The Chinese overall have a whopping trade surplus with the US, with the Chinese exporting $4 to the USA for every $1 the US exports to China. But Uncle Sam's huge trade deficit with China turns into a $1.63 billion trade surplus in 3 surprising categories--solar, wind, and smart energy--in the latest available data.
http://www.pewenvironment.org/news-room/reports/advantage-america-the-us-china-clean-energy-technology-trade-relationship-in-2011-85899456253.
While the Chinese make solar panels and export them to us, we send to them high value inputs like capital equipment and polysilicon and wafers used to make solar cells. In fact, during 2011, the US had a $913 million solar trade surplus with China. Surprising and good news, indeed.
The USA also had a $571 million surplus on smart energy products, mainly from capital equipment for the manufacture of light emitting diodes (LED), and even a $146 million wind surplus.
The Pew Report found the total clean energy trade between the USA and China amounted to $8.5 billion. These numbers remind that clean energy is even a big export business for the USA.
Friday, March 8, 2013
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Stunning Fact: Average Time Americans Are Without Electricity Rises 20%, Without Even Including Mass Outages From Big Storms
Judged by the amount of time Americans sit in the dark without power each year, America's electricity grid is about 20% less reliable. Time in the dark is up from 94 to 112 minutes per year, according to the AP.
http://www.courierpress.com/news/2013/mar/06/us-power-grid-costs-rise-but-service-slipping/. See also:
http://hosted2.ap.org/txdam/a227c868771a4f9a96b85fd8199d46b3/Article_2013-03-05-Fragile%20Power%20Grid/id-420aad07cbec4603bc813ffba30c021e.
In fact, the 112 minutes in the dark understates probably considerably how much time on average Americans sit in the dark each year, because the number does not include time without electricity service due to mass outages from the increasingly extreme storms like Sandy that are the new normal.
Just in the last two years, tens of millions of Americans have lost service for many hours or a day. Millions of Americans have lost service for days. And hundreds of thousands have lost service for weeks and months due to extreme storms ravaging an unprepared grid.
http://www.courierpress.com/news/2013/mar/06/us-power-grid-costs-rise-but-service-slipping/. See also:
http://hosted2.ap.org/txdam/a227c868771a4f9a96b85fd8199d46b3/Article_2013-03-05-Fragile%20Power%20Grid/id-420aad07cbec4603bc813ffba30c021e.
In fact, the 112 minutes in the dark understates probably considerably how much time on average Americans sit in the dark each year, because the number does not include time without electricity service due to mass outages from the increasingly extreme storms like Sandy that are the new normal.
Just in the last two years, tens of millions of Americans have lost service for many hours or a day. Millions of Americans have lost service for days. And hundreds of thousands have lost service for weeks and months due to extreme storms ravaging an unprepared grid.
Buffett's Railroad, America's Second Largest Diesel User, Plans Mass Switch To Natural Gas
Quite possibly BNSF, Warren Buffett's railroad, will take the biggest step yet to switch from oil to gas for transportation. Russell Gold of the Wall Street Journal reports that BNSF is working to begin switching all of its 6,900 locomotives from expensive, dirty diesel to cheap, cleaner natural gas, starting next year.
http://www.foxbusiness.com/news/2013/03/05/bnsf-railway-to-test-use-natural-gas/ and
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324539404578342540494619344.html.
BNSF is reportedly the second biggest user of diesel in the USA, ranking only behind the Navy. The railroad industry uses 6% of all diesel.
Gold makes clear that the primary reason for the switch is the price difference between natural gas and diesel. Gold states that diesel costs about $4 per gallon, while industrial gas is available for 42 cents for an equivalent amount, without including cooling costs to convert gas to LNG.
Interestingly, a second factor pushing BNSF to look at using natural gas is looming EPA rules in 2015 that will require expensive retrofits of locomotives if they are to continue burning gas. Here is yet another example of how stronger EPA rules benefit natural gas,.
It remains stunning that the natural gas industry has done virtually nothing to support the various Obama EPA's regulations that can substantially impact positively or negatively the demand for natural gas. One consequence of that neglect has been rules that benefit natural gas but less than they could have.
http://www.foxbusiness.com/news/2013/03/05/bnsf-railway-to-test-use-natural-gas/ and
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324539404578342540494619344.html.
