New York’s Proposed Solar Renewable Energy Market: Lessons Learned From Other States’ SREC Markets and Recommendations in Moving Forward

This paper presents analysis of eight states that currently have operating solar renewable energy credit markets as part of their state’s renewable portfolio system, in order to make recommendations as to how the New York legislature should amend the pending legislation based on lessons learned from those other states. In Part II, the different SREC markets that have been implemented in different states throughout the United States are examined. In Part III, the different issues that varying SREC markets have encountered will be discussed, and several possible explanations as to the causes of these issues are presented. In Part IV, recommendations are set forth for lawmakers in New York in how to create a viable SREC market while using lessons learned from other states in order to avoid many of the issues they have encountered. Lastly, the future outlook for a viable SREC market in New York is summarized

American Support of the Iran-Iraq War: A Pyrrhic Victory

Honorable Mention for the Griswold Prize for Excellence in Undergraduate Historical ScholarshipThe Iran-Iraq War lasted from 22 September 1980 until 20 July 1988, cost over $1 trillion, and resulted in anywhere from five hundred thousand to one million deaths. This conflict caused irreparable damage to both countries and the aftershocks are still felt today. But this devastating war is often overlooked; overshadowed by the 1991 Gulf War and the collapse of the Soviet Union. Nevertheless this war is worth reexamining. This paper seeks to answer how heavily the United States supported both parties of the war, and whether its’ long-term goals were achieved. Evidence suggests that while America publicly touted a neutral stance, it instead very clearly tilted to each country throughout the conflict. Furthermore, given over twenty years of distance and perspective, the United States’ intended strategic outcomes in tampering with the war were never realized. If anything American involvement catalyzed long-term repercussions that are still grappled with today. A careful examination will support the above reasoning and draw out a cautionary lesson for future American foreign policy.http://history.ou.edu/journal-2014undergraduat