Paul Griffin

January 9, 2023

Deregulation Is Still Wrong for Consumers

For years, Energy Fairness has warned of the various dangers of deregulating the electricity marketplace, offering evidence to policymakers and the public that deregulation makes electricity more expensive and less reliable for consumers. Now, an article from The New York Times underscores those warnings. What is electricity deregulation? Deregulation simply […]
October 28, 2022

EV Use Is Growing, But Where Are The Chargers?

Electric vehicle interest is growing, despite short supplies. However, even when vehicles are available, a lack of charging infrastructure or “range anxiety” keeps many customers from taking the leap. How can we help potential EV owners face this hurdle? The simple answer is to build out more charging infrastructure. The […]
October 14, 2022

To Drill or Not to Drill

Earlier this month, OPEC announced it would cut production by more than 2 million barrels of crude oil per day starting in November, a move that will increase gas prices when much of the world is already experiencing pain at the pump. The Biden Administration responded by saying there would […]
October 6, 2022

Solar Energy Growth Fuels Need For Recycling

As we wrote last week, the Inflation Reduction Act is expected to spur renewable energy adoption and manufacturing in the U.S. This is welcome news since the vast majority of solar panels have long been manufactured overseas, often in less than stellar conditions. However, the rapid solar panel growth in […]
September 29, 2022

Tax Credits May Spur U.S. Renewable Energy Manufacturing

As we wrote back in August, the recently signed Inflation Reduction Act is a bit of a mixed bag for inflation. However, it contains some bright spots for U.S. manufacturers and the future of the clean energy industry. Will the U.S. finally become a player in the renewable energy manufacturing […]
September 21, 2022

The Race for Nuclear Fusion Is Heating Up

For nearly a century, the scientific community has pursued the goal of nuclear fusion, hoping to invent technology to create plasma, literal star power on Earth at temperatures many times hotter than our sun. The challenges are enormous, but so are the potential rewards. If achieved, fusion can create near-limitless […]
September 8, 2022

California Faces Blackout Risk….Again

Yet another heat wave is scorching California. Temperatures soared into the triple digits, with officials urging residents to conserve energy as the power grid threatened to go dark.  Miraculously, the state managed to avert a crisis after a well-timed text message campaign. At 5:30 PM, California’s grid operator ordered its […]
August 31, 2022

EV Tax Credits May Not Spur Widespread Adoption

The recently passed Inflation Reduction Act significantly changed electric vehicle (E.V.) tax credits. While Energy Fairness enthusiastically supports E.V.s, we have to wonder whether the tax credit changes will help speed the E.V. transition. We’re not alone in our concerns. In fact, U.S. automakers worry that up to 70% of […]
August 24, 2022

Germany Looks Elsewhere for Energy Supplies

More than a decade ago, Germany embarked on its aggressive energy transition, known as Energiewende. With the expectation that wind and solar energy alone could someday power Europe’s largest economy, the country set about aggressively shutting down coal and nuclear power plants. It ended up with an unstable power grid […]
August 18, 2022

Diablo Canyon Gets a Lifeline

For years, Energy Fairness has urged California lawmakers to keep Diablo Canyon, the state’s last remaining nuclear plant, online. Finally, Governor Gavin Newsome heard those calls and has released a draft proposal for extending the lifespan of the two reactors by five to ten years. The proposal calls for keeping […]
August 3, 2022

An Energy Bill By Another Name

After going back and forth over energy and climate-related legislation for over a year, Senate Democrats unveiled the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 last week. Along with funding for healthcare and changes to the tax code, the bill includes $369 billion in energy security and climate spending. The bill aims […]
July 29, 2022

Cyber Security Actions Leave Us Vulnerable

In May of last year, the Eastern European crime group DarkSide shut down the Colonial Pipeline for six days. The pipeline provides 45% of fuel for the East Coast and its shutdown left thousands of service stations without gas and pushed prices to levels that, at the time, had not […]
February 23, 2022

Transmission battle takes place in New York over whether hydropower is really “green”

A strange battle pitting environmental groups against clean energy advocates is taking place in New York – a state with one of the most aggressive carbon reduction initiatives in the U.S. The issue? Whether the proposed 339 transmission line and the hydropower it will carry from Quebec to New York […]
February 3, 2022

Energy Fairness Podcast #2: Goldendale Pumped Hydropower Energy Storage Project

For Energy Fairness’ 2nd podcast, Executive Director Paul Griffin has an in-depth conversation with Erik Steimle (Rye Development) about the potential of the Goldendale Pumped Hydropower Energy Storage Project in Washington State.
February 2, 2022

As Gas Becomes a Central Topic in Europe Because of the Ukraine Crisis, a Reminder that Gas is Essential to Our Energy Future

Russian troops have amassed along its 1200 mile plus border with Ukraine, prompting not only fears of an imminent invasion but also a reminder that Vladimir Putin’s Russia provides Europe, particularly Germany, with 40% of its natural gas supply. Moreover, it’s prompted many leaders in Europe to ponder the uneasy […]
January 25, 2022

More than 20 Years of Facts Prove Electric Deregulation is Dangerous for Customers.

Since the 1990s, Texas and many other states have explored deregulating their electricity markets. Deregulation means that consumers can choose their electricity supplier and that prices fluctuate with the ups and downs of wholesale costs for generation, transmission, and the distribution of electricity.   What did we learn from these efforts […]
December 16, 2021

Golden State PUC Proposes Sensible Net Metering Reforms

On Monday, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) proposed common-sense reforms to the state’s policy on net metering.   This policy refers to situations where rooftop solar consumers are paid for excess electricity they produce and sell into the grid.  In Monday’s released proposal,  the CPUC couldn’t have been more […]
December 10, 2021

Texas Still Not Ready for Winter

Last February, we covered the failure of the Texas energy grid during Winter Storm Uri, which plunged millions of Texans into darkness. The state’s grid was caught off-guard by inadequate access to frozen natural gas facilities, record peak demand, and, frankly, a grid that just wasn’t prepared. The result?  Not […]