BNSF is reportedly the second biggest user of diesel in the USA, ranking only behind the Navy. The railroad industry uses 6% of all diesel.
Gold makes clear that the primary reason for the switch is the price difference between natural gas and diesel. Gold states that diesel costs about $4 per gallon, while industrial gas is available for 42 cents for an equivalent amount, without including cooling costs to convert gas to LNG.
Interestingly, a second factor pushing BNSF to look at using natural gas is looming EPA rules in 2015 that will require expensive retrofits of locomotives if they are to continue burning gas. Here is yet another example of how stronger EPA rules benefit natural gas,.
It remains stunning that the natural gas industry has done virtually nothing to support the various Obama EPA's regulations that can substantially impact positively or negatively the demand for natural gas. One consequence of that neglect has been rules that benefit natural gas but less than they could have.
Solar Shakes Energy World As Deutsche Bank Boosts 2013 Global Solar Build To 30,000 Megawatts & Finds Solar Competitive With Grid Power In Italy and India
Deutsche Bank raises its 2013 global solar build to 30,000 megawatts for an energy world shaking reason.
http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/details/beitrag/deutsche-bank--sustainable-solar-market-expected-in-2014_100010338/#axzz2LyRXuVHd.
Deutsche Bank finds that solar power is now cost competitive with electricity from the grid in India and Italy. It further concludes that solar will be cost competitive with electricity from the grid during 2014 in more parts of the world.
When solar becomes first cost competitive with grid power and then cheaper than grid power, solar shakes the energy world. It becomes creatively destructive like shale gas.
In the US, distributed solar today is competitive with grid power in about 20% of utility service territories. Not too surprisingly, as solar becomes competitive with grid power in more places around the world, the amount of solar installed climbs.
Paradoxically, falling solar costs are leading to thriving solar installation markets, even as falling prices create a battle for survival among solar manufacturers. To advance their view that solar is a failed industry, Fox News, the Wall Street Journal editorial page, and the like focus on the bankruptcies in solar manufacturing, while ignoring the record breaking solar installation numbers in the USA and around the world.
In fact, solar power is rising around the world, as solar prices increasingly first reach grid parity and then become cheaper than power from the grid in more and more places.
http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/details/beitrag/deutsche-bank--sustainable-solar-market-expected-in-2014_100010338/#axzz2LyRXuVHd.
Deutsche Bank finds that solar power is now cost competitive with electricity from the grid in India and Italy. It further concludes that solar will be cost competitive with electricity from the grid during 2014 in more parts of the world.
When solar becomes first cost competitive with grid power and then cheaper than grid power, solar shakes the energy world. It becomes creatively destructive like shale gas.
In the US, distributed solar today is competitive with grid power in about 20% of utility service territories. Not too surprisingly, as solar becomes competitive with grid power in more places around the world, the amount of solar installed climbs.
Paradoxically, falling solar costs are leading to thriving solar installation markets, even as falling prices create a battle for survival among solar manufacturers. To advance their view that solar is a failed industry, Fox News, the Wall Street Journal editorial page, and the like focus on the bankruptcies in solar manufacturing, while ignoring the record breaking solar installation numbers in the USA and around the world.
In fact, solar power is rising around the world, as solar prices increasingly first reach grid parity and then become cheaper than power from the grid in more and more places.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
The Marcellus Contributes To Falling Unemployment In Ohio and West Virginia But Not In Pennsylvania
The Marcellus gas reserve is the second biggest in the world and has been producing gas and jobs since 2007. Unlike New York, where a moratorium is in place, Marcellus shale gas is flowing and jobs have been created in Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania.
Interestingly, the 2012 average annual unemployment rate in Ohio and West Virginia fell significantly but it did not fall at all in the third Marcellus state--Pennsylvania. Here are the facts.
Ohio's average annual unemployment rate fell from 8.6% in 2011 to 7.2% in 2012. West Virginia's fell from 7.8% in 2011 to 7.3% in 2012. By contrast, Pennsylvania's unemployment rate did not fall at all, staying stuck at 7.9%.
