Today, a coalition sent a letter to the EPA Administrator, Scott Pruitt, asking the agency to revoke California’s waiver from the Clean Air Act, which allows the state to decouple from Federal policy and impose strict emission standards on automobiles. The letter notes California’s policy has contributed to higher costs for taxpayers and consumers, as […]
ENERGY / Environment
ACI in FORBES: Science Does Not Support Continuing California’s Waiver
California leads the nation in imposing anti-consumer policies that pick winners and losers in the marketplace to promote a larger policy agenda. That is certainly the case with the state’s Federal waiver from the Clean Air Act, which allows it to decouple from Federal policy and impose strict emissions standards on automobiles. But the scientific […]
New ACI Program to Measure Cost of Regulatory Waste
How much economic growth is lost by excessive regulation? What are the costs of permit delays? How many jobs are lost due to red tape? Regulatory impediments can substantially hinder opportunities for private enterprise to invest and compete, thereby reducing economic output, impeding private investment, slowing job creation, and raising consumer prices. These hurdles contribute […]
FORBES: Electric Vehicle Goals Ignore Some Scientific Facts and Statistics
With today’s constant discussions surrounding climate change, everyone from politicians to companies are reaching for an easy win — catchy sound bites with short sighted solutions. The latest examples were recent announcements by Volvo and the government of France, both committing to the sole production and use of electric vehicles by 2019 and 2040, respectively. […]
Dependency on Middle East Energy
US consumers rely on 19.63 million barrels of crude oil and 78 trillion British thermal units of natural gas per day for transportation and electrical power generation. A few years ago, those staggering amounts were priced at more than twice today’s level. The lower prices are a result of US fracking and horizontal drilling. Those […]
Storing Electricity
The US has plentiful sources for generating electricity. Unlike parts of Asia and Europe our self-sufficiency does not force us into precarious positions such as needing to import natural gas (as does Ukraine) carried by hostile pipeline operators. Nor do wo we need to rely on transoceanic tankers for liquefied natural gas supply (as do […]
Real Clear Policy: Time to End Electric Vehicle Tax Credits?
Across the country, electric car buyers are benefiting from generous tax subsidies. These include up to $7,500 in federal tax credits and thousands of dollars more in state tax credits, not to mention various initiatives to subsidize home, business, and public recharging stations. However, recent moves in several states to end electric vehicle subsidies and […]
Forbes: Are EV Subsidies Environmentally-Friendly or Welfare for the Rich?
Battery electric vehicles have grown in popularity over the last decade, primarily due to their perceived environmental benefits and tax incentives that steer car buyers away from gas-fueled vehicles. However, empirical evidence suggestions that the array of benefits are far overstated, which means that incentives designed to encourage electric vehicle ownership are having adverse consequences […]
Electric Vehicles: Are the Costs Worth the Benefits?
Battery electric vehicles have grown in popularity over the last decade, primarily due to their tax incentives and perceived environmental benefits that steer car buyers away from gas-fueled vehicles. However, as this ConsumerGram shows, the environmental benefits from using electric vehicles are far overstated, which means that incentives designed to encourage electric vehicle ownership may […]
When You Want Real Progress, Set a Realistic Goal
The miles per gallon (mpg) efficiency for an automobile makers’ cars is gauged against the EPA’s efficiency standards. Different standards apply to each model of car and truck because the vehicle size (wheelbase multiplied by track) establishes the EPA efficiency target, and the standards increase over time at a torrid pace. The Corporate Average Fuel […]