Commentary Series
THE EVOLVING ROLES AND STRUCTURES OF UNIVERSITY-AFFILIATED ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT INSTITUTES October 1, 2018
THE EVOLVING ROLES AND STRUCTURES OF UNIVERSITY-AFFILIATED ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT INSTITUTES
This is a Working Paper that we hope will elicit comments and suggestions that will be used to refine and augment the work. Its principal impetus was to better understand the landscape of university-affiliated energy and environment institutes to inform the development of the nascent Payne Institute at the Colorado School of Mines. October 2018.
A NOTE ON THE IMPACTS OF PROPOSITION 112 October 1, 2018
A NOTE ON THE IMPACTS OF PROPOSITION 112
Colorado Proposition 112 proposes to prohibit oil and gas drilling within 2500 feet of homes, schools, or other “occupied structures” or “vulnerable areas”. October 2018.
THE FUTURE OF NATURAL GAS: A TALE OF TWO WORLDS October 1, 2018
THE FUTURE OF NATURAL GAS: A TALE OF TWO WORLDS
While shale gas has “revolutionized” the energy sector in the United States, and is starting to have an impact on global LNG trade, the picture is very different in other parts of the world. October 2018.
A GUIDE TO ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL COMPLEXITY OF FOSSIL FUEL SUBSIDY REFORMS September 1, 2018
A GUIDE TO ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL COMPLEXITY OF FOSSIL FUEL SUBSIDY REFORMS
Explores the complex economics and politics of fossil fuel subsidies, and distils key principles for designing and implementing of effective reforms. September 2018.
FLORENCE AFTERMATH September 1, 2018
FLORENCE AFTERMATH
The U.S. DOE is regularly issues status reports about the impact of Hurricane Florence on the energy sector. They outline six steps for addressing power outages ranging from generating plants, to transmission, to essential services and homes. September 2018.
INDIA’S SOLAR IMPORT DUTIES ARE SLOWING DOWN THE CLEAN ENERGY TRANSITION September 1, 2018
INDIA’S SOLAR IMPORT DUTIES ARE SLOWING DOWN THE CLEAN ENERGY TRANSITION
In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government aims to install 227 gigawatts of renewable power generation capacity by 2022. Accounting for one-half of the targeted capacity, solar power plays a key role in these plans. September 2018.
IMO 2020: ECONOMICS PROSPECTS August 1, 2018
IMO 2020: ECONOMICS PROSPECTS
With the IMO 2020 rule’s imposition, diesel fuel prices could skyrocket, and the 2020 GDP loss might be as much as seven percent. August 2018.
OIL SECURITY AND GEOGRAPHY August 2018
OIL SECURITY AND GEOGRAPHY
For ten days starting July 25, Saudi Aramco suspended all oil shipments through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, one of the world’s most vital oil chokepoints, after two Saudi oil tankers were attacked off the coast of Yemen. One of the ships was lightly damaged but no one was injured. The incident marked at least the fifth time this year that an oil tanker has been targeted by Houthi militants backed by Iran. Over the last three years, the Houthis have deployed mines, anti-ship cruise missiles, explosive drone skiffs, and their own attack boats. August 2018.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS August 2018
ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted in September 2015. They significantly broaden the areas covered by the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and give an official recognition of the central role of energy as an enabler for development. August 2018.
OIL SECURITY AND GEOGRAPHY August 2018
OIL SECURITY AND GEOGRAPHY
Rising Tensions Threaten Middle East Oil Chokepoints: Background and Policy Options. August 2018
TAXATION AND INVESTMENT DECISIONS IN PETROLEUM 6.9.2018
TAXATION AND INVESTMENT DECISIONS IN PETROLEUM
When governments apply high tax rates targeted at natural resource rent, there must be generous deductions in order to avoid investment disincentives. How generous is disputed. Based on standard theory and recommendations from the OECD and the IMF, the value of future deductions depends on the risks of these, and the companies’ after-tax weighted-average cost of capital cannot be applied directly. June 9, 2018.
