AEI scholar Kenneth P. Green says it is not surprising that, though governments have spent billions on green technologies, there are few jobs to show for it. Green calls it a “green conceit” drawing on Fiederich Hayek’s description of the “fatal conceit” that government planners can know enough to pick tomorrow’s technologies today. Read Green’s [...]
Iowa Republican Steve King and his colleague Dave Reichert of Washington announce support for more federal subsidies of wind energy. The Wall Street Journal editorial board takes exception (here).
The Oregonian reported yesterday that two environmental groups have filed suit to stop a proposed wind farm just north of Steens Mountain. This report from 54 40 or Fight includes the map below showing the location of the proposed wind farm in relation to Steens. One thing to remember is that this would not even [...]
The price of natural gas has fallen from $15 per 1000 cubic feet in 2005 to $2/1000 cf today. A few years ago their was local controversy over a liquified natural gas import facility on the Oregon coast. Now the controversy is over a natural gas export facility. What’s going on, and how likely is [...]
The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has issued a new report, The Economy Derailed. It’s a study of economic impacts of Obama Administration EPA regulations impacting largely on the energy industry. The title says everything about the conclusions of the report, which is available here. Oregon fares better than most state because of its heavy [...]
Is the cause of rising gas prices illegal manipulation of oil and gas markets? President Obama thinks so, and he wants to spend $52 million going after the bad guys. In announcing his plan, and seeking Congressional support, the President offered no evidence of any illegal manipulation, but he’s confident it is out there somewhere. [...]
Not according to Mary Kay Barton writing at CFACT News. Barton writes: “Entitlement debt is destroying our great nation. These kinds of taxpayer- and ratepayer-funded giveaways, imposed in the name of being “green,” are simply not “sustainable” – especially if we want our children and grandchildren to live free and prosper.” Read the full article [...]
The Washington Examiner reported on Monday that Solar Trust for America has declared bankruptcy despite the prospect of $2.1 billion in loans from the U.S. government. According to the Examiner, Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar attended the groundbreaking and said it was “a historic moment in America’s new energy frontier.” Oops. Read the full story [...]
Earth Hour occurs tonight around the globe. If folks play along, it works sort of like the wave in a football stadium. At a particular hour the lights go off time zone by time zone right around the globe. Canadian economics professor Ross McKitrick says bah numbug to the whole thing. He would rather celebrate [...]
Originally published in The Environmental Forum and reprinted at Free.org — 03-28-12 – by David Haddock The 1973 Yom Kippur War pitting Israel against Syria and Egypt motivated an Arab petroleum boycott, instigating congressional passage of the 1975 Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards. Known by its acronym, CAFE, the program does not mandate that [...]
Originally published in The Daily Caller — 03/23/12 – Obama tries to have it both ways on Keystone pipeline – During his 2008 campaign, Barack Obama promised hope and change. Based on his speech Thursday in Cushing, Oklahoma, it seems that he’s hoping voters won’t notice as he changes his positions with the political winds. [...]
In a recent speech to community college students in Maryland, President Obama got both historical and scientific facts wrong — all in service to persuading people that his administration has no responsibility for today’s high prices of gasoline, or anything else. Read The Daily Caller report on the President’s speech here.
Jonah Goldberg, writing in the Los Angeles Times, notes that the President faces a serious political challenge because of rising gasoline prices. Somehow he needs to convince voters that his energy policies have been a success notwithstanding the high gas prices. “The dilemma [for the President]” says Goldberg, “is that he’s invested so much of [...]
Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal, writing in today’s Wall Street Journal, argues that President Obama’s policies are a drag on the U.S. economy. He proposes these changes: Create a more predictable environment for exploration and production Open new areas to exploration, particularly where there is bipartisan local support Make it clear that his administration will not [...]
The United States Senate failed to pass a bill that would have authorized the Keystone XL Pipeline to go forward. Under the peculiar rules that now operate in the Senate, it takes 60 votes to pass anything. 56 senators voted for the bill including all Republicans and 10 Democrats. Oregon Senators Wyden and Merkley voted [...]
President Obama has asked Congress to raise the subsidy to buyers of “green” vehicles from $7,500 to $10,000. The proposal was announced in North Carolina were Daimler Trucks North America produces natural gas powered trucks that would benefit from the increased subsidy. Just a coincidence, no doubt. The subsidy would also apply to the Chevy [...]
Writing on American Enterprise Institute’s EnterpriseBlog, Steven Hayward comments on a recent study by the Manhattan Institute’s Robert Bryce. In his report, titled The High Cost of Renewable Energy Mandates, Bryce demonstrates the direct correlation between high energy prices and renewable energy mandates. Oregon and Washington seem to be exceptions but, as Hayward points out, [...]
After decades of decline, the nuclear power industry was beginning to show signs of life in the United States and elsewhere. Then came the Japan earthquake and tsunami. Nations like Germany, long dependent on nuclear power, announced plans to phase our all nuclear plants. The momentum for new nuclear power plants in the United States [...]
