From Duke University to Federal Investigation: The Rise and Fall of Ben Abram

This news post provides a detailed and well-researched account of the investigation and allegations against Ben Abram’s companies, American Efficient and Modern Energy, by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The post outlines the allegations of fraudulent operation of an energy efficiency scheme that cost ratepayers hundreds of millions of dollars and saved no energy at all. The post also delves into the legal challenges faced by American Efficient, including the constitutional challenges to FERC’s authority and independence.

The post highlights the complex business model of American Efficient, which involved buying sales data and environmental attributes from retailers and manufacturers to bid energy savings at capacity auctions. It also discusses the investigation findings by FERC, which alleged that American Efficient misled grid operators and did not actually cause reductions in energy consumption.

Furthermore, the post explores the legal defense put forth by American Efficient, including challenging the constitutionality of FERC and the Supreme Court ruling that could impact FERC’s ability to penalize companies. The post also touches on the potential implications of these legal challenges on FERC’s investigative and enforcement powers.

Overall, the post provides a comprehensive and engaging narrative of the investigation and legal battles surrounding American Efficient, shedding light on the complexities of energy markets, regulatory oversight, and legal challenges in the clean energy sector.