By Reed Watson 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 reefsContinue reading “Return on investment”
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Something Smells Fishy
Henry Miller points out in “Let Them Drink Dust” that in scientific disputes spawned by the Endangered Species Act the government usually wins. But not always. In litigation that has been playing out in California for the last four years, regulators have been so incompetent and dishonest in the federal (mis)management of the state’s water supplies that the courtsContinue reading “Something Smells Fishy”
Creating incentives for oil companies to protect surface land
One fellow at PERC’s 2011 Enviropreneur Institute explored ways to create incentives for oil companies to work with conservation organizations like TNC to plan their projects to avoid sensitive areas and minimize impacts.
Wolf Counts and Management Costs
Largely extirpated in the 1930s, wolves were reintroduced into the Rocky Mountain Region of the United States in 1995. The recovery plan required approximately 300 wolves, as defined by at least 10 breeding pairs in three distinct regions. Today there are more than 1500 wolves in the combined regions and more than 20 breeding pairsContinue reading “Wolf Counts and Management Costs”
A Tale of Two Cases
The Yale Law Journal’s new “Summary Judgment” online series features a set of essays on the Supreme Court’s decision in American Electric Power v. Connecticut, in which the Court held unanimously that suits against utilities alleging their emissions of greenhouse gases contribute to the “public nuisance” of global warming under federal common law were displaced by the Clean AirContinue reading “A Tale of Two Cases”
Q&A with Michael Higuera on Enviropreneurship and Land Conservation
This summer PERC welcomed sixteen conservationists from around the world for its 11th annual Enviropreneur Institute. The program works with environmental entrepreneurs, or enviropreneurs, who seek a better understanding of how business and economic principles can be applied to environmental problems. For two weeks, participants have the opportunity to interact with leading experts in the fieldContinue reading “Q&A with Michael Higuera on Enviropreneurship and Land Conservation”
Ahead of Its Time, Or a Bad Idea?
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is trying to become “coal-free” by 2020 but can’t find any torrefied pellets, which are a biomass alternative to coal — they are wood pellets, but have less moisture and are thus more like coal. The price of creating a torrefied-pellet facility is high, and EPA regulationsContinue reading “Ahead of Its Time, Or a Bad Idea?”
Water As a Human Right
The United Nations recently declared access to clean drinking water and sanitation a basic human right. The measure, while non-binding, could pave the way for greater governmental control over water, most likely in the form of subsidized water projects, below cost rate structures, and political allocation of water rights. As Bruce Pardy (PERC Julian SimonContinue reading “Water As a Human Right”
A Sad Day
The editor of a scientific journal resigns, apologizing for publishing a paper that questions the conventional thinking about global warming. So, we are having show trials, now? Or just re-education? Roy Spencer’s response is here. Scientific truth will not be determined by how many people agree with a particular viewpoint but by the testing of oneContinue reading “A Sad Day”
What would you like to see from PERC?
We have a new poll on PERC’s Facebook page asking this question and we would love your input. What would you like to see more of from us at PERC? Print publications (Policy Series, Case Studies, PERC Reports, etc) Blog posts and other commentary on timely issues Workshops, fellowships, and programs for professionals, students, journalists UpdatesContinue reading “What would you like to see from PERC?”