In the near future Brazil will remain South America’s economic engine, as can be seen by the country’s current economic surges. Many of Brazil’s recent economic successes have been closely related to energy developments, as well as the country’s unique energy infrastructure. Brazil has created a unique energy matrix to fulfill its ever-growing energy needs. … Continue reading »
biofuels
Biofuels and food prices
Berkeley economist Brian Wright has a disquieting article in the Winter 2014 issues of the Journal of Economic Perspectives, which just crossed my desk. JEP is published by the American Economic Association and is a great resource for those of us who are interested in economics but aren’t professional economists. This article is a case in point. Wright’s methodology is simple, … Continue reading »
Ten energy stories to watch in 2014
In our energy law classes at Cal, we like to start the day by talking about Energy in the News. The media never fails us. Every day, there are multiple energy-related stories of significance touching on resource development, new technologies, policy shifts, jobs, regional politics, prices, international relations, or the environment. Once you start looking … Continue reading »
Biofuels and the domino effect on land use
Biofuels are a promising way to reduce carbon emissions, but they have a potential side-effect: indirect land use change (ILUC). ILUC is more serious for some fuels than others, but it’s a possibility with any biofuel except perhaps algae grown in tanks in the desert. The logic of ILUC seems undeniable: because demand for food … Continue reading »