New and Interesting Things
- Finding the What of Innovation
Convergence Research, January 1999
This study reviews the status and efficacy of organizational innovation research
in the public and nonprofit sectors. Most of the literature has little bearing
on the experience of innovative small to medium organizations. However, several
useful venture selection and process criteria can be gleaned from the wreckage
of innovation research. More work is needed on building an effective value chain
between and among innovative social ventures.
- Freight Transportation in
China
Convergence Research, November 1998
- The real cost of power from WPPSS #2, 1986-97
MicroDesign Northwest, December 1997
Bonneville Power Administration loses between $60 million and $100 million a
year trying to operate one of the worst nuclear plants in the country, on top
of the money they have to pay for building the thing in the first place. This
year, the Washington Public Power Supply System (WPPSS) resorted to a baldfaced
lie to try and make the plant look better.
The WPPSS press release is deceptive in two ways. First, it reports the "production
cost" in a way that excludes administrative and general costs, fuel disposal
fees, interest and depreciation and taxes. Second, it "assumes" that the plant
worked at 100% capacity factor during the period it was out of service due to
economic dispatch, and does not add in the fuel cost, fuel disposal cost, generation
tax that would be incurred if the plant had actually operated.
- Power Scams: How to Pay Extra for Energy and
Like It
Convergence Research, November 1997
Energy generators everywhere understand that energy efficiency and renewable
resources are popular with their customers, and are eager to get on the green
bandwagon without lifting a finger to change how they do business. Here are
the most popular ways of getting something for nothing, coming soon to an electric
utility near you.
- Estimated Annual Stranded Generation
Investment in the Pacific Northwest through 2002
Convergence Research and MicroDesign Northwest, December 1996
One of the most interesting short-term questions about electric restructuring
is who is going to end up paying for all the dumb moves electric utilities have
made in the past. Nationally, utilities are facing at a stranded debt liability
for existing electric generation of around a quarter-trillion dollars, about
the size of the savings and loan fiasco in the 1980's. The Pacific Northwest
is paying around $1.4 billion per year for useless and overpriced generation
resources.
- Economics of the Centralia Target Solution
MicroDesign Northwest, November 1996
The Centralia coal plant is the dirtiest power plant in the West, producing
10% of the sulfur emissions in the western US, and as much carbon dioxide as
two-thirds of all the cars in Oregon. It's killing Mount Rainier National Park,
along with a few dozen people a year. Not only that, it would cost more to fix
Centralia than build a new, clean power plant from scratch. What's the obvious
solution? A few hundred million dollars in new government subsidies to keep
the plant open forever, of course. This is the Environmental Protection Agency
report that was suppressed for almost a year in order to close the deal.