Environment

WPC's Center for the Environment brings balance to the environmental debate by promoting the idea that human progress and prosperity work in a free economy to protect the environment.

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What's New

Don't Hope for Rational Funding Decisions from Politicians

March 27, 2013 in In the News
The Wall Street Journal
Source: 
The Wall Street Journal
Date: 
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Link: 
http://stream.wsj.com/story/experts-energy/SS-2-135538/SS-2-198411/?mod=wsj_streaming_experts-energy

The Experts: How the U.S. Oil Boom Will Change the Markets and Geopolitics

March 27, 2013 in In the News
The Wall Street Journal
Source: 
The Wall Street Journal
Date: 
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Link: 
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324105204578382690249436084.html

Legislature Passes A Good First Step on Carbon Emissions

March 25, 2013 in Blog

A bipartisan majority passed the Governor's climate legislation today in the State House, sending it to Jay Inslee's desk for his signature. The bill enjoyed bipartisan support in the Senate as well.

The reason so many legislators crossed the aisle to support it, is that it included a measurement of environmental effectiveness. Previous climate legislation simply adopted the latest politically trendy option without an up-front assessment of potential effectiveness.

Washington's Solar Subsidies Fail The Governor's Moral Standard on Climate Change

March 18, 2013 in Blog

The Seattle Times reports today on Gov. Jay Inslee's commitment to reducing carbon emissions in Washington state. The governor notes that the carbon-reduction effort is a "moral" imperative and that failure to effectively reduce carbon emissions would be abdication of our responsibility to our grandchildren.

The Anti-Science Ugliness of the "Information is Beautiful" Climate Change Graphic

March 12, 2013 in Blog

A web site called "Information is Beautiful" has an infographic it claims demonstrates the damage being done by carbon dioxide emissions and climate change. The graphic, however, shows how disingenuous the environmental left can be when it comes to climate science. Rather than using the "consensus" science, the graphic goes out of its way to cherry pick data from a range of sources. Ironically, some of the sources used contradict other sources.

The Strange World of Coal Train Politics

March 7, 2013 in Blog

The issue that has dominated environmental discussions in Washington state during the past year is the proposal to create a new shipping terminal in Whatcom County to ship coal and other goods to the Pacific Rim. The emotional debate has led to a number of strange arguments and ironies. Here are a few that stick out.

Groups With a Strong Financial Interest Attacking Others for Having a Financial Interest

Sequester Complaints Focus on Small Cuts But Ignore Millions in Wasted Environmental Funding

February 25, 2013 in Blog

There has been a great deal of talk about the severe impacts of the federal budget cuts associated with the so-called "sequester." The Obama Administration claims if the sequester takes effect it risks "$3.3 million to help ensure clean water and air, and to prevent pollution from pesticides and hazardous waste." Cuts could include projects such as: