Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Robert Hebner
Oil-impregnated densified wood veneer with high electrical insulation enabled by nanosized oil channels
Abstract INTRODUCTION RESULTS DISCUSSION MATERIALS AND METHODS Acknowledgments Supplementary Materials REFERENCES Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Growing energy demands and renewable integration are stressing the aging power grid infrastructure.
Hydrogen's Scalability Essential to Meet Energy Demand
Years ago, I attended a lecture featuring a leader of China's energy program at the University of Hong Kong. The significant investment of time and resources in every energy technology and commitment to scaling solutions with reduced environmental impact was eye-opening, but also struck me as an inefficient approach. It is now evident that the world must invest in an all-of-the-above method to meet our energy needs with reduced environmental impact.
Texas’ New Motto Should Be ‘Don’t Mess With My Electricity’
I am typing fast to finish before the battery in my laptop dies. Once again, I have not had electricity or heat for days thanks to the latest winter storm. Whose fault is it? The governor? The Legislature? The Public Utility Commission? ERCOT? The local utility? The Railroad Commission? Republicans? Democrats? Some say that if power cables were underground, they would not have broken. Why didn’t leaders think of this? That question kills my rant because I know they have. Many are underground today.
Commentary: Advances in technology will power a more resilient Texas grid
Robert Hebner, For the Express-News Feb. 7, 2023 I am typing fast to finish before the battery in my laptop dies. Once again, I have not had electricity or heat for days, thanks to the latest winter storm. Whose fault is it? The governor? The Legislature? The Public Utility Commission? ERCOT? The local utility? The Railroad Commission? Republicans? Democrats? Some say that if power cables were underground, they would not have broken. Why didn’t leaders think of this?
Opinion: Texas' new motto should be 'Don't mess with my electricity'
I am typing fast to finish before the battery in my laptop dies. Once again, I have not had electricity or heat for days thanks to the latest winter storm. Whose fault is it? The governor? The Legislature? The Public Utility Commission? ERCOT? The local utility? The Railroad Commission? Republicans? Democrats? Some say that if power cables were underground, they would not have broken. Why didn’t leaders think of this? That question kills my rant because I know they have. Many are underground today.
Robert Hebner: Texas’ new motto should be ‘don’t mess with my electricity’
I am typing fast to finish before the battery in my laptop dies. Once again, I have not had electricity or heat for days thanks to the latest winter storm. Whose fault is it? The governor? The Legislature? The Public Utility Commission? ERCOT? The local utility? The Railroad Commission? Republicans? Democrats? Some say that if power cables were underground, they would not have broken. Why didn’t leaders think of this? That question kills my rant because I know they have. Many are underground today.
To Maintain the Texas Grid, Commonsense is Required
The reliability of the Texas grid is hot news this summer after calls for conservation in May sparked worries. Adding heat, the grid is now an issue in the gubernatorial race. There is reason for concern. Maintaining an affordable grid that meets Texas’ needs requires common sense, and Texans pride themselves in their common sense. No one knows whether we will have blackouts this summer, but a process is in place to avoid them.
Commentary: Keep Texas grid running with common sense
Robert Hebner, For the Express-News June 21, 2022 The reliability of the Texas grid is hot news this summer after calls for conservation in May sparked worries. The grid is an issue in the gubernatorial race. There is reason for concern. No one knows whether we will have blackouts this summer, but a process is in place to avoid them. We need to think of the prediction of blackouts the way we think of a prediction that the Dallas Cowboys will make the playoffs.
Read the October 2021 Smart Grid Newsletter
Climate-Change Caused Blackouts - The Role of Smart Grid Applications For a downloadable copy of this eNewsletter, please visit the IEEE Smart Grid Resource Center. Resource Center Update: Improved user experience for IEEE members! Access/Download free products without a checkout process. Written by Hao Zhu and Robert Hebner The rising occurrence of extreme weather events is placing an increasing amount of operational challenges to the resiliency of the electricity sector.
It’s Time For Utilities to Learn to Love Hydrogen
There’s a lot to like about hydrogen, particularly for electric utilities. Start with hydrogen’s enormous promise in reducing carbon emissions while maintaining or growing the standard of living in developed or emerging economies. Add in the fact that much of the technology needed to realize the long-envisioned “hydrogen economy” already exists, and you begin to understand why interest in hydrogen is surging now.
Legislature’s fix of Texas grid is OK for today, not for tomorrow
Legislature’s fix of Texas grid is OK for today, not for tomorrow The winter power outage of 2021 cost lives, caused hardship and taxed Texas resources. Now we’re in a summer that has already produced record heat in the Pacific Northwest. Texans could face a summer power failure on the heels of the winter failure. New laws have just been adopted to avoid failure again. But is the problem solved? Not yet.
It’s Time For Utilities to Learn to Love Hydrogen
There’s a lot to like about hydrogen, particularly for electric utilities. Start with hydrogen’s enormous promise in reducing carbon emissions while maintaining or growing the standard of living in developed or emerging economies. Add in the fact that much of the technology needed to realize the long-envisioned “hydrogen economy” already exists, and you begin to understand why interest in hydrogen is surging now.
Needed: innovation, infrastructure and Texas
By Robert E. Hebner, For the Express-News Published 12:00 am CST, Sunday, March 10, 2019 Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Image 1 of 3 My first job and house were in the Washington, D.C., suburbs. My neighbor and I were both starting our careers. The fact that we both grew up in Texas along the Guadalupe River about 100 miles apart was a foundation for a lifelong friendship. His wife, let’s call her Nancy, is an accomplished woman in her own right.
