Environment
Exploring market-based solutions to the most pressing environmental issues facing North Carolina.
This Proposed SEC Regulation Could Mean Higher Food Prices For You
In March of 2022, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed new regulation for SEC registrants to disclose all climate-related information and effects of business operations. The registrants, being all…
Electricity Prices Would Skyrocket Under Cooper’s Offshore Wind Goals
Gov. Cooper's desire for building 8 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind in North Carolina would have severe impacts on our electricity bills. The cost of building 8 GW of offshore…
Big Blow: Offshore Wind Power’s Devastating Costs and Impacts on North Carolina
One of President Joe Biden’s day-one executive orders sought to double offshore wind by 2030, and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper issued an executive order for developing 2.8 gigawatts (GW)…
New Study: Cooper’s Offshore Wind Order Could Cost up to 67K Jobs
In 2021 Gov. Cooper ordered the state to develop 2.8 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind energy resources by 2030 and a whopping 8 GW by 2040. Though Cooper stated his…
The precautionary principle should apply to alleged nationwide election fraud
If voter fraud was actually as pervasive as some are claiming, the future of free and open elections would be in serious doubt. Indeed, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and others warned…
Gov. Cooper’s “Clean Energy Plan,” Part 4: Helping the Environment or Just Helping China?
PEVs would increase electricity use and actually exacerbate global warming to the extent GHGs are the cause. Cooper should instead focus on reducing the carbon intensity of our electricity grid…
Gov. Cooper’s “Clean Energy Plan,” Part 3: Raising Prices and Polluting More?
Solar power requires the use of fossil fuels. Solar requires fossil fuel–fired combustion turbines to provide 79% of the load. To the extent manmade GHGs are impacting global warming, then,…
Gov. Cooper’s “Clean Energy Plan,” Part 2: Why it excludes the cleanest, cheapest energy source
Nuclear energy is a clean (zero-emissions), cheap, and abundant energy source. But Gov. Cooper's "Clean Energy Plan" requires a straightforward, categorical rejection of nuclear power.
Gov. Cooper’s “Clean Energy Plan,” Part 1: Background strategy and expectations
The ideology and known preferences of the ones providing technical support to Gov. Cooper's "Clean Energy Plan" sadly means we can expect higher energy prices, the loss of productive power…
Unlike climate change, COVID-19 is an actual existential threat
The COVID-19 pandemic has readjusted many of our priorities. The country is pulling together for a common goal: to “flatten the curve.” Many are putting their jobs, careers, education, and…
Electric Vehicles: The Wrong Answer to the Right Question
Governor Cooper’s Executive Order 80 claims to seek reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to combat global warming. A major component of the order is the promotion of electric vehicles…
Forget the Climate Strike. Do Something to Improve the Environment
Once again, a group of influential green groups and corporations promoted a global climate strike. Friday’s strike pushes young students to walk out of school and workers to leave work to protest…