Energy & Climate Policy News

The Daily Signal provides stay informed on U.S. energy production, renewable energy, and climate policy, featuring analysis of government regulation, industry innovation, and the impact on American consumers and national interests.
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    • News

    California Has 15 Years to Hit a 50% Renewable Energy Goal. Will It Happen?

    California Gov. Jerry Brown has set an ambitious new energy goal: getting the most populous state in the nation to derive 50 percent of its electric power from renewable sources in the space of 15 years. But can it be accomplished? And can it be done without sending electricity bills through the roof? Depends on…
    Rob Nikolewski
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    • News

    Is It True That Low Gas Prices Hurt the Economy?

    Low prices at the pump are good for consumers, but are they hurting the American economy? Though oil prices fell below $50 per barrel as of Monday, Jack Gerard, CEO of the American Petroleum Institute, the largest U.S. lobbying arm for the oil and natural gas industry, expressed little concern. Speaking at the annual “State…
    Kelsey Bolar
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    • News

    As Gas Prices Tumble, States Feel Pinch of Less Tax Revenue

    Reduced gasoline prices are good news for drivers across the country, but they’re causing headaches for budget directors in oil-producing states who are now revising their numbers downward and hoping prices stabilize quickly. “I haven’t seen anything this rapid in my time,” Oklahoma Finance Secretary Preston Doerflinger said. “I don’t think we’ve seen anything in…
    Rob Nikolewski
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    • Opinion

    Whether Gas Prices Are High or Low, Lift the Ban on Crude Exports

    Gasoline prices continue to drop across the country with the national average falling to $2.50 per gallon. Are low prices good or bad for the prospects for lifting the ban to export crude oil? The reality is it shouldn’t matter because energy free trade will benefit the United States in both the near term and…
    Nicolas Loris
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    • News

    In These 13 States, Gas Is Selling for Below $2 a Gallon

    Just two weeks ago, a sole gas station in Oklahoma swept headlines for dropping gas prices below $2 a gallon. Today, 13 states have joined that list, and the trend is expanding. Gas for less than $1.90 a gallon can be found in at least one station in Oklahoma, Louisiana and Ohio, according to CNN….
    Natalie Johnson
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    • Opinion

    Before Hiking Gas Taxes, Michigan Needs to Spend Money for Roads More Wisely.

    Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (R) is leading an effort to gradually double the state’s 19-cent per gallon gas tax. Doing so would boost the state’s transportation coffers by over $1 billion new tax dollars. But Snyder isn’t sure that’s enough, saying, “The money I’m talking about is to get us to fair to good roads….
    Joel Griffith
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    • Opinion

    CRomnibus Perpetuates More of the Same: Government Meddling in Energy Markets

    Who needs another stimulus bill or legislation handing out taxpayer dollars for energy efficiency when they can be stuffed into the Cromnibus like a Christmas stocking at the end of the year? The Department of Energy’s budget is much of the same: bureaucrats will be spending money they shouldn’t on activities the private sector should…
    Nicolas Loris
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    • Opinion

    Feeling Better at the Pump? Since 2008, America’s Oil Supply Has Grown by 50%

    If you're like most Americans, you haven't been questioning the welcome drop in gasoline prices. You just fill 'er up and feel grateful that you're spending less. Why has this remarkable drop come about? And what can we do to help keep prices lower? Some of it, unfortunately, is beyond our control. Worldwide demand for…
    Ed Feulner
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    • Opinion

    Chart of the Day: U.S. Oil Production by the Numbers

    As news stirs around OPEC's decision to not cut oil production, we've pulled together the chart below with a closer look at the surging production in the United States. Energy expert Nick Loris, the Herbert and Joyce Morgan fellow at The Heritage Foundation, argues that even if OPEC had decided to cut oil production, it wouldn't be a…
    Kelsey Lucas
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    • Opinion

    Even If OPEC Had Decided to Cut Oil Production, It Wouldn’t Be a Huge Deal. Here’s Why.

