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Seth Blumsack

Professor, Pennsylvania State University
Seth Blumsack is Professor in the Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering; an Adjunct Research Professor at the Carnegie Mellon Electricity Industry Center; and is on the External Faculty of the Santa Fe Institute.

His work focuses on policy-relevant engineering, environmental and economic research for the energy, electric power and transportation industries. He also performs research in the area of complex engineered infrastructure networks.

Dr. Blumsack's research agenda is highly interdisciplinary and problem-driven. Before returning to academia, he served as a journalist and consultant for Economic Insight, Inc., where he was a contributing editor for the Energy Market Report and Pacific West Oil Data. He has authored or co-authored more than twenty scientific and policy articles and book chapters.

His work on restructured electricity markets has been cited in The New York Times and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and his writing for the Energy Market Report on California’s energy crisis has been cited in the Los Angeles Times as well as in The Smartest Guys in the Room. He is currently the John R. Ryan Jr. Faculty Fellow in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences.

The US energy market has its troubles, though it may not be a ‘national emergency’

Mar 08, 2025 07:33 am UTC| Insights & Views Business

President Donald Trumps declaration of a national energy emergency on his first day in office and which he reiterated during his address to Congress on March 4, 2025 might have seemed to echo other national emergencies,...

What's behind $15,000 electricity bills in Texas?

Feb 26, 2021 14:49 pm UTC| Economy

Texans who made it through Februarys extreme cold weather without losing power or natural gas must have felt lucky. But for some, keeping their electricity through the blackout may turn out to be more traumatic than...

Economy

IEA Warns China Rare Earth Export Curbs Could Threaten $6.5 Trillion in Global Production

Chinas planned implementation of stricter rare earth export controls could place up to $6.5 trillion in downstream production outside the country at risk, according to the International Energy Agencys (IEA) latest Global...

U.S. Imposes 25% Tariff on Select Brazilian Imports After Section 301 Trade Investigation

The United States announced on Wednesday that it will impose a 25% tariff on certain imports from Brazil after concluding a year-long Section 301 trade investigation that found several Brazilian policies unfairly...

Gold Prices Slip as Oil Rally Fuels Inflation Fears, Strengthens Dollar

Gold prices declined early Thursday as rising oil prices reignited concerns that inflation could remain persistent, reinforcing expectations that the Federal Reserve may keep interest rates elevated for longer. The...

Asian Stocks Slide as Chip Selloff Deepens Ahead of TSMC Earnings

Asian stock markets declined sharply on Thursday, led by heavy losses in South Korea, as a broad semiconductor selloff and renewed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East weighed on investor sentiment. Market participants...

Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Middle East Tensions Offset Weaker US Dollar

Asian currencies traded in tight ranges on Thursday as a weaker U.S. dollar was balanced by growing investor caution over the escalating Middle East conflict, limiting demand for risk-sensitive regional assets. Market...

Politics

DOJ Refuses to Release Unredacted Jeffrey Epstein Files to New Mexico Investigation

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) said Wednesday it cannot legally release unredacted Jeffrey Epstein files requested by New Mexico officials, deepening a dispute over the states renewed investigation into the late...

US Restricts Commercial Flights From Congo Amid Ebola Outbreak

The United States has introduced new travel restrictions tied to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), preventing U.S. citizens and nationals who have been in the country within the previous...

NY Times Challenges Trump Administration Subpoenas Over Air Force One Report

The New York Times has asked a federal court to block grand jury subpoenas issued to three of its journalists following their reporting on President Donald Trumps new Qatari-donated Air Force One, escalating a legal battle...

Trump Orders ICE to Resume Traffic Stops After Deadly Immigration Enforcement Incidents

U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to resume using traffic stops during immigration enforcement operations, reversing a temporary suspension announced just a day...

Russian Missile Strike Sparks Fires in Kyiv After Early Morning Air Alert

Russian missiles struck at least two districts in Ukraines capital, Kyiv, early Thursday, igniting fires and prompting authorities to issue an air raid alert before declaring the immediate danger over. Kyiv Mayor Vitali...

Science

Blue Origin New Glenn Explosion Could Delay Launch Operations Until 2028

Blue Origin is facing a significant setback after a dramatic explosion involving its New Glenn rocket severely damaged a launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida. According to NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, repairs to the...

Blue Origin New Glenn Rocket Explodes During Launch Pad Test, Delaying Space Ambitions

Blue Origin suffered a major setback after its uncrewed New Glenn rocket exploded during a launch pad test in Florida on Thursday, raising new challenges for Jeff Bezos space company as it competes with Elon Musks SpaceX...

SpaceX Delays Starship V3 Launch Ahead of Potential Record IPO

SpaceX on Thursday postponed the highly anticipated launch of its 12th Starship rocket test from Texas after technical issues interrupted the final countdown. The company now plans to attempt the Starship V3 launch again...

Trump Administration Releases New UFO Files and Apollo Mission Records

The U.S. Defense Department has released dozens of previously classified UFO-related files following an order from President Donald Trump, sparking renewed debate over unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) and government...

China vs. NASA: The New Moon Race and What's at Stake by 2030

The space race is back and this time, its a direct competition between the United States and China for dominance on the lunar surface. NASAs Artemis II mission recently made history when four astronauts flew farther into...

Technology

Apple Intelligence China Approval Lifts Alibaba and Baidu Shares

Alibaba and Baidu shares rallied on Thursday after Apple secured regulatory approval to introduce its Apple Intelligence platform in China, a major step toward expanding its artificial intelligence services in one of the...

Nvidia Partners With Fanuc and Yaskawa to Accelerate AI Robotics in Japan

Nvidia is strengthening its presence in Japan through new partnerships with leading industrial automation companies, including Fanuc and Yaskawa Electric, as the chip giant pushes to accelerate the adoption of artificial...

Hyundai Takes Full Control of Boston Dynamics to Accelerate Humanoid Robot and AI Strategy

Hyundai Motor has announced plans to acquire SoftBank Groups remaining stake in Boston Dynamics, giving the South Korean automaker full ownership of the robotics company as it expands its artificial intelligence and...

Jamie Dimon Warns Anthropic's Mythos AI Poses National Security Risks

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has warned that Anthropics advanced Mythos artificial intelligence model presents significant national security risks, highlighting growing concerns over the potential misuse of powerful AI...

SpaceX Stock Falls Below IPO Price as Investors Weigh Losses and Lockup Expiry

SpaceX shares fell below their initial public offering (IPO) price for the first time on Wednesday, highlighting growing investor caution as the companys early post-listing momentum continues to fade. The stock dropped...