Category: Environment
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The Californication of Virginia
by Kerry Dougherty Does anyone really think fewer gas mowers will make a difference? More importantly, is it the role of government to tell citizens what they must use to trim their fescue? Of course it isn’t. Why should we in Virginia care? Because we’re just one car back on California’s crazy train. During the…
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Electric Vehicles May Be Worse for the Environment than Gasoline-Powered Ones
by Hans Bader Electric vehicles require enormous damage to the environment just to produce their batteries — 250 tons of mining is required for a single battery, according to Real Clear Energy. Switching to electric cars would require a radical expansion of mining across the world, and the minerals for the car batteries will be…
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NY Ratepayers Better Protected Than Virginia’s
By Steve Haner The New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) last week told several offshore wind developers it would not approve changes in their state contracts, putting several planned ocean turbine projects into jeopardy. The story is important for its contrast to how Virginia faces the same future.
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Youngkin Orders Flags at Half-Mast to Honor the Dead in Israel
by The Republican Standard Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin issued an order Sunday to fly flags around the state at half-staff. This was the statement issued by his office: “In accordance with the authority vested in me as Governor, I hereby order that the flags of the United States of America and the Commonwealth of Virginia…
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Stop All Aid to Palestinians and Other Terrorists. Every Bit of It
by Kerry Dougherty On Saturday morning Hamas terrorists unleashed Hell on innocent Israelis. As Israel’s ambassador to the US pointed out, given the population of Israel 600 dead Israelis is the equivalent of 20,000 dead Americans. This was Israel’s 9-11. Their Pearl Harbor. Some say it was the most deadly day in history for the…
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Is a Séance with Yogi Berra Dominion’s Source of Insight?
by Bill O’Keefe According to lore, Yogi Berra is supposed to have said, “In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is.” Dominion must have had a séance with Yogi and just learned that piece of wisdom because until its latest filing with the SCC it maintained that it would…
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Miyares Seeks Dismissal of Suit to Save RGGI
By Steve Haner Attorney General Jason Miyares (R) is defending the Virginia Air Pollution Control Board’s decision to exit a multi-state carbon cap and tax compact as within the regulatory agency’s authority. He has also claimed to the circuit court hearing an appeal of that decision that the plaintiffs were not affected by the action…
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Principles for Virginia’s Energy Future
By Steve Haner First published this morning by the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy. Energy is our economy. Energy is the basis of wealth and a comfortable life. As Virginia chooses a new set of legislators to wrestle with the old and new energy issues facing the Commonwealth, here is a review of some…
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Whose Water Is It?
by Dick Hall-Sizemore There are some issues that seem to be baked into public policy and, because they affect sensitive and important areas, tend to lead to controversies periodically. Many years ago, one of the hottest controversies was the “inter-basin transfer of water.” Because Virginia is a “riparian rights” state, folks who live next to…
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It Was Bound to Happen Sometime
The govt says the wind industry isn't killing whales, but it is. Here's the proof: another dead one, nicknamed "Faith." They found her yesterday at the @Orsted Southfork Wind site (#517), Rhode Island, right next to the (yellow) turbine base. 71st whale killed since last Dec pic.twitter.com/TeMAUisAsL — Michael Shellenberger (@shellenberger) September 6, 2023 Click…
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TJI To SCC: Keep Dominion Gas Plants
The following has been submitted to the State Corporation Commission via the public comment portal it has established for Dominion Energy Virginia’s pending 2023 Integrated Resource Plan. It was drafted by Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy Senior Fellow Stephen D. Haner. Dominion Energy Virginia is acting reasonably and prudently by planning to maintain most…
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A Small Victory – So Far – for Common Sense and Flood Mitigation in Virginia Beach
by James C. Sherlock Sometimes things work. Perhaps they will this time. There was a time in Virginia Beach when a partnership between a developer and a church to build new houses would have breezed through the Planning Commission and the City Council. That kind of open season on clearing and building on Virginia Beach’s…
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Democrats Cannot Hide From Vote to Ban Gas Cars
By Steve Haner Yes, Virginia, the Democrats are coming for your gasoline and diesel powered cars. The only way to decouple Virginia from the California Air Resources Board’s relentless drive toward electric vehicles only on new car lots is to change the political landscape in Richmond and reverse a 2021 bill. A Republican candidate for…
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Dominion Plan to Maintain Gas Attacked at SCC
By Steve Haner First published this morning by the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy. The front line in the war against fossil fuels in Virginia has now shifted back to the State Corporation Commission, and as usual only one side has fielded an army and brought heavy weapons to the battlefield. Those who might…
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What Global Warming? A Century of Virginia Julys
By Steve Haner The constant media hysteria about July’s temperatures gets even harder to swallow when the long-term data are examined. For example, take a look at that graph above, which represents every daily high in July going back to the 19th Century at Purcellville in Loudoun County. The Purcellville weather monitor is one of…