Administration’s Cap-and-Trade Report Provides New Information, Raises Issues For Consideration

Apr 15, 2016 - Establish Independent Expert Committee. In our February 2016 report, we recommended that the Legislature consider establishing an expert committee to help develop a strategy for targeting auction revenues effectively and estimate the outcomes of different programs.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3445

Framework For Cap-And-Trade Investment Plan Needs Further Development

Sep 22, 2015 - So, the investment plan provides ARB with an opportunity to provide policy makers current information about the best available science and a framework for how they should weigh the potential benefits, tradeoffs, and risks inherent in different funding choices.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3298

Cap-and-Trade Revenues: Strategies to Promote Legislative Priorities

Jan 21, 2016 - To help ensure a robust analysis, the Legislature could require the administration to establish an expert panel of economists and other outside experts to provide guidance on identifying market conditions i n which current federal and state programs fail to provide adequate incentives for energy technologies.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3328

The 2025-26 California Spending Plan: Other Provisions

Oct 16, 2025 - California Hope, Opportunity, Perseverance, and Empowerment (HOPE) for Children Trust Account Program Transfers $40  Million from Fund Providing Investment Accounts for Foster Youth to General Fund. The 2022-23 budget provided $100  million and $15  million ongoing to the California HOPE for Children Trust Account Fund.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5081/

Assessing California’s Climate Policies—Transportation

Dec 21, 2018 - Economic Costs Consumer Financial Incentives Involve Opportunity Costs. Providing state funding for any program involves an “opportunity cost ” —that is, the funding is not available for some other purpose.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3912

California’s Cap-and-Trade Program: Frequently Asked Questions

Oct 24, 2023 - The complex interactions between cap-and-trade and other state climate change efforts —as well as the many technological and economic factors that affect emissions in California —make it difficult to quantify the level of emissions reductions attributable to the program alone.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4811

Allocating Utility Wildfire Costs: Options and Issues for Consideration

Jun 21, 2019 - If so, this would have additional indirect benefits for ratepayers by reducing financing costs for other utility investments because the utility is viewed as a less risky. The magnitude of the effect of the fund on investor risk and financing costs is uncertain because ( 1)  k ey details have not been defined, such as the amount of initial shareholder
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4079

Hydraulic Fracturing: How It Works and Recent State Oversight Actions

Dec 1, 2016 - The study makes several recommendations—including for further research related to (1) the possible relationship between wastewater injection and earthquakes in California, (2) opportunities for water conservation and reuse in the oil and natural gas industry, and (3) chemicals used in oil and natural gas drilling operations and their effect on the environment and public health.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3513

The 2023-24 Budget: Proposed Energy Policy Changes

Mar 10, 2023 - Ultimately, ensuring it has the time and opportunities for developing a greater understanding, sufficient input from stakeholders, and thoughtful deliberation will be vital to ensuring it can make an informed decision on these important proposals.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4735

Assessing California’s Climate Policies—Residential Electricity Rates in California

Jan 7, 2025 - On average, residential electricity rates in California are close to double those in the rest of the nation, mostly driven by high rates charged by the state ’s three large investor ‑owned utilities (IOUs).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4950