Robert Rapier

Latest articles from Robert

• How OPEC Outplayed Biden

  Published 01 November 2022 | viewed 9,937 times

  In December 1975, when memories of gas lines were fresh on the minds of Americans as a result of the 1973 OPEC oil embargo, Congress…

• Deep OPEC Output Cuts Upend Biden’s Attempt To Lower Oil Prices

  Published 31 October 2022 | viewed 10,182 times

  I tell people that to understand OPEC, you have to put yourself in their position. Their objective is to maximize the value of the oil…

• The U.S. Is Still Energy Independent

  Published 06 October 2022 | viewed 4,833 times

  I am often asked if the U.S. is energy independent, or whether we have ever been energy independent. I frequently encounter a claim that President…

• Why Have U.S. Natural Gas Prices Soared Since 2020?

  Published 03 October 2022 | viewed 11,577 times

  Following my previous article on U.S. natural gas production, I engaged in a Twitter discussion on the causes of the natural gas price surge over…

• American Energy Bills Are Set To Soar This Winter

  Published 01 October 2022 | viewed 51,686 times

  Domestic oil production remains nearly a million barrels per day (BPD) below the monthly record level set just before the Covid-19 pandemic caused production to…

• Is The Nuclear Waste Problem Overblown?

  Published 26 September 2022 | viewed 3,535 times

  In the previous article, I discussed some of the developments that are taking place to make nuclear power safer, such that major accidents like those…

• How Big A Problem Is America’s Shrinking Oil Reserve?

  Published 23 September 2022 | viewed 16,452 times

  What is the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR)? What are the implications of depleting the SPR, which the U.S. has been doing now since 2016?…

• The Vital Role Of Nuclear Power In Reducing Emissions

  Published 05 September 2022 | viewed 2,431 times

  Any time I write about nuclear power, it evokes passionate responses from readers. That was certainly the case following my previous article, Nuclear Power Could…

• Nuclear Power Could Cut Global Emissions By Half

  Published 01 September 2022 | viewed 3,888 times

  In the previous article Renewable Energy Grew At A Blistering Pace In 2021, I highlighted the inability of renewable energy to keep up with overall…

• Global Renewable Energy Consumption Is Soaring

  Published 27 August 2022 | viewed 12,075 times

  During the early stages on the Covid-19 pandemic, the world’s energy consumption plunged. All major categories of energy production declined, except for one. Despite the…

• 6 Ways The Inflation Reduction Act Will Help The Energy Industry

  Published 18 August 2022 | viewed 3,536 times

  Last week Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which now heads to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law. The bill has been championed…

• Coal Consumption Was On The Rise Even Before The Ukraine War

  Published 15 August 2022 | viewed 3,263 times

  This article is the fifth in a series on the BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2022. The Review provides a comprehensive picture of supply…

• U.S. Natural Gas Production Hit An All-Time High In 2021

  Published 02 August 2022 | viewed 4,344 times

  This article is the fourth in a series on the BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2022. The Review provides a comprehensive picture of supply…

• U.S. Remains World’s Top Oil Producer And Consumer

  Published 27 July 2022 | viewed 12,810 times

  Earlier this month BP released its Statistical Review of World Energy 2022. The Review provides a comprehensive picture of supply and demand for major energy…

• Carbon Emissions On Track To Reach An All-Time High

  Published 23 July 2022 | viewed 10,973 times

  Earlier this month the BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2022 was released, covering energy data through 2021. Previously, I provided a summary of the data. Today, I…

• High Gasoline Prices Force Biden To Play Nice With Saudi Arabia

  Published 21 July 2022 | viewed 2,767 times

  During the campaign for the Democratic nomination for president, Joe Biden said he would make the Saudis “pay the price” for their killing of Washington…

• How Energy Demand Bounced Back After The Pandemic

  Published 14 July 2022 | viewed 3,878 times

  Last week the BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2022 was released, covering energy data through 2021. The Review provides a comprehensive picture of supply…

• Why Is Oil Priced The Way That It Is?

  Published 13 July 2022 | viewed 13,160 times

  People who should know better are still deflecting the blame for high oil prices onto the oil companies. There is still a widespread misunderstanding of…

• Will A Gas Tax Holiday Help Ease Prices At The Pump?

  Published 11 July 2022 | viewed 3,126 times

  I believe many of our political leaders have a comic book view of how gasoline prices are set. They envision oil companies adding up all…

• Is Biden Really Responsible For High Oil Prices?

  Published 06 July 2022 | viewed 22,916 times

  My columns tend to generate a lot of “passionate” responses from viewers. I try to correct misconceptions, as well as false statements and beliefs about…