Apple, Oil, And The Texas Grid -- All In One Note -- February 4, 2022

Wow, wow, wow. Just as I predicted a few days ago! Enbridge partners with First Nations on proposed carbon capture project. Didn't post the original story at the time because I was able to see what was coming next. This is not rocket science. So many story lines here. "Co-opt" comes to mind.

The graphic you won't see in the Boston Globe or the Bismarck Tribune today, link here:

DFW: we live about a mile west of DFW, and have not yet had to turn the heat on in our little hovel. 

Electricity never went out. Sophia has a four-day weekend with us. Snowball fight yesterday. A walk to Target last night. What's not to like. DFW is where that big winter storm hit. At least that's what I'm reading in the newspapers on line. Almost as bad as the purported misinformation coming from Joe Rogan. Looking for TikTok videos of the DFW storm. 

Texas grid:

• capacity: 80 GW
• forecast: 75 GW
• actual: did not quite reach 69 GW

Gasoline prices, link here:

• above $3.00, coast-to-coast
• approaching $5.00 in California
• early February; many months until driving season begins

The meme, under Trump:

• drill, drill, drill
• build the Keystone XL
• energy independence
• Texas gasoline: $0.99 / gallon
• message: make America great again

The meme, under Biden:

• ban drilling on federal land
• vacate previously approved permits
• kill the Keystone XL on day 1
• Texas gasoline: $3.29 / gallon
• message: we're continuing to look at options

Shortfall or glut? To be or not to be, that is the question. 

I can find as many sources on the internet suggesting there will be a gut of crude oil this summer as I can find sources suggesting shortages and $100-WTI. 

Something to talk about. 

I'm in the camp that suggests there will be no shortage of oil; we'll be just fine. The bigger question is why are producers not projected to pump more petroleum out of the Permian? There are several reasons, but it's not due to "voluntrry operator restraint."

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The Apple Page

This will show 'em: to satisfy Dutch regulators, Apple will now collect a 27% commission rather than the typical 30% commission. Link here.

Taking advantage of Spotify: since launching in 2015, Music Music has offered a three-month free trial to first-time subscribers, but the trial period had now been reduced to one month. Link here. 

Upgrades: the new fifth-generaion iPad Air and the third-generation iPhone SE will have the A15 chip.

The new iPhone SE 5G: what to expect. For one thing, only $399.

Next Apple event: March, 2022. New iPhone SE and the new iPad Air to be announced. iPhone SE to be released March 8, 2022?