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”
Author Archives: admin
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?”
Jobs vs the Environment One More Time
The New York Times tries to provide some perspective to the renewed debate over the economic effect of environmental regulation, and the effect of regulation on jobs in particular. The story was prompted by President Obama’s decision to ask Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson to withdraw a proposed revision of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ozone. BusinessContinue reading “Jobs vs the Environment One More Time”
Jobs vs the environment, one more time
Jonathan H. Adler PEC Visiting Fellow The New York Times tries to provide some perspective to the renewed debate over the economic effect of environmental regulation, and the effect of regulation on jobs in particular. The story was prompted by President Obama’s decision to ask Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson to withdraw a proposedContinue reading “Jobs vs the environment, one more time”
Conservation vs. Oil: Why the Rift?
The US Fish & Wildlife Service recently proposed setting at least one section of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) aside as wilderness. If successful this would prevent any development, such as oil and gas production, in the region. This coincides the desires of many environmental groups. It’s not just in ANWR that oil and gas developmentContinue reading “Conservation vs. Oil: Why the Rift?”