Central bankers need to take note of transition to clean energy
The path from traditional energy sources to alternative sources with lower greenhouse gas emissions—including renewable energy, and carbon capture and storage—is long and paved with abundant uncertainty.
June 01, 2021
Cost of Texas’ 2021 deep freeze justifies weatherization
Our analysis indicates winterizing for extreme winter weather events appears financially reasonable.
April 15, 2021
Oil market’s tightening in February seemingly defies fundamentals
Surging oil prices in February have raised hopes that the worst may be over for oil markets, though recent evidence suggests that the recovery will not last.
April 13, 2021
Southwest Economy, First Quarter 2021
Collapsing fuel demand tanks Texas exports during pandemic’s peak
The COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on Texas energy exports. U.S. energy exports excluding Texas were dramatically less affected.
April 09, 2021
What can be learned from the persistent electric power outages in Texas?
Texas suffered massive power outages during unusually cold temperatures in February. Millions of households lost access not only to power but also to heat and water for days—a situation that was foreseeable and could have been avoided.
April 01, 2021
Anticipated federal restrictions would slow Permian Basin production
Possible changes to leasing and permitting requirements governing federal lands could move oil production, prompting a realignment of Permian Basin activity between Texas and New Mexico.
March 04, 2021
Energy financing trends consistent with renewables’ growth
Equity markets appear to favor renewable-energy producers relative to their hydrocarbon counterparts. However, the relatively smaller size of many renewables projects complicates direct comparisons of bank lending to hydrocarbon and renewable entities.
February 23, 2021
What Is the U.S. oil industry doing about greenhouse gas emissions?
Oil companies have felt compelled to react both in anticipation of new regulatory policies and in response to growing pressure from investors.
December 29, 2020
Southwest Economy, Fourth Quarter 2020
Energy Woes to Weigh on Houston Recovery, Local Economist Says
Bill Gilmer, director of the Institute for Regional Forecasting at the University of Houston’s Bauer College of Business, assesses the effect of the energy industry problems on the Houston economy and provides an outlook for 2021.
December 21, 2020
Southwest Economy, Fourth Quarter 2020
Spotlight: Lower U.S. Crude Oil Production Decreases Output, Raises Price of Natural Gas
Natural gas futures plummeted to a historic low in June 2020 only to rebound by late October, mainly due to a decline in natural gas production from oil wells.
December 21, 2020