In the Pipeline: 1/22/13

We normally reserve this space for satire, mockery, and comic relief.  Like I said, we normally reserve this space for satire, mockery, and comic relief…  Politico (1/22/13) reports: “President Barack Obama promised in his inaugural speech to take on climate change in his second term, setting the stage for a series of bruising policy battles over energy, […]

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In the Pipeline: 1/2/13

The trusty “we’re running out of oil!” pundits are now “sure, the US will overtake Saudi Arabia and lead the world in oil production…but maybe only for a decade or so” pundits. IER(1/2/12) reports: “For decades, the proponents of so-called green or alternative energy sources have bemoaned the United States’ alleged ‘dependence on foreign oil’ as […]

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Cass Sunstein’s Garbage In, Garbage Out on Cost/Benefit Analysis

  In a recent NYT op ed, Harvard Law professor and former Obama official Cass Sunstein cited Ronald Reagan, of all figures, as inspiration for more federal regulation on the transportation and energy sectors. Sunstein’s angle was to say that Reagan endorsed the cost/benefit analysis arguing for the US agreement to fight the “ozone hole,” […]

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In the Pipeline: 9/17/12

Brother Tom and his merry band continue to preach on. AEA (9/17/12) reports: “Go behind the scenes with the American Energy Alliance’s 2012 Bus Tour.”   What a surprise.  EPA does something destructive and contrary to the national interest deep on Friday afternoon.  AFPM (9/14/12) reports: “EPA’s decision to increase the biomass diesel volumes is wholly discretionary and irresponsible. […]

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Second Thoughts on Electric Vehicles

  One of the problems with making purchases based on “the greater good”—as opposed to the direct benefits and costs—is that your estimate might turn out wrong. For example, many people simply assumed that electric vehicles were “good for the environment” and so were willing to spend more, and put up with more hassles, thinking […]

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