Better living through better policy.

Category: Energy Economics

The Government Really Thinks We’re Stupid

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date August 29, 2024
No Comments on The Government Really Thinks We’re Stupid

Behold New Mexico's mythical 1,000-cylinder car: when data fabrication gets a little too creative!

New Mexico’s lack of transparency and fabricated data are undermining public trust, stifling honest policy debate, and disproportionately burdening lower-income families with unjust mandates.

Tags Data Integrity, Fabricated Data, Government Accountability, Government Transparency, Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA), New Mexico Department of Taxation and Revenue (NMTRD), New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division (MVD), Open Government, Public Records, Transparency

Conservatism Data Domestic Policy Economy Energy & Environment Energy Economics Energy, Environment, and Natural Resources Government Regulation Housing Infrastructure & Technology New Mexico Political Thought Poverty & Welfare Poverty and Inequality Progressivism Public Opinion Renewable Energy Top Issues Updates

The Hidden Costs of New Mexico’s New Building Codes: A Threat to Affordable Housing

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date August 13, 2024
1 Comment on The Hidden Costs of New Mexico’s New Building Codes: A Threat to Affordable Housing

New Mexico’s new building codes may drive up home construction costs, potentially pricing many families out of the housing market and undermining efforts to affordability.

Tags American Dream, Construction, Electric Vehicles, Energy Conservation, Families, Housing, Infrastructure, Mandates, Michelle Lujan Grisham, New Mexico Construction Industries Commission, New Mexico Finance Authority

California Coal, Oil, Natural Gas Data Domestic Policy Economy Energy & Environment Energy Economics New Mexico Renewable Energy Texas Top Issues

Yeah, Um, About Those ‘Green’ Jobs…

Post author By D. Dowd Muska
Post date August 16, 2023
No Comments on Yeah, Um, About Those ‘Green’ Jobs…

A gusher of opportunity in the Permian Basin, as Kern County faces a frightening future.

Arizona California Coal, Oil, Natural Gas Colorado Domestic Policy Energy & Environment Energy Economics Government Regulation Infrastructure & Technology Life Nevada New Mexico Nuclear Energy Oklahoma Renewable Energy Texas Top Issues Utah

Daily Caller: Gavin Newsome Should Rebuild His State’s Power Grid Instead of Destroying Everyone Else’s

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date August 3, 2023
2 Comments on Daily Caller: Gavin Newsome Should Rebuild His State’s Power Grid Instead of Destroying Everyone Else’s

Originally published at dailycaller.com on July 25, 2023. California’s power grid has been experiencing instability due to its outrageous energy goals, lack of nuclear power in its target portfolio mix, and recent heat waves. Governor Gavin Newsom has touted the state’s efforts to bolster renewable energy, but the reality is far from achieving those goals. The intermittent nature of […]

Tags Electricity, Gavin Newsome, Internal Combustion Engine (ICE), New Mexico Energy Transition Act (ETA), Nuclear, Nuclear Energy, Solar, Solar Energy, Utility-Scale Solar

Coal, Oil, Natural Gas Courts Domestic Policy Energy & Environment Energy Economics Government Regulation Legal and Judicial New Mexico Nuclear Energy Public Opinion Renewable Energy Top Issues Transparency

New Mexico Supreme Court Upholds Due Process in PNM-Avangrid Merger

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date May 16, 2023
3 Comments on New Mexico Supreme Court Upholds Due Process in PNM-Avangrid Merger

New Mexico’s Supreme Court denies a request to remand the PNM-Avangrid merger case back to the Public Regulation Commission, prolonging the legal battle and raising concerns about the state’s energy crisis.

Tags Affordable Energy, Avangrid, Blackouts, Michelle Lujan Grisham, Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM), Reliable Energy, Renewable Energy

Domestic Policy Energy & Environment Energy Economics Government Regulation Infrastructure & Technology Legal and Judicial New Mexico Nuclear Energy Public Opinion Texas Top Issues

Las Cruces Sun News: Embracing the American Southwest’s Energy Future

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date May 11, 2023
1 Comment on Las Cruces Sun News: Embracing the American Southwest’s Energy Future

A crucial opportunity exists to shape the American Southwest’s energy landscape and achieve economic growth while overcoming misguided opposition.

Tags Green Energy, Holtec International, NIMBY, Nuclear Energy, Spent Nuclear Fuel, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Arizona California Coal, Oil, Natural Gas Colorado Domestic Policy Energy & Environment Energy Economics Nevada New Mexico Nuclear Energy Oklahoma Political Thought Renewable Energy Texas Top Issues Utah

The Efficiency Dilemma: Examining Energy Sector Jobs and Electricity Generation in the US

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date March 1, 2023
No Comments on The Efficiency Dilemma: Examining Energy Sector Jobs and Electricity Generation in the US

Solar energy is the least efficient utility-scale electric generation source in terms of electricity produced per employee.

Tags Department of Energy (DOE), Efficiency, Electricity, Energy Crisis, Energy Information Administration (EIA), Jobs, Nuclear Energy, Solar Energy

Domestic Policy Energy & Environment Energy Economics New Mexico Nuclear Energy Political Thought Public Opinion Texas Top Issues

The American Southwest’s Spent Nuclear Fuel Opportunity

Post author By Patrick M. Brenner
Post date February 3, 2023
3 Comments on The American Southwest’s Spent Nuclear Fuel Opportunity

Our region has what it takes to address a national challenge – guess who’s standing in the way?

Tags Clean Energy, Electricity, Energy Crisis, Holtec International, Nuclear Energy, Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP)

Arizona California Coal, Oil, Natural Gas Data Energy & Environment Energy Economics Nevada New Mexico Top Issues Utah

What About the ‘Megadrought’?

Post author By D. Dowd Muska
Post date January 30, 2023
4 Comments on What About the ‘Megadrought’?

On the Arizona-California border, the Colorado River below the Palo Verde Dam is running at 110 percent of its median flow. Utah is “having an astounding winter,” and “in certain watersheds, it’s breaking records.” In New Mexico, the Pecos River near Lake Arthur is flowing at 108 percent of its median. Flagstaff’s “received 84.5 inches […]