Follow our energy experts in the media.
Storing Renewable Energy, One Balloon at a Time
March 18, 2024
The New York Times
Faculty Affiliate James Bushnell is quoted in the New York Times discussing the drawbacks of storing energy for extended periods of time.
Cap-and-trade is Bread and Butter Now
March 12, 2024
Politco
Energy Institute Faculty Director, Meredith Fowlie, shares her thoughts on the rising electricity costs and the impact of climate inaction in the Politico article.
'It's Crazy': How Soaring PG&E Rates are impacting California's Electric Car Owners
March 11, 2024
San Francisco Chronicle
Energy Institute Faculty Director, Severin Borenstein, comments in the San Francisco Chronicle on the impact of rising electricity prices on the cost of maintaining, repairing, and fueling electric cars.
States Eye Rescue of Retiring Coal Plants
March 7, 2024
E&E News
Energy Institute Faculty Director, Severin Borenstein, asserts his opinion in E&E News on a series of Utah bills meant to make it more difficult to retire power plants.
Legislative Democrats Are Running From Their Own Tax-the-Rich Electricity Idea. Why?
March 1, 2024
The Sacramento Bee
Energy Institute Faculty Director, Severin Borenstein, provides his insight into the reasons as to why legislature is turning away from having PG&E electricity bills to be set according to household income.
Leave the Trees, Trip the Lines
February 22, 2024
Politico
Research quoted in Politico conducted by Energy Institute Faculty Director Meredith Fowlie, Faculty Affiliate Duncan Callaway, and Graduate Student Researcher, Cody Warner provides insight on PGE’s approach to minimizing wildfire risk through burying power lines.
Bill Would End California Experiment With Income-Based Electric Bills
February 7, 2024
Canary Media
Energy Institute Faculty Director Severin Borenstein’s stance on income-based fixed electric charges was referenced in Canary Media.
California’s New Oil Czar Wants to End Mysterious Gas Price Spikes. Here’s His Plan So Far
February 2, 2024
The Sacramento Bee
Faculty Director Severin Borenstein from the Energy Institute provides key insights to the Sacramento Bee into the benefits of a delay in the California Energy Commission’s (CEC) timeline in implementing a price gouging penalty.
How to Overcome the Biggest Obstacle to Electric Vehicles
February 1, 2024
The Economist
Faculty Affiliate Lucas Davis from the Energy Institute joins the discussion about the intersection of politics and the EV market and the influence of polarization in The Economist article.
New Master’s Degree at UC Berkeley Focuses On Interdisciplinary Climate Solutions
January 20, 2024
SF Gate
Faculty Affiliate James Sallee from the Energy Institute shares plans for UC Berkeley’s College of Natural Resources’ upcoming Master of Climate Solutions degree in SF Gate. The program, commencing this fall, will be led by faculty from the Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, and the Energy and Resources Group. Additionally, a new concurrent degree option is being introduced at The Haas School of Business, incorporating climate change courses.
To Put More Renewable Power to Use, Utilities are Doubling Down on Battery Storage
January 16, 2024
Marketplace
Faculty Director, Severin Borenstein comments on Marketplace regarding the process of using batteries to storage renewable energy due to an increase in demand for renewable power.
Fremont Solar Equipment Company to Layoff 350 Workers as Industry Slows
January 3, 2024
CBS Bay Area News
Energy Institute Faculty Director Severin Borenstein discusses the need for solar companies on CBS after recent layoffs at solar equipment company.
Historic PG&E Rate Increases Will Hit Hard in 2024 - Meredith Fowlie on KQED, CapRadio, and More
January 4, 2024
KQED
Energy Institute Faculty Director Meredith Fowlie discusses cost containment on KQED, following PG&E’s recent rate increase to fund wildfire mitigation projects in high-risk areas.
California Pushes Electric Trucks as the Future of Freight - James Sallee in The New York Times
December 28, 2023
The New York Times
Energy Institute Faculty Affiliate James Sallee provides insight on electric trucks and California’s ambitious green revolution in The New York Times.
Calif. Takes Aim at Gas Price Gougers. Here’s Why it’s Hard. - Severin Borenstein in E&E News
December 19, 2023
E&E News
Energy Institute Faculty Director, Severin Borenstein, comments on the effectiveness and implications of gas price gouging penalties in E&E News.
Gas Stations and Prices - Lucas Davis and Severin Borenstein in Politico
December 11, 2023
Politico
Energy Institute Faculty Director, Severin Borenstein, and Faculty Affiliate Lucas Davis are referenced in Politico regarding their research on gas prices in various locations.
