Relevant and even prescient commentary on news, politics and the economy.

How Tesla makes money

Is Tesla a car company? An AI company? A projection of Elon Musk’s ego? In Europe, it’s a greenwashing company. Selling credits to other automakers looking to avoid paying penalties for not meeting European Union emissions targets has proved lucrative for all-electric Tesla. “Since its founding, the electric vehicle company has brought in billions from […]

A second nuclear era?

I grew up in Oak Ridge TN in the 1960s. It would have been hard to find any city in the world more pro-nuclear at that time*. Since then, nuclear power plant building went into decline in the US, partly because of concerns over safety. But any serious effort to decarbonize the world’s energy will […]

China taking the lead on nuclear power

When discussions turn to decarbonizing energy, the topics typically concern solar, wind, geothermal and tidal energy. But nuclear energy doesn’t generate CO2 during normal operation, either. “Since Yikpotey had been born, few new reactors had been built on either side of the Atlantic. Competition was fierce for the few opportunities left. “So Yikpotey looked east. […]

Executive Orders for Trump and Private Industry

This was from May 2023. I have been reading the OilPrice website just to keep up with what the other side of the room was thinking, Not that I would get all the detail. However, you can surmise what is taking place after a brief read. I do not believe industry finds Trump and his […]

Oil, Energy, and Krugman

A Bit of Paul Krugman “Trump, Energy and MAGA Brain” “So what’s going on with the proclamation that American energy production, which is one of our economic strong points, is in crisis? Partly it’s a cynical payoff to the oil industry, which more or less openly made a deal to give Trump $1 billion in return for […]

Propane!

From my brother, who lives on the Colorado front range: “An excerpt from today’s National Weather Service’s Area Forecast Discussion: “The mountain valleys are expected to see the coldest temperatures where lowsare expected to fall to -20 to -30F. The coldest locations could approach -40F.” “[we’re] due to get to -10F…we’ve seen lows of -20F […]

Insurance, the Next Financial Crisis

From storms in the Southeast to fires in California; there has to be a growing financial stress on the companies insuring the people and businesses there. A report from The American Prospect. Increasing damage from fires, hurricanes, and floods will destabilize a lightly regulated industry—and spill over into broader financial markets. The Next Financial Crisis: […]