The CLOSUP Energy & Environmental Policy Initiative

Summary

CLOSUP's Energy and Environmental Policy Initiative (EEPI), launched in the fall of 2012, is a program of coordinated activities designed to bring the latest academic knowledge to bear on issues of energy, environment, and climate policy. Through a combination of research projects, events, classroom activities, and publications, EEPI seeks to inform policy-relevant discussions among policymakers and other stakeholders with new research findings.

Research

Under the direction of professor Barry Rabe at CLOSUP, and professor Christopher Borick at Muhlenberg College, one core set of research activities in the EEPI was a series of surveys of American public opinion, conducted jointly by CLOSUP and the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion (MCIPO). Originally known as the National Survey of American Public Opinion on Climate Change, as of fall 2012 this program of research was renamed the National Surveys on Energy and Environment (NSEE). NSEE included twice-per-year surveys in the spring and fall focused on climate change and a wide range of related issues under the EEPI umbrella.

CLOSUP's Fracking Project, part of the wider Energy and Environmental Policy Initiative (EEPI), launched in the fall 2012 with a survey on fracking in Michigan and Pennsylvania, part of the National Surveys on Energy and Environment. The Fracking Project included survey research, case studies, web-based information resources, policy events, and more, with the goal of informing policy debate around the issue of hyrdraulic fracturing for natural gas, more commonly known as "fracking."

The CLOSUP Wind Project, also part of the EEPI, aims to improve understanding of state and local policy issues related to utility-scale wind energy development. This project originated from three surveys conducted in 2013 and 2014-one of residents in the Great Lakes region, another of local officials in Michigan, and a third of farmland owners near four Michigan windfarms.

For more information on the CLOSUP Energy & Environmental Policy Initiative, contact CLOSUP staff at 734-647-4091 or by email to closup@umich.edu.

Highlighted EEPI Publications

• See the new paper in Commonwealth, A Journal of Pennsylvania Politics and Policy: "Leaving Money on the Table: Pennsylvania Exceptionalism in Resisting Energy Severance Taxes" by Rachel Hampton and Barry Rabe
• See the new paper in Climate Change Economics: "Individual Discount Rates and Climate Change: Is Discount Rate Associated with Support for A Carbon Tax?" by David Amdur, Donald Dale, Christopher Borick, and Barry Rabe.
• See Prof. Barry Rabe's chapter "A New Era in States' Climate Policies?" in the new book by CQ Press and edited by Yael Wolinsky-Nahmias. Changing Climate Politics: US Policies and Civic Action is available from the CQ Press store and Amazon.
• See the recent article by Prof. Barry Rabe in the journal Governance: "The Durability of Carbon Cap-and-Trade Policy"

Energy & Environmental Policy Initiative in the News: Recent Coverage

• SolarBuilder Magazine: Michigan’s utility-scale solar is about to boom — is the state ready for it?, Mar 12, 2020
• Energy Central: With wave of solar on the horizon, most Michigan communities lack policies, Mar 7, 2020
• The Conversation: A home that will keep you warm and cool the planet – Imagine newsletter #7, Mar 5, 2020
• USA Today: Like a 'second wife': Wind energy gives American farmers a new crop to sell in tough times, Feb 16, 2020
• American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy: How can efficiency and renewables help rural communities? Conference speaker previews her research, Jan 15, 2020
• WHMI 93.5 FM, Handy Township, MI: Researcher Talks Renewable Energy Potential In Handy Twp., Dec 23, 2019
• Energy News Network: Michigan utility’s first brownfield solar project highlights promise, challenges, Nov 4, 2019
• Publicnow.com: 'An Evening Of Denial' To Feature Advocates And Experts On The Impact Of The Rejection Of Scientific Knowledge, Oct 21, 2019
• USA Today: As climate threat looms, Texas Republicans have a solution: giant wind farm everywhere, Oct 18, 2019
• Bridge: Opinion | Wind turbines helping fund schools? It’s happening in Michigan, Aug 26, 2019

Energy & Environmental Policy Initiative Resources

• See the EEPI home page
• See the NSEE (Surveys) home page
• See the Fracking Project
• See the Wind Project

