By: Ellie Blixt At the end of December 2019, a contagious respiratory illness was reported in Wuhan, China. For the first few weeks, the World Health Organization (WHO) had doubts that the roots of the illness (pneumonia-like cases) stemmed from a new coronavirus.[1] As early as January 21st, 2020, the […]
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Joule Volume 9 – 2021
Joule 2021 – Volume 9
Why are Gas Prices on the Rise and is This Out of the Ordinary?
By: Devon Valinsky If you are someone who drives frequently, you are likely aware of the sharp increase in gas prices over the last few months. You may also be aware of much of the political posturing and theories on why these prices have been on the rise. The U.S. […]
Cancellation of the Keystone XL Pipeline: Good or Bad?
By: Morgan Scheckel Within his first few days in office, President Biden signed an executive order which revoked the permit for the Keystone XL Pipeline.[1] The project was proposed in 2008 by TC Energy and it was designed to transport tar sands oil from Alberta, Canada to the Gulf Coast […]
Final Days / First Days: The Trump Administration’s Environmental Rollbacks and the Biden Administration’s Reversal
By: Abigail Zonarich Noted to be the “most anti-nature president in U.S. history,”[1] former president Donald Trump operated his final days in the Oval Office with vengeance against the American environment; aiming to diminish and eliminate strong protections against notoriously harmful, anti-environmental practices, Donald Trump continued to work solely for […]
Can the Biden Administration Revoke Leases for Arctic Drilling Granted by the Trump Administration?
By: Nina Victoria On January 6, 2021, only fourteen days before President-Elect Joe Biden is inaugurated, the Trump Administration will begin selling oil and gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.[1] However, there are compelling reasons to prevent drilling in the region including to protect vulnerable arctic wildlife, the […]
The End of the Salmon Run: Environmental Organization’s Lawsuit Against EPA Wraps Up
By: Sarah Machinak After seven years of litigation, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has negotiated settlement terms by way of a proposed stipulated order of partial dismissal in its battle with Northwest Environmental Advocates [“Northwest”], an organization that works to restore water quality and habitats. Northwest, in conjunction with the […]
Weed Be Good Together: Environmental Regulation & The Marijuana Industry
By: Gabrielle Kolencik Photo courtesy of: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Environmental_Impacts_from_Marijuana_Cultivation.pdf With the recent legalization of recreational use in four states, along with the legalization for medical use in Mississippi[1], marijuana is clearly a growing industry in the United States. Marijuana legalization is often discussed in the context of criminal law. Indeed, thoughtful legalization […]
The Influence of Environmental Issues on the 2020 Election
By Allison McKenzie As the world recovers from the heart attack of the 2020 United States presidential election, onlookers are likely curious about the impact that prevalent environmental issues had on voters across the country. The United States is often seen as a leading influence on other countries especially when […]
Fuel and Foxes: On Fracking and the Rule of Capture
By Sarah Thomas Like wild animals, oil and gas are subject to the rule of capture.[1] The rule of capture was established by Pierson v. Post, a famous American property law case addressing which of two hunters possess rights to a killed fox in early-nineteenth century Southampton, New York.[2] [3] […]