Net metering allows an owner of rooftop solar panels to participate in the electric grid as a distributed energy producer. Solar panels first supply power to the home, and at times when the solar panel produces more power than the home is using the power is sent back onto the grid to be used by other customers. The meter “spins” backwards, subtracting the power sent onto the grid from the total power used by the consumer. That is how net metering gets its name—it means that at the end of the month the consumer is charged only for net electricity used.

Tax policy researchers across the political spectrum agree that narrow, targeted policies (such as tax credits) are usually a better way to address the regressive nature of the tax than blanket exemptions. Current policies exempting services and partially exempting groceries are unlikely to effectively minimize the tax burden on Utah’s consumers. More targeted policies combined with a broad tax base and low tax rates may achieve the same levels of public revenue at a much lower fiscal and economic cost.

States around the country are considering whether to enact or increase renewable portfolio standards (RPS), which are policies meant to lower carbon emissions and encourage renewable energy use. RPS require that utilities provide some percentage or amount of their electricity from qualifying renewable sources

This paper examines the existing research on the effects of occupational licensing and concludes with a discussion of possible reforms. Existing studies have yet to find a definitive link between licensing restrictions and their stated purpose of improving service quality. Several studies do find, however, that licensing requirements raise pay for licensed workers, but with a cost: reduced employment and higher consumer prices. Overall, the evidence suggests there may be gains from policy reforms that allow greater room for less restrictive alternatives, such as voluntary certification.

Current crises around the world, from Syria to Venezuela, have displaced an estimated 25.4 million refugees. Historically, the United States has played a leading role in permanently resettling the world’s refugees, maintaining a refugee admission ceiling around 70,000 per fiscal year over the last two decades. However, the current ceiling has been lowered to 45,000 for fiscal year 2018, its lowest level in history. The global refugee population, by contrast, is growing.