Severin Borenstein
@severinborenstein.bsky.social
Economics, Business, and Energy Prof at UC Berkeley. Member, Board of Governors, CA ISO. All opinions only my own.
Hard to focus on energy policy when most powerful person on the planet is so corrupt, petty, insecure, narcissitic and unhinged. The abuse of power, internally and externally, by this administration will harm people across the world for decades.
www.wsj.com/world/europe...
www.wsj.com/world/europe...
Trump Links Greenland Threats to Missing Out on Nobel Prize
European capitals are scrambling to de-escalate tensions over the island; Denmark sends more troops.
www.wsj.com
January 20, 2026 at 3:36 PM
Hard to focus on energy policy when most powerful person on the planet is so corrupt, petty, insecure, narcissitic and unhinged. The abuse of power, internally and externally, by this administration will harm people across the world for decades.
www.wsj.com/world/europe...
www.wsj.com/world/europe...
Berkeley Energy & Resources Collaborative's Alumni Gala is coming up on January 30. I'll be there, as always, to auction off the donated items (including lunch with me). Don't miss this great opportunity to catch up with old friends and network with new ones.
www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-berc-...
www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-berc-...
2026 BERC Alumni Gala
Get ready for an exciting night of drinks , food, and (now famous) auctioning at China Live.
www.eventbrite.com
January 13, 2026 at 4:00 AM
Berkeley Energy & Resources Collaborative's Alumni Gala is coming up on January 30. I'll be there, as always, to auction off the donated items (including lunch with me). Don't miss this great opportunity to catch up with old friends and network with new ones.
www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-berc-...
www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-berc-...
Carbon-free, dispatchable nuclear power should be part of decarb debate, but we need a clear-eyed view of pros and cons of all options. Meredith Fowlie discusses the waste management issue in the Energy Institute blog today. Then there's the cost issue.
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2026/01/12/t...
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2026/01/12/t...
This Nuclear Renaissance Has a Waste Management Problem
Three sobering facts about nuclear waste in the United States. Americans are getting re-excited about nuclear power. President Trump has signed four executive orders aiming to speed up nuclear reac…
energyathaas.wordpress.com
January 13, 2026 at 3:52 AM
Carbon-free, dispatchable nuclear power should be part of decarb debate, but we need a clear-eyed view of pros and cons of all options. Meredith Fowlie discusses the waste management issue in the Energy Institute blog today. Then there's the cost issue.
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2026/01/12/t...
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2026/01/12/t...
The Energy Institute at Haas is looking for a new Associate Director to fill unfillable shoes when Karen Notsund retires in June. The AD manages financial and research admin, participates in policy outreach, and helps build the EI community. Info at haas.berkeley.edu/energy-insti...
Announcements - UC Berkeley Haas
Seeking Applicants for Associate Director position at the Energy Institute at Haas January 5, 2026 The Energy Institute at Haas has started the process to hire a new Associate Director. Our current As...
haas.berkeley.edu
January 8, 2026 at 12:17 AM
The Energy Institute at Haas is looking for a new Associate Director to fill unfillable shoes when Karen Notsund retires in June. The AD manages financial and research admin, participates in policy outreach, and helps build the EI community. Info at haas.berkeley.edu/energy-insti...
It's almost as if Trump is unaware of the history of colonialism. Even the oil companies don't seem that excited about making huge investments under these conditions.
www.ft.com/content/b395...
www.ft.com/content/08ca...
www.ft.com/content/b395...
www.ft.com/content/08ca...
Washington plans to put oil at heart of Venezuela’s future
Trump administration bets on US energy companies reversing fall in crude output under Maduro
www.ft.com
January 7, 2026 at 7:34 PM
It's almost as if Trump is unaware of the history of colonialism. Even the oil companies don't seem that excited about making huge investments under these conditions.
www.ft.com/content/b395...
www.ft.com/content/08ca...
www.ft.com/content/b395...
www.ft.com/content/08ca...
Problem with claim that Venezuela news may drive up oil prices in short run but increase supply in long run: traders in futures market don't believe it. Yesterday and today, oil prices effectively unchanged for both prompt delivery and many years out.
www.ft.com/content/4a21...
www.ft.com/content/4a21...
Oil prices move higher after Donald Trump’s Venezuela strikes
Investors weigh short-term disruption to exports from South American country against potential to pump more crude
www.ft.com
January 7, 2026 at 12:21 AM
Problem with claim that Venezuela news may drive up oil prices in short run but increase supply in long run: traders in futures market don't believe it. Yesterday and today, oil prices effectively unchanged for both prompt delivery and many years out.
www.ft.com/content/4a21...
www.ft.com/content/4a21...
