Archives: John Eick / Articles
Archives: John Eick / Articles
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Carbon Tax Straight Talk
Shultz and Baker label a massive tax increase and economic meddling by the federal government as “embodying the conservative principles of free markets and limited government” but this carbon tax will needlessly further distort energy markets, harm consumers, expand government bureaucracy, and have minimal (if any) effect on global climate change. For these reasons, ALEC remains steadfastly opposed to “all Federal and state efforts to establish a carbon tax on fuels for electricity and transportation.”
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President Trump Seeks to Jumpstart Construction of Keystone XL and Dakota Access Pipelines
On Tuesday morning, President Donald J. Trump signed two memoranda seeking to jump start construction of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines. This news should come as no surprise…
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President Elect Trump Should Allow Senate to Reject Paris Climate Agreement
When it’s all said and done, the lasting legacy of the Obama presidency may end up being a clearer understanding of the risks associated with implementing a policy agenda largely…
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Attorney General Scott Pruitt Selected to Run EPA
At a conference hosted by the North Dakota Petroleum Council this past May, then-candidate Donald Trump unveiled an ambitious “America First Energy Plan,” a slate of reforms designed to…
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Voters from Three States Will Consider Energy Related Ballot Measures This November
While our nation’s collective attention has recently been drawn to an especially combative presidential race, voters from three states will also have the opportunity to weigh in on energy-related ballot…
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The Intersection of Climate Policy and the First Amendment
One of the greatest risks to free speech today is the recent phenomenon of state attorneys general attempting to intimidate and silence groups that dare espouse “unacceptable” positions on matters…
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New Report Quantifies Total Incentives Offered to Rooftop Solar Customers
Our friends at the Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA), a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization representing the interests of energy consumers, recently released a report that attempts to quantify the total amount…
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The Growing Burden of Unfunded EPA Mandates on the States
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, easily one of the most respected business advocacy groups in the nation, recently released a report titled The Growing Burden of Unfunded EPA Mandates…
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New Resolutions from the Energy, Environment and Agriculture Task Force
Earlier this summer, members of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) gathered in Indianapolis for the organization’s 43nd Annual Meeting. The nine ALEC task forces gathered to discuss policy ideas…
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New Study Reveals the Extent of Rooftop Solar Cost-Shift in Nevada
Aside from maybe Arizona, no other state has expended as much time and energy grappling with policy issues associated with distributed generation (DG) as has Nevada. This should hardly come…
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Energy Policy Platform: The Democrats
When the Democratic National Convention met last month to formally approve their party’s platform, delegates had to address several key tasks. Chief among them was to clarify the party’s stance…
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Energy Policy Platform: The Republicans
When the Republican National Committee finalized its 2016 Party Platform in July, they divided the document into six separate sections. One of those sections – perhaps indicative of just…
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Vermont GMO Labeling Law to Go Into Effect on July 1st
The very predictable consequences of states creating complicated, unnecessary patchworks of regulations are about to come to fruition in Vermont. In 2014, Vermont became the first state in the union…
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Recent Bureaucratic Activities Fly in the Face of Congressional Intent
A frequent criticism of the current federal regulatory process is that federal departments and agencies (while oftentimes citing the Chevron deference) promulgate new regulations that conflict with congressional intent.
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Federal Judge Rules Fracking Regulations Illegal
As the Obama administration continues to impose its “Regulatory Train Wreck” on the American public, a federal judge in Wyoming has granted the oil and gas industry a reprieve…
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President Obama Signs TSCA Reform into Law
Earlier this month, Congress passed legislation updating the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) with broad bipartisan support. As expected, President Obama signed the measure – formally known as…
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Several Pro-Growth Regulatory Reform and Energy Policy Proposals included in Speaker Ryan’s “A Better Way” Campaign
Since the inauguration of President Barack Obama in 2009, Republicans in Congress have been accused by some of being the “Party of No.” Rather than proactively proposing solutions to…
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Congress Passes Much-Needed TSCA Reform
For going on a decade or so now, the federal government has been paralyzed by partisan gridlock to a degree that some have described as being “unprecedentedly dysfunctional.” Others have…
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Maryland Governor Larry Hogan Vetoes Expansion of Renewable Portfolio Standard
Late last week, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan vetoed SB 921/HB 1106. The legislation known as the “Clean Jobs Bill” would, among other things, increase the state’s renewable energy…
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Scientists: GMOs Safe to Eat, Do Not Cause Environmental Problems
The year 1973 was one marked by strife, misery and uncertainty. The Vietnam War raged on; the Watergate scandal continued to expand in scope as attention began turning toward the…