Nominations of Maria Robinson to be Assistant Secretary of Energy, Office of Electricity; Joseph DeCarolis to be Administrator of the EIA; and Laura Daniel-Davis to be Assistant Secretary of the Interior, Land and Minerals Management

Posted by Brad Johnson Tue, 08 Feb 2022 15:00:00 GMT

Rescheduled from February 3rd. The purpose of the hearing is to consider the nominations of:

  • Maria Duaime Robinson, to be an Assistant Secretary of Energy (Office of Electricity)
  • Dr. Joseph F. DeCarolis, to be Administrator of the Energy Information Administration
  • Laura Daniel-Davis, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Interior (Land and Minerals Management)

Annual Energy Outlook 2011

Posted by Brad Johnson Thu, 16 Dec 2010 14:30:00 GMT

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) – News conference The Energy Information Administration (EIA) holds a news conference to present a projection of U.S. energy supply, demand and prices to 2035 with the early release of the reference case projection from the “Annual Energy Outlook 2011.”

Speaker
  • EIA Administrator Richard Newell

The Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, Nitze Building, 1740 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Kenney Auditorium, Washington, D.C.

CONTACT: Felisa Neuringer Klubes, 202-663-5626, [email protected]; or Jonathan Cogan, 202-586-8719, [email protected]

2010 Energy Conference: Short-Term Stresses, Long-Term Change

Posted by Brad Johnson Tue, 06 Apr 2010 04:00:00 GMT

For the first time, the U.S. Energy Information Administration is hosting a major energy conference in partnership with the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University. The conference attracts U.S. and international attendees from government, industry, non-profit organizations, the media, and academia.

2010 Energy Conference with Keynotes
  • Dr. Steven Chu, Secretary of Energy
  • Dr. Lawrence H. Summers, Director of the National Economic Council
Session Moderator
U.S. Climate Change Policy: What’s Next After Copenhagen Richard Newell (EIA Administrator)
Short-Term Energy Prices — What Drivers Matter Most? Howard Gruenspecht (EIA Deputy Administrator)
The Energy-Water Nexus: Availability and Impacts Howard Gruenspecht
EIA’s 2010 Annual Energy Outlook Highlights John Conti (EIA)
Regulating Energy Commodities Steve Harvey (EIA)
Biofuels: Continuing Shifts in the Industry and Long-Term Outlook Michael Schaal (EIA)
Natural Gas: U.S. Markets in a Global Context Glen Sweetnam (EIA)
Smart Grid: Impacts on Electric Power Supply and Demand Joseph Paladino (DOE, Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability)
Energy and the Economy Adam Sieminski (Deutsche Bank)
Energy Efficiency: Measuring Gains and Quantifying Opportunities Deborah Bleviss (School of Advanced International Studies)
Confirmed speakers
  • Paul N. Argyropoulos (Environmental Protection Agency)
  • David M. Arseneau (Federal Reserve Board)
  • Thomas Beauduy (Susquehanna River Basin Commission)
  • Guy Caruso (Center for Strategic and International Studies)
  • Brooke Coleman (New Fuels Alliance)
  • John Conti (EIA)
  • Sean Cota (Cota & Cota)
  • Tom R. Eizember (Exxon Mobil Corporation)
  • Michelle Foss (University of Texas)
  • Peter Gross (EIA)
  • Jason Grumet (Bipartisan Policy Center)
  • Karen Harbert (U.S. Chamber of Commerce)
  • M. Michael Hightower (Sandia National Laboratories)
  • Skip Horvath (Natural Gas Supply Association)
  • Gina McCarthy (Environmental Protection Agency)
  • Edward L. Morse (Credit Suisse Securities)
  • Deanna L. Newcomb (McDermott Will & Emery LLP)
  • Mary Novak (IHS Global Insight)
  • Matthew C. Rogers (DOE)
  • Timothy D. Searchinger (Princeton University)
  • Benjamin Schlesinger (Benjamin Schlesinger and Associates/Galway Group)
  • Andrew Slaughter (Shell)
  • Glen Sweetnam (EIA)
  • Jeff Wright (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)

International Trade Center
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W.
Washington, DC 20004

2009 Energy Conference: A New Climate For Energy

Posted by Brad Johnson Wed, 08 Apr 2009 11:30:00 GMT

The 2009 EIA conference is being held April 7-8 at the Washington Convention Center.

Please register onsite at the Walter E Washington Convention Center starting at 7:30am on Tuesday, April 7th.

