The archive
Policy
Affordable, reliable transportation is essential for everyday life, and sound transportation policy can have profound positive effects on the economy, the environment, and the lives of all Americans.
Policy
The reality is offshore wind could offer compelling potential benefits that make a categorical ban shortsighted and counterproductive.
Science & Tech
This Earth Day, let’s explore one possible way to expand and improve our recycling system: the use of advanced or chemical recycling.
Policy
As the Trump administration angles for peace between Ukraine and Russia, the real driving force that will bring calm to the region — while benefiting the United States — is a critical mineral deal with America. To understand why, we must first recognize why critical minerals are so essential.
Science
Wild animals intermingle with domesticated animals more than you would think. In the American West, cows frequently share grazing land with one animal: elk. However, ranchers often hesitate to let elk graze the same land as their herds. Now, an innovative new agriculture trust is opening up grazing land and easing ranchers’ worries through the power of voluntary incentives.
Science
Our food system is under pressure. Water shortages, soil degradation, a changing climate, and a growing global population make it harder to grow enough food using traditional methods. At the same time, cities are expanding, and development is replacing farmland.
Policy
Most Americans have concerns about the pollution and waste associated with plastic use, most notably single-use plastics like water bottles. However, calls to restrict plastic production and consumption would likely backfire, resulting in higher consumer costs and worse environmental outcomes.
Policy
Senator McCain called for the United States to build forty-five new nuclear reactors by 2030. The plan was ambitious, but as one of his top economic advisors commented at the time, “not so large as to be infeasible given permitting and construction times.” With less than five years to go, only two reactors have been built since the late senator’s campaign pledge.
Tech
Collisions with wildlife are a massive problem for human welfare and the animals that roam our country’s wild spaces. And while solutions like wildlife crossings are undoubtedly effective at redirecting animals off roads, they come with very high price tags to build. Now, an automaker is trying a new tactic: developing an alarm that can startle animals off the road before a car drives through.
Tech
Red tape has slowed down grid improvements for years, leaving us with a T&D network that needs to be modernized and expanded. Until we see widespread grid improvements, we must ask a necessary question: Can we get aging infrastructure to work harder?
