fbpx

Latest Posts

Home

Facebook

Twitter

Search
About
logo
Thinking Minnesota Archive

Education

Employee Freedom

Families

Governance

Health Care

Minnesota Economy

mobile logo
0 Comments
on December 31, 2019
Print
Sticky

This Year in Energy and Environment: 2019 Edition

Written by Isaac Orr
in Climate, Energy, Environment, Greater Minnesota, Mining, Minnesota Economy

With 2020 upon us, I'd like to reflect back on 2019 because it was a banner year for energy and environmental issues here at Center of the American Experiment. Here are some of the highlights from each month. In January, American Experiment submitted comments to the U.S. Forest Service in support of the lease renewal for the Twin Metals Minnesota mine. Since then Twin Metals has submitted its mine plan to state and federal agencies for review. We also covered the fact that wind and solar were not working during Polar Vortex in real time, highlighting the dangers of relying upon...

Continue reading
0 Comments
on September 30, 2019
Print
Sticky

As $7,500 Federal Subsidies Expire, Electric Vehicles Are About to Get More Expensive

Written by Isaac Orr
in Climate, Energy, Environment

You may not have known this, but the federal government has been subsidizing electric vehicles (EV's) to the tune of a $7,500 tax credit for every electric vehicle sold. In fact, the subsidy is a major reason why we're starting to see more Tesla's tooling around the Twin Cities, but there's a catch: the subsidy begins to disappear after a manufacturer has sold 200,000 units, and Tesla has hit this threshold, meaning the growth of Elon's EV's could slow moving forward. The phase out of the tax credits comes at a bad time for Tesla, after the EV automaker announced it would...

Continue reading
0 Comments
on April 03, 2019
Print
Sticky

House DFL Wants To Give People $2,500 Rebates for Electric Car Purchases

Written by Isaac Orr
in Energy, Environment

DFL lawmakers in the Minnesota House of Representatives have proposed providing $2,500 rebates for Minnesotans who purchase new electric vehicles under $60,000. No one in my family has ever purchased a vehicle that expensive, and frankly, I never plan on purchasing such a pricey ride, either. Electric car buyers already get a $7,500 tax credit from the federal government, so this additional rebate, if enacted, would make the handout a cool $10,000 for the predominately white, wealthy, liberals who purchase electric vehicles, courtesy of low and middle income families. This is just something to keep in mind as you watch Governor Walz's...

Continue reading
0 Comments
on February 23, 2019
Print
Sticky

In the Tank Episode 179

Written by Isaac Orr
in Energy, Environment, Minnesota Economy

Hello! In this edition of the In the Tank podcast, Donny interviews  Jonathan Williams from ALEC about his organization's latest installment of the Rich States Poor States book. Minnesota does not fair well. Also, we talk about the Supreme Court's unanimous decision to disallow unfair fines and how it pertains to civil asset forfeiture, and we lambaste an incredibly misleading headline by the New York Times on the Green New Deal. https://soundcloud.com/user-694711047/in-the-tank-ep179-rich-states-poor-states-civil-asset-forfeiture-nyt-article-fail...

Continue reading
0 Comments
on February 04, 2019
Print
Sticky

Gas Tax Issue Illustrates Rural, Urban Divide

Written by Isaac Orr
in Agriculture, Energy, Environment, Minnesota Economy, Taxes

The Star Tribune recently ran an opinion piece by James Lenfestey, who advocated for an increase in the gas tax to finance infrastructure improvements and to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, but cautioned lawmakers to keep rural Minnesotans in mind when crafting this policy. While it is admirable that the author wants to be sensitive to the needs of rural Minnesotans, the editorial further illustrates how people living in the metro area have scant idea how the policies they advocate harm those living outside of it....

Continue reading
0 Comments
on January 18, 2019
Print
Sticky

Only Two Electric Cars Premiered At Detroit Auto Show

Written by Isaac Orr
in Energy, Environment

Claims by environmental groups that electric cars would soon be flying off the shelves seem to have missed a key player in making that claim come true: automakers. Rather than a showcase featuring dozens of the leanest-cleanest electric cars on the market, only two plug-in cars were showcased, along with many more SUV's and gas guzzling trucks. The following article was published by the Associated Press: DETROIT (AP) — Automakers have promised to start selling hordes of electric cars in the next few years, but only two will be unveiled at the big Detroit auto show that kicks off this week — and...

Continue reading