Energy
Bigger Pie Forum highlights how abundant and affordable power help fuel growth and prosperity. BPF is engaged in the regulatory oversight of electric utilities and aims to promote common sense solutions rooted in free-market economic principles.
Featured Work
Bigger Pie Forum Projects
The Kemper County Clean Lignite Plant
Consumer Advocate
Should Entergy’s Customers Pay More for Less?
Entergy Mississippi is an electric utility. It has a legal monopoly in 45 counties with almost 400,000 residential customers (households). It is regulated by the Mississippi Public Service Commission (PSC). The PSC has allowed Entergy to increase rates for these customers 32% over the last three years. Why? Should customers pay even more for less?
BPF Book Review of Alex Epstein’s “Fossil Future”
Fossil Future is chock full of data, charts and anecdotes telling in great detail the roles fossil fuels played in creating today’s cornucopia of abundance. Especially compelling are the “hockey-stick” charts that reveal the close correlation between the development of hydrocarbons and the dramatic rise of world GDP, world population, world life expectancy and human flourishing.
Coincidences, Conspiracies and Occam’s Razor
We could use more facts and less speculation today about Covid, energy, climate, other issues and related policy mistakes and crimes. And, less government and social media censorship, manipulated data and demonization of independent thinkers who question government narratives. And, who also expose mistakes and hidden agendas.
Expensive Electricity and Blackouts
What raises electric rates and causes blackouts? Too many windmills and solar panels. What causes too many windmills and solar panels? Federal subsidies. What’s the latest and biggest perverse federal subsidy? The “Inflation Reduction Act.”
Cashier in the Coal Mine
Coal is still the primary fuel used for generating electricity worldwide with a market share of 36.7%. In the U.S., coal’s share is 21.8%, which ranks second to natural gas at 38.3%.
Energy Reality vs. Wishful Thinking
In reality, electricity from solar and wind (renewable energy) can supplement energy from fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, coal). But thinking it can replace fossil fuels is wishful thinking. Why? Because renewables are intermittent (sporadic). Solar panels generate electricity about 30% of the time on average. But they may not generate any electricity for days. Same for windmills.