Research Reports: Energy & Environment

The Rockingham County commissioners are asking voters to approve a sales-tax increase on May 6. This report identifies nearly $28 million in revenue and savings the county could use to meet its needs — more than 16 times the amount that the proposed tax increase would produce.

The Haywood County commissioners are asking voters to approve a sales-tax increase on May 6. This report identifies $16.2 million in revenue and savings the county could use to meet its needs — over 10 times the amount that the proposed tax increase would produce.

The Lee County commissioners are asking voters to approve a sales-tax increase on May 6. This report identifies almost $10.3 million in revenue and savings the county could use to meet its needs — over 6.6 times the amount that the proposed tax increase would produce.

Greenways are linear parks that benefit users with opportunities for exercise and enjoying nature. However, costs would be forced on homeowners by the City of Raleigh without any countervailing compensation. Users of the greenway, on the other hand, would receive benefits without incurring costs commensurate with the benefits received.

Wind power is generated through large groups of massive industrial wind turbines, sometimes as tall as 50-story skyscrapers. Like the wind itself, wind power is intermittent and extremely unreliable. The wind must be strong enough, but not too strong, to generate power. So wind cannot be used for baseload generation nor to meet peak demand. For example, to avoid a blackout, a Texas grid manager recently had to cut off electricity to some customers, in large part due to a sudden drop in wind power.

In 2006, North Carolina's Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) formed an advisory group called the Climate Action Plan Advisory Group (CAPAG). This group's task was to develop recommendations for specific actions to help reduce or prevent climate change.

Water is a scarce resource and a commodity. Some water systems do not change water rates based on demand.

The Harnett County commissioners are asking voters to approve a quarter-cent sales tax increase and a 200 percent increase in the real estate transfer tax on November 6. But the county has about $28.3 million over and above its base budget to meet its needs.

The Pitt County commissioners are asking voters to approve a quarter-cent sales tax increase on November 6. But the county has about $50.5 million over and above its base budget to meet its needs.

The Chatham County commissioners are asking voters to approve a 200 percent increase in the real estate transfer tax on November 6. But the county has about $24.5 million over and above its base budget to meet its needs.