Publications

Roadway Impacts of Industrial Silica Sand (Frac Sand) Mining

Published September 18, 2015

By Isaac Orr, Mark Krumenacher

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Policy Studies -
As many as 9,000 non-metallic mines operate in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin – approximately one mine for every 3,000 residents. Until recently, those mines have operated without opposition.
Research & Commentary: Gas Tax Hikes Are Not the Answer for Arkansas’ Roads

Published September 15, 2015

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
Early in 2015, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) appointed the Working Group on Highway Funding (WGHF) to find ways to improve transportation funding. Arkansas’ current 21.5 cents-per-gallon gasoline tax and 22.
Research & Commentary: Tennessee’s Transportation Funding

Published August 31, 2015

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam recently began a barnstorming tour across the state promoting additional funding for state transportation and road projects.
- Environment & Energy
Research & Commentary: Are Solar Subsidies Leading to a New Bubble?

Published August 3, 2015

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
Although many industries in the United States have received substantial subsidies from the federal government, few have drawn as much criticism as the solar energy industry.
- Climate Change
- Environment & Energy
Top 10 Global Warming Lies

Published August 1, 2015

By James Taylor

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Policy Briefs -
It's not unusual for the environmental Left to make false assertions to attract media attention and raise money. But a recent mailer from the Environmental Defense Fund “may have set a new low,” writes Heartland Institute Senior Fellow James M.
- Environment & Energy
Research & Commentary: The Exelon Bailout

Published June 26, 2015

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
Over the past year, the Exelon Corporation, which owns ComEd, the largest provider of electricity in Illinois, has been pushing state legislators to create a "low carbon portfolio standard” (LCPS).
Policy Tip Sheet: Constitutional Reform

Published June 17, 2015

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Policy Tip Sheets -
Problem America is facing a crisis on multiple fronts: $18 trillion national debt, less health care freedom, and crippling federal regulations.
- Environment & Energy
Research & Commentary: North Carolina Renewable Energy and Efficiency Portfolio Standard

Published June 4, 2015

By Taylor Smith, Nathan Makla

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Research and Commentaries -
North Carolina is considering joining Ohio, West Virginia, and Kansas by rolling back its Renewable Energy and Efficiency Portfolio Standard (REPS), a law which arbitrarily requires utilities to generate 12.
- Climate Change
- Environment & Energy
Economic Impacts of Industrial Silica Sand (Frac Sand) Mining

Published June 1, 2015

By Isaac Orr, Mark Krumenacher

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Policy Studies -
Second in a series#137 (May 2015) Environmental Impacs of Industrial Silica Sand (Frac Sand) MiningHydraulic fracturing for oil and natural gas production has dramatically increased the demand for industrial silica sand, known as “frac sand,” available
- Environment & Energy
Best Options for Potential Nuclear Power Plant Closings in Illinois

Published May 26, 2015

By James Taylor, Taylor Smith

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Policy Briefs -
Exelon claims three of its Illinois nuclear power plants are uneconomical and has asked the Illinois legislature to allow it to force ratepayers to pay more to keep them operating. The authors of a new Heartland Policy Brief say that would be a mistake.
- Environment & Energy
The Leaflet: Heartland Releases Frac Sand Mining Policy Brief

Published May 14, 2015

By Nathan Makla

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The Leaflet -
Heartland Releases Frac Sand Mining Policy Brief In Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, industrial sand, known as “frac sand,” mining has created thousands of high-paying jobs.
- Environment & Energy
Research & Commentary: North Dakota Federal Environmental Law Impact Review Fund

Published May 11, 2015

By Bette Grande

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Research and Commentaries -
The North Dakota House of Representatives has passed a new law to form a committee to review federal legislation and agency regulations that detrimentally impact, or have the potential to detrimentally impact, the state’s agricultural, coal, and/or oil
Research & Commentary: Does Minnesota Need a Gas Tax Increase?

Published April 29, 2015

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton (D) has proposed a 6.5 percent increase to the state’s excise tax on gasoline at the wholesale level, an increase of 16 cents per gallon over the next four years.
Research & Commentary: Does Minnesota Need a Gas Tax Increase?

Published April 29, 2015

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton (D) has proposed a 6.5 percent increase to the state’s excise tax on gasoline at the wholesale level, an increase of 16 cents per gallon over the next four years.
- Environment & Energy
Research & Commentary: Rolling Back North Carolina’s Renewable Power Mandate

Published April 15, 2015

By John Nothdurft, Taylor Smith

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Research and Commentaries -
North Carolina is considering rolling back its Renewable Energy and Efficiency Portfolio Standard (REPS) law requiring utilities to generate from renewable sources 12.5 percent of retail electricity sales by 2021.
- Environment & Energy
Research & Commentary: Direct Solar and Renewable Sales

Published April 13, 2015

By James Taylor

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Research and Commentaries -
Research & Commentary: Direct Solar and Renewable Sales The solar power industry is pushing states for special carve-outs that would grant them (and in some cases, the renewable power industry as a whole) a new and exclusive monopoly right to produce
Research & Commentary: Pennsylvania Severance Tax

Published March 26, 2015

By Matthew Glans, Isaac Orr

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Research and Commentaries -
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) is proposing a $2.5 billion net tax increase as part of his 2015–16 budget. These tax hikes include a new 5 percent severance tax on natural gas, calculated on the value of gas at the wellhead plus 4.
- Environment & Energy
The Leaflet: New Fracking Regulations for States

Published March 26, 2015

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The Leaflet -
New Fracking Regulations for StatesIn the past week, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced that it is issuing newregulations on certain techniques of drilling for natural gas and oil- hydraulic fracturing, commonly called “fracking.
- Environment & Energy
Research & Commentary: Kansas Renewable Portfolio Standard

Published March 11, 2015

By Nathan Makla, Taylor Smith

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Research and Commentaries -
In 2009, then-Gov. Mark Parkinson (D) signed into law Kansas’s renewable portfolio standard (RPS), requiring at least 10 percent of electricity generation capacity in Kansas be from renewable sources.
- Environment & Energy
The Leaflet: 2015, the Year of Energy Policy

Published March 6, 2015

By Nathan Makla

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The Leaflet -
2015, the Year of Energy PolicyEnergy is the lifeblood of the economy, not government, and it should determine what fuels consumers will use to heat their homes and power their automobiles.
- Environment & Energy
Research & Commentary: Illinois Low Carbon Portfolio Standard

Published March 6, 2015

By John Nothdurft

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Research and Commentaries -
Exelon has threatened to shut down three of its six Illinois nuclear power plants because they are unprofitable without government assistance.
- Environment & Energy
Testimony before the Minnesota State Senate Environment and Energy Committee

Published March 3, 2015

By Nathan Makla

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Testimony -
[Below is an excerpt of Heartland Government Relations Manager, Nathan Makla, March 3, 2015 testimony before the Minnesota State Senate Environment and Energy Committee, in favor of lifting the states moratorium on the construction of new nuclear power
- Environment & Energy
Research & Commentary: Vermont Renewable Portfolio Mandate

Published February 23, 2015

By Taylor Smith

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Research and Commentaries -
Vermont is the only state in the Northeast without a renewable portfolio mandate. In his inaugural address, Gov.
Research & Commentary: Federal Gasoline Taxes

Published February 18, 2015

By Matthew Glans

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Research and Commentaries -
According to Forbes, the Congressional Budget Office has estimated that in 2024 alone the Highway Trust Fund will spend $18 billion more than it brings in. The CBO estimates the cumulative shortfall over the next decade will top $160 billion.

Publications

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