Research Library

Ken Medlock explains why the price of WTI crude collapsed into previously unchartered, negative territory on April 20, 2020, and what to expect next. Read his post in the Baker Institute Blog.  This blog originally appeared in Forbes on April 21, 2020.

Experts explore how the copper acquisition dilemma could hinder green energy ambitions and constitute the driving force behind a copper supercycle.

The atmospheric concentration of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) — the most potent greenhouse gas known to humanity and a chemical that is frequently used as an electrical insulator — is growing and thereby contributing to global warming. In a post for the Baker Institute blog, experts from the Center for Energy Studies explain whether we should be worried and what can be done to mitigate the risks.

Public finance fellow Joyce Beebe explores California’s tax voucher program, which, if implemented, would offer Californians the option of paying state taxes ahead of time at a discount, allowing the state to collect money up front to build an economic recovery fund. Baker Institute Blog: https://bit.ly/3f75eGm

The liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry faces increasing pressure to do more to achieve climate change objectives. A new product—Green LNG—could help ensure that natural gas keeps its role in the energy transition, if the LNG industry can convert Green LNG into a uniform, tradable commodity, write the authors.

Public finance fellow Joyce Beebe reviews the major contentions and developments of the controversial Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), intended to help small businesses during the current economic downturn. Baker Institute Blog: https://bit.ly/2XFxgAq

The oil glut and the unprecedented drop in demand, along with plummeting oil prices due to the coronavirus pandemic, is revealing the strengths and weaknesses of oil firms globally. The authors consider four NOCs — Ecopetrol, Petrobras, Petronas and Pemex — in the context of the current crisis.

Iron and steel production are necessary for modern infrastructure, and the sector is both energy intensive and difficult to decarbonize. The authors explore new, evolving processes that could change this and potentially provide both environmental and economic benefits.

Understanding how to interpret the signs of a child's distress as they adjust to a new way of life during Covid-19 — and how to respond appropriately — is important for a child's mental health and development.

The author explains the unexpected price collapse for oil in spring 2020, elucidating how the market reacted to oversupply after a sudden drop in demand amid COVID-19 shutdowns. Read more on the Baker Institute Blog.  This post originally appeared on the Forbes blog on April 21, 2020.