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

Jan 7, 2025 - The main explanation for why NEM 3.0 provides a lower amount of credit to solar customers compared to the previous NEM programs is that the new structure credits customers only for the costs the utility avoids by not having to buy electricity elsewhere to serve them.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4950

The 2017-18 Budget: Cap-and-Trade

Feb 13, 2017 - Emissions sources that can reduce their emissions relatively cheaply are given an economic incentive to do so, as an alternative to buying allowances or paying the tax. Carbon Tax and Cap ‑and ‑Trade Address Different Types of Uncertainty.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3553

Overview of California's Ports

Aug 23, 2022 - Increasing consumer prices primarily result from a surge in the amount of goods consumers want to buy, combined with businesses struggling to produce and deliver those goods. One result of this dynamic is a dramatic increase in ocean freight costs, which businesses may pass on to consumers through higher prices.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4618

Cap-And-Trade Auction Update and GGRF Projections

Dec 6, 2021 - Based on our understanding of market trends, the recent increase in allowance prices has at least partly been driven by more “non ‑compliance ” entities buying and selling allowances. For example, investment firms are purchasing allowances with the expectation that prices will increase in the future and the allowances can be sold for a profit.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4480

Assessing Early Implementation of Urban Water Use Efficiency Requirements

Jan 4, 2024 - Legislation approved in 2018 established a long-term urban water use efficiency framework to “Make Conservation a California Way of Life,” creating new requirements for urban retail water suppliers across the state. This report responds to a requirement that our office assess implementation of the framework.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4823

Assessing California’s Climate Policies—Transportation

Dec 21, 2018 - In such cases, the rebate does have the effect of encouraging a new ZEV purchase, but the net reductions associated with buying a ZEV rather than a highly fuel ‑efficient vehicle might not be that significant.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/report/3912

Addressing California’s Convenience Zone Recycling Center Closures

May 16, 2016 - Requiring Manufacturers to Buy Materials Could Help in Long Run. In our report last year , we identified a market-based option that the Legislature could consider implementing for container collection and recycling.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3466

The 2017-18 Budget: Resources and Environmental Protection

Feb 15, 2017 - The department ’s paper also discusses requiring manufacturers to play a stronger role in supporting recycled material markets through minimum content requirements, material buy ‑back requirements, refillable beverage container options, and/or container designs that are more easily recycled.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3558

Preparing for Rising Seas: How the State Can Help Support Local Coastal Adaptation Efforts

Dec 10, 2019 - Planning ahead means adaptation actions can be strategic and phased, helps “buy time ” before more extreme responses are needed, provides opportunities to test approaches and learn what works best, and may make overall adaptation efforts more affordable and improve their odds for success.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4121

Evaluating California's Pursuit of Zero Net Energy State Buildings

Nov 14, 2017 - Emitters can purchase allowances at a state ‑run auction or “trade ” (buy and sell ) t hem on the private market. (ARB also gives some allowances away for free. ) S ome entities will end up reducing their emissions if the total number of allowances available is less than the number of emissions that would otherwise occur.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3711