Green Energy from Garbage? A Case Study of Municipal Solid Waste’s Contested Inclusion in Maryland’s Renewable Portfolio Standard

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Ingrid Behrsin
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
State Level ◽  
The United States ◽  
Green Energy ◽  
Renewable Portfolio Standard ◽  
Policy Tools ◽  
Critical Thought ◽  
Climate Policies ◽  
The U.S

Renewable portfolio standards (RPSs) are powerful state-level climate policy tools that set minimum renewable energy targets. They have been adopted by 29 states, in the United States (U.S.) as well as Washington, D.C., and have fueled much of the growth in the U.S. renewable energy sector. However, because these policy tools are state-driven, the technologies and fuel types included in each state’s RPS vary. In this article, I discuss the inclusion of municipal solid waste in Maryland’s RPS, and a social movement for environmental justice that has emerged around this decision. Given the prominence of RPSs in both fueling renewable energy adoption in the U.S., as well as in encouraging particular technologies, it is increasingly important to interrogate the types of technologies and fuel sources that climate policies like RPSs incentivize, and how they are received by the communities for which they are proposed. Thus, this article’s objective is to inspire critical thought about the classification schemes that govern renewable energy production.

Shooting for Perfection: Hawaii’s Goal of 100% Renewable Energy Use

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Barry D. Solomon ◽  
Adam M. Wellstead
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Power Systems ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Population Distribution ◽  
The United States ◽  
Renewable Portfolio Standard ◽  
Renewable Energy Resources ◽  
Almost All

In the United States, 29 states, Washington, D.C. and three territories have adopted a mandatory Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) for their electric power systems, while eight states and one territory have set renewable energy goals. Many foreign nations have adopted an RPS as well. Thus far, almost all RPSs across the United States have met their interim goals with targets and timetables that vary widely. Hawaii’s RPS is the most ambitious, with a 100% target set for 2045 (though Vermont set a 75% target for 2032). This paper provides a case study of the Hawai’i RPS. The paper focuses on geographical issues and perspectives that may tease out the course of the states’ electricity future: sensitivity to climate change, population distribution, interisland rivalries, as well as the need for greater energy storage and complementary policies. An important complexity is the challenge of meeting electricity demand on six separate Hawaiian Islands (because of the lack of an interisland transmission cable), although all of them have substantial renewable energy resources.

Survey Research on Legal System of Floating Residence and on Management of Water Utilization in the United States: Case Study on Seattle, Washington and Sausalito, California

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daisuke Dobashi ◽  
Akio Kuroyanagi ◽  
Ryo Sugahara
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Survey Research ◽  
The United States ◽  
Web Survey ◽  
The West ◽  
Effective Utilization ◽  
Water Utilization ◽  
Building Standards ◽  
The U.S

Effective utilization of oceanic space in Japan is just recent compared to U.S. Since the end of 19th century, water utilization and management for residence constructed on lake was promoted in U.S. It is then the aim of this paper to comprehend the laws and regulations for floating residence as well as water utilization and management of United States. Through web survey, each State in United States will be searched if there are existing laws and regulation on floating residence. After searching and reading all conditions of the U.S. States regarding laws and regulation as well as legal positions on floating residence, two states in the west coast of U.S: Seattle in Washington and Sausalito, California are chosen for this study. Floating residence in U.S. are divided into two; the Floating Homes and Houseboats. Floating Homes are handled by law the same with homes built in land while Houseboats are treated as type of ship. The State managing the water will lease it to the private sector, then, building of Floating Home will be carried out. Furthermore, design and construction of Floating Homes follow the building standards of the counties and cities where it will be built.

Human Trafficking, Immigration Regulation, and Subfederal Criminalization

2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 96-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer M. Chacón
Keyword(s):  
State Level ◽  
The United States ◽  
Trafficking In Persons ◽  
International Regulation ◽  
The Past ◽  
Women And Children ◽  
Comparative Treatment ◽  
Systemic Problems ◽  
Trafficking Victims ◽  
The U.S

In the fifteen years since the enactment of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act—the U.S. legislation implementing the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children—every state in the United States has enacted its own, state-level antitrafficking law. This paper presents a multistate survey of state-level antitrafficking laws and the criminal prosecutions that have been conducted pursuant to those over the past decade. The comparative treatment of noncitizens and citizens in antitrafficking prosecutions is of particular concern. This research reveals that while subfederal implementation of antitrafficking laws has the potential to complement stated federal and international antitrafficking objectives, it also has the power to subvert and undermine those goals. State-level enforcement both mirrors and amplifies some of the systemic problems that arise when the criminal law is used as a tool to combat trafficking, including the manipulation of antitrafficking tools and rhetoric to perpetuate racial subordination and migrant criminalization. Ultimately, this research offers broader theoretical insights into the promises and pitfalls of overlapping criminal jurisdiction both within federalist systems and within frameworks of international regulation.

