Energy Overview Energy Programs Research Studies Publications/DVD/Online

Headlines

Analysis Online Headlines

May 11
Energy-Related Carbon Emissions Plunge
CO2 emissions were down 7% in 2009 representing the largest decline in recorded history.

May 10
Another Interesting Day on Wall Street
AnalysisOnline provides an economic update after the U.S. stock market posted its biggest one-day gain in over a year on Monday.

May 9
New Arizona Immigration Law: The Result of Years of Problems
The new Arizona immigration law is the result of years of problems and issues in the state. The Arizona Republic publishes a helpful timeline.

May 6
Containment on Sea Floor to Cope with Gulf Oil Spill
BP's Containment Vessel is on the sea floor to curtain the release of oil in to the Gulf

Reports

Immigration
Change in Make-Up of CA Immigrants
A new study predicts that Los Angeles, a favored destination for many immigrants, will become majority California-born by the time the 2010 census is completed.

Economy
California Budget: Issues Remain
California’s budget accord contains program cuts, but fails to address revenue volatility or prepare for looming future needs, according to research by the Public Policy Institute of California.

Energy
Buyer Perspective: Solar Panel "Bargain"
With state rebates, federal tax credits, and price cuts from manufacturers due to depressed demand, solar energy systems are as much as 50 percent off the original price without incentives.

Healthcare
Killing Jobs Through National Healthcare Reform
A new study from Beacon Hill Institute at Suffolk University uses cost estimates data from the CMS Acutary at the Department of Health and Human Services to find possible job losses from the new health care legislation that could go as high at 700,000.

CBO: Healthcare Reforms Won't Restrain Costs
Healthcare costs are pushing government spending unsustainably high – and there is nothing in Congressional healthcare reform bills that would change that.

Risk
Cutting the Cost of Risk
Some states are dropping expensive reinsurance coverage, which is designed to pay out when disaster pushes claims over-the-top. AnalysisOnline looks at this topic and gives a year-so-far review on risk.

AO Headlines Blog

Read All Headlines Click Here

Powering California

Assessing the Golden State's Energy Future

Despite the recession and the dramatic economic problems facing the state, the California economy will rebound and require energy to sustain future growth. With carbon emission trading and renewable portfolio standards on the horizon, there are a variety of options to supply these growing energy needs as consumers and businesses continue to improve their energy efficiency.

The Communications Institute is joining with other academic and research institutions to conduct Powering California to evaluate the short term energy supply and demand of the state looking to 2030. The study will quantify the economic trade-offs associated with a variety energy supply and efficiency strategies.

Study Sponsors

The Communications Institute
University of Southern California
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

The study is now cosponsored by the National Consortium on Energy Economics (NCEE) based at the University of Rochester’s Simon School of Management and The Communications Institute in association with the University of Southern California Energy Center , a research laboratory of the United States Department of Energy. LLNL has worked with the Institute on previous energy initiatives as a sponsor and funder.

Research Director

The research is overseen by Dr. Timothy Considine, the NCEE Research Director and a Professor of Energy Economics at the University of Wyoming, and former Professor of Economics at Penn State. He has conducted similar studies for the World Bank and the State of Israel.

Research Methodology

The modeling approach, which was successfully developed and deployed for the State of Israel (Considine & Mor, 2003) and Arizona (Considine and McLauren, 2008), involves the determination of fuel consumption by sector and electricity rates given assumptions on primary fuel prices (oil, natural gas, and coal), electricity generation capacity, inflation, and economic growth.

An overview of the model appears below. Electricity demands for residential, commercial, and industrial customers determine electric power generation and import requirements, which then drives the demand for fuels in power generation. The composition of fuel consumption by electric utilities and the average cost of electricity generation are determined by assumptions on available generation capacity, operating rates, and efficiency rates for operating units.

Final electricity prices are determined by adding transmission and distribution charges to generation costs. The feedback of final electricity demand on the demand for fuels and end-use electricity prices allows an integrated evaluation of electricity demand and fuel choice in power generation.

Powering California Research

Professor Tim Considine
presents study summary
at California Statewide energy conference

Utilizing the econometric model developed for a similar research project in Arizona in 2008, Powering California researchers are now compiling data that is being placed into the model to determine California’s long term energy demand and its relationship to various sources with a focus on cost to consumers. Some of the initial findings were presented at a state wide energy conference sponsored by the California Manufacturing and Technology Association on July 30, 2009 at Lake Tahoe California. The forum featured leaders from the government and the private sector. Dr. Considine will keynote the conference.

The final study will be released in fall 2009 and presented at several conferences and briefings around the state.

Click Here to Read the Preface to Powering California.
Click Here to Read the Research Summary .

STAY IN TOUCH WITH TCI ENERGY ECONOMICS PROGRAMS AT
www.energyecon.org