It’s Climate Change, Stupid
Let’s get the electricity sector ready for a world with a very different climate. My phone has been ringing off the hook this week. Well, my phone does not have … Continue Reading It’s Climate Change, Stupid
Biden’s New Climate Plan
On the economics of building back greener. With a high-stakes election on the horizon, the Democrats are working hard to shore up a winning policy platform. The Biden-Sanders Unity Task … Continue Reading Biden’s New Climate Plan
How Utility Customers Will Pay for the Pandemic
Time to reexamine how utility losses will be shared among customers. The coronavirus pandemic has thrown public finances into turmoil. Legislators and city councils are wrestling with what services to … Continue Reading How Utility Customers Will Pay for the Pandemic
The High Cost of Low Carbon Prices
Industry and utility customers should chip in to support the carbon price floor. The Covid-19 crisis has led to all sorts of dramatic changes in lifestyles and economies. The energy … Continue Reading The High Cost of Low Carbon Prices
International Trade Policies Subsidize Pollution
Lower trade barriers on dirty industries effectively subsidize climate change. Photo by chuttersnap on Unsplash In my new working paper and cool accompanying video released today, I assess how international … Continue Reading International Trade Policies Subsidize Pollution
Will We Still Be Riding on the Same Bus Post Corona?
There could be long run consequences for public transit ridership after this crisis is over. Currently, there are a large number of economists telling epidemiologists how to do their job … Continue Reading Will We Still Be Riding on the Same Bus Post Corona?
What Just Happened to the Mercury Rule?
Last week’s EPA decision adds insult to injury for our already vulnerable communities. Perhaps you missed it. There’s a lot going on right now. But amidst all the COVID-19 headlines … Continue Reading What Just Happened to the Mercury Rule?
Oil Market Impacts of COVID-19
Economists can’t predict the future, but economics can help improve policy today. Oil markets aren’t the first thing that hardly anyone thinks about when reading updates on the novel coronavirus. … Continue Reading Oil Market Impacts of COVID-19
Is This a Trump Bump?
Air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions have increased during the Trump presidency. The EPA just released the latest greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory. This is a massive report and public dataset … Continue Reading Is This a Trump Bump?
Electrification? We Are Already On The Way
In 1960 only 2% of U.S. homes were heated with electricity. Today it’s 38%. U.S. households burn vast amounts of fossil fuels on-site for home heating: 2.7 trillion cubic feet … Continue Reading Electrification? We Are Already On The Way
The Little Energy Market That Could
Regional market coordination delivers a win for climate change mitigation. There’s an important experiment underway in the Western United States as we inject more and more renewable energy into the … Continue Reading The Little Energy Market That Could
What Can Carbon Pricing Do?
It won’t reduce energy use much, but it can fundamentally alter where that energy comes from. A decade ago, there seemed to be a Kumbaya trend in climate policy. Politicians … Continue Reading What Can Carbon Pricing Do?
Waving Goodbye to the California Waiver?
The latest twist in the Trump fuel economy rollback. The year 1969 was highly notable—Apollo 11 landed on the moon, free love blossomed at Woodstock, and Richard Milhous Nixon was … Continue Reading Waving Goodbye to the California Waiver?
A Better Way to Measure Economic Growth
A recent working paper highlights the importance of accounting for environmental protection in measures of GDP. Last November, I gained new appreciation for clean air. It wasn’t because I went … Continue Reading A Better Way to Measure Economic Growth
Are Trees Getting Too Much Climate Credit…or Not Enough?
What would the Lorax say about today’s forest offsets? The race is on. Democratic presidential candidates are jockeying for position. And climate change is emerging as a top priority. Jay … Continue Reading Are Trees Getting Too Much Climate Credit…or Not Enough?
The Trouble with Carbon Pricing
It has a face that only economists can love? We economists have long been enamored with carbon pricing. The concept is simple and sensible. If the economic damages from greenhouse … Continue Reading The Trouble with Carbon Pricing
