Russ Harding, Senior Fellow in Environmental and Regulatory Policy [Mackinac Center]

Russ Harding is the senior fellow in environmental and regulatory policy at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. He previously served as senior environmental analyst and was director of the Center's Property Rights Network.

From 1995 through 2002, Harding served as director of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, having previously held senior management posts in environmental and natural resources departments in Arizona, Alaska and Missouri. Before joining the Center, Harding was senior director for environment and energy affairs with Scofes, Kindsvatter & Associates, a consulting firm.

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Congress Mandates the Impossible

Gas prices spike as fines are passed on to consumers. … more

Posted on January 10, 2012 at 10:05am

Book Highlights Failings of Enviro Trends

"Eco-Fads" a rational, scientific read. … more

Posted on January 5, 2012 at 2:53pm

New Year Resolutions That Need to be Kept

How to kick off the new year right … more

Posted on December 30, 2011 at 9:52am

A Christmas Wish

All I really want for Christmas is less government … more

Posted on December 23, 2011 at 2:26pm

EPA Turns Out The Christmas Lights

New MACT rule will cost utilities millions. … more

Posted on December 21, 2011 at 5:16pm

Motorists Paying for Bike Paths, Museums

Gas taxes should only go toward roads and bridges. … more

Posted on December 16, 2011 at 10:30am

Are the Feds Giving Up on Detroit?

Light-rail plan scrapped; city's stability questioned. … more

Posted on December 14, 2011 at 10:38am

Power Hungry

Government policies increase electricity costs. … more

Posted on December 13, 2011 at 10:11am

Are Politicians Smarter Than the Rest of Us?

Political class should stop trying to plan our lives. … more

Posted on December 8, 2011 at 11:14am

Governor Picks Bureaucrats Over Business

Veto of HB 4326 entrenches regulatory regime. … more

Posted on December 2, 2011 at 1:20pm

We Have Declared War on Ourselves

Energy policies weaken America. … more

Posted on December 1, 2011 at 10:24am

Raiding State Trust Funds a Bad Idea

Legislators shouldn't pretend to be venture capitalists. … more

Posted on November 29, 2011 at 11:09am

Holding Legislators Accountable

HB 4326 promotes transparency, liberty. … more

Posted on November 22, 2011 at 12:05pm

Environmentalists Threaten Great Lakes

Offshore wind turbines too risky; petition should be ignored. … more

Posted on November 17, 2011 at 11:07am

Whoville Speaks Out

President Obama's Christmas tree tax put on hold. … more

Posted on November 10, 2011 at 2:20pm

Pipeline Protest Belies National Security 'Concerns'

The "green" movement shows its true colors at the White House. … more

Posted on November 7, 2011 at 3:00pm

Bureaucracy Trumps Managerial Prowess

SB272 would increase accountability. … more

Posted on November 3, 2011 at 3:05pm

High-Speed Rail Projects Often Derail

Michigan needs to pursue a different track. … more

Posted on November 1, 2011 at 4:10pm

'Green Jobs' Replaced with Blue Collar Jobs?

Government gambling with taxpayer dollars loses again. … more

Posted on October 27, 2011 at 3:24pm

$500m Subsidy for Finnish Electric Car Maker

Is this for green energy or foreign aid? … more

Posted on October 21, 2011 at 2:38pm

Al Gore Now a Great Lakes Expert

Climate alarmism deserves skeptical view. … more

Posted on October 14, 2011 at 11:01am

Proposal Would Make State More Accountable

Gubernatorial appointees would help reduce administrative state. … more

Posted on October 13, 2011 at 10:55am

Electric Cars Nonstarter With Consumers

New survey shows disinterest in electric cars. … more

Posted on October 7, 2011 at 1:49pm

From Solyndra to Nevada Geothermal?

