A Political Tune Full of Flat Notes
Market Simulation Illuminates Neglected Northeast Energy Needs Marcellus. A Natural gas deposit (a “shale play”) running through Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland and especially West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania and even extending to New York. A stone’s throw from Albany, a short drive from Hartford, over the hills and not too far away from Boston and Providence. […]
Fueling the New England energy Crisis
Recently Reuters and WSJ wrote about increased LNG exports, rising energy prices and increased carbon emissions due to switching AWAY from natural gas. At RBAC, we run energy market simulations through GPCM software to get the best information possible and here are some key points about that impact fuel use decision-making, LNG exports and prices: […]
It’s a New Year, but is it Really “Auld Lang Syne”?
Not quite a month ago, as midnight struck, the banging of pots and pans, shooting of fireworks and however else one might ring in the new year began. The annual celebration that occurs worldwide is often accompanied by the singing of Auld Lang Syne, or at least here in the states. What does the phrase […]
It’s Not Just the Size of Your Carbon Footprint
Concerns about Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, specifically carbon emissions, are not new. They’ve been around for decades with focus really starting in the 1990s, and the Kyoto Protocol which was adopted in 1997. Since that time, a heightened focus on climate change and global warming has commenced and even broadened to now include what is […]
No Pain, No Gain: Can the US E&P Sector Bulk Back Up?
“No pain, no gain” is a saying often heard from gym rats. The motto means if you want to make gains, advance, get stronger, and become more resilient; you must be willing to suffer some pain. Through this suffering, muscles become strong, minds become better equipped to handle future challenges, assets are repurposed, skills advance, […]
GOATs and ERCOT
John Collins and Scott McKenna, RBAC, Inc. Tom Brady may have solidified his status as NFL’s “GOAT” – Greatest Of All Time – Quarterback with Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl win nearly 1 month ago. Deemed too old by some and likely not able to replicate his success at the New England Patriots, Brady proved such […]
Severe Hangover Cure = Time, Prudency, and Plenty of Liquids
It may seem hard to imagine that almost one year ago, Covid-19 was just hitting newswires and was believed to be not much more of a concern than a tough flu season. Evidence of human-to-human transmission was just being established, and it would still be a few months before the World Health Organization (WHO) declared […]
“Are We There Yet?” RBAC’s 20Q3 Natural Gas Market Outlook Takes a Road Trip Through Supply/Demand Balances
The Covid-19 pandemic has led to dramatic shifts in lifestyles, business operations and energy utilization. With the implementation of mandated lockdowns, unemployment increased substantially as did remote working, for those jobs and businesses that were capable of such operations. This created a shift from commercial to residential energy demand while also adversely impacting industrial and […]
Hurricane Proof part 2 – How about LNG Facilities?
Red Sky at Night, Sailor’s DelightRed Sky in Morning, Sailor’s Warning Just a few weeks ago, RBAC published “Has Shale Production made us Hurricane-proof?” which examined how hurricane damage comparable to the 2005 Katrina and Rita storms might impact the natural gas markets today. This analysis coincided with what was feared might be a 1-2 […]
A Curse or a Blessing? RBAC’s 20Q2 Natural Gas Market Outlook Speaks Volumes
May you live in interesting times. Wikipedia suggests this is “an English expression that purports to a translation of a traditional Chinese curse”; seemingly a blessing but with ironic overtones. How true this proverb is and how interesting the current times are, if interesting is even the appropriate adjective. Since our last quarter’s outlook, we […]
