Energy Institute at Haas
@ucenergyinstitute.bsky.social
Helping create a more economically and environmentally sustainable energy future through research, teaching and policy engagement. Visit our website for more information about the Energy Institute: haas.berkeley.edu/energy-institute/
"'Now that [cost] is many, many times higher because almost all of the fires that have been started are distribution level fires.'” @severinborenstein.bsky.social @kqednews.kqed.org
kqed.org/science/1999400/bay-area-electricity-bills-are-some-of-the-highest-where-does-your-money-go
kqed.org/science/1999400/bay-area-electricity-bills-are-some-of-the-highest-where-does-your-money-go
December 8, 2025 at 5:45 PM
"'Now that [cost] is many, many times higher because almost all of the fires that have been started are distribution level fires.'” @severinborenstein.bsky.social @kqednews.kqed.org
kqed.org/science/1999400/bay-area-electricity-bills-are-some-of-the-highest-where-does-your-money-go
kqed.org/science/1999400/bay-area-electricity-bills-are-some-of-the-highest-where-does-your-money-go
New Energy Institute Blog Post: California Now Allows More Ethanol in Gasoline — Is This Going to Save Drivers Money? - by Aaron Smith
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/12/08/c...
#airpollution #gasoline #naturalgas #oil #transportation
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/12/08/c...
#airpollution #gasoline #naturalgas #oil #transportation
December 8, 2025 at 4:10 PM
New Energy Institute Blog Post: California Now Allows More Ethanol in Gasoline — Is This Going to Save Drivers Money? - by Aaron Smith
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/12/08/c...
#airpollution #gasoline #naturalgas #oil #transportation
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/12/08/c...
#airpollution #gasoline #naturalgas #oil #transportation
Reposted by Energy Institute at Haas
Unfortunate, but common, misinterpretation of grid data. Total hours California's grid has run without natural gas since 2019 is zero. Some hours when renewables>demand, but much exported. FOR NOW, still need gas to balance the system. yaleclimateconnections.org/2025/02/cali...
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California just debunked a big myth about renewable energy » Yale Climate Connections
The state went a record 98 of 116 days providing up to 10 hours of electricity with renewables alone.
yaleclimateconnections.org
November 26, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Unfortunate, but common, misinterpretation of grid data. Total hours California's grid has run without natural gas since 2019 is zero. Some hours when renewables>demand, but much exported. FOR NOW, still need gas to balance the system. yaleclimateconnections.org/2025/02/cali...
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Reposted by Energy Institute at Haas
Very interesting episode of the Shift Key podcast on what AI boom is doing to clean energy and what might happen if it is a bubble that leaves bankrupt data center companies and potentially unused grid capacity.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
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podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
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How Clean Energy Could Prepare for an AI Bubble
Podcast Episode · Shift Key with Robinson Meyer and Jesse Jenkins · 11/19/2025 · 1h 19m
podcasts.apple.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Very interesting episode of the Shift Key podcast on what AI boom is doing to clean energy and what might happen if it is a bubble that leaves bankrupt data center companies and potentially unused grid capacity.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
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podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h...
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Reposted by Energy Institute at Haas
Dallas Burtraw at @rff.org has an excellent explainer on the climate and energy bills that passed the California legislature and were signed by Gov. Newsom in September. No blog could cover all the critical details, but Dallas hits the major points.
www.resources.org/common-resou...
www.resources.org/common-resou...
California’s Innovative Vision for Climate Policy and Energy Affordability
In late September, California passed a legislation package to help achieve the state’s climate neutrality goals. This blog post analyzes aspects of the legislation and describes how they work to reduc...
www.resources.org
November 24, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Dallas Burtraw at @rff.org has an excellent explainer on the climate and energy bills that passed the California legislature and were signed by Gov. Newsom in September. No blog could cover all the critical details, but Dallas hits the major points.
www.resources.org/common-resou...
www.resources.org/common-resou...
New Energy Institute Blog Post: A Small Beautiful Bill - by Maximilian Auffhammer
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/12/01/a...
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/12/01/a...
December 1, 2025 at 4:47 PM
New Energy Institute Blog Post: A Small Beautiful Bill - by Maximilian Auffhammer
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/12/01/a...
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/12/01/a...
Reposted by Energy Institute at Haas
An important, and discouraging, reminder that innovation continues in the fossil fuel industries as well as in renewables. Cheap oil and gas remains a major barrier to decarbonization .
www.eia.gov/todayinenerg...
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www.eia.gov/todayinenerg...