Another federally backed green energy company may go under. … more

Posted on October 4, 2011 at 12:00am

The Solyndra Lesson

More subsidies not the answer to job creation. … more

Posted on September 30, 2011 at 2:10pm

Politicians Pursue 'Green Jobs' at Their Peril

Propping up bad policy could cost them their jobs. … more

Posted on September 27, 2011 at 9:50am

Ideas for Regulatory Reform

Now is the time for bold action to help create jobs. … more

Posted on September 21, 2011 at 10:24am

EPA Rules Could Impact Electricity Reliability

Congress should demand that FERC study EPA rules.
… more

Posted on September 20, 2011 at 10:19am

Where Are All the Green Jobs?

Green jobs subsidies lead to red ink. … more

Posted on September 15, 2011 at 4:05pm

How to Kill Jobs in Urban Areas

"Environmental justice" sends wrong message to businesses. … more

Posted on September 13, 2011 at 9:58am

Corporate Environmental Indoctrination

Subsidized companies dabbling in school curriculum. … more

Posted on September 9, 2011 at 11:25am

Government Inaction on Air Rule Saves Jobs

More work is necessary to dismantle job-killing regulations. … more

Posted on September 6, 2011 at 11:19am

Townships Blow Off Residents Over Wind Farms

Property rights endangered by push for alternative energy. … more

Posted on September 1, 2011 at 11:55am

Higher Energy Costs Mean Fewer Jobs

Will politicians stand up to the EPA? … more

Posted on August 30, 2011 at 3:59pm

Global Warming Will Lead to Alien Invasions?

Climate change alarmists grasping at straws. … more

Posted on August 25, 2011 at 9:30am

Why Is Regulatory Reform Legislation Stalled?

Gov. Snyder should insist bills be completed. … more

Posted on August 19, 2011 at 9:55am

Ann Arbor Considering Fines for Normal Operation of Cars

America is quickly changing from the land of the free and the brave to the land of the regulated and fined. … more

Posted on August 16, 2011 at 3:53pm

EPA: It's For Your Own Good

Elected representatives must stop an excessive administrative state. … more

Posted on August 11, 2011 at 1:15pm

Former Governor Gets it Wrong Again

Gov. Granholm in Newsweek. … more

Posted on August 9, 2011 at 10:36am

CAFE Standard Won't Stand

Public shrugs shoulders over unreasonable demand. … more

Posted on August 3, 2011 at 10:40am

EPA's Attack on Coal Could be Deadly

EPA decision could increase risk during heat waves. … more

Posted on July 26, 2011 at 11:35am

Ill Wind in New Jersey Is Bad News for Michigan

Cost-benefit analysis shows off-shore wind development is a perfect storm. … more

Posted on July 20, 2011 at 12:28pm

Government Does Not Create Jobs — But It Can Help or Hurt

Government officials at all levels should take a pledge to “do no more harm” to the economy and job creation. … more

Posted on July 19, 2011 at 1:08pm

Secure Property Rights Good for the Environment

New study confirms value of property rights. … more

Posted on July 13, 2011 at 12:05pm

Another $2 Billion Bad Idea From Washington

The government must get its fiscal house in order by massive cuts, not by taking money from one pocket to put in another. … more

Posted on July 12, 2011 at 10:07am

Is Europe's Attack on the Car Coming Here?

The mobility provided by the car is one of the greatest freedoms enjoyed by Americans. … more

Posted on June 30, 2011 at 10:00am

Environmental Group Wrong About Coal Plants

Technology, not ideology, should drive energy policy. … more

Posted on June 28, 2011 at 4:13pm

Energy Policy Should be Above Politics

Strategic Petroleum Reserve is for times of crisis. … more

Posted on June 24, 2011 at 10:50am

Good News From Marathon

Extra refinery capacity in Detroit will not only bring jobs and revenue, but also protect against gas price spikes and allow utilization of oil sands. … more

Posted on June 23, 2011 at 11:30am

When Regulatory Agencies Cross the Line

Regulators should uphold the law, not go beyond it and act as environmental advocates. … more

Posted on June 21, 2011 at 3:45pm