scholarly journals Learning from Past Policy: Assessing United States Foreign Policy over Indonesia in Resolving the 1999 East Timor Crisis

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Sigit S. Nugroho
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
The United States ◽  
East Timor ◽  
United States Foreign Policy ◽  
Case Study Analysis ◽  
High Degree ◽  
The U.S

Assessing the output of past foreign policy is instrumental for any country to learn policy-relevant insights, to appreciate its experience, and to improve its future conduct. To glean such insights, this article borrows Baldwin’s framework in assessing the success and failure in foreign policy. Using a case study analysis, it assesses the United States’ (U.S.) influence attempt towards Indonesia to resolve the 1999 East Timor humanitarian crisis. President Clinton’s decision to undergo an influence attempt primarily aimed to change Indonesia’s policy while gaining support from U.S. allies in the process. The article finds that Clinton’s decision was a highly successful attempt. This finding is based on several factors: (1) the attempt effectively attained the intended primary and secondary goals at a considerably high degree; (2) it was conducted at a considerably low cost for the U.S.; (3) it inflicted a high cost towards Indonesia; (4) the increase in Clinton’s stake strengthened the U.S. resolve to pursue the influence attempt; and (5) Clinton had successfully overcome the difficult undertaking as Indonesia possessed higher stake over East Timor. These findings provide some lessons for both U.S. and Indonesian foreign policymakers to chart future relations for the two nations.

Assessing the Role of Environmental and Regulatory Issues on Offshore Renewable Energy Projects in the United States

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
William H. Daughdrill
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
The United States ◽  
Environmental Impact Statement ◽  
Regulatory Issues ◽  
Energy Projects ◽  
The U.S

This paper will describe some of the key environmental and regulatory issues affecting development of offshore renewable energy projects in the United States. Offshore wind, wave, tidal current, and ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) projects all have unique environmental and social issues that must be addressed to the satisfaction of federal, state, and local authorities. This paper examines the existing federal regulatory schemes applicable to offshore renewable energy development in the United States including a discussion of an on-going jurisdictional debate between agencies at the U.S. federal government level. The various permitting processes for offshore renewable energy projects all involve an examination of the potential environmental and social/human effects of each proposed project. Typically, the agency with primary permitting authority must prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) or equivalent document that includes a transparent process that encourages the participation of the interested public and other affected stakeholders. While acknowledging the importance of social/human impact issues, this paper will focus primarily on the potential physical and biological effects from offshore renewable energy projects including a discussion of the uncertainty that surrounds predicting the impact of new or innovative technologies. The U.S. Department of Interior, Minerals Management Service (MMS) recently published a programmatic environmental impact statement (EIS) that includes 52 “best management practices” for reducing environmental and social impacts from offshore alternative energy projects. Finally the paper will examine the important role of environmental monitoring and adaptive management in informing regulators and developers of potential adverse impacts and adapting project design and operations to avoid or minimize these effects.

scholarly journals Optimization and Techno-Economic Analysis of PV-Wind Power Systems for Rural Location in India.

2020 ◽  
Vol 170 ◽  
pp. 01015
Author(s):  
Avinash Kaldate ◽  
Amarsingh Kanase-Patil ◽  
Shashikant Lokhande
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Power Systems ◽  
Hybrid System ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Green Energy ◽  
Graphical Form ◽  
Hybrid Renewable Energy System ◽  
Optimum Planning ◽  
Wind Power Systems

One downside to Green Energy is that it cannot be estimated. Therefore, determining the optimum planning and perfect working strategies for the resources to be included in the hybrid system is very important. HOMER software has been used in this research paper to solve the case study of the hybrid renewable energy system. Due to its extensive analytical capabilities and advanced prediction capabilities based on the sensitivity of variables, HOMER is one of the most used software for optimal planning purposes. A case study for the sizing of a renewable energy-based hybrid system is solved in this article, using the Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Resources (HOMER) software. Photovoltaic panels (PV panels), wind turbines (WT), batteries, converters, electric charge and grid are used in case study. The results of the simulation are presented in graphical form and tabulated for better system visualization. The design of a system to supply 6.8 KWh/d whereas the peak is 1.04 KW electric loads has been performed using HOMER software. In order to allow the user to choose the most suitable option, a comparative analysis has made, showing the pros and cons of cases. Optimum construction conditions help to lower operating costs.

