Energy Costs

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 […]
August 21, 2017

Ordering Common Sense with “One Federal Decision” 

Last week, the Trump Administration released an executive order that deserves attention and discussion. It follows a January 24 order that gave agencies authority to fast-track high priority infrastructure projects. It also revoked a January 2015 Obama Administration executive order that included standards for review of sea-level rise when assessing […]
August 31, 2017

Vogtle Moving Forward Is Positive Step

Earlier today, Southern Company announced it will continue to build nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle in Georgia, reinforcing its support of nuclear power. PACE has consistently supported new reactors at Plant Vogtle, as part of a larger effort to advance the U.S. nuclear fleet. Southern Company;s decision is an important one, […]
October 17, 2017

October 2017: “Reliability Month”

Although October hasn’t been officially named “Reliability Month,” it might as well have been, owing to all the recent news bearing on how our country will generate power in the future. In Texas, a merchant power company announced the closure of two large coal-fired plants, totaling over 2300 MW of […]
December 7, 2017

Energy Retail Deregulation Wrong Fit for Florida

This week, PACE was on the road in Tallahassee, visiting with several members of the Florida legislature and learning about energy issues likely to arise in the 2018 session. As always, it was enjoyable to be outside the D.C. beltway, with warmer temperatures and fresh Gulf seafood all around. Snow […]
December 19, 2017

Do Tomorrow’s Consumers Know Enough About Energy?

By Gary Swan Vice President, Development at the National Energy Foundation What do high school seniors think about current issues such as climate change and energy independence? How much do they know about where our energy in the U.S. comes from and how we get it? Do they understand the […]
January 11, 2018

PACE Continues Florida Engagement on Deregulation

On Friday, the Florida Constitution Revision Commission will once again examine deregulation of the wholesale and retail electricity markets. PACE will testify, as we did in December, to share our views and research on why deregulation doesn’t work for consumers.  Dear Chair Thurlow-Lippisch: Thank you for reconvening the General Provisions […]