Future Policy Directions

Abstract

"Who is to decide?" is the quintessential question in politics. For energy and environmental policies, the issue will be partially determined by which level of government, federal or state, serves as the central decision-making arena. This article suggests that, if brought together, the insights of two separate literatures might usefully be applied to this question. An overview of natural resources and environmental policy literature will suggest that the locus of decision-making authority in states and regions may result in more rational, less environmentally damaging decisions. An examination of the literature on federalism points toward a trend of growing state influence over and capability for decision making. The article therefore concludes with a list of some of the challenges involved in effectuating state influence over energy and environmental policy.