Potential PG&E Rate Hikes
November 13, 2023
CapRadio
Energy Institute Faculty Director Meredith Fowlie comments on recent and projected PG&E price increases on CapRadio.
Three Questions for Gavin Newsom’s Climate Guru
November 6, 2023
Politico and More
Energy Institute Faculty Affiliate Lucas Davis and his recent working paper were referenced in this Politico article about electric vehicles and climate policy.
Growing U.S. Anger with Electric Utilities Finds its Epicenter in Maine
November 4, 2023
The Washington Post
Maine voters want to dissolve investor-owned utilities and replace them with a nonprofit, and Severin Borenstein, Energy Institute Faculty Director, spoke to The Washington Post about his thoughts on the matter.
In Effort to Calm High Prices, WA to Pursue Linking Carbon-Pricing Market with CA, Quebec
November 2, 2023
The Seattle Times
Energy Institute Faculty Affiliate James Bushnell provides insight to The Seattle Times regarding the potential carbon pricing market merge between Washington, California, and Quebec.
Report: US Needs Much More Than the IRA to Get to Net Zero by 2050
October 19, 2023
ARS Technica
ARS Technica covers a new study from a National Academies committee, including Energy Institute Faculty Affiliate Reed Walker, recommends policies to address gaps in US climate policy and achieve a fair, equitable, and just 30-year transition to net-zero emissions.
EVs, Like Everything Else, Are Political
October 25, 2023
AXIOS
Lucas Davis, Energy Institute Faculty Affiliate, has his working paper on the correlation between new car registrations and voting records in presidential races quoted in AXIOS.
California Gas Prices are Headed Down Despite Israel-Hamas War, Experts Say. Here's Why
October 24, 2023
The Sacramento Bee
Severin Borenstein, Energy Institute Faculty Director, provides insight into the effects of the Israel-Hamas War on California gasoline prices.
Letters: Claim That Utility Bills Will ‘Skyrocket’ is Overblown.
October 23, 2023
The San Francisco Chronicle
Severin Borenstein, Energy Institute Faculty Director, describes an analysis of utility bills and how the majority of low to moderate income households will see lower bills.
State’s New Oil Watchdog Questions Price Spike As Gas Crosses Over $6 in San Diego
September 25, 2023
The San Diego Union Tribune and More
Severin Borenstein, Energy Institute Faculty Director, shares his perspective with The San Diego Union Tribune regarding the recent surge in gas prices in San Diego.
Laurel Peltier Took On Multi-Million Dollar Private Energy Companies Scamming Baltimore’s Low-Income Households, One Victim at a Time
September 11, 2023
Inside Climate News
Inside Climate News references important research by Jenya Kahn-Lang, former Energy Institute Graduate Student Affiliate, regarding price discrimination in residential electricity markets.
The Challenges Facing the Nation's Electricity Power Sector
September 8, 2023
Environmental Insights – A Podcast by Robert Stavins
Severin Borenstein, Energy Institute Faculty Director, discusses electricity markets and the related challenges that the US is facing.
Where Dangerous Heat is Surging
September 5, 2023
The Washington Post
Lucas Davis, Energy Institute Faculty Affiliate, provides insight into the reality for underserved communities regarding recent heat surges.
Hawaii Utility Faces Collapse as Others Delay on Extreme Weather Risks
August 25, 2023
The Washington Post
Severin Borenstein, Energy Institute Faculty Director comments on the economics of the issues in Hawaii’s utility system.
WA’s Carbon-Pricing Program Nears $1 Billion in Revenue, Far Outpacing Early Estimates
August 16, 2023
The Seattle Times
James Bushnell, Energy Institute Faculty Affiliate examines on the Seattle Times WA’s current efforts to cap carbon emissions.
Nuclear Fusion Breakthrough: Bay Area Lab Takes Big Step in Creating Clean Energy
August 7, 2023
NBC Bay Area
Severin Borenstein, Energy Institute Faculty Director analyzes on NBC Bay Area the impact of new fusion power plant to reduce carbon emissions in the atmosphere.
The Case For Paying to Scrap Polluting Stuff
August 4, 2023
Axios
Jim Sallee, Energy Institute Faculty Affiliate compares policy options to decarbonize the economy and decrease emissions.
It’s Official: Stores Can No Longer Sell Most Incandescent Lights
August 1, 2023
The New York Times
Lucas Davis, Energy Institute Faculty Affiliate examines the impacts of the transition from incandescent to LED lights.
Are Major Changes Coming to Your Electric Bill? 5 Things to Know
July 20, 2023
Cal Matters
James Sallee, Energy Institute Faculty Affiliate considers the impact of reforming the electric bill structure to be proportionate to income.
