Amid the state’s budget crisis last spring, California’s governor threatened to close more than 70 state parks by the spring of 2012 to save the state money. This threat of park closure is a common occurrence in California and other states. Typically, the threat garners enough concern and uproar that funds are found. In fact,Continue reading “State Parks: When in Doubt, Bail ’em Out”
Author Archives: admin
Jonathan Adler appointed PERC Senior Fellow
PERC is pleased to welcome Jonathan Adler to its team. Jonathan is Professor of Law and Director of the Center for Business Law & Regulation at the Case Western Reserve University School of Law. He has a proven track record of skillfully applying markets and property rights to environmental issues. Jonathan will add significant value to the advancement ofContinue reading “Jonathan Adler appointed PERC Senior Fellow”
Don’t kill bears for acting like bears
Finding a man’s body in Yellowstone the day after he was killed by a grizzly is not a pretty sight. And certainly, it is a tragedy, writes PERC research assistant Brennan Jorgensen, “but so is tracking down and killing a wild animal in its own territory.” Jorgensen points out that more than $24 million dollars have gone toward grizzly recovery efforts in the greater Yellowstone area, but nowContinue reading “Don’t kill bears for acting like bears”
The Leaky Ark
The Endangered Species Act (ESA) was enacted in 1973 and today is viewed as the most powerful environmental law in the nation as well as one of the most controversial.
“Decoupling” the listing decision how the species should be protected how it should be protected could
allow more creative measures tailored the needs ad and circumstances of each species.
An Oil Plateau
We are running out of oil, so the story goes. A finite resource with limited supply and massive consumption — at some point the last drop will be used up, right? Wrong. The theory of peak oil is based on the assumption that global oil demand will continue to increase and as a result supplyContinue reading “An Oil Plateau”
Andrew Morriss Talks Green Energy on MSNBC
PERC’s Andrew Morriss appeared on MSNBC last week to discuss green energy and Solyndra with Dylan Ratigan: [vodpod id=Video.15472914&w=425&h=350&fv=launch%3D44584398%26amp%3Bwidth%3D420%26amp%3Bheight%3D245]
Cities Face New Emission Controls Even Without Tighter Ozone Standard
Earlier this month President Obama asked the Environmental Protection Agency to shelve a proposal to tighten the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ozone this year. The Administration was apparently concerned about the cost a tighter standard would impose, and the EPA is required to consider revising the standard in 2013 anyway. Does this mean metropolitan areasContinue reading “Cities Face New Emission Controls Even Without Tighter Ozone Standard”
Allocating Fishing Rights: Auctions or Grandfathering?
The conventional view is that resource rents arise from the existence of a natural resource and are not related to human entrepreneurship. Thought of in this way, rents created in a fishery following the adoption of individual transferable quotas (ITQs) merely reflect a return on Mother Nature enhanced by removing excesses in fishing effort builtContinue reading “Allocating Fishing Rights: Auctions or Grandfathering?”
How about a Green Tea Party
Terry Anderson of PERC supports the Green Tea Party in 2012 and its preseidential candidate Kermit the Frog. Kermit promises environmental quality with limited government and budget cuts.
Return on Investment
PERC recently acquired ownership of some valuable real estate in the Florida Keys. To the staff’s disappointment, it was not winter office space. Instead, we adopted a piece of Staghorn coral transplanted by the Coral Restoration Foundation. The property is a gift from the 2011 Enviropreneur Institute Fellows. Restoring Florida’s coral reefs is the missionContinue reading “Return on Investment”