Author: Edward Ring

Edward Ring is the director of water and energy policy for the California Policy Center, which he co-founded in 2013 and served as its first president. The California Policy Center is an educational non-profit focused on public policies that aim to improve California’s democracy and economy. He is also a senior fellow of the Center for American Greatness. Ring is the author of two books: "Fixing California - Abundance, Pragmatism, Optimism" (2021), and "The Abundance Choice - Our Fight for More Water in California" (2022).

Ringside: Harvesting Urban Storm Runoff

March 7, 2024 2:15 amMarch 7, 2024 2:16 am

In a normal year, by the end of March downtown Los Angeles receives 13 inches of rain. Last year 27.8 inches fell, and through March 3 of this year, 21.3 inches has already fallen. This suggests that both this year...

Ringside: How to Deliver Affordable Energy Again in California

February 29, 2024 2:45 amFebruary 29, 2024 2:46 am

Californians pay some of the highest prices for energy in the United States. Gasoline last year averaged $4.89 per gallon, and diesel fuel $5.07 per gallon, both the highest in the country. Electricity rates had California 45th in the nation in 2023 at $0.27...

Ringside: The Potential of Rooftop Solar

February 22, 2024 2:40 amFebruary 22, 2024 2:41 am

California’s central planners are determined to stay ahead of the entire world when it comes to renewable energy and achieving “net zero.” It is an expensive and intrusive experiment, and we’re the lab rats. But that doesn’t mean every renewables...

Ringside: Wade Crowfoot on Desalination, and the Opportunity Cost of the Delta Tunnel

February 15, 2024 7:31 amFebruary 15, 2024 7:31 am

Last week in Sacramento at Cal Desal’s annual conference, one of the highlights was an appearance by Wade Crowfoot, California’s Natural Resources Secretary. In his remarks, and in answer to questions from the audience, Crowfoot sought to create the impression the...

Ringside: California is Hardly Harvesting the Deluge

February 8, 2024 2:55 amFebruary 8, 2024 11:15 am

A historic barrage of atmospheric rivers hit California. Across the Sierra Nevada and down through the foothills into the valley, rivers turned into raging torrents, overflowing their banks and flooding entire communities. California’s Central Valley turned into an inland sea,...

Ringside: Comparing the Delta Tunnel versus Desalination

February 1, 2024 6:57 amFebruary 2, 2024 6:27 am

Debates over the efficacy of water projects often focus on the monthly cost to end users. For example, in May 2022, a few days before the California Coastal Commission voted unanimously to deny the final permit to build a desalination plant in...

Ringside: Half of California’s Energy Comes from Crude Oil

January 25, 2024 6:15 amJanuary 26, 2024 8:13 am

Here’s a reality check that ought to keep politicians up at night in California. Despite being a sunny, solar friendly state, with ample areas blessed with high wind, California still derives 50 percent of its total energy from crude oil. Another...