Research Brief
Energy
Environment
Exploring market-based solutions to the most pressing environmental issues facing North Carolina.
Research Brief
Energy
Massive Offshore Wind Turbines with Flashing Lights Would Be Major Features on the Coastal Horizon
Recently, federal and state government officials and wind energy advocates tried to quell Brunswick County residents’ serious economic concerns about offshore wind turbines spoiling ocean views and harming tourism. Earlier…
Energy
Bill Would Protect Consumer Choice in Home Appliances
In a recent post, I discussed the sudden war on gas-fired stoves and appliances being waged by environmental extremists in government, not just in the Biden administration but even in…
Energy
Fact Check: How Many Wind Energy Manufacturing Jobs Does North Carolina Have, Really?
The Cooper administration’s announcement of a “Memorandum of Understanding” with the nation of Denmark to share “knowledge, data, and best practices” over offshore wind energy development predictably set their media…
Research Brief
Energy
North Carolina’s CO2 Emissions Were Already Cut Nearly in Half Before the Carbon Plan
The belief that North Carolina’s electricity-based CO2 emissions are still going up is wrong; they’ve fallen by 46.1 percent since 2005. The belief that North Carolina could positively impact the…
Energy
Green Hydrogen Isn’t Nearly As Simple As Promised
The Wall Street Journal on February 16 took careful note of “Europe’s Lesson in Green Hydrogen.” That lesson places significant doubt on hydrogen as the “carbon-neutral fuel of the future”:…
Energy
Biden Bureaucrats vs. Gas-Fired Stoves
Last month people were outraged when a rogue commissioner on the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission began speaking openly of banning gas stoves. In response, the Biden administration and their…
Research Brief
Agriculture
North Carolina Forestry: An Example for Other States
A new report finds that North Carolina’s forest management plans effectively preserve forests while allowing for recreation and commercial use. Preserving forests by shutting them away from human interaction has…
Research Brief
Energy
How Do the Carbon Plan’s Mandates Align with State Law? Part 5
The Carbon Plan acknowledges that Duke Energy Progress (DEP) customers pay electricity rates that are 19 percent higher than Duke Energy Carolinas (DEC) customers, because DEP has more solar and…
Research Brief
Energy
How Do the Carbon Plan’s Mandates Align with State Law? Part 4
The Utilities Commission wants Duke to model taking on onshore wind generation and study offshore wind generation. Onshore wind generation is very expensive, needs costly transmission upgrades, and also requires…
Environment
North Carolina: First in Forestry
As “the birthplace of American Forestry,” North Carolina is often recognized for its early role in establishing research-backed forest management techniques, and it continues to offer a refreshing perspective. The…
Research Brief
Energy
How Do the Carbon Plan’s Mandates Align with State Law? Part 3
The Utilities Commission’s initial Carbon Plan directs Duke to go ahead and procure 2,350 MWs of new solar generation — that’s on top of the 1,200 MWs of solar they…
Research Brief
Energy
How Do the Carbon Plan’s Mandates Align with State Law? Part 2
To meet the law’s requirements of being least-cost while maintaining grid reliability, the Utilities Commission’s initial “Carbon Plan” sees natural gas as a “bridge fuel” until sufficient zero-emissions resources “are…