Competitive Enterprise Institute
Senior Fellow with a focus on global warming and energy policy at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, a conservative think-tank in Washington, DC that receives some of its funding from oil and auto companies
Is the Carbon Tax an Idea Whose Time Has Come? Environmentalists have long championed a carbon tax, imposed not just on gasoline, but on all fossil fuels, from coal used to generate electricity to diesel fuel used to power heavy equipment, as a way to address climate change. Now it’s winning the support of conservative think-tanks and even some oil companies, as a way to address the budget deficit. Is the tax a smart way to avert both global warming and the fiscal cliff? If so, then why isn't the Obama White House proposing it, and why is Congress so reluctant to consider it? Has hurricane Sandy changed any minds?
Is the Carbon Tax an Idea Whose Time Has Come? Environmentalists have long championed a carbon tax, imposed not just on gasoline, but on all fossil fuels, from coal used to generate electricity to diesel fuel used to power heavy equipment, as a way to address climate change. Now it’s winning the support of conservative think-tanks and even some oil companies, as a way to address the budget deficit. Is the tax a smart way to avert both global warming and the fiscal cliff? If so, then why isn't the Obama White House proposing it, and why is Congress so reluctant to consider it? Has hurricane Sandy changed any minds?
The Cost of Renewable Energy Last week, President Obama doled out $3.4 billion in federal grants for renewable energy projects including " smart meters ," designed to allow consumers to track the electricity they use and, hopefully, change their habits. They're said to be the first step to what's called a " smart grid ." Twenty million dollars went to Burbank Water and Power , the publicly owned utility in a suburb of Los Angeles. Florida Power and Light also received "smart meter" grants, as well as $200 million for a solar photovoltaic plant, much praised by President Obama. That private company has a subsidiary named NextEra , which is developing solar energy "farms" in Southern California.
The Last Days of the Bush EPA The Environmental Protection Agency has been told by the US Supreme Court that it's time to determine if greenhouse gases are a danger to public health. If they are, then tailpipe emissions from cars and trucks should be regulated accordingly. A year has passed since the order, but nothing's been done, and despite repeated promises from President Bush, it now appears that won't happen as long as he's in office. Conservative think-tanks and industry lobbyists say the court didn't know that its ruling could shut down the economy. Environmentalists say they'll go back to court. Does inaction represent prudent public policy or foot dragging for special interests?
The week that wouldn't quit Will next week get even weirder? (Special one-hour episode)
Trump's 'America First' goes missing abroad In the Middle East, President Trump is changing some policies of the Obama Administration—and reversing his own campaign attacks on Islam as a religion that "hates us." We hear about his visit to Saudi Arabia and what's at stake for the rest of his foreign excursion.
Who's to blame for the opioid crisis? Some of the lawyers who took on Big Tobacco are now going after Big Pharma. It’s all about the deadly epidemic of opioid use. Are the drug companies to blame? What about the users? Later, on today’s Talking Point: making sense of Britain’s upset election.