A Free-Market Energy Blog

‘No Left Turns’ (self-interested conservation at UPS)

By -- March 8, 2017

“UPS engineers found while studying the performance of its truck fleet that left-hand turns were a major drag on efficiency. Turning against traffic resulted in long waits in left-hand turn lanes that wasted time and fuel, and it also led to a disproportionate number of accidents.”

“The [Mythbusters] program sent a truck out to deliver packages following a normal route and one employing the left-turnless UPS route. They found the UPS approach saved gas but took a bit longer.”

While it is hard to believe that you can drive longer and go farther and actually save gasoline, United Parcel Services Inc. (UPS), the ubiquitous package delivery service famous for its brown trucks and drivers’ uniforms, has proven this scenario to be true.

Back in 2004, UPS announced it would begin a policy of planning its delivery routes in such a way as to avoid making left-hand turns. …

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Alex Epstein Wants to Debate (and he is a polite debater)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- March 7, 2017

“With the climate activists out of political power, they must regroup and turn to open debate and persuasion. Alex Epstein is ready when you are, Misters Brune, Gore, Hansen, Holdren, Musk, Nye, and Romm.”

John Holdren, James Hansen, Joe Romm: Since you are sure that planetary warming necessitates government rationing of fossil fuels, why not debate and expose the fallacies of the climate optimists, or the ‘deniers’ as you like to call them?

Alex Epstein stands ready (and he tried with Holdren, who surely has more time now as a private citizen.)

I was reminded of this when Alex sent out this email last week about a twitter challenge to Bill ‘The Science Guy” Nye:

Why Bill Nye “The Science Guy”?

Because he is the most prominent opponent of fossil fuels that has shown any inclination to debate.

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DOE’s EERE: Reform Ideas for Secretary Perry

By Mark Krebs and Tom Tanton -- March 6, 2017

“Back in 1977 when the US Department of Energy (DOE) was established, a major part of its mission was to help protect American from the OPEC cartel. While the mission has changed in recent years towards mitigating ‘anthropogenic’ climate change, a trace of consumer focus still exists and should be reemphasized.”

“With a renewed focus on energy consumers and less on environmental cronyism, DOE can gain newfound respect from the American public and help drive a resurgent economy.”

On February 24, a Presidential Executive Order, Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda, was signed by President Trump which, according to Bloomberg News, “will impose additional oversight on government regulations, designating officials within government agencies who will monitor rule-making and identify needed policy changes.”

Earlier on Wednesday, January 25, 2017, E&E Daily published an article titled “Barton, Perry to team up on plan to ‘revamp’ agency.”…

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Denial is a River in California: Can Oroville Spark New Dam Building?

By -- March 3, 2017
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Wind Energy and Aviation Safety (Part V)

By -- March 2, 2017
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Fracking Becomes the Centerpiece

By William D. Balgord -- March 1, 2017
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US Offshore Wind: Tax Machines Offset Bad Economics

By -- February 28, 2017
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Energy & Environmental Newsletter: February 27, 2017

By -- February 27, 2017
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A Great Free Market Moment: ‘Presidential Executive Order on Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda’ (February 24, 2017)

By Robert Bradley Jr. -- February 25, 2017
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DOE: Breaking the Federal Arm of the Wind Industry (Part IV)

By -- February 23, 2017
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