Engineers at Stanford University have invented a new type of solar cell that collects energy at night. The device works by incorporating a thermoelectric generator. That tiny generator is able to create electricity from the temperature difference between the solar...
Texas Energy Law Blog
Will the EPA’s waiver to allow summer E15 sales lower gas prices?
Recently, the Biden administration announced that it has directed the EPA to suspend a rule barring the sale of gasoline containing 15% ethanol during the summer months. The gas, referred to as “E15” or “Unleaded 88,” is usually allowed only between Sept. 15 and May...
Texas could be on the verge of entirely phasing out coal power
Did you know? If Texas implements only a third of the wind and solar energy projects that have been proposed to date, it could nearly phase out the use of coal in the state. That’s according to a recent study at Rice University. What’s keeping the Lonestar State from...
Oil production is ramping up in light of sanctions against Russia
We’ve all noticed gas prices rising at the pump. A great deal of those increases is due to the supply chain disruptions and sanctions brought about by Russia’s war on Ukraine. Although the U.S. only buys about 700,000 barrels of crude and refined oil from Russia each...
I’ve just received a condemnation notice. What does it mean?
If you’re a landowner in west Texas or eastern New Mexico, you may have received a notice from an energy company saying that your land will be condemned. Condemnation is another word for the power of eminent domain. Eminent domain is the government’s authority to...
Texas now leads the nation in wind turbine capacity
If a wind energy company has contacted you about buying or leasing your land, you may be wondering if wind energy is a real option for delivering the power Texas and New Mexico need. Wind energy is making up an ever-greater share of our power capacity. In fact, the...
Will silicon shortage disrupt plans for solar energy installation?
If you follow the news on the solar industry, or if you have leased a part of your land for a solar energy installation, you may be aware that there is a shortage of silicon, a mineral needed to produce solar modules. That shortage just became more urgent when the...
Will tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve result in lower prices?
In late November, President Biden announced that the U.S. – in concert with several other developed nations – will be tapping its strategic petroleum reserve over the next several months in order to meet high demand for oil. This is apparently a response to efforts by...
Can an energy company take my land for its project?
Generally, yes, although they have to provide you with just compensation. In Texas, energy companies have the power of eminent domain when building or operating public projects. In New Mexico, oil and gas pipelines have clear eminent domain authority, and renewables...
Wind power capacity hit all-time high in 2020, Texas a top state
2020 was a tremendous year for the wind energy industry, with record levels of wind farm commissioning, especially in the fourth quarter. Fully 16.9 GW of wind power was connected to the grid last year. In the fourth quarter alone, the amount of new grid-connected...
