Archive for May, 2009
« Previous Entries Next Entries »Ground Water in Texas
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
I used to tell audiences that Texas and California has two things in common:
Opposition to gay marriage, and
Unregulated ground water.
Imagine my shock and upset (at losing my joke) when I heard that Texas was “doing something” about its ground water. Here’s the short version:
The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB = California’s DWR [...]
Saving Kittens and Plastic Waste
Submitted by PlasticLess.com Blog
I saved a kitten from almost certain death yesterday. Catherine and I were sitting at our local cafe in the early morning and a tiny black and white kitten approached us on unsteady legs. It seemed to be imploring us.
We have a vet clinic next door. I went over with the kitten [...]
More on Rawls and Justice
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
In response to this post, JW writes:
Your post on equality and John Rawls disturbed me.
Your usual well researched cause and effect arguments were taken over by populist rhetoric. I’ve forgotten much of what I once knew about Rawls’ philosophy (so I assume I found parts of his philosophy which were not useful [...]
Risk/Reward
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
via DR:
The ECPI Global Blue Gold Equity Index is designed to give investors equity exposure to publicly traded firms active in water-related businesses (water treatment, infrastructure, distribution). It is these companies who will be best positioned to capture the opportunities arising from the challenges of declining water availability.
These companies had better have [...]
20×2020
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
KL asks:
Governor Schwarzenegger’s “20×2020 Plan” calls for a 20 percent reduction in per capita water use by 2020. I’d love to hear any of your thoughts on it, i.e. does it make economic sense to you? Do you think the plan will work?
Here are a few thoughts:
There is some controversy over which [...]
Speed Blogging
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
A review of Bottlemania
A review [PDF] of Nanotechnology: Health and Environmental Risks
The Thirst for Water slideshow [pps] is useful for water activists.
Paul Romer gives the world premiere talk [37 min 5MB MP3] extending his new growth theory (endogenous technology) to include the feedback loop between institutions and human ingenuity/inventions. Very interesting!
Sacramento sends [...]
With Oil Prices Poised to Jump as Much as 70%, Every Investor Needs an Energy Strategy
Submitted by R-Squared Energy Blog
[RR note: This blog occasionally posts guest posts, and energy investing is a topic that is visited on a fairly regular basis. The website Money Morning recently noticed that I had linked to one of their articles, and asked if I would be interested in publishing some of their original energy-related [...]
Thoughts on New Fuel Efficiency Standards
Submitted by R-Squared Energy Blog
After I wrote The Problem with CAFE a couple of years ago, a lot of people concluded that I am against higher CAFE standards. That’s not exactly the case. In a nutshell, my problem with CAFE is that I feel like it addresses the problem from the wrong side of the [...]
Review of Overfly Brand Safety Razor
Submitted by PlasticLess.com Blog
I said that I would do this if anybody double dog dared me. That was meant to be a lighthearted movie allusion to add some color to this otherwise quite boring green blog. Somebody dared me, in the comments, about ten minutes after I published.
I like the fact that the Overfly Brand [...]
Alternatives to Plastic Bubble Wrap
Submitted by PlasticLess.com Blog
I owe somebody an apology. Back a few months ago I wrote a post about Virtual Bubble Wrap. That post is ranking at the top of Google for the term Alternatives to Plastic Bubble Wrap and obviously the cute little flash game is not a substitute for bubble wrap as far as [...]
Weekend Discussion: Radicals vs Conservatives
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
NOTE: This post will stay here until Sunday night. Posts for Saturday and Sunday morning go below this post.
Dear Aguanauts,
Discussion posts allow you to discuss a topic among yourselves — exchanging views, learning and teaching. (I only read the comments.)
If you are interested, take a moment to check out (and add to!) [...]
Vegas Accounting
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
GOOD has a piece (via DW) on Lake Mead:
Las Vegas residents tried to pass a bill that would allow homeowners to install graywater systems but the Southern Nevada Water Authority blocked it, offering up a piece of fuzzy math as a defense. Las Vegas Valley is allotted 300,000 acre-feet of water per [...]
