Today, I’m going to use the “C” word in a post. Everyone hates it, even if it’s use is essential to make a point. It is the dirty secret no one wants to acknowledge but knows is the real problem. Consumption. All these rules and regulations and government “here to help” mandates appear but we never address the core issue. We love to consume. Here are some examples: 14.5% of the world’s CO2 emissions are from livestock, not to mention the pets...

By Ellen Wald The American Petroleum Institute (API), the premier trade organization for oil companies in the U.S., made headlines recently when it revealed that it is considering supporting carbon-pricing policies. Many are left wondering why the API would support higher prices on oil and gas and their products, which is meant to disincentive their use? As API considers its options, here’s an explanation of what is happening. What is carbon pricing? Carbon-pricing schemes fall into two different categories. The first is...

Yesterday, the CDC released a study that, for anyone who has been reading papers on COVID, has known for a long time. It said that of patients admitted to the hospital, 78% were overweight or obese. In fact, U65 with a body mass index of >45, you were 2x more likely to be ventilated or die (here’s a fact you may not know: 70% of people that go on ventilators with Covid didn’t make it). Related, this week, the CDC...

This week I host Robert Bryce for our podcast next week. His Power Hungry podcast is phenomenal. His book ‘A Question of Power’ is an incredible journey with electrons. We have a lot of advocates for energy. For reason. And for understanding tradeoffs. We need to amplify their voices. Take the opportunity to write a 5 star review for either our podcast or Robert’s and let’s get the message out there. Podcast Audio   https://youtu.be/unQemXIm8OE   About Robert Robert Bryce is a Texas-based author, journalist, podcaster,...

If you don’t know Chamath Palihapitiya, then you did what the rest of us should have done in 2020 (turned off the news). With a net worth of nearly $1b, he founded Social Capital after 4 years with Facebook from 2007-2011. I’m less concerned with a history lesson than a look into the future. As the SPAC king, Mr. P has taken Virgin Galactic (space travel); Opendoor (residential real estate buyer/seller); Clover (health care); Sofi (fintech) with 2 existing SPACs still...

Earlier this year, I spoke of the ‘great shrug’ to address the misconception that oil and gas isn’t important while being vilified by ‘elites’ and the media as the enemy. The principal assumption was that as long as oil and gas are affordable, they remain invisible and easy to hate. How to shrug? The recommendation was that each US producers, acting in their own best interest, take a page from ‘Saudi’s gift to the market’ in January and restrain production,...

By Ellen Wald Now that the Biden team is in place, there is a lot of media buzz around the idea that it is trying to “reset” or, in the words of the Biden administration itself, “recalibrate” relations with Saudi Arabia. This perceived change in policy seems tied to the Jamal Khashoggi situation. However, nothing the Biden team has done or is likely to do indicates a change in policy towards Saudi Arabia’s domestic interests. (The Biden team does seem...

Today, we feature a solar project that was built in 2007, after Colorado voters were the first to pass a bill that required the state get 10% of its power from renewables by 2020. It’s built at the corner of Kipling and 6th and phase 1 was a $6.9 mm investment on 6 acres to generate 1 MW of power. Well, not actually generate that on average, it’s not always sunny and efficiency is a thing.  From an electrical...

Wakes up. Checks LinkedIn. “BP can get 8% rate of return on their renewables”. Scrolls. “CERA Energy conference focuses on energy transition.” Closes LinkedIn. Opens RBCRichardsonbarr. “Exxon has added two environmental activists to help with their ESG”. Checks stock price. Stock is up 4% even though they just added cost to the business and returns will drop. No #mergermonday announcement. Closes RBC. Opens Twitter to see a promoted article written by a clean energy organization about how thermal is to blame...

This week, we are joined by Ryan Ray, the host of ‘The oil and gas podcast’ and War Room Media collaborator. Ryan and I are both of a similar mind that the media model needs to change and that independent thought, discussion and debate are important. We have collaborated to bring readers “Wald Wednesday” and “Flamethrower Friday’s” with Ellen Wald and Mark Rossano. We talk Texas power, politics, term limits and his recent interview with Ted Cruz. Hope you...