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All Research

Article
The Honest Broker

The Iberian Blackout

I’ve spent some time this week looking into the massive blackout that struck Spain and Portugal a few days ago, and today I share some of what I’ve learned. I…

The Nuclear Race to Power the AI Economy
Article
AEIdeas

The Nuclear Race to Power the AI Economy

America’s nuclear paradox: Yesterday’s reactors are being resurrected to power the future. For example: At Palisades, Michigan, engineers rush to repair steam generators before an October 2025 restart, while at…

The Rigidity Cycle and the Pacing Problem
Article
Knowledge Problem

The Rigidity Cycle and the Pacing Problem

I was listening to Tyler Cowen’s Conversations With Tyler podcast with Jennifer Pahlka, rich and full of detail relevant to my previous post on the pacing problem. In addition to recommending…

A Policy Professor Grades Trump’s Trade Policies
Article
The Honest Broker

A Policy Professor Grades Trump’s Trade Policies

For this first edition of THB Subscriber Questions (THBSQ#1) I am going to address one question asked by many readers. Anders Valland asks:  Professor, now you know where it starts. What…

The Pacing Problem in Electricity
Article
Knowledge Problem

The Pacing Problem in Electricity

The electricity industry is undergoing an unprecedented transformation characterized by smaller-scale, decentralized, and digital technologies. But transitions are rarely easy. Significant challenges arise as the rapid pace of technological innovation…

Economics and Politics of Tariffs
Article
The Honest Broker

Economics and Politics of Tariffs

In recent years, when teaching my senior policy capstone course I would often pivot the course on short notice to discuss current events, updating the readings on the syllabus, and…

“Drill, Baby, Drill” is Nothing Short of a Myth and Populist Rallying Cry
Article
The Honest Broker

“Drill, Baby, Drill” is Nothing Short of a Myth and Populist Rallying Cry

Who uttered the quote that is the title of this post? A prominent climate activist, perhaps? Or maybe, a progressive Democratic member of Congress? No and no.  The quote comes…

Global Energy Demand Set to Accelerate
Article
The Honest Broker

Global Energy Demand Set to Accelerate

The International Energy Agency has just published its Global Energy Review 2025. In this post I share the five most important take-aways I see in the report. I encourage you to…

Regional Transmission Organizations as Market Platforms V
Article
Knowledge Problem

Regional Transmission Organizations as Market Platforms V

In this RTO series, I’ve been exploring the decision-making processes and corporate governance structures within Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs), highlighting how these institutions perpetuate the control and decision-making power of…

How To Get Rid of a Tenured Professor
Article
Reason

How To Get Rid of a Tenured Professor

I was a tenured full professor at the University of Colorado Boulder for almost 24 years. At the end of 2024, I left. Officially, it was a voluntary departure. But I…

Welcome to the Era of Energy Realism
Article
The Honest Broker

Welcome to the Era of Energy Realism

Every year for the past 15 years, JP Morgan publishes an outstanding annual energy report by Michael Cembalest. Last week JP Morgan published its 2025 edition and today I share five important figures…

Thinking About Tanks
Article
The Honest Broker

Thinking About Tanks

Speaking yesterday on Fox News, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick indicated that official data for U.S. GDP would now separate out government spending from the rest of the nation’s overall economic…

Innovating Future Power Systems: From Vision to Action
Article
Knowledge Problem

Innovating Future Power Systems: From Vision to Action

The electricity sector is at an inflection point. The historical model of centralized, monopoly-provided electric service is under pressure from technological change, shifting market forces, evolving policy objectives, and changing…

Regional Transmission Organizations as Market Platforms IV
Article
Knowledge Problem

Regional Transmission Organizations as Market Platforms IV

Networks shape modern life. From roads to the internet to global supply chains, they enable movement, exchange, and value creation. But networks also suffer from congestion, a problem driven by…

Regional Transmission Organizations as Market Platforms IV
Article
Knowledge Problem

Regional Transmission Organizations as Market Platforms IV

Networks shape modern life. From roads to the internet to global supply chains, they enable movement, exchange, and value creation. But networks also suffer from congestion, a problem driven by…