Energy & Environment

The News & Observer recently ran an op-ed from Froma Harrop arguing that renewable energy has become competitive with traditional energy resources. It’s a bold claim. For several decades…

If the governor directs where money goes and for what purpose, is it government spending? That is just one of a number of questions that arose after Gov. Roy Cooper…

President Trump announced this week that he intends to place heavy tariffs on two brands of imported washing machines, LG and Samsung, and on imported solar panels and other solar…

This week the administration of President Donald Trump announced a massive tariff against imported solar photovoltaic panels. The tariff would start at 30 percent and decline annually at 5…

You probably know about the problem with government incentives. But were you aware of the problem with government disincentives? This update discusses the new presidential administration working to weed out…

House Bill 589, “Competitive Energy Solutions for NC,” would be a major restructuring of energy policy in North Carolina. Here is a brief look into select aspects of the…

Senate Bill 434 has a pretty inspiring title: “An Act to Amend Certain Environmental and Natural Resources Laws.”  But the significance of the legislation is far greater than the…

Despite no obvious geographical distinctions from the other U.S. states that would explain it, North Carolina is awash in solar energy facilities, more so than every other state except California.

What do subsidies for “green” energy, mandated health insurance benefits, and quotas on imported sugar have in common? Clearly, all three policies generate a wealth transfer from the consumers in…

The Market Forces Behind North Carolina’s Falling Emissions. New research shows that improvements are market-oriented, not government-driven