By Robert P. Murphy, Economist
As the U.S. Senate debates climate change legislation this week, many have proclaimed the virtue of its “cap and trade” system as a “market solution” to reducing carbon emissions. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Unlike a direct tax, cap and trade is a European-style scheme that masks its negative consequences [...]
By William Koetzle
In her weekly radio address on Saturday, U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) urged support for the carbon “cap and trade” bill (S. 2191, the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act), on which the Senate begins debate today. She urges support, not only on the basis that it’s needed to save the Earth as we know [...]
With politicians debating legislation in the name of stopping global warming, it is imperative that the public read Scared to Death: From BSE to Global Warming: Why Scares Are Costing us the Earth.
For a limited time, Scared to Death’s chapter on global warming can be downloaded and read by clicking here: Scared to Death: Saving the Planet. [...]
According to a new Bureau of Land Management (BLM) report, vast untapped oil and natural gas resources exist on public lands in the U.S. These public lands are estimated to contain 31 billion barrels of oil and 231 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, but are are presently closed to energy production.
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Posted by Daniel Kish
Today Congress takes up H.R. 6074, the “NOPEC” bill. In sum, the bill states:
“It shall be illegal and a violation of this Act… to limit the production or distribution of oil, natural gas, or any other petroleum product…or to otherwise take any action in restraint of trade for oil, natural gas, or any [...]
As gas prices climb, opponents of increasing domestic oil production are touting the following statistic to bolster their ‘no new production’ postion:
“Since 2000, drilling on land has increased dramatically – climbing about 66 percent– while gas prices continue to increase.”
What’s misssing? Here are the facts:
· Exploratory and development drilling has increased across the board since [...]
by Robert P. Murphy
The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) contained in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 mandated the use of corn-based ethanol in motor fuels. The recently enacted Energy Independence and Security Act accelerated this mandate to 9 billion gallons of ethanol in 2008 and 36 billion gallons in 2022. Recent spikes in [...]
South Korea Pitches New Energy Idea
By Evan Ramstad
April 16, 2008; Page A10
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea’s president and economic leaders, on a scheduled visit to the U.S. starting Wednesday, plan to add a new twist to their pitch for business and investment: the country’s desire to become an energy producer.
South Korea, which imports all [...]
A new joint project has been launched between the MIT Energy Initiative and the Fraunhofer Institute. The Fraunhofer Institute is a German R&D organization, the two organizations will be attempt to develop an commercialize sustainable energy systems.
The new institute, which is a project of the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, will be named the MIT-Fraunhofer Institute for [...]
Americans spent less on consumer goods in March due to rising fuel and food costs. Gasoline prices rose 11 percent since this time last year. Across the board consumr spending has dipped; housing, auto sales, and large appliances have all been effected.
Recession fears have increased and the rising gasoline prices have been blamed for higher [...]
