America is undoubtedly a nation of cars. There are 908 motor vehicles per 1,000 people in this country, and it is only beaten out by a half dozen micronations like Andorra, San Marino, and Gibraltar for the most cars per capita in the world. With 92 percent of American households…
This week, the Biden administration halted plans to purchase 6 million barrels of crude oil to begin replenishing the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). With the reserve at an unprecedented low since the U.S. began stockpiling, this raises questions about how and when it might be refilled. Aii newsletter subscribers likely…
Both summer and winter experience intense demand for energy, but energy is vital year round for growth and progress. Many of us envision a greener world, asking the question, “What will the most economical and environmentally friendly energy source of our future be?” We wanted the public to narrow down…
The U.S. has a diverse and proven supply of several types of fossil fuels that can be used to power the national grid. Coal, natural gas, and petroleum all have been used to power American homes, heat and cool buildings, and power vehicles for over a century. Since the Industrial…
The international shipping industry facilitates the movement of millions of products between continents in a matter of weeks. Massive container ships today are so large that they require their own unit (measured in twenty-foot equivalent units or TEUs), and with their significant freight capacity, they form the backbone of the…
The purpose of the strategic petroleum reserve is for national emergencies, international crises, and other disruptions in the supply of oil. It was never conceived to be a spigot to turn when self-created policies lead to bad circumstances. While there is no doubt that factors like lingering market impacts from…
An Artificial Energy Crisis President Joe Biden said this week that “It’s simply not true that my administration or policies are holding back domestic energy production.” He went on to cite onshore production statistics, comparing them to President Donald Trump’s first year in office, and stating that thousands of…
Washington, D.C, January 26, 2021 — The Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure (Aii) on Wednesday released its newest report, A Sustainable Energy Model: Ensuring Robust Energy, Resilient Infrastructure, and Climate Balance. The report offers a new model to move beyond the energy and environmental status quo. In the report, also…
This blog series Technology Highlight explores some of the ways that investments in innovation lead to better outcomes for infrastructure and public safety. When technology advances, it often becomes cheaper, more widely available and accessible, and helps facilitate faster, safer, and greener projects. Aii has looked…
Massive oil spills, natural gas explosions, produced water leaks, and train derailments are environmental and human tragedies. These rare but terrible events grab headlines and linger in the public memory for years or even decades. The extent of these issues are often difficult to conceptualize – and that is part…
When businesses, corporations, or entire industrial sectors focus on environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG), there is a tendency to favor decarbonization and abstract commitments to environmental stewardship. Within the energy sector, emissions are critical to account for and mitigate, but perhaps more so are the leaks and spills of…
Since oil was first discovered near Titusville, Pennsylvania over 100 years ago, petroleum has become arguably the most essential natural resource for the United State’s economy past and present. From its development as an energy source, fuel for vehicles, and as a key component in everything from plastics and tires to…
While pipeline spills involving toxic crude oil or methane leaks capture the public imagination, they do not represent all pipeline breakdowns. A different segment of the energy industry, handling more than just oil and gas, also encounters incidents. The upstream sector of the energy industry is responsible for exploration and…
When ordinary folks or even experienced policymakers discuss natural resources, what specifically comes to mind? While minerals, oil wells, mines, and rich agricultural land come to mind for some, the term “natural resources” has seemingly undergone an evolution in meaning in the last few decades. This shift carries with it…
The Biden Administration Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary, Jennifer Granholm, said Tuesday that “pipe is the best way to go” to transport fuel. The comments were made in response to the Colonial pipeline shuttering service due to a ransomware attack. The context is important, as Secretary Granholm’s comments were specific…
