Sprinklers watering a field in Scotts Valley, Calif. (Photo: Michael Barajas, via Shutterstock)As early as Aug. 6, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) could vote to adopt a proposal that would eliminate a best-practice regulatory tool – known as decoupling – that currently removes the incentive of water suppliers to sell more water.
The Los Angeles skyline late at night. (Photo: Songquang Deng, via Shutterstock)OPINION: Intense pressure will be applied by some legislators, regulators, and stakeholders who favor a heavy-handed command and control approach instead of market-based measures to clean the air and reduce GHGs. Look no further than the March 3 South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) governing board meeting for a real-life example.
California motorists in a traffic jam. (Photo: Shutterstock)In this dry summer, water is on everyone’s mind, but the Legislature will be dealing with the cost of another liquid precious to Californians – gasoline. Starting Jan. 1, gasoline prices are to be raised by an estimated 15 cents per gallon as a consequence of an increased tax on oil and gas companies to help curb release of greenhouse gas emissions.