Physically sickening to see the White House website defiled with lies about what happened on January 6. Republican politicians know what really happened and said so on 1/6/21. Now too cowardly to speak up.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/06/u...
www.whitehouse.gov/j6/
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/06/u...
www.whitehouse.gov/j6/
White House Posts False Jan. 6 Narrative on Riot’s 5th Anniversary
www.nytimes.com
January 7, 2026 at 12:15 AM
Physically sickening to see the White House website defiled with lies about what happened on January 6. Republican politicians know what really happened and said so on 1/6/21. Now too cowardly to speak up.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/06/u...
www.whitehouse.gov/j6/
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/06/u...
www.whitehouse.gov/j6/
Well, it's complicated, isn't it.
www.sltrib.com/opinion/bagl...
www.sltrib.com/opinion/bagl...
Bagley Cartoon: Shifting Ground
Check out Pat Bagley's latest cartoon: Shifting Ground
www.sltrib.com
January 6, 2026 at 12:31 AM
Well, it's complicated, isn't it.
www.sltrib.com/opinion/bagl...
www.sltrib.com/opinion/bagl...
In the EI blog today, Lucas Davis explains why the trump admin's proposal to abandon tradability across firms will make auto fuel economy standards less effective and more expensive. Doesn't look conservative or populist to me, just dumb.
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2026/01/05/t...
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2026/01/05/t...
The Case for Trading Fuel Economy Compliance Credits
Proposed new fuel economy standards would eliminate the part I like the most. Proposed new U.S. fuel economy standards would dramatically weaken requirements for the average miles-per-gallon of new…
energyathaas.wordpress.com
January 5, 2026 at 4:41 PM
In the EI blog today, Lucas Davis explains why the trump admin's proposal to abandon tradability across firms will make auto fuel economy standards less effective and more expensive. Doesn't look conservative or populist to me, just dumb.
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2026/01/05/t...
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2026/01/05/t...
John List has a disturbing LinkedIn post on the job market for economists. Between trump's attack on university/research and his destruction of the government infrastructure for managing and evaluating policy, big hit on economics hiring.
www.linkedin.com/posts/johnal...
www.linkedin.com/posts/johnal...
AEA job market update. The numbers don't lie: this is the toughest market for PhD economists in recent memory.
JOE listings are down 20% from last year. Worse: they are 19% below COVID levels. L...
AEA job market update. The numbers don't lie: this is the toughest market for PhD economists in recent memory.
JOE listings are down 20% from last year. Worse: they are 19% below COVID levels. Let t...
www.linkedin.com
December 18, 2025 at 5:33 PM
John List has a disturbing LinkedIn post on the job market for economists. Between trump's attack on university/research and his destruction of the government infrastructure for managing and evaluating policy, big hit on economics hiring.
www.linkedin.com/posts/johnal...
www.linkedin.com/posts/johnal...
United CEO says brand loyalty is their secret sauce. That comes more from customer lock-in than good UA service. Flyers better off if airlines compete on each route, not networks.
onemileatatime.com/news/united-...
faculty.haas.berkeley.edu/borenste/dow...
faculty.haas.berkeley.edu/borenste/dow...
onemileatatime.com/news/united-...
faculty.haas.berkeley.edu/borenste/dow...
faculty.haas.berkeley.edu/borenste/dow...
United CEO Scott Kirby Confidently Declares That American Is Cooked
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby thinks that American Airlines is absolutely doomed, and will shrink into irrelevance. Is he right?
onemileatatime.com
December 17, 2025 at 3:36 PM
United CEO says brand loyalty is their secret sauce. That comes more from customer lock-in than good UA service. Flyers better off if airlines compete on each route, not networks.
onemileatatime.com/news/united-...
faculty.haas.berkeley.edu/borenste/dow...
faculty.haas.berkeley.edu/borenste/dow...
onemileatatime.com/news/united-...
faculty.haas.berkeley.edu/borenste/dow...
faculty.haas.berkeley.edu/borenste/dow...
Pretty exciting news that Amazon is using AI to reduce its total energy use. Makes sense. I hope it will expand to focus on shifting electricity use out of the most constrained hours.
www.utilitydive.com/news/amazon-...
www.utilitydive.com/news/amazon-...
