Policy & Regulation

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power grid demand response

Energy

Can Expanding Transmission Reduce Electricity Costs?

Advocates of large-scale transmission expansion have recited a simple slogan for years: There is no transition without transmission. By this, they mean that the shift to renewable energy will require vast new power lines. Whatever one thinks of climate policy, that argument no longer carries much weight. The relevant question now is whether building more transmission will make electricity more affordable.

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Energy

A Major Mining Milestone

Earlier this year, China sent up a red flag. Its Ministry of Commerce introduced export restrictions that immediately reduced the international supply of seven rare earth elements. The move followed President Trump’s tariffs on Chinese goods, but it reminded Americans that we are always vulnerable. We need a source of rare earth elements that isn’t spelled C-H-I-N-A.

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Energy

How to unleash American energy dominance financing to win on Energy and AI

While domestic energy demand surges, our adversaries — led by China, the world’s dominant energy financier — are outpacing us in investments in innovative R&D and critical infrastructure. To win this competition, the federal government must enable the U.S. energy sector to compete in technology areas where the financial risk is too high for the private sector to bear alone. One of the U.S. government’s more powerful tools is loan guarantees.

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Environment

Newsom Doubled Down on Dumb, Unaffordable Climate Policy

At a recent climate conference in Brazil, the Governor of California Gavin Newsom insisted that “The United States of America is as dumb as we want to be on this topic [of climate change], but the state of California is not,” Newsom said. “We are going to assert ourselves, we’re going to lean in, and we are going to compete in this space.” Let’s review the facts and see who is really doubling down on dumb.

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Environment

The Clean Air Act Needs a Regulatory Face-Lift

The Clean Air Act (CAA) is now 55 years old—and shows its age. That’s not a critique of its legacy. The law, in conjunction with innovation and private investment in environmental improvement, has contributed to significant improvements in air quality, public health, and environmental protection. But its regulatory framework still operates like it’s 1970, often resulting in costly, inefficient regulations that stifle economic growth for little environmental gain.

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Energy

How to Build Breakthroughs in America Without Subsidies

The Trump administration is making it a mission to restore the manufacturing might of the United States of America. That will have both civilian and military benefits. It’s a challenge, but we know American companies are up to it. Consider just one, NanoGraf Corporation.

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Conservation

Let Conservation Compete

Last month, the Trump Administration’s Interior Department reignited this debate by proposing to rescind this rule, which would remove conservation as an eligible “use” for BLM land. What the rescission proposal gets wrong is the difference between conservation and preservation.

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Energy

The PERMIT Act Will Help Meet America’s Growing Energy Needs 

Introduced by Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA), the legislation offers targeted reforms to how we review and approve infrastructure and, in doing so, advances three vital goals simultaneously: helping to keep energy affordable, improving reliability, and protecting the environment.

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Energy

These two things will determine who wins the US-China trade war

The trade war between the U.S. and China is turning into an MMA-style cage match. President Donald Trumpjust announced 100% tariffs on Chinese-made goods, while President Xi Jinping has slapped a near 100% ban on critical minerals from China into the U.S. Xi’s move makes the heart of the conflict clear: The ultimate winner will be the country that dominates critical minerals mining supply chains and the innovative energy that critical minerals make possible.

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