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.
What's New
Analysis of News Reporting on Habitat Conservation Plans by The Seattle Post-Intelligencer
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer recently published a three-part series of front page news articles, based on a year of research by reporters Robert McClure and Lisa Stiffler, critiquing Habitat Conservation Plans. HCPs require Washington landowners to abide by environmental planning guidelines, protect habitat and meet habitat goals for threatened and endangered species. As long as they adhere to HCP environmental rules, landowners are granted protection from lawsuits filed under the Endangered Species Act.
Oregon's Measure 37 Holds Real-World Lessons for Washington
Last November, Oregon voters overwhelmingly passed Measure 37, a law requiring the state and counties either to pay landowners for lost property value when new zoning restrictions are imposed, or allow owners to operate under the rules in place when they bought the property. Supporters and opponents said Measure 37 would radically change the landscape of Oregon. The reality, however, is turning out to be less revolutionary than either side expected.
Roadless Policy Decisions: Three Questions When Crafting Policy
After a long legal battle, the Bush Administration returned control of roadless areas of federal forestland to the states. Federal courts had ruled that the previous rule, enacted in the final days of the Clinton Administration, had not considered public input or the science behind the policy.
Washington State Earth Day 2005: Abundant Red Herring Threaten Salmon
Each year on Earth Day, environmental groups and politicians highlight the "successes" they’ve had during the past year passing new restrictions and outlining next steps on the environment. The pressure to find new threats and enact new restrictions often means that ongoing environmental issues are forgotten in the rush to address the newest issue on the horizon.
Already this year, three such red herring issues have crowded out other important problems.
"E-Waste" Mandates Should Be Trashed
Haste maketh waste in the fast-paced world of technology. Every year, Americans trash two million tons of old computers and other forms of electronic waste. While that’s a tiny fraction of the nation's total waste stream, the issue of what to do with all the "e-waste" is creating hype and hysteria among state and federal lawmakers.
Bringing Coal to Newcastle: Emissions Standards Fight Comes With an Environmental Cost
One of Seattle’s most majestic sights is the view of Mount Rainier on a clear day. That view has become the center of the discussion about Washington’s air quality, and the common perception seems to be that our air is getting worse.
Should the State Follow LEED or Get out of the Way?
Imagine a knock on your door. The salesman on your doorstep tells you that he can cut your energy costs by 35%, make your house more livable and improve your quality of life. And to top it off, he would provide this service for free.
You might be a bit skeptical.
Imagine if he then told you that you had no choice – that you were required to make the changes he was offering. You would become very skeptical of the promises, and you would be right to.
Proposed "LEED" Building Standards Environmentally Counterproductive
The Center for Environmental Policy (CEP), a part of Washington Policy Center, the state's premier public policy research and education organization, released a new publication analyzing the true effects of the proposed Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design (LEED) "green" building standards recommendations.
"Should Washington State LEED or Get Out of the Way?" lays out three significant problems with LEED.
Should The State Follow LEED or Get Out Of The Way?
Imagine a knock on your door. The salesman on your doorstep tells you that he can cut your energy costs by 35%, make your house more livable and improve your quality of life. In addition, he would provide this service for free. You might be a bit skeptical.
Todd Myers Hired as Center for Environmental Policy Director
Washington Policy Center, the state's premier independent public policy research and education organization, hired Todd Myers to direct its Center for the Environment.
The Center for the Environment is a Washington Policy Center project aimed at presenting clear, market-based policy ideas for successful environmental protection. The Center offers environmental policy alternatives that illustrate how the environment can be successfully protected through a commitment to cooperative solutions and market incentives.
