Environment
Climate Change
Californians Ascend to National Power
As the Barack Obama administration takes the reins on energy policy, Californians such as Lawrence-Berkeley National Lab Director Steven Chu, ascending to Department of Energy secretary, and Rep. Henry Waxman, becoming chair of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, are set to have great influence at the national level. The ...
Thomas Tanton
March 1, 2009
Environment
Cost of Gasoline to Rise?
According to the report, in recent months corn ethanol producers have faced a number of financial setbacks, including at least one highly visible bankruptcy. Although greater use of ethanol is mandated by federal law, the industry is suffering from over capacity, and struggling to compete in an environment of falling ...
Thomas Tanton
February 24, 2009
Environment
Really Such A Bright Idea?
Let’s talk CFL, or compact flourescent lights. As I pointed out in the 2007 Lights On survey of California energy policy, and in testimony in 2007 to the Georgia Public Service Commission, DSM rose to regulatory prominence during the 1980s,…everybody was open to other approaches to meet future energy demand. ...
Thomas Tanton
February 24, 2009
Business & Economics
How ‘Green’ Are You?
President Obama, who wants to emphasize science, has chosen Carol Browner for his “Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change,” a new post being dubbed the “Climate Czar.” Browner’s recent career will be of interest to Americans struggling with a weak economy and cold weather. Browner is not ...
K. Lloyd Billingsley
February 19, 2009
Climate Change
A New Day for Science?
In his inaugural address, new President Barack Obama said he intended to “restore science to its rightful place” in government. Several days later, Obama again claimed a change in approach, saying, “Rigid ideology has overruled sound science. Special interests have overshadowed common sense. Rhetoric has not led to the hard ...
Amy Kaleita
February 17, 2009
Agriculture
Bank Bailout Blues
Undeterred by the failure of the last injection of taxpayer dollars into a bloated banking system, our financial crusaders in DC are scratching their heads over the best way to flush another few hundred billion away. The latest scheme involves the creation of a “bad bank” that would purchase the ...
Robert P. Murphy
February 9, 2009
California
A Bad Message from California on Offshore Drilling
As I posted at the Pacific Research Institute website, the California State Lands Commission (SLC) has rejected a proposal that would have led to the first new oil drilling project off the California coast in 40 years. On January 29, the panel voted 2-1 against Plains Exploration & Production Company’s ...
Thomas Tanton
February 7, 2009
Climate Change
Watermelon Environmentalism, Green on the Outside, Red on the Inside
President Obama, who wants to emphasize science, has chosen Carol Browner for his “Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change,” a new post being dubbed the “Climate Czar.” Browner’s recent career will be of interest to Americans struggling with a weak economy and cold weather. Carol Browner is ...
K. Lloyd Billingsley
February 4, 2009
Environment
Just What is the Message?
According to various sources, including his own own campaign website, Garamendi, argued strongly that the plan would “signal” that California wants to open offshore drilling and supporters would push for more oil exploration on the West Coast. “I refuse to let this lease move forward,” Garamendi said. “Approving a drilling ...
Thomas Tanton
February 2, 2009
Climate Change
California Board Approves Anti-Global Warming Plan
The California Air Resources Board has set a powerful regulatory force in motion by approving an outline for meeting the carbon dioxide reductions required by a state law aimed at combating global warming. The outline, known as a “scoping plan,” is required by the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. ...
Thomas Tanton
February 1, 2009
Californians Ascend to National Power
As the Barack Obama administration takes the reins on energy policy, Californians such as Lawrence-Berkeley National Lab Director Steven Chu, ascending to Department of Energy secretary, and Rep. Henry Waxman, becoming chair of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, are set to have great influence at the national level. The ...
Cost of Gasoline to Rise?
According to the report, in recent months corn ethanol producers have faced a number of financial setbacks, including at least one highly visible bankruptcy. Although greater use of ethanol is mandated by federal law, the industry is suffering from over capacity, and struggling to compete in an environment of falling ...
Really Such A Bright Idea?
Let’s talk CFL, or compact flourescent lights. As I pointed out in the 2007 Lights On survey of California energy policy, and in testimony in 2007 to the Georgia Public Service Commission, DSM rose to regulatory prominence during the 1980s,…everybody was open to other approaches to meet future energy demand. ...
How ‘Green’ Are You?
President Obama, who wants to emphasize science, has chosen Carol Browner for his “Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change,” a new post being dubbed the “Climate Czar.” Browner’s recent career will be of interest to Americans struggling with a weak economy and cold weather. Browner is not ...
A New Day for Science?
In his inaugural address, new President Barack Obama said he intended to “restore science to its rightful place” in government. Several days later, Obama again claimed a change in approach, saying, “Rigid ideology has overruled sound science. Special interests have overshadowed common sense. Rhetoric has not led to the hard ...
Bank Bailout Blues
Undeterred by the failure of the last injection of taxpayer dollars into a bloated banking system, our financial crusaders in DC are scratching their heads over the best way to flush another few hundred billion away. The latest scheme involves the creation of a “bad bank” that would purchase the ...
A Bad Message from California on Offshore Drilling
As I posted at the Pacific Research Institute website, the California State Lands Commission (SLC) has rejected a proposal that would have led to the first new oil drilling project off the California coast in 40 years. On January 29, the panel voted 2-1 against Plains Exploration & Production Company’s ...
Watermelon Environmentalism, Green on the Outside, Red on the Inside
President Obama, who wants to emphasize science, has chosen Carol Browner for his “Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change,” a new post being dubbed the “Climate Czar.” Browner’s recent career will be of interest to Americans struggling with a weak economy and cold weather. Carol Browner is ...
Just What is the Message?
According to various sources, including his own own campaign website, Garamendi, argued strongly that the plan would “signal” that California wants to open offshore drilling and supporters would push for more oil exploration on the West Coast. “I refuse to let this lease move forward,” Garamendi said. “Approving a drilling ...
California Board Approves Anti-Global Warming Plan
The California Air Resources Board has set a powerful regulatory force in motion by approving an outline for meeting the carbon dioxide reductions required by a state law aimed at combating global warming. The outline, known as a “scoping plan,” is required by the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. ...