Reason Foundation

Recent Research and Commentary

Cash 4 Clunkers: Now, for the Unintended Consequences

September 23, 2009, 2:12pm

Samuel Staley

President Obama's Fuel Economy Standard Follies

Politicians want you to pay more when you drive. They just won't admit it.

January 27, 2009

Ronald Bailey

"We must ensure that the fuel-efficient cars of tomorrow are built right here in the United States of America," President Barack Obama declared yesterday. He also signed an order directing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to review the denial of California's request to set its automobile mileage standards higher than those adopted by the federal government.

USDA Tries Pricing and Trading Environmental Benefits

Bringing ecosystem services out of the political realm and into the market would be welcome news

January 26, 2009

Skaidra Smith-Heisters

No Biofuels Bailout

Farm energy pork wastes money and harms the environment

January 13, 2009

Ronald Bailey

If Congress decides that greenhouse gases are a big problem, it should stop trying to pick energy technology "winners" by subsidizing favored sectors, and instead end all subsidies and put all energy technologies on a level playing field. Congress should then set a price on carbon dioxide, and let the most affordable and most efficient energy technology win—be it wind, solar, clean coal, nuclear, or whatever.

California Air Resources Board Passes Costly Plan During Economic Crisis

State can utilize pay-as-you-drive and pay-as-you-save programs for inexpensive environmental improvements

December 22, 2008

Skaidra Smith-Heisters

...pay-as-you-save programs for everything from major appliances to building retrofits can help individuals overcome the initial price hurdle of energy-efficiency upgrades in homes and businesses. These types of programs allow people to pay off the initial cost of such upgrades in installments, with the money they save on their utility bills. (And amidst the fiscal backdrop, the small loans entailed in such programs are as secure as they come.) Combined with the smarter metering and pricing currently being implemented by utility companies, consumers will soon have the means and the incentives to make more efficient energy decisions. Based on the results of pilot programs using smart meters, being able to see electricity prices at the time of use could prompt consumers to cut peak energy demand by 5 percent. Much more significant reductions are observed when these metering and pricing systems are used in conjunction with smarter thermostats and appliances.

Cars Disproportionately Blamed for Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Electricity, not transportation is responsible for the largest share of emissions

August 12, 2008

Skaidra Smith-Heisters

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