Scholar Commentary

CGO’s Research Director, Megan Hansen, discusses the effects certain regulations can have on both the environment and the economy. Due to red tape, only 3 percent of existing dams with small-scale hydropower potential produce power in the United States. Although some

AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty Josh Smith, Research Manager for the CGO, writes about other ways to reduce carbon emissions than renewable portfolio standards (RPS). States with RPS mandates have increased electricity prices with

Josh T. Smith, Research Manager at the Center for Growth and Opportunity at Utah State University, takes part in a discussion on Renewal Portfolio Standards (RPS).

On June 29, 2018 CGO Research Director Megan E. Hansen joins other panelists from The Heritage Foundation and Southern Utah University at a Public Lands Discussion featuring Senator Mike Lee hosted by The Sutherland Institute.

AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli The Trump administration proposed a policy aimed at helping suffering coal and nuclear power plants by requiring utilities to purchase electricity from these plants. CGO researchers, Camille Harmer and Josh T. Smith, write about the

AP Photo/John Locher In May 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the federal prohibition on sports gambling. With many states making changes to accommodate the Supreme Court’s decision, one thing is clear: Legal sports gambling is here to stay. CGO Director of

AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli In May 2018, the California Energy Commission took another step toward requiring all new homes under three stories to have solar panels installed beginning in 2020. Currently, only between 15 and 20 percent of new single-family homes in

Christopher Koopman, CGO Executive Director, discusses the recently-introduced Aviation Empowerment Act and the future of public policy in the aviation industry.

Photo: Wingly Christopher Koopman, Senior Director of Strategy and Research at the Center for Growth and Opportunity, and Michael Kotrous, of the Mercatus Center, argue that allowing flight-sharing companies to operate in the U.S. market would enable rural citizens to

Despite being safer than both wind and solar production in terms of employee deaths and environmental impact, nuclear power has a poor public reputation, due in part to the Chernobyl disaster of 1986. Given improved technology in the intervening 32 years, Professor

In this article Chris Koopman, at the Center for Growth and Opportunity, and Jennifer Huddleston Skees, of the Mercatus Center, advocate for a comprehensive policy framework that is friendly to self-driving technologies and

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients and other young immigrants march with supporters as they arrive at the Capitol in Washington, March 5, 2018. AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite   Josh Smith, of the

A worker checks on rolls of aluminum at a factory in Zouping county in east China’s Shandong province. Photo: Chinatopix via AP Professor William F. Shughart II, of Utah State University, and research fellow Kristian Fors, of the Center for Growth

The Trump Administration recently implemented a tariff on foreign solar panels in an attempt to bolster domestic solar panel production. However, the U.S. solar industry has been growing successfully because access to cheaper solar panels manufactured outside the U.S.

AP Photo/Elaine Thompson A massive backlog of repairs is needed in many of the national parks. The Center for Growth and Opportunity’s Josh Smith and Camille Harmer argue that the proposed fee hike is an appropriate way to raise funds to

During the State of the Union Address, President Trump suggested increasing the number of immigrants eligible for DACA and creating a path to citizenship in exchange for $30 billion to fund a border wall. Professor James Feigenbaum, of Utah State University, and

Professor William F. Shughart II, of Utah State University, and Josh Smith, of the Center for Growth and Opportunity, argue that the best way to promote progress in the renewable energy sector is not to halt production of fossil fuels. Refusing to acknowledge that the

Meddling in energy markets is a problem on both sides of the political aisle. Whether the subsidies go to alternative energy sources or fossil fuels they ultimately come out of the pockets of average taxpayers. Josh T. Smith, Research Manager at the Center for Growth

Professor William F. Shughart II, of Utah State University, and Undergraduate Research Fellow Kristian Fors, of the Center for Growth and Opportunity, explain how “user fee” gas taxes in California are intended to support road and transportation maintenance, but

Californians will now be paying almost 60 cents per gallon in taxes for their gasoline purchases—an increase of 12 cents. The increase comes after the rise of hybrid and electric vehicles has caused a decline in gas-tax revenue and left the highway trust fund short on

During the State of the Union Address, President Trump suggested increasing the number of immigrants eligible for DACA and creating a path to citizenship in exchange for $30 billion to fund a border wall. Professor James Feigenbaum, of Utah State University, and

In this piece, Research Director Megan E. Hansen explains that the inherent political biases of energy policy push specific forms of energy to succeed and others to fail. Hansen gives examples of how market-driven entrepreneurship has led to more-efficient and