The numbers show that Pennsylvania is the worst performing economy among the three Marcellus states and is among the 4 worst performing in the nation, since 46 states had a falling unemployment rate in 2012 and the national rate declined 0.8%.
By the way, both Ohio and West Virginia have gas drilling taxes, and Governor Kasich in Ohio seeks to raise the existing drilling tax as part of a tax reform package. By contrast, Governor Corbett has refused to enact a drilling tax and begrudgingly accepted an inadequate impact fee.
No doubt gas production is creating wealth and jobs in all three states, but in Pennsylvania a series of budget, tax, and economic mistakes in the last 2 years have squandered and swamped the gas boom for the state as a whole.
Interestingly, the 2012 average annual unemployment rate in Ohio and West Virginia fell significantly but it did not fall at all in the third Marcellus state--Pennsylvania. Here are the facts.
Ohio's average annual unemployment rate fell from 8.6% in 2011 to 7.2% in 2012. West Virginia's fell from 7.8% in 2011 to 7.3% in 2012. By contrast, Pennsylvania's unemployment rate did not fall at all, staying stuck at 7.9%.
The numbers show that Pennsylvania is the worst performing economy among the three Marcellus states and is among the 4 worst performing in the nation, since 46 states had a falling unemployment rate in 2012 and the national rate declined 0.8%.
By the way, both Ohio and West Virginia have gas drilling taxes, and Governor Kasich in Ohio seeks to raise the existing drilling tax as part of a tax reform package. By contrast, Governor Corbett has refused to enact a drilling tax and begrudgingly accepted an inadequate impact fee.
No doubt gas production is creating wealth and jobs in all three states, but in Pennsylvania a series of budget, tax, and economic mistakes in the last 2 years have squandered and swamped the gas boom for the state as a whole.
The Dow Hits A Record High And So Obama's Critics Should Stop Calling Him A Socialist
The Dow set a new record high yesterday, closing at 14,253. The Dow is up nearly 7,800 points or about 120%, since it hit bottom at about 6,500 on March 9, 2009, after a terrifying plunge throughout 2008 from its previous high set in 2007. In March 2009, the Dow judged a depression had been avoided.
http://www.nbcnews.com/business/dow-closes-all-time-high-tops-2007-record-1C8685444.
President Obama, Ben Bernanke (a Republican and President Bush appointee), Secretary Geitherner and legislative leaders who rounded up tough votes for the automobile intervention and stimulus bill stopped the crash and have allowed the stock market to boom.
In fact, the stock market, the heart of capitalism, loves President Obama. That's what the numbers show. But as the stock market set its all-time record, Senator Grassley was slamming the President for socialism.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/johnstanton/chuck-grassley-blasts-obama-for-refusing-to-work-with-congre.
Of course, Senator Grassley is a fierce proponent of government policies supporting corn ethanol and federal farm policies that include crop insurance, disaster payments, and crop subsidies.
If President Obama is a socialist, so is just about every member of Congress. And for the last 4 years the stock market has delivered its market judgment on President Obama and Ben Bernanke.
For all kinds of reasons, the President's critics should retire the foolish charge that he is a socialist.
http://www.nbcnews.com/business/dow-closes-all-time-high-tops-2007-record-1C8685444.
President Obama, Ben Bernanke (a Republican and President Bush appointee), Secretary Geitherner and legislative leaders who rounded up tough votes for the automobile intervention and stimulus bill stopped the crash and have allowed the stock market to boom.
In fact, the stock market, the heart of capitalism, loves President Obama. That's what the numbers show. But as the stock market set its all-time record, Senator Grassley was slamming the President for socialism.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/johnstanton/chuck-grassley-blasts-obama-for-refusing-to-work-with-congre.
Of course, Senator Grassley is a fierce proponent of government policies supporting corn ethanol and federal farm policies that include crop insurance, disaster payments, and crop subsidies.
If President Obama is a socialist, so is just about every member of Congress. And for the last 4 years the stock market has delivered its market judgment on President Obama and Ben Bernanke.