California Lags
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
My recent trip to a workshop in Phoenix [prior post] opened my eyes on a different dimension of water as a valuable and necessary commodity for urban land development. For example:
Vidler spent $100 million developing 8 tafy at Fish Ranch that was sold for urban development north of Reno. The PPP deal [...]
Do I Need to Be an Economist to Be Useful?
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
SK asks:
I am a mediator with a non-profit management/ arts/real estate background and a heavy interest in water. I have no legal/policy training yet and only a few water classes at Cal. Mostly I am a water fan attempting to work my way toward water conflict resolution and trans-boundary issues.
So now I [...]
Flashback: 16-22 May 2008
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
These posts are STILL relevant, so please comment (I’ll approve them ASAP.)
BEST: Speaking of Carbon: the geo-political tension over carbon negotiations.
Local Markets for food CAN work!
BEST: Agricultural Policy was already written to benefit industrial ag in 1958.
Central Planning for Lawns. Why can’t water managers just let prices do the hard work? [...]
The California Water Crisis
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
I wrote this [PDF] recently for UK-based Global Water Intelligence, a weekly with an annual subscription price of over $1,000. (Wow! You get it for free!)
It’s my take on the situation in California, with some additions from their staffers. (Btw, it’s also already out of date. CVP allocations to ag/urban are now [...]
Unquenchable — The Review
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
Robert Glennon, a University of Arizona law professor, has written a second book about water. (I have not read his first, Water Follies: Groundwater Pumping and the Fate of America’s Fresh Waters, but I should!)
On first glance, Unquenchable: America’s Water Crisis and What To Do About It (333 pages) seems like it [...]
Aguanomic Metering
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
A reader asks:
What is your opinion on the billing structure for the other “classes” business/government, irrigation users (same treated water used in a separate meter for home owner associations, outdoor irrigation for strip malls, freeway irrigation), residential, and multi-use?
Do you believe that water should be charged differently amongst classes and different base [...]
Poll Results — Outdoor Watering
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
Hey! There’s a NEW POLL (dirty dishes!) to the right —>
Do You Water Outdoors?
Yes
48%
No
43%
Someone Does It for Me
10%
These results are somewhat surprising to me. I thought that most readers (more than 43%) of this blog would NOT water outdoors. I’d love to hear the reasons why those who DO [...]
The Drought Water Bank Fails
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
Here’s the story:
Moving water around California is never simple. And the troubles with the state’s “water bank” show why.
Fish-related pumping restrictions in the Delta narrowed the window for moving water from north to south, limiting the amount some farmers could sell and scaring off potential buyers.
A collection of environmental groups sued the [...]
Consultants on Water Pricing, The Delta and Arizona Groundwater
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
Here are a few talks by consultants that may interest you.
Sanjay Gaur gives an excellent overview of how to set prices based on water budgets. Here are his slides [PPS] and 25 min of audio [4MB MP3 -- I started a few minutes late]. Although I prefer the simpler “some for free, [...]
Captive Media and Agriculture
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
LLoyd Carter gives his take on those marching for more water in the Valley:
In my view, the coverage of the march by San Joaquin Valley media outlets was little more than cheerleading for the region’s biggest industry. Not one reporter asked whether or not Comedian Paul Rodriguez is being paid for any [...]
Pacific Ethanol Plants Declare Bankruptcy
Submitted by R-Squared Energy Blog
I don’t actually enjoy posting “I told you so” stories, especially when the news is negative. This means someone has failed, and I don’t enjoy seeing people fail. But when I put a spotlight on a company, naturally I am going to follow that company. If it does fail, then that [...]
Captive Media and Agriculture
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
LLoyd Carter gives his take on those marching for more water in the Valley:
In my view, the coverage of the march by San Joaquin Valley media outlets was little more than cheerleading for the region’s biggest industry. Not one reporter asked whether or not Comedian Paul Rodriguez is being paid for any [...]
Team Climate Action!
Submitted by Aguanomics Blog
RT sends these reports:
The state Climate Action Team has a new draft report.
Price Impact on the Demand for Water and Energy in California Residences [PDF]
I took a quick look at each, and — in danger of offending my advisers (Howitt and Hanemann) — here are my thoughts:
Howitt, Lund, Medellin-Azuara, et al. use [...]
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