
Having a successful business takes a lot of hard work, good market analysis, a better product or service than the competition, and advertising. Add in a bit of luck, and hopefully it will grow. If, however, you are a politically favored business—say solar—your story is different.
by Marita Noon4 Jan 2016, 8:27 AM PST0

Last year, when Republicans gained a decisive edge in both houses of Congress, I made predictions as to the six energy-policy changes we could expect—as the two parties have very different views on energy issues.
by Marita Noon29 Dec 2015, 10:16 AM PST0

The decades-old legislation that prevented American producers from exporting oil is officially overturned despite previous presidential threats to veto a bill to lift the oil export ban. That’s good policy. However, to get the support of “reluctant Democrats,” The Economist
by Marita Noon21 Dec 2015, 8:15 AM PST0

Recently, the Sierra Club announced an effort “to prevent the extraction of fossil fuels right from the start,” a campaign known as “Keep it in the ground.” The plan seeks to “shut down coal mines, and crack down on hydraulic fracturing, along with stopping the transportation of fossil fuels in oil trains, pipelines and coal export terminals.”
by Marita Noon15 Dec 2015, 10:27 AM PST0

Paris, the City of Light, which earned its moniker by early on adapting natural gas to light its public spaces, hosts COP21 (the 21st Conference of the Parties)—often referred to as the UN Climate Change Conference—that aims to end the use of fossil fuels. There, more than 150 world leaders gathered under the guise of, supposedly, slowing the warming of the planet.
by Marita Noon7 Dec 2015, 1:14 PM PST0

For years, water, or, more accurately, its scarcity, has been predicted to be the next doomsday scenario.
by Marita Noon30 Nov 2015, 12:28 PM PST0

Without the evangelical community’s involvement, efforts to build a “broad coalition to pass major climate policies” are “doomed,” according to a report just released from New America.
by Marita Noon23 Nov 2015, 8:48 AM PST0

Early in his campaign, now top-tier Republican presidential candidate, Ben Carson, supported ethanol—a position for which I called him out. It has long been thought, that to win in Iowa, a candidate must support ethanol. However, in a major policy reversal, Carson told a national audience during the CNBC GOP debate that he no longer supports subsidies for any industry, including U.S. ethanol producers.
by Marita Noon16 Nov 2015, 1:45 PM PST0

For the first time, “Catholic leaders representing all regional and national bishops conferences” have come together in a “joint appeal.” According to reporting in the New York Times, Cardinal Oswald Gracias, archbishop of Mumbai, India, called the October 26 meeting at the Vatican a “historic occasion.” What brought all these Catholic leaders together for the first time? Not the refugee crisis in Europe. Not the plight of Christians in the Middle East. Not a prayer meeting or a Bible study. It was climate change.
by Marita Noon9 Nov 2015, 7:22 AM PST0

Less than one month from now the nations of the world will meet in Paris for the 21st Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21).
by Marita Noon2 Nov 2015, 10:27 AM PST0

The American consumer resists marketing aimed at selling them electric and hybrid vehicles. For the first quarter of 2015, according to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Chevrolet sold 1,874 Volts—its electric car introduced in 2010 with “high expectations.” That roughly equals the number of Silverado pick-up trucks sold in one day.
by Marita Noon25 Oct 2015, 8:43 PM PST0

MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow gleefully teased the earthquakes in Oklahoma as “the story that might keep you up at night.” On her October 16 show, she stated that Oklahoma’s earthquakes are: “The terrible and unintended consequence of the way we get oil and gas out of the ground.… from fracking operations.” Yet, when her guest, Jeremy Boak, Oklahoma Geological Survey director, corrected her by saying “it’s not actually frackwater,” she didn’t change her tune.
by Marita Noon19 Oct 2015, 8:25 PM PST0

Americans are sick of the bickering in Washington and want both parties to cooperate and get something done. Friday, October 9, offered proof that this can still happen. The house passed H.R. 702, the bill to lift the decades old oil export ban—with 26 Democrats joining the majority of Republicans and voting for it.
by Marita Noon12 Oct 2015, 7:25 AM PST0

Washington’s overreach has been rolled back by courts and commissioners. In little more than 30 days, there have been five distinct cases that you may have missed—each a victory for responsible land use.
by Marita Noon6 Oct 2015, 7:48 AM PST0

While Pope Francis shuttled around during his historic visit to the U.S. in a Fiat, he shared the news cycle with Volkswagen.
by Marita Noon28 Sep 2015, 8:15 AM PST0

Congress has taken action that actually advances free markets and limits government intrusion.
by Marita Noon22 Sep 2015, 8:38 AM PST0

“Whether you support this deal or not, we can all agree that America’s commitment to Israel remains unshakeable. And we will continue—Democrats and Republicans united—to stand with Israel,” says a statement from Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI). Despite widespread opposition from
by Marita Noon14 Sep 2015, 9:51 AM PST0

Am I the only one who finds it incongruous that President Obama, when on a carefully choreographed trip to Alaska that highlighted global warming, announced the accelerated acquisition of ice breakers?
by Marita Noon8 Sep 2015, 8:50 AM PST0

Failing to push its unpopular policies through Congress, the Obama administration has resorted to regulatory overreach—and assembled a campaign to use friendly governors and state attorneys generals, in collaboration with pressure groups and ideologically aligned benefactors, to advance the agenda.
by Marita Noon31 Aug 2015, 10:27 AM PST0

A little more than a year ago, oil prices reached above $100 a barrel. Gasoline averaged in the $3.50 range nationally. In late spring, oil appeared $60ish and the national average for gas remained around $2.70. The price of a barrel of oil has since plunged to $40 and below—yet, prices at the pump remain just slightly less than they were when oil was almost double what it is today.
by Marita Noon24 Aug 2015, 10:45 AM PST0

Unless a federal judge issues a preliminary injunction, the definition of the “Waters of the U.S.” will change on August 28—giving the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the authority to regulate the water in your backyard.
by Marita Noon19 Aug 2015, 7:38 AM PST0

President Obama’s Clean Power Plan, released in its final form on Monday, August 3, sparked jubilation in the solar industry. The same day, however, some other news reminded the public of what happens when government policy mandates and incentivizes a favored energy source: Taxpayer dollars are gobbled up and investors lose out.
by Marita Noon10 Aug 2015, 9:14 AM PST0

The Clinton campaign’s newly announced “ambitious renewable energy plans” move far beyond Obama’s highly criticized efforts that have increased costs and jeopardized reliability. But they appease environmental activists and wealthy donors.
by Marita Noon4 Aug 2015, 6:43 AM PST0

President Obama’s confusing approach to energy encourages our enemies who shout “death to America” as it penalizes our closest allies and even our own job creators.
by Marita Noon27 Jul 2015, 10:08 AM PST0

Mexico’s President Enrique Peña Nieto reformed his country’s energy policy and invited outside intelligence and investment to boost slumping oil output. In late 2013, he amended the Constitution to allow private and foreign companies to explore and produce oil and gas in Mexico—for the first time in nearly eight decades. The amendments put an end to the government monopoly. Nieto hopes his reforms will bring in $50 billion in investment by 2018.
by Marita Noon20 Jul 2015, 8:17 AM PST0