As part of our conference conversations, VX News shares a letter dated April 27, 2026, from California lawmakers urging the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to reconsider proposed amendments to the Cap-and-Invest program. The letter warns the changes could weaken emissions targets, inject new allowances into the market, and undermine both price signals and long-term climate investment—raising broader concerns about affordability, accountability, and the pace of the energy transition.

In this conversation with VX News, Elliot Mainzer, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), discusses efforts to build a more integrated Western power system through the Western Energy Imbalance Market (WEIM) and the forthcoming Extended Day-Ahead Market (EDAM). By leveraging regional connectivity and resource diversity, the model is improving reliability and lowering costs while preserving state-level control.

Building on past VX coverage of Western grid integration and governance reform, including the Pathways Initiative and California’s legislative efforts to enable a regional market, we reconnected with Michael Colvin, Director of the California Energy Program at Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), to assess where things stand today and what comes next. In conversation, Colvin outlines the launch of the Extended Day-Ahead Market for Western Energy, the role of independent governance in enabling multi-state participation, and the broader infrastructure challenges shaping the energy transition.

As California confronts rising demand, wildfire-driven costs, and federal policy uncertainty, VX News spoke with California Energy Commission Chair David Hochschild on the state’s entry into a new phase of energy deployment—defined by speed, scale, and resilience.

In this VX News interview, Port of Long Beach CEO Noel Hacegaba discusses how the Port is adapting to shifting global trade patterns and supply chain disruptions. With manufacturing flows increasingly moving from China toward Southeast Asia, Hacegaba outlines the port’s $3.2 billion infrastructure investment over the next 10 years, including the Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility designed to triple rail capacity and accelerate cargo movement across the nation.

In conversation with VX News, California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot discusses advancing climate resilience across land, water, and energy systems as extreme weather intensifies. From wildfire resilience and biodiversity restoration to the state’s long-term Water Supply Strategy for a Hotter, Drier Future, Crowfoot outlines how California is preparing for a projected 10 percent decline in water supply while supporting a population of nearly 40 million people.

In conversation with VX News, Chief Executive Officer Rod Colwell of Controlled Thermal Resources, traces the company’s evolution from a geothermal power developer into a vertically integrated energy and critical-minerals platform centered in California’s Imperial County.

In conversation with VX News, Coby Skye reflects on his transition from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works to leading the San Luis Obispo County Integrated Waste Management Authority (IWMA), where regional collaboration is advancing organic waste diversion and SB 1383 compliance.