It turns out Mary Poppins had it right: “a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down.” That’s one of the takeaways from a recent IMF study on energy subsidies, how they distort economies and also how to reform them. The IMF doesn’t quote Ms. Poppins directly, of course, …
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More than a quarter century ago, looking for a way to cut gasoline consumption and move the U.S. toward energy independence, lawmakers did the natural thing and searched for a politically painless policy response. Their answer was fuel economy standards that required automakers to improve vehicles’ gasoline mileage. While putting the … By Robert Hahn, Peter Passell | Category: Automobile Regulation, Energy, Transportation |
 Leave a commentWe all know there’s no such thing as a free lunch, but increases in energy efficiency are enabling Americans to enjoy bigger homes with more appliances and very little impact on their energy bills. That’s the word from the U.S. Department of Energy, which reports that homes built since … By Robert Hahn, Peter Passell | Category: Building Codes, Climate Change, Energy, Environment, Housing Regulation, Quick Takes |
Leave a commentIn his State of the Union address, President Obama identified climate change as one of his top priorities, which makes one wonder about the recent Bloomberg headline: “Obama to Stay Course on Biofuel Law…” If Bloomberg is right, Americans are going to continue to subsidize ethanol at … “Peak oil” is one of those ideas that used to be the province of commodity speculators and zanier environmentalists, but is now entering the mainstream of the energy policy debate. The idea is simple on its face: For one reason or another (which one does it matter), we are approaching a … By Robert Hahn, Peter Passell | Tags: David King, Dieter Helm, James Murray | Category: Energy |
Leave a commentEnvironmental groups, with a little help from the EPA, are trying to stop construction of the Keystone XL pipeline designed to move crude oil from Alberta (Canada, for the geographically challenged) to refineries in Texas. Nobody’s seriously claiming the $7 billion, 1,700 mile addition to the … By Robert Hahn, Peter Passell | Tags: Canada, energy security, EPA, oil | Category: Energy |
Leave a commentIrwin Stelzer, an economist and conservative intellectual who isn’t inclined to suffer fools, suggests a carbon tax could help reduce the deficit and enhance national security, even as it stimulates economic growth. Quite so. The problem – or at least one of the problems – is the bitter opposition … By Robert Hahn, Peter Passell | Tags: carbon tax, deficit, Hudson Institute, Irwin Stelzer | Category: Climate Change, Energy, Energy Regulation, Environment |
Leave a commentWith gasoline prices skyrocketing and America’s fragile economic recovery at risk, isn’t it time to open the spigot on the federal government’s massive oil reserve? Probably, but the decision isn’t quite the no-brainer it appears. First, a reality check. The 727 million barrels of crude now stored … By Robert Hahn, Peter Passell | Tags: Libya, OPEC, Saudi Arabia, Strategic Petroleum Reserve | Category: Energy |
Leave a commentThe Energy Institute at Haas, a joint venture of UC Berkeley’s Haas Business School and the UC Energy Institute, is one of the better sources of academic research in energy policy. Those who don’t care to plow through their working papers (all of which are downloadable free online … By Robert Hahn, Peter Passell | Tags: appliance energy standards, Institute at Haas, UC Energy Institute, wind power | Category: Energy, Quick Takes |
Leave a commentWe’re perpetually dismayed by the Competitive Enterprise Institute’s alliance with global warming deniers. But the organization is spot-on in its opposition to tax breaks for ethanol fuel, which are set to expire at the end of the year unless Congress puts the taxpayers back on the … By Robert Hahn, Peter Passell | Tags: Competitive Enterprise Institute, ethanol, global warming deniers, St. Augustine, Tea Party | Category: Energy, Quick Takes |
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Professor Dieter Helm (Oxford) is a very fine fly fisherman, and an even better economist. If you haven’t done so, take a look at his new book “The Carbon Crunch: How We Are Getting Climate Change Wrong — and How to Fix It” for a bit of unconventional wisdom. He argues that politicians and the general public have not shown any real interest in addressing climate change. Helm argues that places like Europe should focus on setting a price for carbon that would cover consumption (and not just production), and that fracking could be a good “bridge” technology for reducing consumption of coal. The book is readable and insightful for those interested in the inside track on climate policy. 
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