EfficiencyLaw.com

In the declining years of the Soviet Union, disenfranchised economists in Moscow used to joke that “the U.S.S.R. will invade every country in the world, except New Zealand.”  When a curious observer asked, “Why New Zealand?” the Muscovite economist replied, “so we can find out the market price of goods.” Even in the United States, [...]

This is the first time since EfficiencyLaw.com went live in early October 2009 that I am going to publish an article not directly related to the energy industry, but I feel the topic is too important not to discuss.  I am fired up because I have too many personable, talented and bright friends who are [...]

WSJ: “Age of Shale” Has Arrived “On Wednesday, the Texas Rangers play in its second consecutive World Series.  The club’s success can be tied, in part, to an increased player payroll covered by its two new owners: Bob Simpson, whose shale-focused XTO Energy was acquired by Exxon Mobil in 2009 for $25 billion, and Ray [...]

Energy Innovation Graphene offers new opportunities for solar energy.  http://bit.ly/o2WzKf Steve Jobs “The Apple IIc with its 128KB of RAM, 125KB floppy drive, word processor and spreadsheet application, did everything I could imagine a computer doing, at the time. But visionaries like Mr. Jobs had no intention of settling for ‘at the time.’”  http://nyti.ms/oBdFuC Energy [...]

Raphael Rosen, co-founder of cleantech startup Carbon Lighthouse, offers his insights on growing a company in Silicon Valley during the recession.  Carbon Lighthouse’s energy efficiency blog can be found here: http://www.carbonlighthouse.com/blog/ As a cleantech entrepreneur, I’m often asked what it’s been like starting businesses the past three years.  In those three years alone we’ve gone [...]

As utilities have used cost cutting as the primary method for boosting earnings during the recession, they continue to look for new ways to shed expenses.  By merging with competitors, utilities create efficiencies through increased market share.  In the first quarter of 2011 alone, three blockbuster M&A announcements were made in the utility sector, with a [...]

On March 29, 2011, the Internal Revenue Service issued Revenue Procedure 2011-26, which provides guidance concerning the first year depreciation deduction for new assets (“Bonus Depreciation”). The guidance clarifies various issues related to the Bonus Depreciation, particularly the criteria for qualifying for the temporary expansion of the Bonus Depreciation from 50 to 100 percent, and offers significant benefits to investors, developers, manufacturers, and other participants in the energy sector.