On September 10, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory released a new report on the energy potential of wind power. It says that there is 4,150 gigawatts of potential wind turbine power available in the U.S. − four times greater than all existing electrical generating capacity from existing sources presently.
On September 9, Pew released new data on federal energy spending.
Also on September 9, environmentalist Bjørn Lomborg published a commentary arguing that it is impossible to reduce carbon emissions enough to forestall a rise in global warming. New technology to produce green energy is our best hope, he says.
On September 1, the International Monetary Fund released a working paper on energy subsidies in developing countries. Although such subsidies are often defended as beneficial to the poor, the paper finds that the wealthy are more likely to benefit from them.
In a September report, the Department of Agriculture discussed ways in which farmers can reduce greenhouse gases.
An August 31 policy brief from the Peterson Institute reviewed the success of the 1987 Montreal Protocol for lessons on how to pursue further international agreements relating to the environment.
On August 23, Macroeconomic Advisers released an analysis of the potential impact on oil prices of an escalation of tensions with Iran might have.
On August 12, the Department of Energy released the report of an interagency task force on carbon capture and storage.
In an August 11 commentary, environmentalist Bjørn Lomborg cautioned against excessive fear of global warming. Whatever problems it creates can be dealt with, he says.
In an August 9 interview, Harvard Business School professor Rebecca Henderson discussed methods of increasing innovation and adoption of clean energy technologies by looking at the spread of new technology in other industries such as agriculture, chemicals, life sciences, and information technology.
I last posted items on these topics on August 5. Bruce Bartlett is an American historian and columnist who focuses on the intersection between politics and economics. He blogs daily and writes a weekly column at The Fiscal Times. Read his most recent column here. Bartlett has written for Forbes Magazine and Creators Syndicate, and his work is informed by many years in government, including as a senior policy analyst in the Reagan White House. He is the author of seven books including the New York Times best-seller, Impostor: How George W. Bush Bankrupted America and Betrayed the Reagan Legacy (Doubleday, 2006).