California Secures $67 Million to Bolster Clean Energy Projects For Electric Grid
July 10, 2023
NBC Bay Area
Severin Borenstein, Energy Institute Faculty Director sits down with NBC Bay Area to express the value in increasing the production of electricity through greater power grid capacity.
Studying the Real Impacts of Climate Change Policies
July 6, 2023
An Economic View of the Environment – A Blog by Robert Stavins
Meredith Fowlie, Energy Institute Faculty Director talks about her work on environmental regulation and environmental justice, as well as her thoughts on today’s climate activism on Robert Stavins’s latest podcast episode.
Stringent Policy Changes Caused US Manufacturing to Reduce Air Pollution — This Was Achieved Even as Output Was Rising
June 23, 2023
The Economic Times – India
Reed Walker, Energy Institute Faculty Affiliate analyzes in The Economic Times – India, the correlation between declining air pollution and increasing production output levels.
The Current Electricity Rate System is Broken. Rate Reforms Will Make it More Equitable. (Opinion)
June 21, 2023
The San Diego Union Tribune
Meredith Fowlie, Energy Institute Faculty Director sits down with the San Diego Union Tribune to comment on rising electricity costs and the development of an “income-graduated” electricity bill system.
The Surprising Truth About Which Homes Have Heat Pumps
June 14, 2023
MIT Technology Review
Lucas Davis, Energy Institute Faculty Affiliate examines in the MIT Technology Review, how the usage of electric heat pumps is correlated with household income.
New California Law May Save Low-Income Families as Much as $300 a Year — But There’s a Catch
June 6, 2023
Yahoo Finance
Meredith Fowlie, Energy Institute Faculty Director discusses in Yahoo Finance, how electricity charges can be disproportionate compared to one’s income, and the establishment of a new billing system.
Richer People Pay More: California's Dramatic Change to Electricity Bills
June 7, 2023
The Guardian
Severin Borenstein, Energy Institute Faculty Director acknowledges in The Guardian, the high electricity prices in California, as well as the establishment of an income-based charge.
If You Live in California, Your Power Bill Will Soon Depend on Your Income
June 1, 2023
The Washington Post
Meredith Fowlie, Energy Institute Faculty Director clarifies in The Washington Post, the establishment of fixed electricity charges based on income.
Income-Based Electric Bills: The Newest Utility Fight in California
May 9, 2023
Canary Media
Meredith Fowlie, Energy Institute Faculty Director explains in Canary Media, the high California utilities per kilowatt-hour prices and the incorporation of an income-based electricity rate.
PG&E Among Energy Providers Submitting Proposal or Income-Based Electric Rates
May 8, 2023
ABC News Bakersfield
Severin Borenstein, Energy Institute Faculty Director responds on ABC News Bakersfield about new proposed electricity rates that would make energy cheaper for some and more expensive for others.
Environmentalists Sue California Over Reduced Solar Incentives
May 4, 2023
The Los Angeles Times
Severin Borenstein, Energy Institute Faculty Director responds to environmentalist group concerns that the Public Utilities Commission has ignored key benefits of solar energy, stating that while rooftop solar panels do provide environmental benefits, their advantages may often provide a “private benefit to the customer” rather than a “societal benefit” to be subsidized.
New Electricity Rate Structure Proposal Would, In Part, Use Incomes To Determine Bill
April 20, 2023
KPCC
Severin Borenstein, Energy Institute Faculty Director, provides insight on the proposal for a new electricity rate structure and its implications on the economy.
What the EPA’s Proposed Electric Car Rules Would Mean for Tesla — and You
April 14, 2023
SFGate
Jim Sallee, Energy Institute Faculty Affiliate, discusses with SFGate that Tesla market share may decline as the electric vehicle market expands.
A New Charge is Coming to Your Electric Bill. Will it Make California Rates More Affordable?
April 11, 2023
The Los Angeles Times and Market Place
With the recent electricity bill mandate on residential ratepayers, the Los Angeles Times quotes Jim Sallee, Energy Institute Faculty Affiliate, on joint project with Next 10 focusing on residential rate redesign. The report includes adopting a fixed monthly charge based on household income.
US Energy Storage Needs National Standards and Regulations to Thrive Amid Clean Energy Transition: GAO
April 11, 2023
Utility Dive
Severin Borenstein, Energy Institute Faculty Director, shares expertise with the Utility Dive around the challenge of establishing a standardized set of energy storage rules across the nation’s three energy grids.
The US Produced More Electricity From Renewable Sources Than Coal in 2022
March 28, 2023
Marketplace and More
Faculty Director Severin Borenstein elaborates on price gouging within the oil industry on Marketplace.