Rick Perry

October 19, 2020

U.S Takes Steps to Secure Supplies of Rare Earth Minerals Critical for Energy Independence

“The United States now imports 80% of its rare earth minerals directly from China.” That was the startling fact included in President Trump’s Executive Order published last month directing the Secretary of the Interior to “…investigate our Nation’s undue reliance on critical minerals…from foreign adversaries.” Since 2010 we’ve discussed the […]
October 8, 2020

How Will the Golden State Meet Its EV Dreams?

On September 23rd, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order ending the sale of new gas-burning cars in the state by 2035. Environmentalists and carmakers praised the move, but many experts say the celebration is premature. The adoption of electric vehicles (EV) is a good thing and Energy Fairness […]
October 6, 2020

Russian Hackers Target Grid

In May, we wrote about President Trump’s “Securing the United States Bulk-Power System” executive order. The order directed the Department of Energy to take steps to defend the U.S. bulk-power system against attacks – cyber and otherwise. The action didn’t come a moment too soon. Why? Because Russia’s GRU military […]
September 29, 2020

In Extreme Heat and Catastrophic Wildfires, Natural Gas Keeps California’s Lights On

“Solar power plunges as smoke shrouds Calif.” “Wildfire Smoke Decreases California Solar Energy Output.” “When Smoke Blotted Out the Sun, Rooftop Solar Dithered.” These were just some of the headlines detailing how California dealt with rolling blackouts during an unprecedented period of extreme heat and catastrophic wildfires. Last month, we wrote about California’s blackouts. Without a […]
September 24, 2020

Op-ed: Bringing the Miracle of Electricity to Bolivia

Energy Fairness board member, Shawn Taylor, recounts his trip with NRECA International (an affiliate of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association) to electrify a rural Bolivian village. As author Ted Case notes in his book Power Plays, President Kennedy put such stock in bringing electricity to the developing world that […]
September 23, 2020

Oil and gas production ban would hurt New Mexico

ICYMI: Energy Fairness Executive Director Paul Griffin authored an article in the Las Cruces Sun News discussing the damaging effects an oil and gas ban would have on New Mexico’s economy. The original piece can be viewed here. With election season in full swing, some politicians, notably presidential hopeful Joe Biden, think […]
September 16, 2020

Small Scale Nuclear Could Be a Big Deal

We’ve written extensively about the need for new nuclear technologies to help reach global carbon reduction targets. Recently, Oregon-based nuclear startup company, NuScale, received the go-ahead to build the world’s first small modular nuclear reactor (SMR). This approval represents a significant milestone for new nuclear technology. In the past, nuclear […]
September 11, 2020

Flight 93: Electric Co-op Heroes on a Day of National Tragedy

September 11, 2001, is a day that we will always remember. As we remember the heroes and the tragedy of that day, we offer a conversation. Last year, Energy Fairness Executive Director Paul Griffin had the opportunity to speak to Rich Bauer, President and CEO of Valley Rural Electric Cooperative, […]
September 4, 2020

The D.C. Intertie: A Lifeline to California and An Engineering Marvel

It’s been just over 50 years since Neil Armstrong took man’s first steps on the moon, uttering the memorable phrase – “that’s one small step for man and one giant leap for mankind.” His words put the final stamp on a phenomenal engineering achievement first presented as a challenge to […]
August 31, 2020

Golden State Study Highlights Inequities in Roof-Top Solar

Earlier this month, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) released an independent report detailing how its ratepayers without rooftop solar subsidize its customers with rooftop solar systems at a rate between $25 million and $41 million annually. In a nutshell, the report found that “while net-metered [rooftop] solar provides a […]
August 28, 2020

Shawn Taylor Brings Western Presence to Energy Fairness Board

Washington, DC — Today, the Energy Fairness board announced that Shawn Taylor, Executive Director of the Wyoming Rural Electric Association (WREA), will fill an open position on the board made vacant through the recent resignation of Bill Verner. Verner recently retired after serving a 35 year-plus tenure at the non-profit […]
August 25, 2020

Fossil Fuel Boycotts: Dangerous & Illegal

We’ve written many times about the dangers of America’s largest financial institutions picking winners and losers for energy development, but the trend has sadly continued. Banks are continuing to withhold funding for oil and gas projects, and it is quickly becoming clear that these actions may be illegal. Federal anti-trust […]
January 2, 2017

New Year Offers Restart for American Energy

There can be little doubt that 2017 will witness one of the most dramatic ground shifts in American policy in recent history. The election of Donald Trump, victories by Republicans in both the U.S. House and Senate, and geopolitical pressures that continue to mount are all conspiring to create a […]
August 28, 2017

Back to School with DOE’s New Electricity Markets Report

The Texas coastal community, including Houston, continues to suffer the devastating effect of Hurricane Harvey. To help the relief effort, consider donating $10 to the Red Cross by texting 90999 or giving to the Salvation Army of Houston. All over Northern Virginia, it’s time to head back to school. Adults, […]
October 3, 2017

Lessons on America’s Power Supply Formula

The utility industry, the federal government and numerous NGOs are on the ground helping our 3.4 million fellow citizens in Puerto Rico. The Salvation Army is on the front lines and collecting much-needed donations. Our concern also extends to the victims and families impacted by the terrible events in Las Vegas. In […]
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 […]
January 4, 2018

Kicking Off 2018 and Examining the Energy Playbook

Now that the universe is properly aligned, with the University of Georgia once again playing for the national college football title, PACE has great hopes for 2018. Should that sense of optimism extend to Washington, D.C. and progress for energy consumers? This early in the year, there are more questions […]
January 9, 2018

Baby, It’s Cold Outside

The great majority of U.S. citizens east of the Mississippi have engaged in popular January 2018 conversations – first, “it is so, so [insert profanity of choice] cold outside.” In the greater D.C. metropolitan area, that is quickly followed by “why are the [choose another profanity] schools closed AGAIN?” Involuntary […]