EIRIK WÆRNESS NAMED PAYNE INSTITUTE FELLOW June 2018
EIRIK WÆRNESS NAMED PAYNE INSTITUTE FELLOW
The Payne Institute is pleased to welcome Eirik Wærnes as its newest non-resident fellow. Wærnes is senior vice president and chief economist at Equinor, a group responsible for macroeconomics, energy and commodity market analyses. June 2018.
GLOBAL INDUSTRIAL CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS MITIGATION: INVESTIGATION OF THE ROLE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY AND OTHER TECHNOLOGIES UNTIL 2060 June 2018
GLOBAL INDUSTRIAL CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS MITIGATION: INVESTIGATION OF THE ROLE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY AND OTHER TECHNOLOGIES UNTIL 2060
The Paris Climate Agreement objective of well-below 2 degrees global average temperature change requires the elimination of anthropogenic CO2 emissions shortly after 2060. The industry sector is an important source of greenhouse gas emissions. By Dolf Gielen, Payne Institute fellow and director of technology and innovation at the International Renewable Energy Agency. June 2018.
POLITICS AND BARRELS OPEC-RUSSIA PRODUCTION DECISION LEAVES MARKET IN THE DARK June 2018
POLITICS AND BARRELS OPEC-RUSSIA PRODUCTION DECISION LEAVES MARKET IN THE DARK
Cyril Widdershoven, Payne Institute fellow and founder of Verocy, authors viewpoint for the Payne Institute commentary series. June 2018.
A NEW VIEW OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES FROM SPACE June 2018
A NEW VIEW OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES FROM SPACE
This new image is a USA-focused subset from the 2017 Black Marble produced by the NOAA Earth Observation Group in Boulder, Colorado. The NGDC Earth Observation Group specializes in nighttime observations of lights and combustion sources worldwide. The group started working with DMSP data in 1994 and has produced a time series of annual cloud-free composites of DMSP nighttime lights. June 2018.
OUR MENTAL MODELS OF MINERAL DEPLETION—AND WHY THEY MATTER May 2018
OUR MENTAL MODELS OF MINERAL DEPLETION—AND WHY THEY MATTER
Shortages of mineral commodities can arise for numerous reasons—mineral depletion, inadequate investment in new mines and processing facilities, unanticipated surges in demand, cartels, embargoes, wars, mine accidents, and even prolonged strikes. It is useful, however, to separate mineral commodity shortages into two distinct groups. The first includes shortages due to mineral depletion; the second, shortages owing to all other causes. May 2018.
HERE COMES THE SUN: WASHINGTON AND U.S. SHALE NEED TO WATCH OUT FOR THE NEW SUN KING April 2018
HERE COMES THE SUN: WASHINGTON AND U.S. SHALE NEED TO WATCH OUT FOR THE NEW SUN KING
The world tour of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) has generated enough interest and support in the West to proceed with his Vision 2030 and regional power plans. April 2018
FOSSIL FUEL SUBSIDY REFORMS AND THEIR IMPACTS ON FIRMS 6.27.2017
FOSSIL FUEL SUBSIDY REFORMS AND THEIR IMPACTS ON FIRMS
While the potential adverse effects of fossil fuel subsidy reform are well documented for households, the literature has largely ignored the effect of subsidy reform on firms’ competitiveness. This paper discusses how firms are affected by, and respond to, energy price increases caused by subsidy reforms. It highlights that cost increases (both direct and indirect) do not necessarily reflect competitiveness losses, since firms have various ways to mitigate and pass on price shocks. June 27, 2017.
THE SUPPLY-SIDE EFFECT OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY LABELS January 2016
THE SUPPLY-SIDE EFFECT OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY LABELS
We build on research documenting demand-side consequences of energy-efficiency labels for buildings by testing for a supply-side response. We exploit a natural experiment to test whether the introduction of mandatory energy labels for residential homes influenced investment in home energy efficiency. January 2016.