Wednesday agenda
7:30 AM Registration and Badging
Concurrent Sessions
9:00 AM
(7) Energy Data Needs (8) Energy and the Media
Moderator: Margot Anderson (EIA) Moderator: John Anderson (Resources for the Future)
Speakers:
  • Jeff Genzer (Duncan, Weinberg, Genzer & Pembroke, P.C.)
  • Philip Hanser (Brattle Group)
  • Shirley Neff (Center for Strategic and International Studies)
  • Frank Rusco (U.S. Government Accountability Office)
  • Speakers:
  • Barbara Hagenbaugh (USA Today)
  • Steven Mufson (Washington Post)
  • Eric Pooley (Harvard University)
  • Robert Rapier (R-SQUARED Energy blog)
  • 10:30 AMBreak
    11:00 AM
    (9) Investing in Oil and Natural Gas – Opportunities and Barriers (10) Greenhouse Gas Emissions: What’s Next?
    Moderator: Bruce Bawks (EIA) Moderator: Howard Gruenspecht (EIA)
    Speakers:
  • Susan Farrell (PFC Energy)
  • John Felmy (American Petroleum Institute)
  • Michelle Foss (University of Texas)
  • Paul Sankey (Deutsche Bank)
  • Speakers:
  • Joe Aldy (Executive Office of the President)
  • Dave Cavicke (House Committee on Energy and Commerce)
  • Greg Dotson (House Committee on Energy and Commerce)
  • Joe Goffman (Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works)
  • 2009 Energy Conference: A New Climate For Energy

    Posted by Brad Johnson Tue, 07 Apr 2009 11:30:00 GMT

    The 2009 EIA conference is being held April 7-8 at the Washington Convention Center.

    Please register onsite at the Walter E Washington Convention Center starting at 7:30am on Tuesday, April 7th.

    Tuesday agenda
    7:30 AM Registration and Badging
    9:00 AM Plenary
    Welcome – Howard Gruenspecht
    Acting Administrator, Energy Information Administration

    Keynote Address – Dr. Steven Chu, Secretary of Energy

    Energy and the Macroeconomy – William D. Nordhaus, Sterling Professor of Economics, Yale University

    Energy in a Carbon-Constrained World – John W. Rowe, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Exelon Corporation
    10:30 AM Break
    Concurrent Sessions
    11:00 AM
    (1) The Future for Transport Demand (2) What’s Ahead for Natural Gas Markets?
    Moderator: Andy Kydes (EIA) Moderator: Steve Harvey (EIA)
    Speakers:
  • Lew Fulton (International Energy Agency)
  • David Greene (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)
  • Lee Schipper (Precourt Institute, Stanford University)
  • Speakers:
  • Brian Jeffries (Wyoming Pipeline Authority)
  • James Simpson (BENTEK Energy, LLC)
  • Rick Smead (Navigant Consulting)
  • John Strom (Haddington Ventures, LLC)
  • Christine Tezak
  • 12:30 PM Lunch Break
    1:45 PM
    (3) Meeting the Growing Demand for Liquids (4) Electric Power Infrastructure: Status and Challenges for the Future
    Moderator: Glen Sweetnam (EIA) Moderator: Scott Sitzer (EIA)
    Speakers:
  • Eduardo González-Pier (PEMEX)
  • David Knapp (Energy Intelligence Group)
  • Fareed Mohamedi (PFC Energy)
  • Speakers:
  • P. Kumar Agarwal (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)
  • Timothy J. Brennan (University of Maryland)
  • Mark G. Lauby (North American Electric Reliability Corporation)
  • 3:15 PM Break
    3:30 PM
    (5) Renewable Energy in the Transportation and Power Sectors (6) Financial Markets and Short-Term Energy Prices
    Moderator: Michael Schaal (EIA) Moderator: Tancred Lidderdale (EIA)
    Speakers:
  • Denise Bode (American Wind Energy Association)
  • Bob Dinneen (Renewable Fuels Association)
  • Bryan Hannegan (Electric Power Research Institute)
  • David Humbird (National Renewable Energy Laboratory)
  • Speakers:
  • Jeffrey Harris (Commodity Futures Trading Commission)
  • Robert McCullough (McCullough Research)
  • Adam E. Sieminski (Deutsche Bank)
  • Robert Weiner (George Washington University)
  • 5:00 PM Adjourn

    Energy and Related Economic Effects of Global Climate Change Legislation

    Posted by Wonk Room Tue, 20 May 2008 14:00:00 GMT

    Representatives from CRS, EIA, EPA, and CBO discuss their economic analyses of Lieberman-Warner (S. 2191) and other emissions-controlling climate legislative proposals.

