Staff
Helen Kerstein
(916) 319-8364
Air Quality, Energy, Climate Change, and High-Speed Rail
Brian Metzker
(916) 319-8354
Forestry, Parks, and Agriculture
Sonja Petek
(916) 319-8340
Water, Coastal Development, and Fish and Wildlife
Frank Jimenez
(916) 319-8324
Highways and Roads, Recycling, and Toxics
Rachel Ehlers
(916) 319-8330
Deputy Legislative Analyst: Environment and Transportation


Publications

Environment and Natural Resources

To browse all LAO publications, visit our Publications page.



Handout

Cap-and-Trade Market Issues

June 29, 2011 - Presented to Senate Select Committee on the Environment, the Economy,and Climate Change


Handout

Funding Public-Purpose Water-Related Activities

May 3, 2011 - Presented to Water Plan Finance Caucus


Handout

The Renewable Resource Trust Fund

March 30, 2011 - Presented to Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications


Handout

Funding Public Benefits of Water Investments

March 22, 2011 - Presented to Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee


Handout

Resources Bond Overview

February 10, 2011 - Presented to Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 2 on Resources, Environmental Protection,Energy and Transportation


Handout

Overview of the Beverage Container Recycling Fund

February 4, 2011 - Presented to Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 2 on Resources, Environmental Protection, Energy and Transportation


Letter

Public Interest Research Program Review, Letter to Senator Padilla

February 3, 2011 - This responds to Senator Padilla's request that we conduct an independent review of the Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program at the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (CEC). This program, which will automatically expire unless extended through legislative action, provides grants for research to develop energy technologies that benefit the environment, provide greater electricity system reliability, and lower system costs. We find that (1) the CEC has not demonstrated that there has been a substantial payoff to date from the state’s investment of more than $700 million in ratepayer funds, (2) there is a role for the state to continue to support public interest energy research, and (3) if the Legislature decides that there should be a continuing state role in this area of research, improvements could be made to the implementation of this role, including tightening funding eligibility parameters and changing the process by which research funding is allocated.


Handout

Improving Management of the State’s Groundwater Resources

February 2, 2011 - Presented to Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee


Handout

Governor’s Proposed Realignment of Fire and Emergency Response Activities

February 2, 2011 - Presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Resources and Transportation


Handout

Proposition 23: Suspension of “Assembly Bill 32” Until California’s Unemployment Rate Is 5.5 Percent or Less for a Year

October 1, 2010 - Presented to Senate Environmental Quality Committee and Assembly Natural Resources Committee


Handout

AB32: Letter to Assembly Member Dan Logue Regarding Evaluation of the ARB's Updated Economic Analysis

June 16, 2010 - This responds to Assembly Member Logue's request that we provide an evaluation of the updated economic analysis prepared by the California Air Resources Board of its Scoping Plan for implementing AB 32 (Núñez).


Handout

Implementation of the 2010 Water Bond—Issues in Conference (Agenda Pages 19, 24, and 29)

June 7, 2010 - Presented to Budget Conference Committee


Handout

SBX7 8 (Steinberg) Bond Appropriations (Agenda Pages 21 and 24)

June 7, 2010 - Presented to Budget Conference Committee


Handout

California Jobs Budget: Securitization of “Bottle Bill” Monies Overview of the Bottle Bill Program (Agenda Page 11)

June 7, 2010 - Presented to Budget Conference Committee


Handout

AB32: Letter to Assembly Member Dan Logue Regarding Potential Economic Leakage

May 13, 2010 - This responds to Assembly Member Logue's request that we conduct a qualitative analysis of the costs of California taking actions to address the climate change issue, without there being a shared consensus and involvement across the nation in terms of how the issue is addressed. Specifically we were asked to look at the costs California would likely incur following the implementation of AB 32 through the California Air Resource Board’s Scoping Plan, compared to states that do not have similar policies in place.