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Energy

  • Solutions for Transitioning Coal-Dependent Communities

    Solutions for Transitioning Coal-Dependent Communities

    Mark Haggerty

    The most effective fiscal policies for communities facing transition away from coal dependency are those that build wealth over time and strengthen community capacity. Read more

  • Getting Real About Rural Resilience

    Getting Real About Rural Resilience

    Mark Haggerty

    Rural and isolated communities face wrenching economic and demographic transitions. A solution to uncertainty is to focus on resilience. Read more

  • Coal Transition in Montrose County, Colorado

    Coal Transition in Montrose County, Colorado

    Mark Haggerty

    New fiscal and policy assessments help local leaders understand their exposure to declining revenue and policy barriers during a coal transition. Read more

  • Coal Communities Lack Strong Transition Plans

    Coal Communities Lack Strong Transition Plans

    Mark Haggerty

    A recent review published in the Resources Policy journal with researchers at Montana State University shows that coal communities lack strong transition plans and largely are unprepared for coming changes. Read more

  • Comparing Coal Fiscal Policies for Western States

    Comparing Coal Fiscal Policies for Western States

    Mark Haggerty

    Coal fiscal policies vary widely across the West in terms of how revenue is generated, set aside in permanent savings, or spent by state and local governments. Read more

  • The Context and Status of Colstrip’s Coal-Fired Power Plant

    The Context and Status of Colstrip’s Coal-Fired Power Plant

    Mark Haggerty

    A guide to planning for the long-term social, economic and environmental well-being of the community of Colstrip, Montana. Read more

  • Communities at Risk from Closing Coal Plants

    Communities at Risk from Closing Coal Plants

    Mark Haggerty

    This post compares economic and demographic characteristics of communities where coal-fired power plants have recently retired or are scheduled to retire. Read more

  • Time to Create a Natural Resources Trust

    Time to Create a Natural Resources Trust

    Mark Haggerty

    Unlike most countries and state governments, the U.S. has not created a natural resources trust which could help meet volatility and spending challenges facing local and county governments. Read more

  • As Energy Market Forces Shift Coal Woes West, Transition Planning Should Follow

    As Energy Market Forces Shift Coal Woes West, Transition Planning Should Follow

    Mark Haggerty

    The new Administration’s plans to remove coal regulations should not dampen efforts to shift coal transition planning West to assist displaced workers and diversify coal-dependent communities. Read more

  • Federal Coal Program in Context

    Federal Coal Program in Context

    Mark Haggerty

    Explore the Socioeconomic Context of the Federal Coal Leasing Program Read more

  • Economic Conditions in Communities Dependent on Federal Coal

    Economic Conditions in Communities Dependent on Federal Coal

    Mark Haggerty

    This blog draws on federal data and research to describe more about the local economies of the communities dependent on federal coal. Read more

  • Changed Electric Power Markets Create New Volatility for Coal

    Changed Electric Power Markets Create New Volatility for Coal

    Mark Haggerty

    Lower overall coal generating capacity—the outcome of coal fired power plant retirements and a demand for coal that rises and falls depending on natural gas prices—will create new volatility for coal jobs and for counties, schools, and states that depend on tax revenues from coal. Read more

  • Planning for Montana’s Energy Transition

    Planning for Montana’s Energy Transition

    Mark Haggerty

    While Montana is likely to experience relatively small impacts, coal-dependent communities in Eastern Montana are likely to feel the acute effects of job losses and declining tax revenue in the coming decades. Read more

  • Outcomes of Higher Federal Coal and Natural Gas Royalty Rates

    Outcomes of Higher Federal Coal and Natural Gas Royalty Rates

    Mark Haggerty

    Analysis shows that proposed federal royalty reforms will increase the cost of delivering natural gas to domestic power plants by a greater amount than coal. Read more

  • Coal Royalty Reform: Impact on Prices, Production, and State Revenue

    Coal Royalty Reform: Impact on Prices, Production, and State Revenue

    Mark Haggerty

    The proposed federal coal royalty reform rule could have substantial revenue benefits for federal and state governments, limited impact on coal production or prices on federal lands, and increased transparency. Read more

  • Will Federal Coal Valuation Reforms Hurt the Coal Industry? Yes And No

    Will Federal Coal Valuation Reforms Hurt the Coal Industry? Yes And No

    Mark Haggerty

    The Office of Natural Resources Revenue recently proposed a new rule that would change the way federal coal is valued for royalty purposes. Will it hurt the industry? Yes and No. Read more

  • Unconventional Oil and Gas Revenues to Local Governments

    Unconventional Oil and Gas Revenues to Local Governments

    Mark Haggerty

    This report includes seven major energy-producing states and a new interactive adds four more (AR, LA, and PA). The study and interactive compare how local governments receive production tax revenue from unconventional oil and natural gas. Read more

  • Federal Coal Royalty Valuation: Current Structure, Effective Rates, and Reform Options

    Federal Coal Royalty Valuation: Current Structure, Effective Rates, and Reform Options

    Mark Haggerty

    This report reviews problems with the current federal royalty system, estimates current effective royalty rates, and offers several reform options. Read more

  • Time for a U.S. Natural Resources Trust?

    Time for a U.S. Natural Resources Trust?

    Mark Haggerty

    Compared to other nations and even U.S. states, the federal government is a conspicuous laggard in creating a natural resources trust which would allow for stable, permanent, and ever rising payments to states and local governments without risks to taxpayers. Read more

  • Falling Oil Prices: Good for the U.S. Economy, Bad for Shale Communities?

    Falling Oil Prices: Good for the U.S. Economy, Bad for Shale Communities?

    Mark Haggerty

    Lower oil prices could be great for the economy, but for the communities dependent on drilling, the price drop may prove challenging for several reasons. Read more

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