Record Year—and Why It Still Isn’t Enough
In recent years, many optimistic narratives have overstated the impact of renewables on fossil fuel consumption. The reality is more sobering: renewables are not displacing fossil fuels—especially in non-OECD countries and energy-intensive sectors. They’re growing […]
Coal’s Comeback: Why Global Demand Hit a New Record in 2024
Despite years of climate summits and net-zero targets, global coal consumption and production both hit record highs in 2024. According to the newly released 2025 Statistical Review of World Energy, global coal demand reached an […]
Despite the Decarbonization Push, Natural Gas Demand Hits New Record
With much of the world’s attention focused on wind turbines, solar panels, and electric vehicles, natural gas has grown in importance as the backbone of modern energy systems. It fuels power plants, heats homes, drives […]