On Wednesday, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (specifically the Brazil Institute) sponsored a summit on “Sustainable Solutions for the Planet’s Energy Challenge.” In this seminar, Mr. Greg Kats (the other speaker was absent) suggested measures in order to mitigate movement toward zero net energy via carbon buildings and cities. Many interesting measures … Continue reading
Latest Entries
Possible Upside to a Drawn Out Primary?
Some political consultants have posited that a drawn out GOP primary that has already seen eighteen debates, including another this week in Jacksonville, Florida may be playing to the advantage of incumbent President Barack Obama. Politicians and analysts alike have expressed their displeasure with the numerous negative ads that these candidates are using to discredit … Continue reading
Mercury, Toxicity, and…No Problems? Oh My.
In December of 2011, Susan Dudley, the Director of the George Washington University Regulatory Studies Center proposed something radical in her presentation: “EPA’s Mercury and Air Toxics Rule Will Not Improve Public Health.” The radical aspect of this presentation seems self-evident. She begins: “The estimated $90 billion per year and 11,000 premature deaths avoided are … Continue reading
Natural Gas — All Systems GO!
Natural Gas has dominated energy conversation this week. The EIA Energy Outlook, an annual report summarizing the United States energy consumption level via estimated Greenhouse Gas emissions, secular trends in energy consumption, and various other reservoirs of data, suggested notable trends in terms of forecast of 2012 production, emission, and shifts in energy data for … Continue reading
Where have all the children gone?
In the past fifty years, the United States has seen an overall decline in fertility rates. Women have stopped having large families or delayed child birth for various reasons such as advanced degrees, success in the workplace or delayed marriage. However, this decline has created an imbalance in the American social structure. Baby Boomers, those … Continue reading
“Clean air is not a partisan issue, it is a public health issue,” Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.)
Based on the World Resources Institute roundtable discussion (Monday, January 23, 2012) Before being signed into a federal law in 1970 by President Nixon, the Clean Air Act was an urgent issue neither in his campaign campaign, nor on his agenda in the beginning of his presidential term. However, it quickly became a priority and was passed … Continue reading
Lack of progess in 2011 means Americans must wait for reform
In last year’s State of the Union address, President Obama laid out a bold agenda and admitted to a politically divided Congress, “We will move forward together, or not at all.” On taxes and federal deficits (and too many other issues), time has shown the latter to be true. The President concocted a recipe for … Continue reading
A Relationship in Need of Repair: GOP Candidates and Hispanic Evangelical Voters
Religion tends to be a delicate subject, and its place in politics can be described as such. However, the growth of the Evangelical movement has led to an increased political presence in the United States. A substantial number of Hispanics has joined the movement during its expansion. In general, Evangelicals have supported conservative policies and … Continue reading
Water-Smart Energy Choices for Thermoelectric Power Plants
Power for Water, Water for Power Thermoelectric power plants produce roughly 90% of the electricity used in the United States. Although they differ by the type of fuel they use – mainly coal, natural gas, nuclear fission, biomass fuel, and geothermal and solar power, – all plants boil water to create steam to drive turbines … Continue reading
Economy / Foreign Policy / Tax
Thinking Outside the Box: A Look at the UK’s “Patent Box” Proposal
The topic of corporate taxation abroad and at home continues to become more and more prominent as governments try to encourage innovation and growth but also balance out-of-control budgets. The UK has recently proposed an interesting tax break for innovation aimed at fostering growth and keeping new innovation within its borders. The Patent Box proposal … Continue reading
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