Environment
Agriculture
Separating Out Food Waste Another California Green Waste of Time
Is it possible that there is a state more fixated on climate than California? An ever-lengthening series of state- and local-government prohibitions in an effort to cool Earth are both famous and infamous. But enough is never enough. Starting in the new year, food waste will be banned from black ...
Kerry Jackson
January 3, 2022
Agriculture
Farmers and Ranchers – The Unsung Heroes of 2021
What do evergreen trees, ham, turkey, eggnog, and champagne all have in common? The holidays, yes, but also America’s agriculture — most notably the great agricultural states of the West. Let’s start with Thanksgiving dinner. Our colleague Pam Lewison of the Washington Policy Center, and a farmer herself, recalls growing ...
Rowena Itchon
December 29, 2021
Blog
New Study Further Proof that Electricity Competition is Key to Lowering Costs, Emissions
A new study from the University at Texas, Austin documents the state of electricity competition in the U.S. with a state-by-state scorecard ranking the competitiveness of each state’s market. PRI’s Electricity Reality Report and accompanying study has shown how electricity competition is key to giving Americans the reliable, affordable, and ...
Tim Anaya
December 27, 2021
Blog
Time to Cut Gas Taxes?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics announced earlier this month that energy prices in the U.S. rose 33 percent for the 12 months ending November. In many regions of California, prices rose even higher. In the L.A.-Long Beach-Anaheim region, energy prices jumped 35 percent. In the Inland Empire, prices shot up ...
Rowena Itchon
December 23, 2021
Blog
Cadiz Water Project a Victim of Can’t Do/Won’t Do California
An innovative project to squeeze water from the desert to help quench perpetually thirsty Southern California showed some promise – until the Biden administration decided to halt the plans. The courts might rule against the White House, but for now it looks just like another day in Can’t Do/Won’t Do ...
Kerry Jackson
December 22, 2021
Agriculture
Will the Supreme Court overrule California’s Proposition 12?
By The Hon. Daniel Oliver History repeats itself in California with a law that may prevent pork from being imported into the state. In 1986 and ’87 when I was Chairman of the Federal Commission, I (actually “we” at the FTC) took on then-New York State Agriculture Commissioner Joseph Gerace ...
Pacific Research Institute
December 21, 2021
Blog
Is Gann Limit Next Item on Budget Chopping Block?
Last week, I wrote about the “key values” put forward by Senate Democrats for their approach to the 2022-23 state budget process. Assembly Democrats quickly followed up by releasing their own “budget blueprint,” which like their Senate counterparts, would spend the state’s budget surplus largely on new and expanded government ...
Tim Anaya
December 21, 2021
Agriculture
No Water Yet Says DWR
The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced a zero percent water allocation on Dec. 1. The water agency said that the drought has forced state water regulators to prioritize “health and safety water needs” and that water deliveries are essentially on hold until the state recovers from the ongoing ...
Evan Harris
December 15, 2021
Blog
Breaking Down Barriers to Opportunity Would Do More to Build ‘Equitable’ California Than Higher Spending
Shortly after the New Year’s holiday, Gov. Gavin Newsom will kick off “state budget season” when he releases his 2022-23 state budget proposal on January 10. In a sign that perhaps lawmakers won’t be ceding as much of the spotlight to Newsom in 2022 that they have in 2021, Democratic ...
Tim Anaya
December 14, 2021
California
Dr. Joshua Rhodes – How Does California Rate on New Electricity Competition Scorecard?
Dr. Joshua Rhodes, research associate with the Webber Energy Group at the University of Texas, Austin, joins us to discuss the findings of a new national scorecard on electricity competition in the 50 states, and discusses why electricity competition is key to reducing costs, increasing reliability, and lowering emissions in ...
Pacific Research Institute
December 13, 2021
Separating Out Food Waste Another California Green Waste of Time
Is it possible that there is a state more fixated on climate than California? An ever-lengthening series of state- and local-government prohibitions in an effort to cool Earth are both famous and infamous. But enough is never enough. Starting in the new year, food waste will be banned from black ...
Farmers and Ranchers – The Unsung Heroes of 2021
What do evergreen trees, ham, turkey, eggnog, and champagne all have in common? The holidays, yes, but also America’s agriculture — most notably the great agricultural states of the West. Let’s start with Thanksgiving dinner. Our colleague Pam Lewison of the Washington Policy Center, and a farmer herself, recalls growing ...
New Study Further Proof that Electricity Competition is Key to Lowering Costs, Emissions
A new study from the University at Texas, Austin documents the state of electricity competition in the U.S. with a state-by-state scorecard ranking the competitiveness of each state’s market. PRI’s Electricity Reality Report and accompanying study has shown how electricity competition is key to giving Americans the reliable, affordable, and ...
Time to Cut Gas Taxes?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics announced earlier this month that energy prices in the U.S. rose 33 percent for the 12 months ending November. In many regions of California, prices rose even higher. In the L.A.-Long Beach-Anaheim region, energy prices jumped 35 percent. In the Inland Empire, prices shot up ...
Cadiz Water Project a Victim of Can’t Do/Won’t Do California
An innovative project to squeeze water from the desert to help quench perpetually thirsty Southern California showed some promise – until the Biden administration decided to halt the plans. The courts might rule against the White House, but for now it looks just like another day in Can’t Do/Won’t Do ...
Will the Supreme Court overrule California’s Proposition 12?
By The Hon. Daniel Oliver History repeats itself in California with a law that may prevent pork from being imported into the state. In 1986 and ’87 when I was Chairman of the Federal Commission, I (actually “we” at the FTC) took on then-New York State Agriculture Commissioner Joseph Gerace ...
Is Gann Limit Next Item on Budget Chopping Block?
Last week, I wrote about the “key values” put forward by Senate Democrats for their approach to the 2022-23 state budget process. Assembly Democrats quickly followed up by releasing their own “budget blueprint,” which like their Senate counterparts, would spend the state’s budget surplus largely on new and expanded government ...
No Water Yet Says DWR
The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced a zero percent water allocation on Dec. 1. The water agency said that the drought has forced state water regulators to prioritize “health and safety water needs” and that water deliveries are essentially on hold until the state recovers from the ongoing ...
Breaking Down Barriers to Opportunity Would Do More to Build ‘Equitable’ California Than Higher Spending
Shortly after the New Year’s holiday, Gov. Gavin Newsom will kick off “state budget season” when he releases his 2022-23 state budget proposal on January 10. In a sign that perhaps lawmakers won’t be ceding as much of the spotlight to Newsom in 2022 that they have in 2021, Democratic ...
Dr. Joshua Rhodes – How Does California Rate on New Electricity Competition Scorecard?
Dr. Joshua Rhodes, research associate with the Webber Energy Group at the University of Texas, Austin, joins us to discuss the findings of a new national scorecard on electricity competition in the 50 states, and discusses why electricity competition is key to reducing costs, increasing reliability, and lowering emissions in ...