Amazon to scale AI-enabled efficiency tool after pilot shaves 15% from energy use
The e-commerce giant plans to deploy Trane Technologies’ BrainBox AI platform across more than 30 sites within its grocery fulfillment and distribution network in the U.S.
www.utilitydive.com
December 16, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Pretty exciting news that Amazon is using AI to reduce its total energy use. Makes sense. I hope it will expand to focus on shifting electricity use out of the most constrained hours.
www.utilitydive.com/news/amazon-...
www.utilitydive.com/news/amazon-...
This is an increasingly challenging problem as the distinction between loads and generation grows murkier. I think economics teaches us that the key will be to make sure new facilities pay at least the incremental cost of the services they receive.
www.utilitydive.com/news/ferc-pj...
www.utilitydive.com/news/ferc-pj...
FERC poised to issue decision on colocating large loads in PJM
The agency’s plan to issue an order at its Dec. 18 open meeting is likely a boon for nuclear and gas-fired power plant owners that want to sell electricity to colocated data centers, analysts said.
www.utilitydive.com
December 15, 2025 at 3:54 PM
This is an increasingly challenging problem as the distinction between loads and generation grows murkier. I think economics teaches us that the key will be to make sure new facilities pay at least the incremental cost of the services they receive.
www.utilitydive.com/news/ferc-pj...
www.utilitydive.com/news/ferc-pj...
Reposted by Severin Borenstein
Less than 24hrs after a mass shooting, the leadership in Australia is having a serious conversation about how to strengthen already strict gun safety laws.
Such a stark contrast to our NRA driven discourse here.
Such a stark contrast to our NRA driven discourse here.
December 15, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Less than 24hrs after a mass shooting, the leadership in Australia is having a serious conversation about how to strengthen already strict gun safety laws.
Such a stark contrast to our NRA driven discourse here.
Such a stark contrast to our NRA driven discourse here.
Interesting that EIA is seeing slower growth of large load aggregate demand , but that is a poor indicator of grid strain. Need to understand peak demand relative to available supply, some of which is intermittent.
www.utilitydive.com/news/energy-...
www.utilitydive.com/news/energy-...
EIA cuts 2026 power generation forecast by more than a percentage point
The Energy Information Administration revised down its projection based on how much large load electricity demand has come online so far this year, particularly in Texas, “and its implications for nea...
www.utilitydive.com
December 11, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Interesting that EIA is seeing slower growth of large load aggregate demand , but that is a poor indicator of grid strain. Need to understand peak demand relative to available supply, some of which is intermittent.
www.utilitydive.com/news/energy-...
www.utilitydive.com/news/energy-...
And in closely related news
www.opis.com/resources/en...
www.opis.com/resources/en...
December 10, 2025 at 6:43 PM
And in closely related news
www.opis.com/resources/en...
www.opis.com/resources/en...
Traveling last week and way behind on posts. Start with Aaron Smith's excellent EI blog explaining why California raising allowed ethanol content in gas from 10% to 15% won't save drivers money, despite study funded by Renewable Fuels Association study.
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/12/08/c...
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/12/08/c...
California Now Allows More Ethanol in Gasoline — Is This Going to Save Drivers Money?
Drivers will be disappointed. First, it is likely that very little E15 will be sold in the state. Second, if E15 were widely adopted, it would not cause large drops in gas prices. Californians pay …
energyathaas.wordpress.com
December 9, 2025 at 3:40 AM
Traveling last week and way behind on posts. Start with Aaron Smith's excellent EI blog explaining why California raising allowed ethanol content in gas from 10% to 15% won't save drivers money, despite study funded by Renewable Fuels Association study.
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/12/08/c...
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/12/08/c...
And in related news
www.kqed.org/science/1999...
www.kqed.org/science/1999...
December 3, 2025 at 5:07 AM
And in related news
www.kqed.org/science/1999...
www.kqed.org/science/1999...
In this week's Energy Institute blog, Max Auffhammer's highly entertaining and also very serious take on redesigning electricity bills so customers can actually understand them. An important step in enabling demand flexibility. energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/12/01/a...
A Small Beautiful Bill
It would be nice if I could understand my energy bill. This is the time of the year where we are gathered around tables – mostly with loving family and tasty food- and then someone says…
energyathaas.wordpress.com
December 2, 2025 at 4:03 PM
In this week's Energy Institute blog, Max Auffhammer's highly entertaining and also very serious take on redesigning electricity bills so customers can actually understand them. An important step in enabling demand flexibility. energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/12/01/a...
Unfortunate, but common, misinterpretation of grid data. Total hours California's grid has run without natural gas since 2019 is zero. Some hours when renewables>demand, but much exported. FOR NOW, still need gas to balance the system. yaleclimateconnections.org/2025/02/cali...
