Cost-effective and stable production of gas, electricity, water, and other critical California public utilities are the backbone of economic stability. Preventing price gouging, ensuring ample corporate competition, maintaining transparency between industrial special interests and Sacramento, and providing high quality service for local and statewide communities are several of the key priorities for independent-minded voters. Moving forward, independents will be paying close attention to California public utility solutions that strike the proper balance between environmental protection and laissez-faire economics.
Answer quickly: what does climate change have to do with Prop 13? Apparently, more than we thought, because the Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Association (HJTA) has joined leagues with Texas-based Valero Energy Corporation to fight California AB32, one of the principle legislative tools for t
Ever since humans first understood the power that flowed from the sun, they have wanted to harness it for their own purposes. It all seemed so simple – capture the sunlight, use it to warm our homes and power our communities. The fact that solar power barely makes a dent in today’s mix of power grid sources is a testament to the difficulty of turning the concept into reality.
Why is it that state politicians can’t seem to understand that water is a necessity, and not a game? US Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-California) recently decided to take up the clarion call of water for needy Central Valley farmers, in a proposal attached to the AgJOBS bill currently in the Senate.
California's Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein has proposed legislation that would divert a large portion of California's public water supply to Southern California agribusinesses.
President Obama’s announcement that the Federal government will, as part of its effort to reduce carbon emissions, commit $8 billion in federal loan guarantees and other programs towards nuclear power development is still another blow to California taxpayers.
The Southern California Public Power Authority is partnering with Ice Energy in a utility-scale distributed energy project to reduce electrical demand for air conditioning. Currently, when temperatures rise, air conditioners are all going at once and electrical demand soars. This puts huge stress on the grid and is more expensive for users, as rates are higher during the day.
Driving around Lake Tahoe communities you see snow piled up everywhere. Ten, twenty foot high mountains of snow that have been pushed off of streets, parking lots and driveways. Snow is plentiful this season, which has not been the case for the past three winters when disappointing amounts of powder have led to water shortages throughout the state.
California regulators recently approved a $350 million plan to subsidize costs of replacing natural gas and electric hot water heaters with solar thermal power, which generally works by preheating the water before it gets to the tank. Solar heaters cut down on carbon emissions, save money and preserve natural resources.
The Sierras are in the midst of a series of major storms expected to add significant depth to the winter snowpack. And in case you think that’s just ho-hum information, here’s a fact you might find more compelling: the Sierra snowpack provides 60 percent of Southern California’s water. Agricult