For all kinds of reasons, the President's critics should retire the foolish charge that he is a socialist.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Gov. Corbett Repeatedly Violates Governor's Code Of Conduct Banning The Taking Of Gifts
The Philadelphia Daily News reports today that Governor Corbett has taken valuable gifts from people doing business with the Commonwealth in violation of the Governor's Code of Conduct that bans officials and state employees of the Executive Branch from taking such gifts. Here is the link to the story:
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/state/20130305_Corbett__wife_accepted_thousands_in_gifts_from_biz_execs__lobbyists.html.
Attacking the rampant corruption in the Shapp Administration, Governor Thornburgh in 1980 made the Governor's Code of Conduct part of Pennsylvania's law. Here is the link to the law at 7 Pa. Code 151:
http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/004/chapter7/subchapKtoc.html. Amazingly, since he has shredded the Code, Governor Corbett has the Governor's Code of Conduct proudly displayed on his official website.
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=20980&PageID=1192319&mode=2.
The Governor has made a huge mistake by repeatedly violating the Governor's Code of Conduct and his mistake threatens to corrupt the operations of state government, unless immediately corrected. Simply put, if it is permissible for the Governor to take valuable gifts from those doing business with the state, then why is it not permissible for all state employees in the Executive branch to do the same?
The Governor can insure the integrity of the Executive branch by issuing a strong statement saying that the Governor's Code of Conduct is in force; that he will follow it; and that he will require all officials and employees in the Executive Branch to do so. He also must payback the gifts taken in violation of the Governor's Code of Conduct.
In the case of Mr. Moran who is a large political donor to Corbett and who reportedly also provided a vacation in Newport, Rhode Island to the Governor, other free transportation to Corbett, and a fishing trip to Lieutenant Governor Cawley, the Governor's conduct is especially troubling. http://paindependent.com/2012/12/watchblog-corbett-defends-free-vacation-to-rhode-island-in-2011/.
At the time of the gifts to the Governor, Mr. Moran was subject to an investigation by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for shipping waste without a permit. The investigation apparently was eventually closed in favor of Mr. Moran.
The Governor also appointed Mr. Moran and his wife to official state boards and other important board seats. The Governor and Mr. Moran then traveled to Europe on a trade mission paid for by Team Pennsylvania, of which Governor Corbett had made Mr. Moran the chair.
At this point, it's up to Governor Corbett to restore the Governor's Code of Conduct and the integrity of the operations of the Executive branch that he leads.
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/state/20130305_Corbett__wife_accepted_thousands_in_gifts_from_biz_execs__lobbyists.html.
Attacking the rampant corruption in the Shapp Administration, Governor Thornburgh in 1980 made the Governor's Code of Conduct part of Pennsylvania's law. Here is the link to the law at 7 Pa. Code 151:
http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/004/chapter7/subchapKtoc.html. Amazingly, since he has shredded the Code, Governor Corbett has the Governor's Code of Conduct proudly displayed on his official website.
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=20980&PageID=1192319&mode=2.
The Governor has made a huge mistake by repeatedly violating the Governor's Code of Conduct and his mistake threatens to corrupt the operations of state government, unless immediately corrected. Simply put, if it is permissible for the Governor to take valuable gifts from those doing business with the state, then why is it not permissible for all state employees in the Executive branch to do the same?
The Governor can insure the integrity of the Executive branch by issuing a strong statement saying that the Governor's Code of Conduct is in force; that he will follow it; and that he will require all officials and employees in the Executive Branch to do so. He also must payback the gifts taken in violation of the Governor's Code of Conduct.
In the case of Mr. Moran who is a large political donor to Corbett and who reportedly also provided a vacation in Newport, Rhode Island to the Governor, other free transportation to Corbett, and a fishing trip to Lieutenant Governor Cawley, the Governor's conduct is especially troubling. http://paindependent.com/2012/12/watchblog-corbett-defends-free-vacation-to-rhode-island-in-2011/.
At the time of the gifts to the Governor, Mr. Moran was subject to an investigation by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for shipping waste without a permit. The investigation apparently was eventually closed in favor of Mr. Moran.
The Governor also appointed Mr. Moran and his wife to official state boards and other important board seats. The Governor and Mr. Moran then traveled to Europe on a trade mission paid for by Team Pennsylvania, of which Governor Corbett had made Mr. Moran the chair.
At this point, it's up to Governor Corbett to restore the Governor's Code of Conduct and the integrity of the operations of the Executive branch that he leads.
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