The federal government is not alone in pursuing increased power over our daily lives. JLF analysts drew attention to several state and local schemes that would reduce individual freedom. In a letter to the News & Observer, Fiscal Policy Analyst Joseph Coletti touted flexible pricing as a better alternative to government mandates in the effort to allocate water most effectively during a drought. Coletti also questioned in a News & Observer story the wisdom of taxpayer-funded efforts to boost North Carolina’s biotech industry. Research Director and Local Government Analyst Michael Sanera used a letter to the Asheville Citizen-Times to critique government efforts to “manage” growth. Sanera also spoke to WTKF Radio’s Lockwood Phillips about the success story of Anaheim, Calif., a city that boosted its urban core by avoiding eminent domain abuse and relying instead on free-market principles. Duke Energy is not a government agency, but the utility company is pursuing a carbon-offset program based on government policies linked to climate change alarmism. JLF Vice President for Research Roy Cordato questioned the value of offset programs in a Charlotte Observer story