Environment
Blog
There’s No Such Thing as Free Public Transportation Either
Whether it’s suspending the gas tax, $400 gift cards, or $200 refund checks – these proposals to help Californians cope with high gas prices all have varying degrees of merit. But free public transportation? That was a real head scratcher. Gov. Newsom, in his $11 billion relief package for Californians, ...
Blog
Despite Jones Act, Gas Prices Are Even Lower in High-Cost Hawaii Compared to California
Recently, I enjoyed a week-long vacation in Hawaii. One of the highlights of my trip was a circle island tour across Oahu. When driving through Waimanalo on our way to the Pali Lookout, I noticed a gas station selling regular unleaded for $5.08 per gallon. In fact, Hawaii’s price was ...
Climate Change
Wayne Winegarden Quoted on Pew Stateline on Cities Suing Oil Companies
PRI senior fellow in business and economics Wayne Winegarden was interviewed by Pew Stateline on the growing trend of cities filing lawsuits against oil companies for their supposed impact on climate change. “We choose to use energy, which is mostly fossil fuel, because it makes our lives better,” said Wayne ...
California
Trying to cancel “Flip or Flop” won’t improve home affordability
One of the most popular home renovation shows has been “Flip Or Flop,” starring an Orange County couple that buys ratty houses, renovates them, then sells – usually but not always – at a profit. The pair, who eventually split, developed a loyal following of viewers. But in the eyes ...
Commentary
What are acetogens? And how could synthetic biology turn oil, coal and other fossil fuels into green, carbon-negative chemicals?
When most people hear about oil, as in petroleum, they think of what gets refined to produce gasoline. But it’s more. Much more. From clothes to dentures to lipstick and even toothpaste, the number of household products made from chemicals based on fossil fuels numbers in the thousands. We all know that ...
Blog
Can California Tackle Zoning Run Amok in 2022?
The numbers are in on the cost of living in California, and it ain’t pretty: According to an analysis by the real estate listing service Zillow, as reported in the New York Times, home prices went up by a startling 12.3 percent between November 2020 and 2021. In suburban areas ...
Blog
To Give Californians Real Relief from High Gas Prices, Sacramento Must Legislate Energy Prosperity
By Tim Anaya and Wayne Winegarden As of April 5, average state gas prices in California were $5.84 per gallon for regular, according to AAA, which were the nation’s highest average gas prices. Previously on Right by the Bay, we wrote about the one-upmanship between Democrats and Republicans in the ...
Blog
Assembly Progressives’ Solution to Astronomical Gas Prices? Increase Taxes on Gas
Only in California will you witness Assembly progressives hijacking a bill that suspends a tax to gut-and-amend it with language that enacts a new tax. Assemblymember Kevin Kiley (R-Rocklin) introduced Assembly Bill 1638 at the beginning of this year in response to the considerable jump in gas prices following the ...
Agriculture
Who Grows Your Peaches?
In 1973, March 22 was designated National Ag Day by the Agriculture Council of America and the inaugural celebration of the day was in 1979. Since the inception of National Ag Day, it has been expanded to encompass the week that March 22 falls in each year. I have to ...
Agriculture
Life In The Dry Lane
Letters to the editor are often thought of as barometers of the public’s mood. While it’s obvious that California has been blue for some time, it’s still instructive to take a look at what residents are saying. In the Los Angeles Times, for instance, a recent series of letters suggested ...
There’s No Such Thing as Free Public Transportation Either
Whether it’s suspending the gas tax, $400 gift cards, or $200 refund checks – these proposals to help Californians cope with high gas prices all have varying degrees of merit. But free public transportation? That was a real head scratcher. Gov. Newsom, in his $11 billion relief package for Californians, ...
Despite Jones Act, Gas Prices Are Even Lower in High-Cost Hawaii Compared to California
Recently, I enjoyed a week-long vacation in Hawaii. One of the highlights of my trip was a circle island tour across Oahu. When driving through Waimanalo on our way to the Pali Lookout, I noticed a gas station selling regular unleaded for $5.08 per gallon. In fact, Hawaii’s price was ...
Wayne Winegarden Quoted on Pew Stateline on Cities Suing Oil Companies
PRI senior fellow in business and economics Wayne Winegarden was interviewed by Pew Stateline on the growing trend of cities filing lawsuits against oil companies for their supposed impact on climate change. “We choose to use energy, which is mostly fossil fuel, because it makes our lives better,” said Wayne ...
Trying to cancel “Flip or Flop” won’t improve home affordability
One of the most popular home renovation shows has been “Flip Or Flop,” starring an Orange County couple that buys ratty houses, renovates them, then sells – usually but not always – at a profit. The pair, who eventually split, developed a loyal following of viewers. But in the eyes ...
What are acetogens? And how could synthetic biology turn oil, coal and other fossil fuels into green, carbon-negative chemicals?
When most people hear about oil, as in petroleum, they think of what gets refined to produce gasoline. But it’s more. Much more. From clothes to dentures to lipstick and even toothpaste, the number of household products made from chemicals based on fossil fuels numbers in the thousands. We all know that ...
Can California Tackle Zoning Run Amok in 2022?
The numbers are in on the cost of living in California, and it ain’t pretty: According to an analysis by the real estate listing service Zillow, as reported in the New York Times, home prices went up by a startling 12.3 percent between November 2020 and 2021. In suburban areas ...
To Give Californians Real Relief from High Gas Prices, Sacramento Must Legislate Energy Prosperity
By Tim Anaya and Wayne Winegarden As of April 5, average state gas prices in California were $5.84 per gallon for regular, according to AAA, which were the nation’s highest average gas prices. Previously on Right by the Bay, we wrote about the one-upmanship between Democrats and Republicans in the ...
Assembly Progressives’ Solution to Astronomical Gas Prices? Increase Taxes on Gas
Only in California will you witness Assembly progressives hijacking a bill that suspends a tax to gut-and-amend it with language that enacts a new tax. Assemblymember Kevin Kiley (R-Rocklin) introduced Assembly Bill 1638 at the beginning of this year in response to the considerable jump in gas prices following the ...
Who Grows Your Peaches?
In 1973, March 22 was designated National Ag Day by the Agriculture Council of America and the inaugural celebration of the day was in 1979. Since the inception of National Ag Day, it has been expanded to encompass the week that March 22 falls in each year. I have to ...
Life In The Dry Lane
Letters to the editor are often thought of as barometers of the public’s mood. While it’s obvious that California has been blue for some time, it’s still instructive to take a look at what residents are saying. In the Los Angeles Times, for instance, a recent series of letters suggested ...
