Infrastructure

CA gas prices could start falling

Some good news: Gas prices could start falling. Six weeks ago gasoline in California averaged about $2.25 a gallon, the lowest price in years. Then prices zoomed up a buck and more. Today, according to GasBuddy.com, the average price in

High-speed rail Legislative Report lists some, but not all controversies

Kathy Hamilton March 13, 2015

Risk, time and money remain the major problems for the construction of California’s high-speed rail project. That’s seen in the biannual Legislative Report of the California High-Speed Rail Authority released this month, as required by law. The report is a serious

Alternative fuel companies cheer, oil industry questions CA carbon regulations

Dave Roberts March 12, 2015

The California Air Resources Board’s plan to renew the Low Carbon Fuel Standard elicited cheers at a recent Board meeting from its main beneficiary: alternative fuel companies. More lukewarm was the petroleum industry, which could lose billions of dollars as it transitions

CA drought spurs painful rate hikes

James Poulos March 12, 2015

Faced with a drought that won’t quit, officials have taken new steps to add to Californians’ discomfort — a fresh round of rate hikes. Regulators in the San Francisco Bay Area have begun the march toward charging significantly more for water, pleading

Pols’ 2010 gas tax swap made road woes worse

Chris Reed March 2, 2015

It’s become an annual ritual: Stories about the State Board of Equalization announcing it is raising or cutting the state excise tax on gasoline come July 1 to honor the fine print of a 2010 budget deal that requires gas

Solar power causing problems with electricity grid

John Seiler March 1, 2015

One theme CalWatchdog.com has covered is how solar power can cause problems to the state’s existing electricity grid. An investigation a year ago found: An emerging problem with California’s new green power grid is the need to ramp up enough conventional power

Voters want better roads, payment uncertain

John Seiler February 28, 2015

A new Field Poll found California registered voters want more construction and repairs to the state’s shaky road system. But they’re stuck before a fork in the road when it comes to paying for them. A whopping 71 percent favor

Cartoon: Leonard Nimoy, RIP

John Seiler February 27, 2015

Water workshop finds only ‘miracle’ can end drought

Wayne Lusvardi February 27, 2015

IRVINE — “Dismal, poor, horrible, abysmal” are the current snowpack and water runoff conditions in California, according to Jeanine Jones, the Interstate Resources Manager for the California Department of Water Resources. The “dismal” snowpack means that when it melts, water will only trickle

The economics of football stadiums

John Seiler February 26, 2015

CalWatchdog.com has run several stories on the National Football League’s maneuvers with the Los Angeles market, which currently doesn’t have a team. It’s worthwhile to step back a little and consider the economics of sports stadiums, which has been studied thoroughly