A Free-Market Energy Blog

Stop Out-the-Door Grants and Loans, DOE!

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- December 30, 2024

This letter of December 4, 2024, to Jigar Shah (Director, Loan Programs Office, U.S. Department of Energy) was from Cathy McMorris Rodgers: Chair, Committee on Energy and Commerce; Jeff Duncan: Chair, Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security; and H. Morgan Griffith: Chair, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. A similar plea to Shah by solar executive David Bergeron is here.

Dear Director Shah,

We write to you concerning the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Loan Programs Office (LPO) and its push to rush out loans and loan guarantees in the closing days of the current administration.

Reportedly, the LPO is scrambling to close the $25 billion in pending loans under that program before President Biden leaves office. [1] The LPO has closed on eight loans in just over two months.…

Continue Reading

MasterResource Turns 17

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- December 26, 2024

On this day in 2008, I launched MasterResource. The inaugural post, A New Energy Blog, read:

We are just getting started here, but some of us veterans of the energy debate from a private property, free-market perspective have teamed together to offer our thoughts on late breaking energy items. When I read my newspapers each day, I have some thoughts that I wish I could share with folks from a historical, worldview perspective. I think we all have something to add–and thus the inspiration for this endeavor.

We have a good core group of principal (and principled) bloggers, as well as a growing list of guest bloggers. We aim to post new material most every day. What we have to provide to the reader is frequent insight so that you visit us regularly.

There will be some trial and error, but this is the time to launch.…

Continue Reading

Holiday Lighting: More the Better

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- December 25, 2024

As Christmas and Hanukkah Coincide, Lights Can Inspire All,” writes Eli Federman in the Los Angeles Times (December 17, 2024). He explains:

Holiday lights have more than aesthetic benefits, signaling community and social connection. Lights can boost mood, reduce stress and create warmth, especially during the dark winter months. Holiday lights are more than decorations; they’re a means of emotional well-being.

Lose the darkness, he concludes, “it’s time to shine.”

Scrooges

Yes, more lighting the better. Bah Humbug to the deep ecologists and climate busybodies who distain turning darkness into beauty. Three examples:

With the holiday season, the intensity of light pollution only increases…. Ideally, there would be a public outcry against bigger causes of light pollution, such as street lamps and tall buildings. But until that happens, the simplest thing that one can do is to not put up any Christmas or Hanukkah lights.

Continue Reading

Two Different Holiday Wishes

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- December 24, 2024
Continue Reading

Energy & Environmental Review: December 23, 2024

By -- December 23, 2024
Continue Reading

Jigar Shah: End DOE’s Loans/Grants Now!

By David Bergeron -- December 20, 2024
Continue Reading

Electricity Statism or Free Markets? (Kiesling shows more cards)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- December 19, 2024
Continue Reading

New Mexico Should Dump Its ‘Clean Energy’ Policies

By Kenneth Costello -- December 18, 2024
Continue Reading

Enron, NYT Declare Solar ‘Competitive’ (1994)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- December 17, 2024
Continue Reading

On the Origins of the US Forest Service

By Jane Shaw Stroup -- December 16, 2024
Continue Reading