Samuel Trachtman
Senior Researcher, Political Economy of California
Reporting on California gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra’s plan to offer working-class families two free hours of electricity during the middle of the day, USA Today’s Noe Padilla referenced BESI’s research on energy affordability in the Golden State.
A recent white paper, authored by BESI senior researcher Samuel Trachtman, explores how many California policies designed to meet progressive aims like climate change mitigation are funded regressively, placing a heavy financial burden on lower income families. Trachtman’s research, along with that of UC Berkeley economist Severin Borenstein, who has written extensively about the issue of solar cost shift in California, offers important context for Becerra’s plan.
As Padilla writes, “The burden of energy costs became a focal issue in this year’s California gubernatorial race, as multiple candidates have criticized the state’s and power companies’ handling of energy, illuminating the frustration many families have felt as they wrestle with ever-growing monthly bills.”