From time to time, events occur that reshape and redefine an industry. These events can often prompt stakeholders, lawmakers and customers to question and reevaluate some of the basic premises on which an industry was built. This is the kind of event that happened across Texas during the week of February 15, 2021. While the power outages and the arctic temperatures sent shockwaves throughout the state’s energy markets, the personal toll was equally, if not more, devastating. Millions of Texans were without heat, electricity, and water for days where the thermometer struggled to climb above freezing. But, as is often the case, calamity brings out the best in people as neighbors came to each other’s aid to help wherever possible. And while this story will certainly be told and assessed through gigawatts, hertz and dollars, none of these units can begin to measure the human pain and suffering that was caused by this event.

In 2020, a midstream oil services provider approached 5 to help manage the electricity for a new facility that was ramping up its operations in the Midland Basin. This new facility gathers and stores crude oil from various wellheads in West Texas and connects it to local refineries through its pumping stations. Most of the electricity at this midstream facility is used to power a series of 200 to 400 HP variable frequency drive motors that will deliver more than 100,000 barrels per day to several downstream delivery points. This client hired 5 to help in modeling the electricity usage as the facility went into operations and gradually increased its pumping capacity. The rapidly fluctuating demand for crude oil during the pandemic added to the complexity of forecasting and budgeting this facility’s energy costs and consumption.

The Trinity River Authority (TRA) was formed by the Texas legislature in 1955 to provide clean water to the communities within the Trinity River Basin. Based in Arlington, TRA serves an area of nearly 18,000 square miles, which includes all or parts of 17 counties and 60 cities. TRA owns and operates four water treatment and supply facilities and five wastewater treatment facilities across its jurisdiction that provide clean and safe drinking water to and protect water quality for the millions of residents of the Trinity River Basin. TRA also owns and operates Lake Livingston, which provides a major source of supply to the City of Houston, and as a local sponsor for three multiple-purpose lakes operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

On Thursday, January 28th, businesses from across New York will come together to discuss the future of Green Hydrogen and its potential as a clean energy solution.

New York State continues to lead the nation as the center of the transition to a zero-emissions energy system. While electrification, executed in tandem with a significant expansion of renewable energy resources, has the potential to drastically reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, certain sectors of the economy may not be able to fully electrify. These more challenging sectors include manufacturing, heavy transportation, and long duration energy storage.

It takes a lot of energy to produce energy. Natural gas and oil producers use significant amounts of both natural gas and electricity to extract, process, and transport the raw materials that are ultimately refined into various sources of energy and fuels. In 2012, an oil and gas producer in Texas turned to 5 for assistance in managing their electricity supply. This company required a robust and dynamic way of managing its electricity expenses given that its own revenues are closely correlated to volatile oil and gas prices.

In New York, the 2020 election was a big deal. It’s the first time since the 1930s that Democrats have successfully held a majority in the State Senate. While the Presidential race in New York was called for President-Elect Joe Biden almost immediately after polls closed, which gave the illusion of completion, the state is still counting ballots today. This year, as is true every other year, every member of the State Legislature was up for reelection. While incumbents certainly carry an advantage into any election cycle, New York has seen a political awakening following the 2016 election of President Donald Trump. This movement carried a new, Democratic majority into power in the State Senate in 2018 and lead to many moderate Democrats being swept out in favor of more liberal candidates.

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL), founded in 1890, is a world-renowned, private research and education institution with research programs in cancer, neuroscience, plant biology, quantitative biology, and bioinformatics and genomics. The research environment is highly collaborative, allowing CSHL scientists work together across disciplines to solve biology’s most challenging problems. The ultimate goal is to apply this research on basic biological mechanisms to improve the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, neurological disorders and other diseases. The campus has been home to eight Nobel Laureates and is ranked by Thomson Reuters as #1 in the world among the leading basic research institutions in molecular biology and genetics. The Laboratory selected 5 to assist in managing the facility’s energy requirements while keeping energy expenses low through a strategic procurement strategy, which allowed more funding for their critical research.

It’s got Jim Cramer saying it’s “sexy” and natural gas companies betting their futures on it. What are we talking about? Green hydrogen (GH2). And no, GH2 isn’t just hydrogen by another name, it’s hydrogen produced by renewable energy and there are several important reasons why its trending today.  

A large financial institution with multiple facilities across the country began to work with 5 in 2016 to create a more substantive approach to managing its electricity costs. Prior to hiring 5, this Fortune 500 company waited until the end of its current electricity agreements before considering renewal opportunities.

On behalf of the team at 5, I am pleased to forward our market letter for the third quarter of 2020. This letter focuses on the upcoming Presidential election, the confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, and the potential impact of these events on energy policy. The election and a changing court will impact how energy policy is regulated both at the Federal and the state level. Notwithstanding the perceived impact of these changes in Washington, we caution against putting too much weight on political and judicial changes. In short, it is often the case that when it comes to energy policy, economics, not politics, often prevails.