John Parsons
@johnparsons.bsky.social
Financial economist at MIT working on energy, environment and risk. Used to have a great crystal ball, but it's now in for repairs. Image: Barlach's Reader
https://www.mit.edu/~jparsons/
https://www.mit.edu/~jparsons/
People are right to be angry. The country is in crisis, and the country's leadership is proving terribly inept, especially Dem leadership. It's not right for that anger to be channeled as personal attacks. But as Frederick D said, when we need the rain, we should also expect some thunder.
October 11, 2025 at 7:09 PM
People are right to be angry. The country is in crisis, and the country's leadership is proving terribly inept, especially Dem leadership. It's not right for that anger to be channeled as personal attacks. But as Frederick D said, when we need the rain, we should also expect some thunder.
Because his job is not to advance the body of the Democratic Party, but to protect Gov Healey's electoral org, and he sees the former as only a potential nuisance to the latter.
October 11, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Because his job is not to advance the body of the Democratic Party, but to protect Gov Healey's electoral org, and he sees the former as only a potential nuisance to the latter.
Age is the obvious moment of contention, but it's not the root complaint. Here in MA, the State Party chair attempted to liquidate one of the few remaining remnants of a grass root org, the annual convention. Why?
October 11, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Age is the obvious moment of contention, but it's not the root complaint. Here in MA, the State Party chair attempted to liquidate one of the few remaining remnants of a grass root org, the annual convention. Why?
Their failure is a black mark against them as future leaders: unable to speak up for the interest of their party or their country because they wanted to preserve the easiest path for their own electoral futures.
October 11, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Their failure is a black mark against them as future leaders: unable to speak up for the interest of their party or their country because they wanted to preserve the easiest path for their own electoral futures.
Biden's decision to run was classic tragedy. Worse yet was the fact that almost NONE of the rest of the leadership spoke out in opposition. Polls showed the American public seriously questioned Biden's age, but no elected Dem dared address the issue honestly.
October 11, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Biden's decision to run was classic tragedy. Worse yet was the fact that almost NONE of the rest of the leadership spoke out in opposition. Polls showed the American public seriously questioned Biden's age, but no elected Dem dared address the issue honestly.
Any sensible org or business considers the age of its leadership as it plans for its future. But the Dem establishment has devolved into a Linked-In networking op for its electeds. They don't look out for the interest of the body over the success of the individuals.
October 11, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Any sensible org or business considers the age of its leadership as it plans for its future. But the Dem establishment has devolved into a Linked-In networking op for its electeds. They don't look out for the interest of the body over the success of the individuals.
There should be no place for vitriol, and none for ageism either. That said, I think we can understand the seething anger produced when egotism steps in front of the interests of the country. We've seen that in spades from Dem leadership.
October 11, 2025 at 7:09 PM
There should be no place for vitriol, and none for ageism either. That said, I think we can understand the seething anger produced when egotism steps in front of the interests of the country. We've seen that in spades from Dem leadership.
So sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing the beautiful photo. Adorable.
August 5, 2025 at 8:54 PM
So sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing the beautiful photo. Adorable.
Yes, let’s us be serious even as they’re not. Really.
July 31, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Yes, let’s us be serious even as they’re not. Really.
Why? The point is that RGGI is a distraction. States have pursued decarb by other means. Focus there.
May 30, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Why? The point is that RGGI is a distraction. States have pursued decarb by other means. Focus there.
My conjecture…small change on the margin, and slightly lower wholesale prices. Perhaps someone has done the study?
May 29, 2025 at 9:04 PM
My conjecture…small change on the margin, and slightly lower wholesale prices. Perhaps someone has done the study?
RGGI is almost never the relevant constraint on fossil gen, but tons of academics give it attention. Here in MA we have strict quantity caps on gas gen. But we can buy unlimited electrons from NH.
May 29, 2025 at 4:50 PM
RGGI is almost never the relevant constraint on fossil gen, but tons of academics give it attention. Here in MA we have strict quantity caps on gas gen. But we can buy unlimited electrons from NH.
Started out as a recommendation to read. Ended as a rec not to. Hmmmmm?
May 28, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Started out as a recommendation to read. Ended as a rec not to. Hmmmmm?
I have grave doubts about the chance of being an export powerhouse that doesn’t build at home.
May 20, 2025 at 9:07 PM
I have grave doubts about the chance of being an export powerhouse that doesn’t build at home.
My experience teaching at CUNY in the 1990s,too.
May 13, 2025 at 8:57 PM
My experience teaching at CUNY in the 1990s,too.
Same as a
parent’s job, just narrower in scope.
parent’s job, just narrower in scope.
April 3, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Same as a
parent’s job, just narrower in scope.
parent’s job, just narrower in scope.
Batteries on the grid…it’s all state dependent opportunity cost. Natural gas in storage, same.
March 26, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Batteries on the grid…it’s all state dependent opportunity cost. Natural gas in storage, same.
Commodity markets have versions of this, but their role is limited and not as imagined here. Oil royalty trusts for example. Commodity bonds. Loans for nat gas drilling repayment schedule tied to depletion.
January 1, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Commodity markets have versions of this, but their role is limited and not as imagined here. Oil royalty trusts for example. Commodity bonds. Loans for nat gas drilling repayment schedule tied to depletion.
Both. The latter affects the former.
December 19, 2024 at 10:00 PM
Both. The latter affects the former.
Thanks for flagging this. Will be fun to dig into. I have some trouble with the framing. 1. Even in systems where the cost of fuel matters, we already had problems with the energy-only design. 2. Hypothesizing flexible demand points to a world we all want but don't have. 3. Ditto storage opt.
December 19, 2024 at 2:20 PM
Thanks for flagging this. Will be fun to dig into. I have some trouble with the framing. 1. Even in systems where the cost of fuel matters, we already had problems with the energy-only design. 2. Hypothesizing flexible demand points to a world we all want but don't have. 3. Ditto storage opt.
Market annoys many people, and this is what you get.
December 13, 2024 at 10:58 PM
Market annoys many people, and this is what you get.