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California just debunked a big myth about renewable energy » Yale Climate Connections
The state went a record 98 of 116 days providing up to 10 hours of electricity with renewables alone.
yaleclimateconnections.org
November 26, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Unfortunate, but common, misinterpretation of grid data. Total hours California's grid has run without natural gas since 2019 is zero. Some hours when renewables>demand, but much exported. FOR NOW, still need gas to balance the system. yaleclimateconnections.org/2025/02/cali...
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Very interesting episode of the Shift Key podcast on what AI boom is doing to clean energy and what might happen if it is a bubble that leaves bankrupt data center companies and potentially unused grid capacity.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
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podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
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How Clean Energy Could Prepare for an AI Bubble
Podcast Episode · Shift Key with Robinson Meyer and Jesse Jenkins · 11/19/2025 · 1h 19m
podcasts.apple.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Very interesting episode of the Shift Key podcast on what AI boom is doing to clean energy and what might happen if it is a bubble that leaves bankrupt data center companies and potentially unused grid capacity.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
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podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
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Dallas Burtraw at @rff.org has an excellent explainer on the climate and energy bills that passed the California legislature and were signed by Gov. Newsom in September. No blog could cover all the critical details, but Dallas hits the major points.
www.resources.org/common-resou...
www.resources.org/common-resou...
California’s Innovative Vision for Climate Policy and Energy Affordability
In late September, California passed a legislation package to help achieve the state’s climate neutrality goals. This blog post analyzes aspects of the legislation and describes how they work to reduc...
www.resources.org
November 24, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Dallas Burtraw at @rff.org has an excellent explainer on the climate and energy bills that passed the California legislature and were signed by Gov. Newsom in September. No blog could cover all the critical details, but Dallas hits the major points.
www.resources.org/common-resou...
www.resources.org/common-resou...
Excellent article in FT on the problem of Phantom data centers making it difficult for utilities and grid operators to plan, and some of the solutions. I think gift link (on.ft.com/4otkC25) works only for first 3 who use it. Sorry.
www.ft.com/content/331f... 🔌💡
www.ft.com/content/331f... 🔌💡
‘Phantom’ data centres muddy forecasts for US power needs
Developers are overstating energy needs and keeping projects alive even after they are no longer viable
www.ft.com
November 21, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Excellent article in FT on the problem of Phantom data centers making it difficult for utilities and grid operators to plan, and some of the solutions. I think gift link (on.ft.com/4otkC25) works only for first 3 who use it. Sorry.
www.ft.com/content/331f... 🔌💡
www.ft.com/content/331f... 🔌💡
Good update on Kinder Morgan plans for expanding refined product distributions to Arizona, California, and Nevada. This would be a benefit to producers and customers, but not clear there is enough value to shippers for the investment.
stillwaterassociates.com/open-season-...
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stillwaterassociates.com/open-season-...
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Open Season for Western Expansion: Kinder Morgan and Phillips 66 Launch Western Gateway Pipeline Connecting Midwest Supply to the Southwest and California | Stillwater Associates
Kinder Morgan and Phillips 66 announce the Western Gateway Pipeline open season, a new refined products corridor connecting Midwest supply to California, Arizona, and Nevada - reshaping Western fuel l...
stillwaterassociates.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Good update on Kinder Morgan plans for expanding refined product distributions to Arizona, California, and Nevada. This would be a benefit to producers and customers, but not clear there is enough value to shippers for the investment.
stillwaterassociates.com/open-season-...
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stillwaterassociates.com/open-season-...
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The fact that this threat from Trump is not the lead story on all US news sources speaks to how much our democracy is endangered. Between the unlimited protection SCOTUS has given him and his ability to pardon anyone who follows through on his threat, all who speak up are now in danger.
President Donald Trump said a group of Democratic lawmakers should be put on trial — and suggested they should even face the death penalty — after they released a video telling government employees to refrain from following orders that broke the law.
Trump Calls for Sedition Trial After Democrats Warn Troops
President Donald Trump said a group of Democratic lawmakers should be put on trial — and suggested they should even face the death penalty — after they released a video telling intelligence community and military members to disobey orders that would break the law.
bloom.bg
November 20, 2025 at 9:31 PM
The fact that this threat from Trump is not the lead story on all US news sources speaks to how much our democracy is endangered. Between the unlimited protection SCOTUS has given him and his ability to pardon anyone who follows through on his threat, all who speak up are now in danger.