Frank J. Calzonetti

Searching for New Manufacturing Plant Locations: A Study of Location Decisions in Central Appalachia

WALKER R. and CALZONETTI F. (1989) Searching for new manufacturing plant locations: a study of location decisions in Central Appalachia, Reg. Studies 23, 15–30. This paper analyses the search behaviour of manufacturers in Central Appalachia and develops a model of hierarchical decision-making under imperfect information. Using data collected from interview surveys of plant managers, regional and local search processes are evaluated. It is shown that the set of factors influencing the decision to undergo a regional search is different from the set of factors influencing the local search. Further, branch plant search behaviour may be described by cost minimization objectives whereas the behaviour of single-plant establishments is more idiosyncratic. The analysis shows that the comparative advantage of Central Appalachia consists, in part, of low cost electricity. WALKER R. et CALZONETTI F. (1989) A la recherche de nouveaux emplacements: une etude en Appalachia central des decisions portant sur la localisati...

A reassessment of site suitability analysis for power plant siting: a Maryland example

Abstract Finding acceptable sites for new energy facilities has been difficult in the United States and elsewhere. Site suitability analysis is an approach that can be used to identify locations for energy facilities that are acceptable across a range of engineering, economic, environmental and socioeconomic criteria. Although the technique has been used successfully in the past, recent experience in the United States suggests that greater attention must be devoted to the problems of implementing the procedure if it is to be used successfully in power plant location planning.

US power plant location and fuel mix: Opportunities for electricity exporting regions

There is considerable discussion in the USA concerning electricity trade between regions. The transmission system was not designed to accommodate interregional power trade, but regional differences in reserve margins and power generation costs have encouraged power trade to occur. Utilities with abundant coal-fired capacity in the Appalachians and Midwest are calling power to east ctilities who wish to restrict their oil burn. Interregional power trade has benefitted both buyer and seller. Many in electricity exporting regions view electricity exports as a source of revenue and are taking steps to maintain or increase power sales.

Siting energy facilities in the USA: policies for the western states

Abstract Because of their rich and abundant reserve base, the western states of the USA are currently the focus of a major national effort to increase domestic energy production. A number of important problems, however, have arisen in siting the energy facilities which are needed to convert the regions energy resources into end-use fuels or electricity. Many of these siting problems are unique to the region and must be addressed if plans to exploit the energy resources of the western states are to be realized. Careful planning may assist in the siting process and reduce the undesirable impacts of energy conversion plants.

Regional disparities in pricing strategies of electric utilities

There has been considerable disparity in pricing practices across electricity markets in the United States over the past two decades. The greatest contrast in environment which produces different pricing strategies exists between the Midwest and the East. Electric utilities have used promotional rates for reasons either to stimulate the local economy, to reduce excess capacity, or to attract new industry. The purpose of this paper is to identify factors affecting pricing strategies of electric utilities. We also attempt to identify the differences in pricing strategies between electricity firms in the East and in the Midwest.

The External Provision of Business Services by Manufacturing: A Comparison of Evidence from Denver, Salt Lake City, and Chicago.

The work of Williamson and others shows how increasing complexity of hierarchical structures within business organizations may lead to transactions failures, resulting in the provision of certain activities outside the firm. In this context, a recent paper by Esparza discusses the importance of age and employment size of manufacturing firms to the externalization of certain low-order business services in Chicago. In this paper the authors compare Esparza`s results with recent evidence of the external provision of certain business services by manufacturing establishments in Denver and Salt Lake City. They also explore the significance of occupational structure and plant type variables to the explanation of patterns in the external provision of a selection of low- and high-order services.

Changing Energy Prices and State Revenue

There has been much discussion in recent years about the relationship between changing energy prices and state economic development. The affect of rising energy prices on shifts of income, employment and firms from energy deficit to energy surplus states has been debated in the literature. This chapter focuses upon state revenue changes among energy surplus and deficit states over the period 1967–80. It is found that revenues are sensitive to the type of fuel which comprises a state’s energy balance.