The Economic Perspective 3/27/2026

The Latest Trending Economic, Environmental and Infrastructure News Curated for You by The Balmoral Group

The Balmoral Group provides practical, professional and precise Economics, Data Analytics, and Engineering Consulting services and is part of a globally integrated team.

Happy Friday! 

Welcome back to another edition of The Economic Perspective! It's been an exciting week for the TBG team.

This week, over 40 colleagues and friends gathered at The Monroe in Tallahassee to celebrate Laila Racevskis’ recent promotion to Director of Economics and Policy at TBG.  The evening also marked an important milestone for our Tallahassee office, strengthening local connections and reinforcing our continued growth in the region. A lovely evening was enjoyed by all and we really appreciate everyone who joined us. TBG looks forward to celebrating Nate Willbur's promotion to Director of Transportation Development and the Open House for TBG's new office location in Winter Park, hope to see you there! 

Articles this week cover a wide range of topics including challenges to federal climate regulations, proposed heat standards, and progress in Florida's seafloor mapping initiative. Additional highlights include tightening water restrictions in Southwest Florida, new bee species discovery in Washington State, and a growing copper shortage impacting the clean energy transition. Our data visualization covers mortgage rates and their recent upward trend. 

Please feel free to forward this to anyone you think would be interested. If you’d like to view previous editions please click here, or to subscribe please click here!

---

States Challenge Federal Government’s Removal of Climate Regulations

A coalition of 23 states has filed a lawsuit against the EPA in the U.S. Court of Appeals with the goal of reversing the EPA’s termination of their 2009 conclusion that climate change endangers human health and the environment. Additional challenges target the EPA’s reversal of tailpipe emission regulations on vehicles produced between 2012 and 2027. The EPA argues that repealing various regulations and standards would save $1.3 trillion over 30 years, while states argue the move would instead raise gas prices, costing Americans $3 billion per year in fuel costs. Further legal battles between the federal government and states over vehicle emission regulations and standards are ongoing, including challenges to California’s zero-emission vehicle and tailpipe gas emission rules. Read more here, here, and here.

Sixteen Senators Pressure OSHA to Remove Proposed Heat Rule 

A group of 16 senators are currently pressuring OSHA to halt a proposed heat rule that they argue would harm businesses and be an inefficient attempt at creating a rule that would not account for regional temperature differences. The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) shares these concerns about blanket rules not accounting for the specific needs of various jobs, such as mandated break schedules not being feasible for time-sensitive projects. ARTBA is requesting that performance-based standards be used in lieu of hard standards by OSHA. While OSHA has not made any announcements, ARTBA and this group of senators are hoping for revisions or reversals to these rules. Read more here.

Florida Completes Major Milestone in Seafloor Mapping Initiative

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has completed airborne LiDAR data collection and received most sonar data for its statewide seafloor mapping effort, the largest of its kind in the U.S. The initiative will produce the most comprehensive map of Florida’s seafloor, with public data expected in fall 2026. Using LiDAR and multibeam sonar, the project has mapped over 14 times more area than previously available, revealing new features like ancient shorelines, coral reefs and offshore sand resources. This data will support coastal management decisions, improve resilience planning and contribute to a statewide elevation model integrating land and seafloor data. Read more about this remarkable news here.

Stricter Watering Rules Implemented in Southwest Florida Due to Ongoing Drought

Officials in Southwest Florida have tightened outdoor watering restrictions as drought conditions continue to worsen across the Tampa Bay region. Residents are now generally limited to watering lawns once per week, with additional limits on activities like car washing and decorative water use. The restrictions are driven by below-average rainfall, with the region experiencing a roughly 13-inch rainfall deficit over the past year, and declining water levels in rivers, lakes and aquifers, which are putting pressure on regional water supplies. Authorities say conservation is critical to maintaining drinking water availability until the rainy season returns. Read more here and here.

New Bees in Washington State

Recently, Washington’s Department of Agriculture (WSDA) completed its first statewide survey of bees, with surprising results; among the 50,000 specimens being identified, WSDA has already found 30 species of bees that have never been seen in Washington – along with 14 that haven’t been seen in Washington for over 50 years. New bee species included sweat bees, mining bees, and four types of cuckoo bees, with rediscovered species including, among others, one species of wool-carder bee not seen in the state since 1882. WSDA officials have stressed the importance of wild pollinators to agriculture in Washington, and cautioned against relying heavily on non-native honeybees in recent press releases. Read more here and here. 

Widening Copper Shortage Threatens Clean Energy Transition and Growth

According to a study led by the University of Michigan, as copper demand rises, mining companies are struggling to keep up, and global shortfalls are expected. Despite seeing historically high prices, financial risks mean prices will need to go much higher before mining companies invest in new supply. Copper demand in the UK is expected to nearly double by 2035, while the current mine project pipeline points to a 30% supply deficit by 2035. Building a new mine can take 20 to 30 years, as developers must invest significant time and money in planning, permitting, and legal processes. The study highlights a widening gap between copper supply and demand that could impact economic development and energy futures. Read more here.

Report Highlights Inequality in WA Air Pollution

Washington State Department of Health (DOH) recently published their 2025 report detailing the impact of air quality on overburdened communities in the state, tracking metrics such as criteria air pollutants and greenhouse gas emission trends, sources, and impacts. While average number of days with unhealthy air quality levels recorded were down to 2.9 from the previous 7.5 in 2023 – mainly attributed to less wildfire activity – rates for chronic diseases linked to air quality were still higher in the 16 overburdened communities than statewide. Air pollution sources range from wildfire and residential woodsmoke, to construction- and agriculture-related dust. Ecology says that these air quality reports will support their ongoing grant identification, community outreach, and monitoring strategies across the state. Read more here, and see the full report here.

---

Data Visualization of the Week

Mortgage Rates Resume Upward Trend

According to the latest data from FRED, U.S. mortgage rates have begun rising again after briefly falling below 6% earlier in 2026. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate increased from 5.98% in late February to nearly 6.22% by mid-March, reversing the short-lived downward trend. This visualization shows a much broader pattern of volatility, with rates varying in response to inflation expectations and bond market movements. As a result, borrowing costs remain elevated, continuing to pressure housing affordability and dampen market activity.  Read more here and see visual here. Image Credit: FRED