    Witnesses
    • Brent Yacobucci, Congressional Research Service
    • Dr. Larry Parker, Congressional Research Service
    • Dr. Howard Gruenspecht, Deputy Administrator, Energy Information Administration
    • Dr. Brian McLean, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
    • Dr. Peter Orszag, Congressional Budget Office

    10:03 Domenici: The more of these hearings we can do the better off this country will be. We have five cap-and-trade bills in the Senate. Every single day, 11 out of 11 studies have concluded that these bills will result in higher energy costs, lower economic growth. The analyses of L-W don’t agree on much. Addressing global climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. I remain concerned about the dire consequences L-W could have for our nation. The best estimates of our capable minds often prove inaccurate. The EIA projection for oil prices in 2010 was $25. Even the projected environmental impacts of climate change have varied. IPCC’s assessment of sea level rise was reduced from three feet to 27 inches. Very few will have been able to provide input on the manager’s amendment. We’re all working on a bill that will be irrelevant. It is critical to look at what other countries have tried to do.

    Assume the president signs L-W. What will we have achieved for the environment? Close to nothing. Without international participation, L-W will have reduced greenhouse gases by 1% by 2050.

    China has surpassed us in global warming emissions. Addressing climate change is a great challenge, but not the only challenge we face.

    Rather than choosing among cap-and-trade programs, we could look at promoting nuclear power and other tax incentives.

    10:16 Bingaman Orzag recently testified before the Finance Committee.

    10:17 Yacobucci explains a cap-and-trade system.

    10:22 Parker CRS has conducted a review and synthesis of models projecting costs of S. 2191. Long-term cost projections are at best speculative.

    10:30 Gruenspecht The projected impacts of L-W are highly sensitive to assumptions about availability of low and no-carbon energy sources and access to international offsets. Costs are roughly three times larger under least favorable assumptions than under most favorable assumptions. 80-90% of emissions reductions are in the electricity production sector. Over 90% of coal, the main emissions source impacted by a cap, goes into electricity production.

    10:37 McLean discusses EPA report.

    10:43 Orzag Addressing climate change will involve short-term economic costs. Timing is important. An inflexible cap is bad. Giving the permits away is equivalent to auctioning the permits and giving the money to the polluters. Two key factors of a cap-and-trade system include timing flexibility and auction revenue.

    10:49 Bingaman A NAM/ACCF study envisions 75% higher allowance costs than the EIA study but economic impact three times higher. Can you explain why?

    Gruenspecht The allowance price difference reflect some of the assumptions, like the absence of banking. We were surprised by the size of macroeconomic losses done for NAM. We asked to look at some of their modeling results and met with their contractor. They used EIA’s high-priced oil policy scenario but compared it to the low-price scenario. We think there are some abnormal results in their report.

    Bingaman Basically there’s double-counting?

    Gruenspecht They’re mixing the impact of two different things.

    Bingaman A price ceiling and floor is the best mechanism?

    Orzag I don’t want to say best, but yes.

    10:55 Barrasso Effect on gas prices?

    Gruenspecht If electricity sector can’t reduce emissions, gas price effect can range from $0.40 to $1.00.

    Barrasso I want Americans to be aware of the effects on their pocketbook. You talk about uncertainties. The uncertainties are one of magnitude, not direction: how many jobs will be lost. Will a safety valve help?

    Parker A safety valve – putting an upper limit on price – is a very effective of limiting economic impact.

    Barrasso There’s going to be lower wages and lower returns for retirement plans no matter what you do.

    Parker Prices will go up but whether or not bills will go up depends on individual action. We found bills may go down.

    Barrasso Nuclear energy.

    Gruenspecht Public acceptance is important.

    11:07 Sanders What happens if you don’t act?

    Orzag I think climate change is among the nation’s and world’s highest long-term risk. There is some danger of catastrophic change. The question is one of timing. It’s like paying an insurance premium.

    Sanders We’re paying $10 billion more for Katrina. What will flooding, drought, war cost? That’s really what we’re debating. It’s disaster if we don’t go forward. I believe you’re underestimating efficiency and renewable energy. Of course there going to be economic dislocation.

    McLean On the impacts. I think this is an area that concerns us greatly. It’s a very hard area to quantify and monetize. We’re working on that. On energy efficiency and renewables, there’s a lot we can say about that. We show a huge increase in renewable energy.

    Corker The bill that came out is not just a cap-and-trade bill. It’s a huge spending bill. It spends every penny in a non-discretionary way. I think the whole issue of allowances because we’re passing out what is like public shares in a public company. I know the romance of this is interesting. There’s a lot underneath this that is going to affect us. Transfering trillions of dollars of wealth. $7.2 trillion, maybe $23 trillion. I think that’s important. I don’t understand why we would be allocating credits out to middlemen.

    In essence this bill transfers out hundreds of billions of dollars to states for no reason.

    Orzag It is a key insight that much of this money represents a windfall.

