Today, the Sacramento Bee and San Jose Mercury News both quoted Program on Energy and Sustainable Development Director Frank Wolak in their stories about California’s recent blackouts.  In the Sacramento Bee’s article about the California Independent System Operator declaring a temporary ban on “convergency bidding,” Wolak came out in support of the system comprised of power generators and traders saying that it sends the proper price signals to drive supply. The San Jose Mercury News article said that California electricity shortages will be more common during major heat waves due to the state’s shift away from fossil fuels providing more consistent power to cleaner but more intermittent sources such as solar and wind energy.  “We have a much more risky supply of energy now because the sun doesn’t always shine when we want and the wind doesn’t always blow when we want,” said Wolak. “We need more tools to manage that risk. We need more insurance against the supply shortfalls.”

Given the urgency of climate change, it might seem sensible for aid agencies and multilateral donors to stop funding fossil fuel projects -- any fossil fuel projects -- in developing countries. But Program on Energy and Sustainable Development Associate Director Mark Thurber (writing with Energy for Growth Hub's Todd Moss) explains why shutting the tap on gas in Africa is bad development policy and bad climate policy.  Read more

On June 3, Program on Energy and Sustainable Development (PESD) Director Frank Wolak participated as one of three energy experts in a virtual panel discussion evaluating the pros and cons of proposed “reach codes”  banning natural gas in the city of Los Altos, California.  The panel discussion - "Mandating All Electric:  Is Banning Natural Gas Really The Answer?" - was organized by a group of Los Altos residents who believe city residents’ voices need to be considered in government decisions. 

Reach codes are being considered for all new residential and commercial building construction, and all “scrape” remodels in the city.  A reach code is a local building energy code that reaches beyond the state minimum requirements for energy and its use in building design and construction. These codes facilitate local government’s efforts focused on clean air, climate solutions, and renewable energy economics.

Recorded discussion

Flaring of natural gas that can't be utilized represents both an economic loss and a major environmental problem. Writing for Energy for Growth Hub, PESD associate director Mark Thurber describes why gas flaring is stubbornly persistent around the world, and what can be done to productively use more of the gas that is currently going up in flames.  Read more.