The archive
Tech
America’s solar capacity has been rising—in 2023, solar panels generated enough energy to power 22 million homes, eight times more than in 2014. While that is impressive, solar still only produces roughly 4 percent of our nation’s total electricity. However, a recent development in anti-reflective coatings could improve solar efficiency and increase that percentage.
Policy
America’s farmland is an irreplaceable part of our natural heritage. The U.S. is home to more than 10 percent of the entire planet’s agricultural land, and it is essential that conservation efforts empower and support, not hinder, the farmers and ranchers who depend on it.
Policy
America and the rest of the world need a comprehensive response to China’s overfishing and aggressive fishing tactics, which overwhelm competitors and threaten biodiversity.
Culture
Far too often, we get caught up in emotion and fiction. Take, for instance, the Three Mile Island nuclear energy generation facility incident that occurred in the early morning hours of March 28, 1979.
Policy
With marathon markup sessions in full swing, these draft bills telegraph the direction of the reconciliation process and the negotiating points for the House Republicans.
Policy
Few laws have proven as contentious as the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022. The IRA was passed exclusively by Democrats, with Republicans voicing concerns over its cost. Following the November 2024 election, Republican leadership eyed repeal or phase-out of individual IRA provisions in 2025.
Tech
Kairos Power made history on May 8 as the first small modular reactor (SMR) developer to pour concrete for a U.S. advanced reactor.
Tech
Mineral exploration and production have long been an arduous process. An AI-based metals discovery platform is now streamlining the exploration phase, slashing the time and cost of identifying viable mineral deposits for mining companies.
Conservation
As we enter the drier summer months this year and observe National Wildfire Awareness Month (May), it’s an important time for policymakers to evaluate how we prepare for, prevent, and respond to these fires. One bill that seeks to better prepare the country for fires is the Fix Our Forests Act (FOFA).
Economics
With the crafting of a reconciliation package in full swing, the fate of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) hangs in the balance. Much of the discussion in Washington has centered on what will happen to the energy tax credits. In a new paper, we outline how full expensing is a pro-growth, pro-environment policy that doesn’t pick winners and losers.