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U.S. rig counts remain low as production efficiencies improve - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
www.eia.gov
November 19, 2025 at 4:05 PM
An important, and discouraging, reminder that innovation continues in the fossil fuel industries as well as in renewables. Cheap oil and gas remains a major barrier to decarbonization .
www.eia.gov/todayinenerg...
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www.eia.gov/todayinenerg...
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Reposted by Energy Institute at Haas
Good update on Kinder Morgan plans for expanding refined product distributions to Arizona, California, and Nevada. This would be a benefit to producers and customers, but not clear there is enough value to shippers for the investment.
stillwaterassociates.com/open-season-...
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stillwaterassociates.com/open-season-...
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Open Season for Western Expansion: Kinder Morgan and Phillips 66 Launch Western Gateway Pipeline Connecting Midwest Supply to the Southwest and California | Stillwater Associates
Kinder Morgan and Phillips 66 announce the Western Gateway Pipeline open season, a new refined products corridor connecting Midwest supply to California, Arizona, and Nevada - reshaping Western fuel l...
stillwaterassociates.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Good update on Kinder Morgan plans for expanding refined product distributions to Arizona, California, and Nevada. This would be a benefit to producers and customers, but not clear there is enough value to shippers for the investment.
stillwaterassociates.com/open-season-...
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stillwaterassociates.com/open-season-...
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Reposted by Energy Institute at Haas
Excellent article in FT on the problem of Phantom data centers making it difficult for utilities and grid operators to plan, and some of the solutions. I think gift link (on.ft.com/4otkC25) works only for first 3 who use it. Sorry.
www.ft.com/content/331f... 🔌💡
www.ft.com/content/331f... 🔌💡
‘Phantom’ data centres muddy forecasts for US power needs
Developers are overstating energy needs and keeping projects alive even after they are no longer viable
www.ft.com
November 21, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Excellent article in FT on the problem of Phantom data centers making it difficult for utilities and grid operators to plan, and some of the solutions. I think gift link (on.ft.com/4otkC25) works only for first 3 who use it. Sorry.
www.ft.com/content/331f... 🔌💡
www.ft.com/content/331f... 🔌💡
“‘We’re fundamentally talking about hard tradeoffs between mitigating wildfire risk, managing reliability impacts and managing costs, which often translate...’ Meredith Fowlie in POLITICO
politico.com/newsletters/california-climate/2025/11/18/californias-undergrounding-conundrum-00658395
politico.com/newsletters/california-climate/2025/11/18/californias-undergrounding-conundrum-00658395
California’s undergrounding conundrum
California regulators are poised to decide the future of power line safety.
www.politico.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:16 AM
“‘We’re fundamentally talking about hard tradeoffs between mitigating wildfire risk, managing reliability impacts and managing costs, which often translate...’ Meredith Fowlie in POLITICO
politico.com/newsletters/california-climate/2025/11/18/californias-undergrounding-conundrum-00658395
politico.com/newsletters/california-climate/2025/11/18/californias-undergrounding-conundrum-00658395
Reposted by Energy Institute at Haas
In this week's Energy Institute blog, Andy Campbell digs into the debate over how to use money from California's cap and trade auctions to support clean energy and electrification.
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/11/17/c...
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energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/11/17/c...
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Choosing Between Increasing Subsidies or Lowering Rates for Electrification
With California’s cap-and-trade program renewed, policymakers have choices about how to effect change. Just a year ago, the transition from fossil-fueled to electrified transportation and buildings…
energyathaas.wordpress.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:18 PM
In this week's Energy Institute blog, Andy Campbell digs into the debate over how to use money from California's cap and trade auctions to support clean energy and electrification.
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/11/17/c...
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energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/11/17/c...
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Reposted by Energy Institute at Haas
Update on California's Mystery Gasoline Surcharge: holding steady around $0.50 per gallon. In last 6 weeks, however, mostly due to higher spot prices, not downstream margins. Worrisome given one recent and one impending refinery closure. For context: energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/08/18/c...
November 18, 2025 at 4:29 AM
Update on California's Mystery Gasoline Surcharge: holding steady around $0.50 per gallon. In last 6 weeks, however, mostly due to higher spot prices, not downstream margins. Worrisome given one recent and one impending refinery closure. For context: energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/08/18/c...
Reposted by Energy Institute at Haas
Closely related reporting from OPIS
www.opis.com/resources/en...
www.opis.com/resources/en...
Phoenix to Receive Half of Proposed Product Pipeline's Volumes: Phillips 66 - OPIS, A Dow Jones Company
www.opis.com
November 13, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Closely related reporting from OPIS
www.opis.com/resources/en...
www.opis.com/resources/en...
