12 October 2012

Why the U.S. needs a networked energy grid
C. Boyden Gray/Washington Post

In the United States, electricity is transmitted on regional grids that work like auction houses. Different energy sources bid to get “on the grid,” and the wholesale cost of electricity is the price from the lowest bidder, be it nuclear, natural gas, coal or wind.

Algeria Targets Street Vendors as Fears of Unrest Fade
Reuters

Algeria is cracking down on illegal street vendors despite the risk of popular unrest, signaling confidence that it can remain unscathed by uprisings that have toppled Arab rulers elsewhere.

Afghanistan accuses Pakistan of violating bilateral transit trade treaty
Express Tribune

Afghanistan accused Pakistan of violating the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement 2010 (APTTA) as the Afghan authorities blamed that Islamabad was denying its cargo, access to Wagah border and seaports.

Don’t Count on Recessions to Keep Climate Change in Check
Brad Plumer / The Washington Post

Greenhouse gas emissions are highly correlated with economic growth. Therefore, it was believed that recessions would lead to a sharp drop in emissions. However, new data from The World Bank shows that despite economic turmoil over the past few years, the world continues to emit greenhouse gases at an alarming rate.

U.S. Electric Grid Gets Regulatory Jolt Into 21st Century
Al Jazeera

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) will begin enforcing a key regulation over the U.S. transmission system, which will require regional planning and propose a cost-sharing formula. While seemingly mundane, this regulation is expected to accelerate an upgrade of the U.S. electrical grid.

Russia Nuclear Partnership Not Dead, State Department Insists
Jill Dougherty/CNN

The State Department maintained Thursday that a long-standing partnership with Russia to dismantle and safeguard weapons of mass destruction from the Soviet Union’s once-massive arsenal is not dead, as Russian media has reported.

New Laser Technology Stirs Nuclear Bomb Proliferation Fears
Reuters

A new way of making nuclear fuel with lasers may help cut costs and ensure energy security but could also make it easier for rogue states to secretly build nuclear weapons if they got hold of the know-how.

Thomas Pickering, Anthony Zinni and Jim Walsh: What to Do About Iran?
Thomas Pickering, Anthony Zinni and Jim Walsh/Chicago Tribune

In view of this profoundly troubling dilemma the U.S. faces in how to respond to Iran’s challenges, we joined a group of more than 30 prominent former defense and foreign policy experts in supporting a recently released report, “Weighing the Benefits and Cost of Military Action Against Iran.”

On Our Flashpoint Blog

Iraq to Double Oil Production by 2020
Nicholas Cunningham

An IEA report indicated that Iraq could double oil production by 2020, making it by far the biggest contributor of additional oil over the next several decades.

Wanted: Transparency in the Nuclear Budget
Mary Kaszynski

It’s no secret that mismanagement, parochial interests, and an outdated strategy have allowed unnecessary, expensive nuclear programs to spiral out of control.

 

About the American Security Project: The American Security Project is a non-profit, non-partisan public policy and research organization dedicated to fostering knowledge and understanding of a range of national security issues, promoting debate about the appropriate use of American power, and cultivating strategic responses to 21st century challenges.