By Richard McCann
Why are we not using Davis’ wealth of human capital to our advantage? Why don’t we assign, and even hire or retain, these individuals to prepare these analyses for commission review?
Five useful insights into where the electricity industry is headed.
We’re now in the midst of the “third wave” of electricity industry reform in California. The first was in the early 1980s with the rise of independently-owned cogeneration and renewable resources. Mixed with increased energy efficiency, that led to a surplus of power in the late 1990s, which in turn created the push for restructuring and deregulation. Unfortunately, poorly designed markets and other factors precipitated the 2000-01 energy crisis. The rise of renewables and distributed resources is pushing a third wave that may change the industry even more fundamentally.
I wrote a paper in 2002 on how I viewed the history of California’s electricity industry through 2001 and presented this at a conference. (It hasn’t yet been published.) I identify some different factors for why the energy crisis erupted, and what lessons we might learn for this next wave.
By Hannah Guzik The majority of health care expenses in California are paid for with public funds, a new study released Wednesday reports. The research counters the popular belief that corporations and individuals bear the brunt of health care costs. Researchers from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research found that taxpayer dollars will pay […]
Source: Most Health Care Costs in California Are Paid With Public Funds – California Health Report
This blog post on Fox & Hounds is an example of how to take statistics of one cause-and-effect relationship and misapply them to another situation. In this case, this graphic above shows how GHG emissions have dropped dramatically in states that used to burn coal to generate electricity, but now rely much more on natural gas. The decline in coal emissions has occurred over the last half-decade due to the fall in gas prices and the increased stringency in air quality regulations. But more importantly, those states had higher emissions that California to start with because they have been laggards in protecting their environments. The chart shows that these states are finally starting to catch up! If anything, this supports adopting SB 32 as a follow on to AB 32!
Yet the blog post misconstrues this situation to argue that it’s the “free market” that somehow is generating these greater reductions, implying that California and Mississippi had started from the same place–which of course if far from the truth. Yes, the market push from natural gas fracking explains some of this, but California was already so far ahead due to its own efforts that it has less room to improve.
Watch for these types of misrepresentations. Understand the initial premises by the authors. Ask hard questions before you accept their conclusions.
This summarizes expected advantages of the Yolo-Davis Community Choice Energy (CCE) and how it will proceed.
By Leanna Sweha City staff briefed the Council at its last meeting on the timeline for the Joint Davis and Yolo County Community Choice Energy (CCE) progra
Source: Will ‘Independence’ from PG&E Bring Cleaner and Cheaper Electricity? | Davis Vanguard
by Josué Medellín-Azuara, Duncan MacEwan, Richard E. Howitt, Daniel A. Sumner, and Jay R. Lund The drought continues for California’s agriculture in 2016, but with much less severe and widespread i…
Source: Economic Analysis of the 2016 California Drought for Agriculture | California WaterBlog
Bay Area Economics conducted a study for the Rose Foundation that found that CEQA regulations have had no appreciable effect on economic growth in California.
Here’s a summary of the findings:
The report includes a number of significant findings, including:
This could have far reaching implications about how CVP contracts are renewed.
From the law offices of Stephan C. Volker: On July 25, 2016 the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations (“PCFFA”) and the San Fra…
Source: MAVEN’S NOTEBOOK – Water news
I was struck by the juxtapose of these two items:
California has many progressive and necessary regulations, but the state does an awful job of administering them. Too often, the bureaucrats are too wrapped up in believing the process is actually important. Instead, they should be thinking about how they can ease the permitting and compliance process so that businesses can focus on achieving everyone’s goals.
A bureaucrat should be filling in the missing blanks rather than waiting for months to kick back an application. A friend noted the all too common “NIGO” response–“not in good order.” Being NIGO’d is not conducive to good business.
All Things Solar and Electric
Musings from M.Cubed on the environment, energy and water
This blog is not necessarily about biking. It's about life that is lived locally, at a human pace.
Musings from M.Cubed on the environment, energy and water
Examining State Authority in Interstate Electricity Markets
Musings from M.Cubed on the environment, energy and water
Musings from M.Cubed on the environment, energy and water
Economic insight and analysis from The Wall Street Journal.
Musings from M.Cubed on the environment, energy and water
Musings from M.Cubed on the environment, energy and water
A few thoughts from John Fleck, a writer of journalism and other things, living in New Mexico
Musings from M.Cubed on the environment, energy and water
Musings from M.Cubed on the environment, energy and water
Musings from M.Cubed on the environment, energy and water
Tips and tricks on programming, evolutionary algorithms, and doing research
Musings from M.Cubed on the environment, energy and water
A blog about water resources and law
Musings from M.Cubed on the environment, energy and water