Reposted by Energy Institute at Haas
Fairly detailed update on CA gasoline market. But omits fact that CA spot price was $0.70-$0.90 above NY/Gulf for > 1 month after Chevron El Segundo fire, rather than normal $0.15-$0.30. CA needs more storage to avoid spikes in this new world. Plus end to Jones Act.
www.opis.com/resources/en...
www.opis.com/resources/en...
As Reliance on Imported Gasoline Rises, California Adapts to a 'New World' - OPIS, A Dow Jones Company
www.opis.com
November 13, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Fairly detailed update on CA gasoline market. But omits fact that CA spot price was $0.70-$0.90 above NY/Gulf for > 1 month after Chevron El Segundo fire, rather than normal $0.15-$0.30. CA needs more storage to avoid spikes in this new world. Plus end to Jones Act.
www.opis.com/resources/en...
www.opis.com/resources/en...
“'We’re fundamentally talking about hard tradeoffs between mitigating wildfire risk, managing reliability impacts and managing costs...' said Meredith Fowlie, faculty director of the University of California, Berkeley, Energy Institute at Haas."
politi.co/3Kbvd3p
politi.co/3Kbvd3p
California’s undergrounding conundrum
California regulators are poised to decide the future of power line safety.
politi.co
November 20, 2025 at 5:32 AM
“'We’re fundamentally talking about hard tradeoffs between mitigating wildfire risk, managing reliability impacts and managing costs...' said Meredith Fowlie, faculty director of the University of California, Berkeley, Energy Institute at Haas."
politi.co/3Kbvd3p
politi.co/3Kbvd3p
"...price differential is due to taxes and regulatory costs and that there’s a 'mystery surcharge'...a phenomenon first identified eight years ago by @severinborenstein.bsky.social" - Cal Matters
calmatters.org/commentary/2025/11/newsoms-gas-price-crusade-refiners/
calmatters.org/commentary/2025/11/newsoms-gas-price-crusade-refiners/
Opinion | Newsom's gas price crusade morphs into bid to keep refiners open
A study Gov. Gavin Newsom commissioned describes higher margins oil refiners receive for their products, which become gasoline.
calmatters.org
November 17, 2025 at 10:32 PM
"...price differential is due to taxes and regulatory costs and that there’s a 'mystery surcharge'...a phenomenon first identified eight years ago by @severinborenstein.bsky.social" - Cal Matters
calmatters.org/commentary/2025/11/newsoms-gas-price-crusade-refiners/
calmatters.org/commentary/2025/11/newsoms-gas-price-crusade-refiners/
New Energy Institute Blog Post: Choosing Between Increasing Subsidies or Lowering Rates for Electrification - by @campbellenergy.bsky.social
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/11/17/c...
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/11/17/c...
November 17, 2025 at 5:11 PM
New Energy Institute Blog Post: Choosing Between Increasing Subsidies or Lowering Rates for Electrification - by @campbellenergy.bsky.social
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/11/17/c...
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/11/17/c...
Reposted by Energy Institute at Haas
Hard-nosed rules for new large load interconnections are catching on across the political spectrum. A good sign for protecting existing customers from rate increases driven by stranded T&D investments.
www.utilitydive.com/news/kansas-...
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www.utilitydive.com/news/kansas-...
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Kansas, Michigan regulators approve large load rules for Evergy, Consumers Energy
The new rules, plus proposed legislation in Delaware, aim to ensure that existing utility customers don’t pay costs related to interconnecting data centers and manufacturers.
www.utilitydive.com
November 12, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Hard-nosed rules for new large load interconnections are catching on across the political spectrum. A good sign for protecting existing customers from rate increases driven by stranded T&D investments.
www.utilitydive.com/news/kansas-...
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www.utilitydive.com/news/kansas-...
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Reposted by Energy Institute at Haas
In my EI blog post today, I discuss the CA debate over how to return some of the cap and trade revenue to households and explain why I think a fixed rebate for every household the utility serves should be replace by a discount per-kilowatt-hour.
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/11/10/s... 🔌💡
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/11/10/s... 🔌💡
Spreading the Cap-and-Trade Wealth
Last month, when Gov. Newsom signed a bill extending California’s cap and trade program to 2045, one section of the bill mandated changes in the “Climate Credit” that residential customers have bee…
energyathaas.wordpress.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:51 PM
In my EI blog post today, I discuss the CA debate over how to return some of the cap and trade revenue to households and explain why I think a fixed rebate for every household the utility serves should be replace by a discount per-kilowatt-hour.
