Posts From Wayne Lusvardi
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Drought War: GOP and Dems in fight over CA water policy
Call it the Drought War. Democratic California Sen. Dianne Feinstein is fighting with three Republican U.S. representatives over water policy in this parched state. On Jan. 17, Minority Whip Rep. Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield, Rep. Devin Nunes of Tulare and
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Dems, GOP fight drought battle on national stage
After declaring a drought emergency last week, in his Wednesday State of the State address Gov. Jerry Brown pledged to work for solutions. Escaping the snow-stormy Northeast, also on Wednesday U.S. Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, held a drought
Read MoreDrought could cascade through state infrastructure
California’s drought disaster is real, and could cascade through several levels of the state’s infrastructure. Here’s what could happen: 1. A cutback of 95 percent of water for some farmers and 20 percent for Southern California cities; 2. A resulting
Read MoreBoehner crosses Rubicon in CA drought war
In 49 B.C., Julius Caesar and his army crossed the Rubicon River in Italy and triggered a civil war. Thereafter, the term “crossing the Rubicon” has meant a limit that, when passed, permits no return and an irrevocable commitment. Speaker
Read MorePush to increase CA green power mandate flops
On Jan. 6, a key provision was quietly struck from Assembly Bill 177, a measure introduced by Assemblyman V. Manuel Perez, D-Coachella, that would have expanded the green-power mandate for California utilites from 33 percent to 51 percent by the
Read MoreThree cities oppose gas-fired power plants to replace San Onofre electricity
The cities of Encinitas and Del Mar in San Diego County have appealed to the California Public Utilities Commission opposing the use of gas-fired power plants to replace lost power from the San Onofre nuclear power plant. San Onofre was
Read MoreHydrowonk makes 2014 predictions for Bay Delta plan
Rodney T. Smith, PhD, is a consulting economist in Claremont for Stratecon, Inc. Smith also runs a unique blog called Hydrowonk. One of Smith’s side businesses is a new venture with Inkling Markets called Stratecon Water Policy Markets. It brings
Read MoreMarket closing Prop. 13 commercial property tax gap
Almost 36 years after it was passed by voters, controversy continues to swirl around Proposition 13, the 1978 tax limitation measure. Periodic calls to repeal or modify it, supposedly to gain more tax revenue, so far have gone nowhere. The
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Scientist says no reason to shut down San Onofre nuke plant
Can the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, whose decommissioning was announced last June, be salvaged? Cal-Tech trained geochemist and nuclear waste expert James Conca in Forbes.com says it can. Conca makes a case that Southern California electric ratepayers should not
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