Research Brief
Energy
Environment
Exploring market-based solutions to the most pressing environmental issues facing North Carolina.
Research Brief
Agriculture
Without Nuclear, a Carbon-Neutral Grid Needs an Unthinkable Amount of Solar
A new report from the Center for Food, Power, and Life at the John Locke Foundation takes stock of North Carolina’s energy infrastructure and estimates how much infrastructure the state…
Energy
Lighting the Path: Meeting North Carolina’s Coming Energy Needs
North Carolina has tremendously benefited from tax reforms begun over a decade ago. Energy efficiency mandates that began in the late 2000s and continued into the early 2010s created an…
Agriculture
Hurricane Helene and Its Potential Impact on North Carolina’s Agriculture
As Hurricane Helene wreaks havoc across the southeastern United States, North Carolina’s agriculture sector once again finds itself at the mercy of nature’s most destructive forces. With torrential rain, powerful…
Agriculture
Regulatory Smoke: The Economic Impacts of Proposed FDA Tobacco Regulations
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering two regulatory changes that would drastically alter the market for combustible tobacco products. With its proposed very low nicotine (VLN) standard,…
Energy
Ecological Disaster from One Broken Offshore Wind Turbine Blade
Last week in The Carolina Journal, I discussed an emerging ecological disaster with ramifications for North Carolina. Policymakers should heed the warning. On July 13, a single blade broke on…
Energy
John Locke Foundation Nominated for State Policy Network’s Prestigious “Most Influential Research” Award
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Raleigh, NC – The John Locke Foundation is honored to announce its nomination for the State Policy Network’s Bob Williams “Most Influential Research” Award. This prestigious recognition…
Research Brief
Energy
Congress Should Stop the EPA’s Dangerous Power Plant Rule
The EPA power plant rule would effectively close down all baseload coal power plants and prevent them from being replaced with natural gas plants. The rule coincides dangerously with the…
Energy
Is a Bad Hurricane Season Because of Man-Made Climate Change? No
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting an above-average Atlantic hurricane season this year. The prediction hinges on “a quick transition to La Niña conditions, which are conducive…
Research Brief
Energy
Lawsuit: Feds Zeroed Out Expected Right Whale Deaths from Virginia Offshore Wind
A lawsuit against a massive offshore wind project in Virginia says the project will result in far more North Atlantic Right Whale deaths than the critically endangered population can sustain.…
Research Brief
Energy
Virginia Offshore Wind Project Sued to Save North Atlantic Right Whales
A lawsuit against the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project seeks redress from the courts to uphold the Endangered Species Act and save the critically endangered North Atlantic Right Whales. Among…
Research Brief
Energy
How “Only Pay for What You Get” Would Help North Carolina Electricity Customers
Model legislation known as the “Only Pay for What You Get” Act would let utilities earn a profit on only the reliable portions of power plants. Analysis showed that, given current expansion plans, Only Pay would result…
Energy
WRAL Nixes ‘Renewable Energy Drives Higher Power Bills’ Headline
Raleigh news station WRAL has a consumer reports feature aimed at helping North Carolinians save money and be better consumers. It’s called “5 On Your Side.” On April 11, WRAL’s…