History of Electricity - IER
WEBIn 1882, with J.P. Morgan funding his efforts, Edison launched the businesses that would later be known as General Electric. In September of that year, he opened the United States’ first central power plant in lower Manhattan—the Pearl Street Station. Pearl Street was a stroke of genius.
Fossil Fuels - IER
WEBFossil fuels - coal, petroleum oil, and natural gas - are concentrated organic compounds found in the Earth's crust. Fossil fuels make modern life possible. The Institute for Energy Research conducts in-depth economic and policy research on energy and environmental issues. The follow studies provide an extensive analysis of fossil fuels as an ...
The United States Was Energy Independent in 2019 for the First …
WEBMay 11, 2020 · The United States Was Energy Independent in 2019 for the First Time Since 1957. By IER. May 11, 2020. Contact The Expert. U.S. energy production in 2019 was higher than U.S. energy consumption for the first time in 62 years. Thus, the U.S. attained the long-held goal of “energy independence”—which is not to say that we did not import or ...
The Environmental Impact of Lithium Batteries - IER
WEBNov 12, 2020 · During the Obama-Biden administration, hydraulic fracturing was accused of causing a number of environmental problems—faucets on fire, contamination of drinking water, etc.—but the administration’s own Environmental Protection Agency could not validate those accusations.. Now Biden is planning to transition the transportation sector to electric vehicles that are powered by lithium ...
History of Solar Power - IER
WEBFeb 18, 2016 · The history of solar power is not as recent as some may think as the technology has existed since the 19th century and has received substantial government support since at least the 1970s. Despite vast amounts of subsidies, solar power comprises less than 1 percent of US electricity generation [1] …
Oil and Natural Gas Production on Federal and Non-Federal Lands
WEBDec 7, 2021 · Natural gas production in the United States has basically steadily increased since 2008, while production on federal lands has declined each year from 2009 to 2017, increasing in 2018 and 2019, and dropping again in 2020. Much of the decline was due to a decrease in offshore production. Federal natural gas production fluctuated around 30 ...
Price Controls and the 1970s Oil Crisis: Lessons for Today
WEBOct 24, 2023 · The 1970s “Energy Crisis” was in full swing. While shortages were blamed on Big Oil at home and OPEC abroad, the real culprit was federal price and allocation controls. President Richard Nixon’s August 1971 declaration of a 90-day freeze of wages and prices, intended to check price inflation then running near 4 percent (one-half of 2022 ...
An Overview of Federal Government Support for Electric Vehicles
WEBJul 27, 2023 · An Overview of Federal Government Support for Electric Vehicles. By Alexander Stevens. July 27, 2023. Contact The Expert. Electric vehicles (EVs) have been heralded as the eco-friendly saviors of our transportation landscape, promising to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, dependence on fossil fuels, and combat climate change.
The Strategic Petroleum Reserve: History and Uses - IER
WEBSep 20, 2019 · The Strategic Petroleum Reserve was started in 1975 after oil supplies were interrupted during the 1973–1974 oil embargo to mitigate future supply disruptions, providing a cushion against unexpected price spikes. It has a capacity of 727 million barrels, but as of September 6, 2019, the oil reserves totaled 644.8 million barrels.
Solar Waste: A Looming Problem - IER
WEBJun 30, 2021 · U.S. installations of solar panels rebounded from the coronavirus pandemic with more than 19 gigawatts of total capacity installed in 2020, compared to about 13 gigawatts at the close of 2019. And, according to industry data, that number may quadruple over the next ten years.Further, given that the replacement rate of solar panels is faster than originally expected, a looming problem of solar ...