Needed: innovation, infrastructure and Texas
By Robert E. Hebner, For the Express-News Published 12:00 am CST, Sunday, March 10, 2019 Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Image 1 of 3 My first job and house were in the Washington, D.C., suburbs. My neighbor and I were both starting our careers. The fact that we both grew up in Texas along the Guadalupe River about 100 miles apart was a foundation for a lifelong friendship. His wife, let’s call her Nancy, is an accomplished woman in her own right.
Robert E. Hebner, Texas Perspectives: Texas infrastructure approach could use a little zest
My first job and house were in the Washington, D.C., suburbs. My neighbor and I were both starting our careers. The fact that we both grew up in Texas along the Guadalupe River about 100 miles apart was a foundation for a lifelong friendship. His wife, let’s call her Nancy, is an accomplished woman in her own right. While friendship with her husband was based on a common background, friendship with Nancy was built on appreciating our differences.
Commentary: Why Texas must embrace innovation and infrastructure
By Robert E. Hebner Monday Jan 28, 2019 at 5:18 PM My first job and house were in the Washington, D.C., suburbs. My neighbor and I were both starting our careers. The fact that we both grew up in Texas along the Guadalupe River about 100 miles apart was a foundation for a lifelong friendship. His wife, let’s call her Nancy, is an accomplished woman. While friendship with her husband was based on a common background, friendship with Nancy was built on appreciating our differences.
Trump wrong to threaten electric vehicles, solar
Trump wrong to threaten electric vehicles, solar By Robert Hebner, For the Express-News Published 12:00 am CST, Sunday, December 16, 2018 General Motors Chairman and CEO Mary Barra speaks next to a autonomous Chevrolet Bolt electric car in Detroit in 2016. President Trump’s recent threat to cut subsidies for electric vehicles should be viewed with alarm. less General Motors Chairman and CEO Mary Barra speaks next to a autonomous Chevrolet Bolt electric car in Detroit in 2016.
Trump wrong to threaten electric vehicles, solar
Trump wrong to threaten electric vehicles, solar By Robert Hebner, For the Express-News Published 12:00 am CST, Sunday, December 16, 2018 General Motors Chairman and CEO Mary Barra speaks next to a autonomous Chevrolet Bolt electric car in Detroit in 2016. President Trump’s recent threat to cut subsidies for electric vehicles should be viewed with alarm. less General Motors Chairman and CEO Mary Barra speaks next to a autonomous Chevrolet Bolt electric car in Detroit in 2016.
We can’t let barbecue industry to define its own pound
We can’t let barbecue industry to define its own pound For centuries, people have cheated in commerce. In response, society has created systems that enable fair trade for all. In Texas, the integrity of that process is the responsibility of the agriculture commissioner. Today, the process is being threatened.
We can’t let barbecue industry to define its own pound
We can’t let barbecue industry to define its own pound For centuries, people have cheated in commerce. In response, society has created systems that enable fair trade for all. In Texas, the integrity of that process is the responsibility of the agriculture commissioner. Today, the process is being threatened.
Robert Hebner, Texas Perspectives: State needs accurate barbecue measurements
For centuries, people have cheated in commerce. In response, society has created systems that enable fair trade for all. In Texas, the integrity of that process is the responsibility of the agriculture commissioner.Today, the process is being threatened.
Robert Hebner, Texas Perspectives: We need a system that guarantees accurate measurements
For centuries, people have cheated in commerce. In response, society has created systems that enable fair trade for all. In Texas, the integrity of that process is the responsibility of the agriculture commissioner.Today, the process is being threatened.
Nature, It's Good for You
Driving cars and living in high-rise apartments are relatively new experiences for the human species, but they demonstrate that we are particularly good at adapting to a diverse range of landscapes. Environmental psychology explores how physical spaces influence the way we feel, think, and interact with the world.
Psychology Today
Natural scientists would rather work in their labs or their natural labs, such as in the Maya Tropical Forest or on Himalayan glaciers. Every part of this planet holds unanswered questions that scientists would joyously study for a hundred lifetimes. It takes much to rouse scientists to explain their concerns for humanity about the declines of nature. Activism takes scientists out of their comfort and confidence zones, but if there was ever a time to do it, now is that time.
Robert Hebner, Texas Perspectives: Time for renaissance in nuclear power
Creative destruction has hit the electric power industry. This process typically occurs when lower-cost, better technology becomes available. In electric power, renewables and natural gas are displacing nuclear power and coal-fired power plants.With respect to coal plants, many would say “Good riddance.
Nanogrids, Microgrids, and Big Data: The Future of the Power Grid
Developing technology is like driving a race car: You push the machinery as fast as it’ll go, and if you can avoid a crash, a prize awaits you at the finish line. For engineers, the reward is sometimes monetary, but more often it’s the satisfaction of seeing the world become a better place. Thanks to many such engineers driving many such race cars, a lot of progress is about to happen in an unexpected spot: the electricity sector.
So-called 'war on coal' leaves behind many people
China’s National Energy Administration recently announced cancellation of more than 100 planned coal-fired plants. Why? Because China’s air quality is abysmal and the country has limited domestic coal supplies. There are also less costly options. This serves as a cautionary tale for us. America’s government has little influence on the global decline in coal use so it will likely take more than the government to improve the economic future of those who work in the coal industry.
Texas should continue supporting innovation
Gov. Greg Abbott has called for the elimination of the Emerging Technology Fund, a program that gave $200 million in taxpayer dollars to Texas startups but was hindered by bankruptcies and questionable claims of success. This may be a reasonable decision. After all, when programs are not cost-effective, they need to be changed or eliminated. But this should not be the last decision. We have the opportunity and a responsibility to make Texas more successful in the 21st century than it was in the 20th.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Robert
Contact Robert, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack