The University of Delaware, in conjunction with the National Renewable Energy Lab, is seeking a grant from a $180 million fund established by the U. S. Department of Energy for a wind turbine research project to be built off the coast of Delaware. The effort has the full support of Delaware’s congressional delegation, the Markell Administration, and the tacit agreement of Delmarva Power to buy the electrical power output from the project, albeit it must be “competitively” pri

As governments in Delaware and throughout the Northeast and Midwest struggles with writing checks that they now are unable to cash, perhaps it is time to consider a Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR). Colorado was the first state to introduce a TABOR in 1992. The provision, approved by voters, capped state government spending at the growth rate of population and inflation. While other amendments have been made to the reform, the basic cap remains in place. How would government

According to the 2010 FBI Uniform Crime Report, the violent and property crime rates in Delaware are well above surrounding states and the nation. Surprisingly, except for the City of Wilmington, the highest 2010 crime rates are concentrated in Sussex County towns and cities. Expressed as incidents of crime per 100,000 population, nine out of the top ten highest violent crime and property crime rates occur in Sussex County communities in 2010. These crime rates are well above

Delaware’s Goods Producing sector, like manufacturing and construction, declined 24% from pre-recession levels to 2012! The rest of the country was only down 2% and is on the way to full recovery. There are policy barriers that can be fixed to get manufacturing and construction moving. I offer a few suggestions below:               We need to reform our three vocational technology schools that have transformed into quasi-college preparatory schools. We also need to provide pa

In August of 2009 Delaware raised its cigarette tax from $1.15 to $1.60 per pack of 20 smokes. The consequences were predictable.   State revenue from the cigarette tax fell between 2009 and 2012. In part this was due to the higher price discouraging smoking. In addition, however, Delawares position in the region as a source of cigarettes for smugglers fell.According to recent data from the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, 62% of cigarettes sold in Delaware in 2006 was brou

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ANNOUNCING NEW ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBER   WILMINGTON, DE, October 12, 2018  -- The Caesar Rodney Institute (CRI) is pleased to announce Edwin J. Feulner Jr., PhD has joined CRI’s Advisory Council. Dr. Feulner is the founder and former president of the Heritage Foundation, Washington’s leading public policy organization.   Dr. Feulner was a consultant for Domestic Policy to President Reagan and a member of the President’s Commission on White House Fellows.

Bloom Energy’s ‘Tangled Web’   By Paul Driessen and Clint Laird (originally published on 9/22/2018 by Townhall.com )   Bloom Energy executives, investment bankers, venture capitalists, politicians, regulators and others involved in advancing Bloom’s business, reputation and financial dealings are living the complicated life that flows from lying. Lies typically start small. Often, they’re small deceptions. But deceptions can metastasize into a tangled web of lies that threate

Live free, but not in Delaware By David T. Stevenson, CRI Policy Director 9/4/2018   Delaware ranks 43 rd in the new Cato Institute, “Freedom in the Fifty States”.  That is probably too generous.   The Cato report highlights several policy issues including: Move education spending from the state to local responsibility Liberalize insurance laws to encourage competition Limit civil asset forfeiture laws to protect citizens from police abuse   We agree these issues are importan

Laid lays out the facts about Bloom Energy in the Washington Times. Links Click here for audio link Share

By Clint Laird and Paul Driessen  - - Thursday, July 19, 2018 (Originally published by The Washington Times) ANALYSIS/OPINION: Bloom Energy  plans to go public on the New York Stock Exchange in late July. For a green energy start-up backed by the big Silicon Valley venture firm  Kleiner Perkins  Caulfield & Byers,  Bloom  has had a bumpy 16 years reaching this milestone. The financial and energy media have covered  Bloom ’s self-inflicted controversies, which are hardly over.