Environment, Energy, and Agriculture

While the cases in this section often consider local matters like land ownership, disaster recovery, or infrastructure development, the decisions made are influenced by or have important implications for issues of global concern. From climate change to sustainable energy, public health to pollution control, the scenarios presented by these cases ask students to explore the intersections of economics, government, science, and management.

  • Classic Case - Who Will Pay for Seabrook?

    Who Will Pay for Seabrook?

    Free

    Publication Date: January 01, 1987

    In the fall of 1987, the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission faced an electric rate decision with far-reaching consequences. Ostensibly, the commission had only to decide whether to...

  • Teaching Case - High Mountain Sheep Dam (Abridged)

    High Mountain Sheep Dam (Abridged)

    $3.95

    Publication Date: January 01, 1987

    This case examines the decision facing the Federal Power Commission (FPC) of whether to license hydroelectric development of Idaho's Snake River. After providing background on the area's...

  • Classic Case - Plastic in the Public Sector

    Plastic in the Public Sector

    Free

    Publication Date: January 01, 1987

    This five-paragraph case sketches a debate in the state of Minnesota about whether to allow to pay for their annual $15 park permits by credit card. The debate took place in the context of a...

  • Teaching Case - Ruckelshaus and Acid Rain

    Ruckelshaus and Acid Rain

    $3.95

    Publication Date: January 01, 1986

    After being publicly charged by President Reagan to meet the problem of acid rain "head-on," the new EPA administrator spent much of his first six months in office tackling the issue. This...

  • Teaching Case - California Water Pricing

    California Water Pricing

    $3.95

    Publication Date: January 01, 1986

    In many parts of California, water districts set prices so that agricultural users pay far less than residential users and far less than the true cost of water. While the adoption of a...

  • Teaching Case - Saving the Tuolumne (Sequel)

    Saving the Tuolumne (Sequel)

    $2.45

    Publication Date: January 01, 1986

    In April 1983, the City and County of San Francisco and two irrigation districts in Merced and Stanislaus counties commissioned a feasibility study of their long-standing proposal to dam the...