    Corker It makes absolutely no sense to give allowances to people not involved in emissions. This bill provides for us to provide international credits. What it does do is transfer out, when we have a trade deficit, hundreds of billions of dollars to projects that are often wracked with fraud.

    McLean What would states do with money? I’m not defending the amount of money or the policy decision. A lot of efficiency programs are run at the state level.

    Corker I hope this is a dry run.

    11:24 Salazar What we’re doing is defining a new energy future for America. There’s a lot of learning yet to be had. On the allocation of the auction revenues. Is this the right allocation?

    Orzag It depends what your objective is. Low-income households, minimize macroeconomic costs, spur innovation. A more effective approach to cushion macroeconomic costs would be to auction the permits and use that to reduce payroll taxes.

    Salazar A lot of people have talked about a Manhattan-style project. Would it be better to put the money into that pot than to lower costs on low-income consumers?

    Orzag It’s big, but there is a given size. You can’t do all things for all people at all times. The price signal will do some things. You can auction revenue and explicitly fund R&D. Or allocate permits to entities that do the work, but that would be more opaque.

    Gruenspecht There are issues of economic efficiency and fairness.

    Salazar We have these great thoughts and great programs. We talk about hybrids and clean-coal technology. This is an opportunity to marry our work to deal with climate change to make our vision a reality.

    11:32 Domenici You’re talking about this as if it is another huge Federal Reserve System. You have made it eminently clear. I think people are going to be very quizzical about what we’re doing. I believe is what we really need to do is develop new technology as rapidly as possible to clean up what we need to clean up, and then clean things up.

    Murkowski Is it fair?

    Parker None of the models will give you the answer reliably what the cost will be. What the models can do is whether we’ve designed the bill to hold the price down. How can they be modified to bring these reductions at the most economic level.

    Murkowski Most useful, but for whose end? If I’m opposed to cap-and-trade, I’ll look at NAM’s model. We can use these models as we use statistics to support our particular situation.

    Gruenspecht The different studies start from different baselines. They analyze different provisions. CRA gets a large impact from the low-carbon fuel standard. I already had a long discussion with NAM may have wrapped up two different scenarios. It’s technology and technology acceptance.

    12:00 Craig I don’t know if I’m willing to risk Idahoans on the environmental or economic models of climate change. We spent years shaping energy legislation. You’re all over the field, as is the country. I’m not quite sure I can remember, have we as a Congress ever tried to micromanage the market. And I think the answer is no, never before. We’re averaging about 1.9 hurricanes in the United States. An average of $5 billion. The impact of this bill is between three to nine hundred hurricanes. We’ve spread the hurricane hit nationwide. It isn’t just Florida and the Gulf Coast and the East Coast. Now the whole country gets hit, from an economic point of view. Old speak, new speak or green speak, I don’t know where we are. But I suspect no speak is the best way for us to go.

    12:08 Bingaman Second-order impacts like employment?

    Parker Once you move from first-order to second-order impacts you lose even more certainty. You’re making a whole host of assumptions about a quality of life of a generation that doesn’t even now work. My concerns would be increased when talking about employment numbers.

    Orzag The main effect will be on the type of jobs, not the number of jobs.

    Bingaman There’s no effort to adjust for dynamic effects.

    Orzag I tend not to focus on the job numbers that come out of these assessments.

    Gruenspecht I too tend to be very skeptical of job numbers.

    Corker Right now 52% of auction proceeds go into technology development. A five-person board, not the Congress, decides how this money is spent. Would this distinguished, mind-numbing panel agree that upstream is a direct tax, pretty much?

    Orzag In economics, direct and indirect taxes have a specific meaning. But consumers will bear pretty much all of the cost no matter what.

    Corker Upstream is easier to monitor. This is in essence a tax. It is in fact a carbon tax. What’s happened is interest groups have gathered around the table and have made what could have been very simple with a carbon tax very complicated. I’d like you to address the efficacy of a carbon tax that increased over time.

    Orzag Economic analysis generally suggest that a carbon tax is more efficient. You can make the cap-and-trade similarly efficient by auctioning all the permits and offering significant flexibility in timing.

    Corker And we’re allocating about 70% up front.

    Orzag At the very start it’s even greater.

    Yacobucci You’d still have to decide where that money goes if it’s a tax.

    Corker We’re going to be offering an amendment to return all the revenues to consumers. We’re going to be debating on the floor a tax. Two candidates for president advocated a gas-tax holiday. I think we need to be very transparent about this. Citizens need to know we’re driving up the price of petroleum.

    Murkowski Is there something we can do to get the technology in place first?

    Orzag Pricing carbon will create a strong incentive for technologies to be developed and diffused throughout the economy.

    Murkowski And the impact might be higher in certain areas.

    McLean A price signal and investment in R&D both have impact. I think we need to do both.