MacroAdvisorsJan2015

EPRINC and Macroeconomic Advisers Initiate Assessment of US Oil Price Decline

EPRINC and Macroeconomic Advisers are undertaking an assessment of the broad consequences to U.S. investment and economic growth from the rapid decline in oil prices. The attached paper by Joel Prakken of Macroeconomic Advisers examines two important forces at work from  the oil price decline — the expansion of the national economy and the concurrent reduction in investment in oil and gas extraction. The report concludes that the U.S. will likely see an expansion of economic growth, but it is attenuated by about one-third from lower investment in the U.S. petroleum industry.

Dominick Blue

Distinguished Fellow

Dominick Blue is a Distinguished Fellow at the Energy Policy Research Foundation (EPRINC), where his research focuses on energy resilience, reliability, and the secure integration of emerging technologies into the power sector. His current work examines the intersection of advanced computing, infrastructure planning, and national energy security.
Dominick’s research portfolio includes analysis of AI and data center electricity demand-forecasting regional load growth, reliability implications, siting dynamics, and market coordination. He also leads studies on grid modernization and energy security, assessing resilience investments, interconnection constraints, and federal–state coordination under higher load scenarios. His additional work explores the revival of the U.S. nuclear sector, financing and licensing pathways for advanced reactors, and rebuilding domestic manufacturing capacity to support the nuclear supply chain.
Further research areas include gas-to-power infrastructure, pipeline and turbine capacity, and the role of gas in maintaining reliability within a diversified generation mix. Across these topics, Dominick focuses on translating complex technical findings into accessible policy insights for decision-makers at DOE, FERC, and state regulatory agencies.
Before joining EPRINC, Dominick held senior leadership roles in infrastructure, technology, and risk management, including Managing Partner and Director of Client Innovation for private investment and global critical infrastructure firms, respectively. A former U.S. Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer Two in CBRN Defense, he brings a mission-driven perspective to energy resilience and safety. He holds a Masters of Business from the University of Southern California and has completed graduate studies in Computer Science at Georgia Tech, with research interests in AI systems, resilient infrastructure, and energy transition security.