scholarly journals A Dream of Dual Citizenship

Genealogy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 56
Author(s):  
Karen Bernadette Mclean Dade
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Legal Status ◽  
The United States ◽  
Dual Citizenship ◽  
Family Stories ◽  
Cabo Verde ◽  
Language Class ◽  
The Government ◽  
The U.S

Many problems exist for United States (U.S.) descendants of Cabo Verde (In 2015, the government of Cabo Verde asked in the United Nations that the official name be Cabo Verde in all documents, opposed to the colonial version, “Cape Verde”) Islands seeking dual citizenship. Much of this is due to multiple 20th century racial discriminatory practices by the U.S. in soliciting cheap labor from Cabo Verde Islands, including changing the birth names of Cabo Verdean immigrants when they entered the United States. Without knowing the true birth names of their ancestors, descendants such as myself have no access to proof of birth in the dual citizenship process. Years often pass by as Cabo Verdean Americans search for clues that may lead to proving their legal status through family stories, and track related names as well as birth and death records. For many, dual citizenship may never be granted from the Cabo Verdean government, despite having U.S. death certificates that state that the family member was born in Cabo Verde. This autobiographical case study explores why so many Cabo Verdean Americans seek dual citizenship with a strong desire to connect to their motherland. Moreover, issues related to language, class and colorism discrimination between Cabo Verdean-born immigrants and descendants in the U.S. are explored. In so doing, the researcher hopes to ameliorate the divisions between the current government policies and Cabo Verdean American descendants, as well as build greater intracultural connections between those born in the Cabo Verde Islands and those born in the U.S. and elsewhere.

Who Writes Criminal Laws? Actors, Values, and Institutions in Criminal Law-Making / Wer schreibt das Strafrecht? Akteure, Werte und Institutionen der Strafrechts-gesetzbegung

2014 ◽  
Vol 34 (1-2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Hammel
Keyword(s):  
Criminal Law ◽  
Structural Difference ◽  
State Level ◽  
The United States ◽  
Expert Control ◽  
Nation States ◽  
Historical Factors ◽  
Penal Law ◽  
The U.S ◽  
Law Making

AbstractThe responses of the U.S. and Europe to increased crime from the 1960s to the 1990s differed starkly: the U.S. enacted a punitive agenda, while penal polity and incarceration rates in Western (and Eastern) Europe remained gener­ally stable. To explain this divergence, many commentators invoke cultural or historical factors such as America’s ‘frontier mentality” or Calvinist religious heritage. This article proposes another focus: differing cultures of criminal law-making. During the Enlightenment, a pattern of expert control over penal law emerged in most European nation-states. The pattern still holds - even today, major changes to penal polity are still entrusted to groups of elite professors, jurists and senior civil servants, who create coherent codes covering the entire national territory. In the United States, no tradition of expert control took hold. Criminal law is made at the state level, there is little emphasis on logical code-drafting and shifting local majorities can pass new criminal laws almost at will This structural difference in who writes criminal laws has far-reaching effects not only on the how crime is defined, but on other factors such as public expectations of the criminal justice system and the values penal legislation is thought to express.

The Not-So-Strange Birth of the Modern American State: A Comment on James A. Henretta's “Charles Evans Hughes and the Strange Death of Liberal America”

2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 193-199 ◽  
Author(s):  
William J. Novak
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Supreme Court ◽  
Social Scientist ◽  
The United States ◽  
Public Law ◽  
Turn Of The Century ◽  
Legal Opinions ◽  
History Of ◽  
The U.S

James Henretta's “Charles Evans Hughes and the Strange Death of Liberal America” takes up one of the most interesting and important interpretive questions in the history of American political economy. What explains the dramatic transformation in liberal ideology and governance between 1877 and 1937 that carried the United States from laissez-faire constitutionalism to New Deal statism, from classical liberalism to democratic social-welfarism? That question has preoccupied legions of historians, political-economists, and legal scholars (as well as politicians and ideologues) at least since Hughes himself opened the October 1935 Term of the U.S. Supreme Court in a brand new building and amid a rising chorus of constitutional criticism. Henretta, wisely in my opinion, looks to law, particularly public law, for new insights into that great transformation. But, of course, the challenge in using legal history to answer such a question is the enormous increase in the actual policy output of courts, legislatures, and administrative agencies in this period. Trying to synthesize the complex changes in “law-in-action” in the fiercely contested forums of turn-of-the-century America sometimes seems the historical-sociological equivalent of attempting to empty the sea with a slotted spoon. Like any good social scientist, Henretta responds to the impossibility of surveying the whole by taking a sample. Through a case-study of the ideas, political reforms, and legal opinions of Charles Evans Hughes, particularly as governor of New York and associate and chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, Henretta offers us in microcosm the story of the revolution (or rather several revolutions) in modern American governance.

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