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/11/10/s... 🔌💡
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/11/10/s... 🔌💡
“We’re eliminating refineries faster than consumers are switching to electric vehicles...This deepens a paradox: the drive for a cleaner future is colliding with persistent fuel demand." - @severinborenstein.bsky.social in MSN News
www.msn.com/en-us/money/...
www.msn.com/en-us/money/...
MSN
www.msn.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:09 PM
“We’re eliminating refineries faster than consumers are switching to electric vehicles...This deepens a paradox: the drive for a cleaner future is colliding with persistent fuel demand." - @severinborenstein.bsky.social in MSN News
www.msn.com/en-us/money/...
www.msn.com/en-us/money/...
Reposted by Energy Institute at Haas
Canary media correct that MA elec rate is way above MC, bc much of price pays for infrastructure that is not constrained except at peak hour, so high price distorts customer behavior. So true for heat pumps. Also for excessive incentive to install rooftop solar.
www.canarymedia.com/articles/hea...
www.canarymedia.com/articles/hea...
Massachusetts heat-pump owners are about to get cheaper electricity
The state’s innovative winter heat-pump rates go into effect this weekend and should make the tech more accessible. Deeper discounts could come next year.
www.canarymedia.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Canary media correct that MA elec rate is way above MC, bc much of price pays for infrastructure that is not constrained except at peak hour, so high price distorts customer behavior. So true for heat pumps. Also for excessive incentive to install rooftop solar.
www.canarymedia.com/articles/hea...
www.canarymedia.com/articles/hea...
New Energy Institute Blog Post: Spreading the Cap-and-Trade Wealth - @severinborenstein.bsky.social
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/11/10/spreading-the-cap-and-trade-wealth/
#climatechange #electricity #energyefficiency #naturalgas #solar
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/11/10/spreading-the-cap-and-trade-wealth/
#climatechange #electricity #energyefficiency #naturalgas #solar
November 10, 2025 at 4:29 PM
New Energy Institute Blog Post: Spreading the Cap-and-Trade Wealth - @severinborenstein.bsky.social
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/11/10/spreading-the-cap-and-trade-wealth/
#climatechange #electricity #energyefficiency #naturalgas #solar
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/11/10/spreading-the-cap-and-trade-wealth/
#climatechange #electricity #energyefficiency #naturalgas #solar
"If you could get these data centers to get off the grid, say 50-60 hours a year, they really wouldn't create any cost pressure at all," @severinborenstein.bsky.social on NPR.
www.npr.org/2025/11/06/n...
www.npr.org/2025/11/06/n...
Is your electric bill going up? AI is partly to blame
Across the country, demand for electricity is on the rise — and so is the price of electric power.
www.npr.org
November 6, 2025 at 4:17 PM
"If you could get these data centers to get off the grid, say 50-60 hours a year, they really wouldn't create any cost pressure at all," @severinborenstein.bsky.social on NPR.
www.npr.org/2025/11/06/n...
www.npr.org/2025/11/06/n...
Reposted by Energy Institute at Haas
Kinder Morgan talking about building a new pipeline from TX to CA through AZ. Seems like a big bet CA won't respond to declining refinery capacity by increasing capacity to receive tanker imports. Will KM get enough subscribers to build it?
www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
Where will a new gas pipeline cross Arizona? Environmental advocates question plans
The Western Gateway pipeline will deliver up to 200,000 barrels of gas a day, but environmental groups raise new concerns.
www.azcentral.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Kinder Morgan talking about building a new pipeline from TX to CA through AZ. Seems like a big bet CA won't respond to declining refinery capacity by increasing capacity to receive tanker imports. Will KM get enough subscribers to build it?
www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
www.azcentral.com/story/news/l...
Reposted by Energy Institute at Haas
In EI blog, Lucas Davis and Paige Weber explain their new paper finds regulated IOUs are less responsive to wholesale prices than merchant generators in their decisions to close a plant. That leads to important inefficiencies in the generation fleet.
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/11/03/d...
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energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/11/03/d...
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Does Regulation Distort Exit Decisions?
New study shows regulated coal and gas units were 45% less likely to exit between 2011 and 2023. (Today’s post is co-authored by Paige Weber.) Hundreds of power plants have closed in the United Sta…
energyathaas.wordpress.com
November 4, 2025 at 3:35 PM
In EI blog, Lucas Davis and Paige Weber explain their new paper finds regulated IOUs are less responsive to wholesale prices than merchant generators in their decisions to close a plant. That leads to important inefficiencies in the generation fleet.
energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/11/03/d...
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energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/11/03/d...
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