    As oil prices decline, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries has decided not to cut oil production. OPEC’s production decision is not a new one. And the group of oil-producing nations could very well announce a cut in oil supply in the future if oil prices continue to fall.  Either way, the price impact from…
    Nicolas Loris
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    • Opinion

    Obama Just Got Punked by the Chinese: They Won’t Honor New Climate Change Deal

    That sound you’re hearing from across the Pacific is the Chinese rulers and Beijing laughing at us. President Obama and the “green” lobby actually think China is going to honor the new U.S.-China climate-change agreement that pushes both nations to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions over the next 15 years. China agreed to a “target” of deriving…
    Stephen Moore
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    • Opinion

    The Real Story on China Climate Change Deal: We Make Changes Now, They Wait Until 2030

    President Obama has announced what he calls “an historic agreement” in a climate change deal with China. In his commitment to reduce carbon emissions 26 percent to 28 percent below 2005 levels, the president is committing Americans to higher energy prices, a weaker economy and a lost competitive advantage. China’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas…
    Nicolas Loris
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    • News

    Are Libertarians a ‘Spoiler’ for the GOP? Here’s John Stossel’s Take

    Republican candidate Ed Gillespie trails Democratic Sen. Mark Warner by 16,727 votes in Virginia’s razor-thin U.S. Senate race. It’s so close the Associated Press won’t call it. The margin between Gillespie and Warner is much smaller than the 53,396 votes for Libertarian Robert Sarvis. So, was Sarvis a spoiler? On Thursday’s Varney & Co. on…
    Kate Scanlon
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    • News

    Billionaire Steyer Spends $15M Pushing Low-Priority Climate Change Message in Florida

    In an effort to oust Gov. Rick Scott, billionaire activist Tom Steyer has underwritten a nearly $15 million campaign focusing on climate change, an issue one poll says few Florida voters care about. Steyer’s advocacy group, NextGen Climate Action, set up shop in Miami this year, targeting Scott as oblivious to global warming disasters, a…
    Tori Richards
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    • Opinion

    The True Reason Gas Prices Are Falling (Hint: It’s Not Because of Green Energy)

    American workers and motorists got some badly-needed relief this week when the price of oil plunged to its lowest level in years. The oil price has fallen by about 25 percent since its peak back in June of $105 a barrel.  This is translating to lower prices at the pump with many states now below…
    Stephen Moore
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    • Opinion

    Governor Jindal: Energy Exports Help the U.S. Domestically and Diplomatically

    Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal recently spoke at the American Enterprise Institute to introduce his vision for defense policy. He pointed out that America has a tool at its disposal that isn’t the traditional weapon or diplomatic position: America’s vast energy supply. Jindal said energy exports can strengthen ties with allies who need energy and can counterbalance…
    Thomas Lee
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    • Opinion

    Hey, Defense Department: Focus on ISIS, not Climate Change

    As world leaders remain locked in on the threat of ISIS, the U.S. Department of Defense laid out its plan to fight a different battle: ice caps. In a new report, DOD argues that climate change poses “immediate risks to U.S. national security” because of warmer temperatures, rising sea levels, changing precipitation patterns and more…
    Nicolas Loris
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    • News

    State’s Welfare Recipients Withdraw Money in Far-Off Places (Hawaii, Las Vegas and Even Virgin Islands)

    Taxpayers are apparently buying welfare recipients booze and cigarettes for the road—at times a quite exotic road. An analysis of a Colorado Department of Human Services welfare ATM withdrawals database shows that $3.8 million was withdrawn by Colorado welfare recipients outside the state in the past two years. There were withdrawals at out-of-state liquor stores…
    Arthur Kane
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    • News

    Google Chairman: Climate Change Skeptics Are ‘Making the World a Much Worse Place’

    More than 150 state lawmakers are firing back at Google after the technology company left the American Legislative Exchange Council and its chairman, billionaire Eric Schmidt, said those who oppose vigorous policy action to fight global warming are “just literally lying” about the climate. “Everyone understands climate change is occurring and the people who oppose it…
    Josh Peterson
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    • Opinion

    5 Policies That Would Make Gas Cheaper

    Sick of paying too much at the pump? If you are, there’s good news: There are policies Congress and the Obama administration could implement that likely would lead to lower prices. If you’re looking to lower gas prices, first look at crude oil prices. Crude oil contributes the largest component to the price of gasoline….
    Nicolas Loris
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