http://pesd.stanford.edu/news/Recent news from PESDen-usPublic domainhttp://pesd.stanford.edu/images/feed-icon-48x48.jpghttp://pesd.stanford.edu/news/60http://pesd.stanford.edu/news/1704Victor's keynote lecture, "Regulation and Pricing in the International Gas Market", highlighted some key issues that need particular attention in the rapidly changing Indian gas market.]]>Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 PSThttp://pesd.stanford.edu/news/1704?http://pesd.stanford.edu/news/1662As oil prices surge through $140/barrel at the time of writing, surely one can at least count on the invisible hand of the market to drive further exploration and production and ultimately bring more supplies on line, right? Or perhaps, more ominously, high oil prices presage a darker future of shortage and conflict as global oil fields pass their geological "peak"? In fact, both positions miss a crucial point about the dynamics of the world oil market -- that it is increasingly animated by the counterintuitive behavior of the state-owned oil and gas giants that now control the vast majority of the world's hydrocarbon resources.]]>Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:00:00 PSThttp://pesd.stanford.edu/news/1662?http://pesd.stanford.edu/news/1702University of Cape Town and PESD affiliates, Katharine Nawaal and Anton Eberhard, examine how and why the standard model for power sector reform failed to be widely adopted by developing countries. The authors use Tanzania as a case study. They conclude by characterizing the emergence of hybrid power markets.]]>Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:00:00 PSThttp://pesd.stanford.edu/news/1702?http://pesd.stanford.edu/news/1700%people1% reviews the UN's Clean Development Mechanism's (CDM) performance, using empirical analysis, to illustrate its successes and failures in using a carbon credit market to reduce greenhouse gases. He concludes by suggesting possible reforms to the CDM in anticipation of the Kyoto Protocol's expiration in 2012.]]>Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:00:00 PSThttp://pesd.stanford.edu/news/1700?http://pesd.stanford.edu/news/1696Thomas Friedman's new book "Hot, Flat, and Crowded" decries the perils of dependence on fossil fuels and calls for a Green Revolution to sweep American politics and stimulate the economy.]]>Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:00:00 PSThttp://pesd.stanford.edu/news/1696?http://pesd.stanford.edu/news/1690Google's initiative RE < C seeks to develop sources of renewable energy that are cheaper than coal-fired power. David Victor speaks to an audience at Google's Mountain View, CA headquarters about the current status and future prospects for coal -- the right hand side of Google's equation.]]>Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00:00 PSThttp://pesd.stanford.edu/news/1690?http://pesd.stanford.edu/news/1691PESD affiliates and collaborators from China have used rural household survey data in Hubei province to explore patterns of residential fuel use, specifically the use of biomass and coal for cooking. The study shows that incomes may have to rise substantially in order for absolute biomass use to fall, that residential fuel use varies between regions within the province and that coal is the principal substitute for biomass, raising concerns about health.]]>Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00:00 PSThttp://pesd.stanford.edu/news/1691?http://pesd.stanford.edu/news/1683Energy traders have lately been villainized as the cause of high energy prices, but %people1% shows that the numbers don't support this logic.]]>Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:00:00 PSThttp://pesd.stanford.edu/news/1683?http://pesd.stanford.edu/news/1684In a climate of extremely volatile energy prices, OPEC is taking directions from the market, not calling the shots. %people1%'s analysis of OPEC's price targets and quotas illuminate the cartel's diminished influence.]]>Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:00:00 PSThttp://pesd.stanford.edu/news/1684?http://pesd.stanford.edu/news/1681In the face of pessimism about political solutions to global climate change, once marginal ideas about using geo-engineering to combat warming are gaining new attention.]]>Wed, 06 Aug 2008 00:00:00 PSThttp://pesd.stanford.edu/news/1681?http://pesd.stanford.edu/news/1658%people1% and %people2%'s recent work, %publication1%, addresses problems with the world's largest offset program, the UN's Clean Development Mechanism. Wara and Victor argue that much of the CDM investment doesn't actually meet the UN's crucial additionality standards, and they outline ways to fix the problem.]]>Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PSThttp://pesd.stanford.edu/news/1658?http://pesd.stanford.edu/news/1663Income from carbon offsets has become French chemical manufacturer Rhodia SA's most profitable business. The WSJ estimates payouts to the firm from projects in Brazil and South Korea could total $1 billion over seven years, raising questions about the incentive structure of the CDM. %people1% argues that carbon markets are not sending the appropriate signals to the developing world.]]>Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PSThttp://pesd.stanford.edu/news/1663?http://pesd.stanford.edu/news/1641California's plan to cut carbon emissions 10% by 2020 relies on offsets as a part of a cap and trade scheme. %people1% points out the challenges that face the state as it designs its offset program, and %people2% sheds light on difficulties faced by the world's largest offset program, the UN's CDM protocol.]]>Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PSThttp://pesd.stanford.edu/news/1641?http://pesd.stanford.edu/news/1640In a region popularly associated with monolithic states controlling secretive but effective national oil companies, Kuwait presents a surprising picture of bitterly divided government and a chaotic and fragmented oil sector. PESD affiliate Paul Stevens dissects the historical legacies and tangled webs of interaction with government that explain the current performance and erratic strategy of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation.]]>Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PSThttp://pesd.stanford.edu/news/1640?http://pesd.stanford.edu/news/1638The CDM Executive Board recently approved several gas-fired power plants under the UN's carbon offset scheme, opening the door for subsidizing coal generation and stoking controversy. %people1% questions the additionality of such projects and argues subsidies are better spent on other clean-energy development.]]>Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:00:00 PSThttp://pesd.stanford.edu/news/1638?