Ongoing Projects from the Nicholas Institute
for recent projects, click here >

• Tools for Joint Production of Ecosystem Services: North Carolina Case Study
  In collaboration with faculty and staff from the Nicholas School and the input of many stakeholders across North Carolina we are developing prototype tools using data available across the U.S. refined with case studies using North Carolina data, integrating methods so tools can overlay multiple services and ways of assessing economic value, and highlighting challenges for ecosystem tool building. For more information contact Lydia Olander.

• The Future of Water in North Carolina: Strategies for Sustaining Abundant and Clean Water
  The Nicholas Institute held a conference on March 1st, 2007 to provide a forum for stakeholders to discuss creative ideas and practical solutions to the state's water resource challenges. North Carolina is experiencing rapid growth—in population, water use, and land use change. Signs of stress, such as hotspots of water quality degradation, failing sewer and water systems, and recent droughts, illustrate the challenge of maintaining clean and abundant water for healthy growth and ecosystems. Already many in our state are tackling these challenges, but the question remains whether our water resources will withstand the pressures of today’s type of growth. Visit the conference website to read the pre-conference paper and access audio from the keynote speakers and powerpoint presentations from the panels. Check back for the post-conference report, distilling recommendations from the day's discussions and some of the Nicholas Institute's future North Carolina water projects.
  visit the conference Web site >

• Public-private partnership to develop and market hog waste byproducts in North Carolina.  The Nicholas Institute is a participant in a new, $750,000 public-private partnership to develop value-added products from hog waste, evaluate the economic potential of these products to generate income for North Carolina farmers and spur the widespread use of new, cleaner waste management systems on the state’s hog farms.  The project is funded with a $375,000 grant to North Carolina State University from the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service.  The grant will be matched with funds from a collaboration of public and private partners spearheaded by Environmental Defense and Frontline Farmers.  Brian Murray, Director for Economic Analysis, is coordinating the Nicholas Institute’s participation in the project.  

• N.C. State Climate Commission
  Tim Profeta was designated as a commissioner on the N.C. Legislative Commission on Global Climate Change and has been participating in commission meetings and advising on selection of witnesses.  The Commission’s mandate is to evaluate whether the state of North Carolina should adopt a cap on its greenhouse gas emissions and, if so, what that cap should be.  Nicholas School Dean Bill Schlesinger, Nicholas Institute Chair Rob Jackson, and Nicholas Institute Director of Economic Analysis Brian Murray have all been invited by the commission to testify with regard to their expertise on the topic.

• Legal evaluation of constitutional limits on state climate policy
  Working with faculty and students in the Duke Law School, Tim Profeta is researching and preparing reports on several possible constitutional limitations on the ability of the U.S. states to regulate greenhouse gases.  Key questions include: 1) whether the dormant commerce clause bars states from being able to control the “leakage” of greenhouse gas emissions to other, non-regulated states; 2) whether the dormant foreign policy power of the federal government prevents states from trading emissions allowances with other nations; and 3) whether regional agreements to regulated greenhouse gases must be approved by the U.S. Congress under the compacts clause.

• Integrated survey of federal climate policy options and technology solutions
  With the generous support of Duke Energy, the Climate Change Policy Partnership (CCPP) was initiated in fall 2005.  The Institute, in cooperation with the Nicholas School and the Center on Global Change, have project staff and student fellows conducting the first phase of the project - a survey of federal climate policy options and the technological and economic feasibility for climate change mitigation. This survey provides the foundation for the evaluation of various technology and policy options that deserve further attention in the second phase of the project.
  More details >

• White paper on geological sequestration
  An assessment of the feasibility of geologic carbon sequestration for power production in North Carolina and the region.  (A product of the CCPP, in progress)

• Journalists on Campus
  The Institute is working with the Nicholas School to bring key journalists in the environmental arena to Duke to build relationships with the writers and provide the journalists opportunity for one-on-one conversations with the faculty experts on various issues of interest. Contact Scottee Cantrell at the Nicholas School if you are interested in learning more.