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Michael E. Webber

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Josey Centennial Professor of Energy Resources, The University of Texas at Austin
Snow on cattle drive sculptures in Dallas after a winter storm, Feb. 3, 2022. Emil Lippe/Getty Images

Two years after its historic deep freeze, Texas is increasingly vulnerable to cold snaps – and there are more solutions than just building power plants

Michael E. Webber, The University of Texas at Austin; Drew Kassel, The University of Texas at Austin; Joshua D. Rhodes, The University of Texas at Austin, and Matthew Skiles, The University of Texas at Austin

Texas wasn’t prepared to keep the lights on during Winter Storm Uri, and it won’t be ready for future cold weather unless it starts thinking about energy demand as well as supply.
Coming soon to Texas and Louisiana? Turbines and a support platform at Gwynt y Mor off North Wales. Ben Birchall/PA Images via Getty Images

Next US energy boom could be wind power in the Gulf of Mexico

Michael E. Webber, The University of Texas at Austin and Hugh Daigle, The University of Texas at Austin

The US is a latecomer to offshore wind development, but President Biden has set big goals for expanding it. The Gulf of Mexico has good conditions and a large offshore energy industry.
Refugee women from Darfur, Sudan return to their camp in eastern Chad with wood for their households in 2011. European Commission DG ECHO

Improving women’s lives through energy: What Rick Perry got right and wrong

Michael E. Webber, The University of Texas at Austin and Sheril Kirshenbaum, Michigan State University

With better access to energy, women in developing nations could spend more time working or in school. But Energy Secretary Rick Perry’s claim that fossil fuels improve women’s lives misses the mark.
Younger Americans tend to be comfortable relying on ride services and foregoing car ownership. BeyondDC

To Uber or not? Why car ownership may no longer be a good deal

F. Todd Davidson, The University of Texas at Austin and Michael E. Webber, The University of Texas at Austin

Using ride-hailing services full-time would mean avoiding the hassles of owning a car. But it could cost less, too – depending on how you value your time otherwise spent behind the wheel.
Lessons from the Lone Star State: A surge in wind power on the Texas grid didn’t cause reliability problems (and brought down electricity prices) because regulators improved the efficiency of wholesale electricity markets. Sarah Fields Photography/Shutterstock.com

Are solar and wind really killing coal, nuclear and grid reliability?

Joshua D. Rhodes, The University of Texas at Austin; F. Todd Davidson, The University of Texas at Austin; Michael E. Webber, The University of Texas at Austin, and Thomas Deetjen, The University of Texas at Austin

Energy Secretary Rick Perry wants to know if wind and solar are compromising the reliability of the grid and hurting coal power. The answer lies in his home state of Texas.
Stuck in transit: The Keystone Pipeline proposal has become a symbol for politicians and environmentalists. Shannon Ramos/Flickr

Despite rhetoric, climate change ranks low in public’s Keystone pipeline worries

Sheril Kirshenbaum, The University of Texas at Austin and Michael E. Webber, The University of Texas at Austin

Public opinion poll on Keystone pipeline shows more people are concerned with local issues – including the impact of spills on environment and aquifers – than with global warming.