Environment
Environment
Exploring market-based solutions to the most pressing environmental issues facing North Carolina.
Research Brief
Energy
Bad State Energy Policies Can’t Save the World, But They Can Harm North Carolinians, Part 2
North Carolina has been cutting CO2 emissions this whole century without costly offshore wind energy being forced on electricity consumers. Meanwhile, China has added 38.4 GW of new coal-fired electricity in…
Research Brief
Energy
Bad State Energy Policies Can’t Save the World, But They Can Harm North Carolinians
One of Gov. Cooper's reasons for seeking to build 8 GW of offshore wind near our beaches is to fight climate change by reducing North Carolina's energy emissions. Let alone…
Research Brief
Environment
Detailing Cooper and DEQ’s Early Reluctance to Stop PFAS Pollution in the Cape Fear River
A bipartisan bill to address PFAS pollution would require polluters like Chemours to reimburse public water systems for cleanup, abatement, and technology needs. Debate over the bill includes concerns it…
Energy
Visualizing the Costs and Impacts of Offshore Wind Facilities
Below is the presentation I gave the North Carolina Energy Policy Council on May 18, 2022. It visualizes the executive summary of my report, "Big Blow: Offshore Wind Power’s Devastating…
Agriculture
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…
Research Brief
Energy
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…
Environment
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)…
Research Brief
Energy
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…
Research Brief
Environment
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…
Research Brief
Budget, Taxation & Economy
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…
Research Brief
Energy
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,…
Research Brief
Budget, Taxation & Economy
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.