BRIBES, BUREAUCRACIES, AND BLACKOUTS: TOWARDS UNDERSTANDING HOW CORRUPTION AT THE FIRM LEVEL IMPACTS ELECTRICITY RELIABILITY 12.1.15
BRIBES, BUREAUCRACIES, AND BLACKOUTS: TOWARDS UNDERSTANDING HOW CORRUPTION AT THE FIRM LEVEL IMPACTS ELECTRICITY RELIABILITY
This paper looks at whether bribes for electricity connections affect electricity reliability. Using detailed firm-level data, we estimate various specifications based upon repeated cross-sections and means-based pseudo-panels to show that bribes are closely related to poorer electricity reliability. December 2015.
DETERMINING THE SUCCESS OF CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE PROJECTS November 2015
DETERMINING THE SUCCESS OF CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE PROJECTS
Using data on planned, cancelled, and operational CCS projects, this paper aims to elicit characteristics that render CCS projects likely to become operational. These results suggest that a focus on storage site selection and beneficial uses of carbon dioxide would encourage CCS development. November 2015.
ETHANOL MANDATE AND CORN PRICE VOLATILITY November 2015
ETHANOL MANDATE AND CORN PRICE VOLATILITY
Food price shocks can have substantial welfare implications, particularly in the world’s low income regions. A number of previous studies has shown that the United States ethanol mandate has increased average corn price levels. Our results suggest that the ethanol mandate has increased the likelihood of very high price levels by even more than previously thought. November 2015.
RATIONALIZING TRANSPORT FUELS PRICING POLICIES AND EFFECTS ON GLOBAL FUEL CONSUMPTION, EMISSIONS GOVERNMENT REVENUES AND WELFARE November 2015
RATIONALIZING TRANSPORT FUELS PRICING POLICIES AND EFFECTS ON GLOBAL FUEL CONSUMPTION, EMISSIONS GOVERNMENT REVENUES AND WELFARE
Society bears many costs when consumers use transport fuels like gasoline and diesel. To name a few impacts, consumption of transport fuels adds to climate change, local pollution, traffic congestion, and traffic accidents. Fuel consumers do not directly bear the burden of those impacts. November 2015.
OPTIMAL ENVIRONMENTAL BORDER ADJUSTMENTS UNDER THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE November 2015
OPTIMAL ENVIRONMENTAL BORDER ADJUSTMENTS UNDER THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE
Climate change is a global problem, and while coordinated efforts to mitigate climate change can reduce the global cost of action, some countries may choose to not participate. To address “free rider concerns, countries might consider trade restrictions to prevent emissions from shifting to non-regulated regions. We analyze trade policies that could be used to support regional carbon reductions. November 2015.
WHY HAVE GREENHOUSE EMISSIONS IN RGGI STATES DECLINED? AN ECONOMETRIC ATTRIBUTION TO ECONOMIC, ENERGY MARKET AND POLICY FACTORS November 2015
WHY HAVE GREENHOUSE EMISSIONS IN RGGI STATES DECLINED? AN ECONOMETRIC ATTRIBUTION TO ECONOMIC, ENERGY MARKET AND POLICY FACTORS
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is a consortium of northeastern U.S. states that have agreed to limit carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from electricity generation through a regional emissions trading (cap-and-trade) program. Since the initiative came into effect in 2009, CO2 emissions have dropped precipitously, while the price of emission allowances has also fallen. We investigate why emission reductions were achieved so quickly and so inexpensively. November 2015.
The Payne Institute experts are regional, national, and international leaders in applied research in natural resources, energy, and the environment. Our team is involved in a wide variety of research projects in these fields, and are committed to sharing these results with academic and professional audiences.
DISCLAIMER: The opinions, beliefs, and viewpoints expressed are those of the author alone and do not reflect the opinions, beliefs, viewpoints, or official policies of the Payne Institute or Colorado School of Mines.
