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Article, Corporations, Economy / Finance, Organizations, People

Big Oil takes message to the Super Bowl

February 5, 2017

“This is not your father’s Oldsmobile.” With that commercial pitch in 1988, one of General Motors’ iconic brands targeted younger motorists in a bid to breathe new life into the Cutlass and other Oldsmobile models. Instead, sales declined and GM shut down Olds in 2004. On Sunday, the American Petroleum Institute will air its first-ever Super Bowl ad with a similar opening line: “This ain’t your daddy’s oil.” (read more)

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by Bill Loveless
Climate, Government and Politics, Organizations, People, Podcast

Columbia Energy Exchange: Carl Pope

November 21, 2016

Following COP22 in Marrakech where global leaders were overcome with uncertainty about the United States’ commitment to greenhouse gas reduction under a new Trump Administration, host Bill Loveless speaks with Carl Pope, former executive director and chairman of The Sierra Club, about the path forward against climate change through both international and local initiatives. Pope is also a senior climate adviser to former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the U.N. Secretary General’s special envoy for cities and climate change. They discuss: Reactions to Donald Trump’s election and other challenges and opportunities coming out of the Marrakech Climate Summit; The heightened roles for cities, states, investors and business in providing U.S. direction for climate initiatives; A sneak peek at the upcoming book by Carl and Michael Bloomberg called, “Overheated: How Cooler Heads Can Cool the World” that seeks to reset the conversation about…

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by Bill Loveless
Article, Climate, Consumer, Energy, People, Weather

Heat is on, but the power grid is holding

July 26, 2016

The retirement of coal and nuclear power plants in the U.S. over the last few years has raised concerns that the electric power industry might fail to deliver when demand for power heightens — such as during a blistering heat wave. But for the most part, that’s not the case this week as a so-called “heat dome” leaves the eastern and central parts of the U.S. sweltering with temperatures of 95 degrees or more and feeling as though it’s much hotter. (Read more)

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by Bill Loveless
Consumer, Energy, Government and Politics, People, Podcast, Policy, Regulations, Utilities and Providers

Columbia Energy Exchange: Phil Sharp

July 11, 2016

Phil Sharp understands energy policy as well as anyone in Washington, having spent 20 years as one of the leading lawmakers on the topic and the last 11 as the president of Washington’s oldest think tank devoted exclusively to analysis of energy and the environment. Best of all, in my estimation, he comes from an era when Congress worked on a bipartisan basis to enact policies addressing concerns over the production of energy and how we consume it – and often did so under a lot of pressure. Phil recalls some of the biggest battles over energy policy on Capitol Hill, the dramatic changes in U.S. energy fortunes, and what we can learn from this experience. Among his new pursuits, Phil is joining the Center on Global Energy Policy as a fellow who will teach and perform research on climate…

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by Bill Loveless
Article, Consumer, Corporations, Economy / Finance, Energy, Government and Politics, International, People

Oil supply uncertainty helps pump up prices

June 13, 2016

With oil markets stuck in a slump for two years now, it’s easy to forget how much a sudden loss of supply can impact prices. But the U.S. Energy Information Administrationreminds us of that risk in a new report that puts “unplanned” oil supply disruptions throughout the world at a five-year high in May. (Read more)

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by Bill Loveless
Article, Corporations, Energy, People, Utilities and Providers

What’s next for NRG after Crane removal?

June 8, 2016

With some of the most ambitious clean-energy goals among U.S. electric-power companies, NRG Energy sees itself as a trailblazer in the industry. But pursuing those objectives has been difficult for NRG, whose board sacked its CEO, David Crane, last December. Now, with a new boss, one of the nation’s biggest independent power companies sees itself as still on course — but taking a more cautious approach — to a greener energy future. (Read More)

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by Bill Loveless