Reports Belief (and Disbelief) in Global Warming: 10 Years of Attitudes about Climate Change in the NSEE (October 2019) Adaptation, Mitigation, and Geoengineering: 10 Years of Climate Action in the NSEE (December 2018) More reports Findings from the Fall 2018 NSEE (November 2018) Global Warming and the American Voter in the 2018 Midterms: Perspectives from the Fall 2018 NSEE (October 2018) Solar, Wind, and State Mandates: 10 Years of Renewable Energy in the NSEE (October 2018) Federalism and California’s Role in Light-Duty & Heavy-Duty Vehicle Emissions Standards (July 2018) Fuel Economy, Electric Vehicle Rebates, and Gas Taxes: 10 Years of Transportation Policies in the NSEE (July 2018) As Americans Experienced the Warmest May on Record Their Acceptance of Global Warming Reaches a New High (July 2018) American Opinions on Carbon Taxes and Cap-and-Trade: 10 Years of Carbon Pricing in the NSEE (June 2018) Should State and Local Governments Address Climate Change? 10 Years of Climate Federalism in the NSEE (March 2018) Coal, Natural Gas, and Pipelines: 10 Years of Fossil Fuels in the NSEE (February 2018) A Majority of Americans Support Net Energy Metering (September 2017) Strong Public Support for State-level Policies to Address Climate Change (June 2017) Moving the Needle on American Support for a Carbon Tax (March 2017) Fewer Americans Doubt Global Warming is Occurring (August 2016) American Views on Fracking (May 2016) American Attitudes about the Clean Power Plan and Policies for Compliance (December 2015) Acceptance of Global Warming Rising for Americans of all Religious Beliefs (November 2015) Acceptance of Global Warming Among Americans Reaches Highest Level Since 2008 (October 2015) Belief in Global Warming Among Americans Gradually Increases Following the Winter of 2015 (July 2015) Cap-and-Trade Support Linked to Revenue Use (June 2015) Widespread Public Support for Renewable Energy Mandates Despite Proposed Rollbacks (June 2015) Neighbors Diverge: An Explanation for the Differences in Silica Sand Mining Activity in Wisconsin and Minnesota (May 2015) Public Perceptions of Hydraulic Fracturing in Three Marcellus Shale States (May 2015) Acceptance of Global Warming Among Americans Moderately Increases in Late 2014 (February 2015) Public support for regulation of power plant emissions under the Clean Power Plan (January 2015) Public Opinion on Hydraulic Fracturing in the Province of Quebec: A Comparison with Michigan and Pennsylvania (October 2014) Opportunity, Risk, and Public Acceptability: The Question of Shale Gas Exploitation in Québec (October 2014) Shale Governance in the European Union: Principles and Practice (October 2014) National Surveys on Energy and Environment: Public Perceptions of Shale Gas Extraction and Hydraulic Fracturing in New York and Pennsylvania (September 2014) National Surveys on Energy and Environment: Public Views on a Carbon Tax Depend on the Proposed Use of Revenues (July 2014) National Surveys on Energy and Environment: American Acceptance of Global Warming Retreats in Wake of Winter 2014 (June 2014) National Surveys on Energy and Environment: Public opinion on climate change and support for various policy instruments in Canada and the US: Findings from a comparative 2013 poll (June 2014) Environmental Policy in the Great Lakes Region: Current Issues and Public Opinion (April 2014) Shale Gas and Hydraulic Fracturing in the Great Lakes Region: Current Issues and Public Opinion (April 2014) Wind Energy Development in the Great Lakes Region: Current Issues and Public Opinion (April 2014) National Surveys on Energy and Environment: The Decline of Public Support for State Climate Change Policies: 2008-2013 (March 2014) Using Information Disclosure to Achieve Policy Goals: How Experience with the Toxics Release Inventory Can Inform Action on Natural Gas Fracturing (March 2014) State of the Debate: Natural Gas Fracking in New York's Marcellus Shale (January 2014) National Surveys on Energy and Environment: The Chilling Effect of Winter 2013 on American Acceptance of Global Warming (June 2013) National Surveys on Energy and Environment: Public Opinion on Fracking: Perspectives from Michigan and Pennsylvania (May 2013) National Surveys on Energy and Environment: Findings Report for Belief-Related Questions (March 2013) National Surveys on Energy and Environment: Public Opinion on Climate Policy Options (Dec. 2012) Working paper: Feasibility and Implications of the Michigan 2012 Proposal 3 for a 25% State Renewable Portfolio Standard (Oct. 2012) Fracking for Natural Gas: Public Opinion on State Policy Options (Nov. 2011) Climate Compared: Public Opinion on Climate Change in the United States and Canada (Feb. 2011) Survey of Michigan Residents on the Issue of Global Warming and Climate Policy Options: Key Findings Report (Feb. 2008)

Videos Barry Rabe: Taxes on fracking? Politics in the shale era (Nov. 2014) More videos Barry Rabe: Fewer Americans Think Global Warming Is Happening (Oct. 2014) Barry Rabe: Public opinion on fracking in Michigan & Pennsylvania (May 2013) Barry Rabe: Two-thirds of Americans now believe global warming is real (March 2013) Barry Rabe: A majority of Americans say the federal government should address climate change (Dec. 2012) Barry Rabe: Mixed opinions on fracking (April 2012) Chris Borick: Shifting opinions on climate change (April 2012)

More on the Energy & Environmental Policy Initiative

• EEPI activities in the news, media, & blogs
• EEPI presentations
• EEPI newsletters
• EEPI reference materials