The authority of a governmental executive to issue an executive order has recently been a hot topic in the politico-legal world. President Obama’s issuance of Executive Order 13682 sparked a national debate over the Executive’s power to establish and enforce his own laws on controversial issues. The validity of executive orders may very soon become
Alternative Fuels
What Does Data Show About the Economics of Regional Cap-and-Trade?
Back before the recession, there was a major push in Washington State to adopt a state carbon cap-and-trade program as part of Washington’s membership in the Western Climate Initiative (WCI). The argument was heated, and like most things these days tended to split on party lines with a gulf between the two. Democrats generally argued…
How Long Will The Legislature Be Stuck In Neutral On Green Energy?
By Elaine Spencer on
As I do at the end of every session of the Washington State Legislature, last week I asked our librarian to pull all the natural resource and energy bills passed by the 2012 legislature in its regular session. Long session; short session, the list was as thin and inconsequential as I recall.
There was one…
Oberlin, Ohio Joins the Ground Game of Carbon Neutrality
By Elaine Spencer on
I was asked last week to refer someone to a consultant who could help them evaluate a business selling carbon credits and renewable energy credits. While I could suggest a consultant to do that, I had to note that selling carbon credits just isn’t the same business as it would have been if the United…