We here at the Reverse Auction Research Center (
http://ping.fm/HeYIF) have been keenly interested in the use of reverse auctions to save money - and to promote cleaner, greener energy - across the United States. We've previously covered the developments in California, as the state works to develop a reverse auction mechanism to best allocate funding to promote solar projects (See:
http://ping.fm/Sc8sQ2010/10/reverse-auction-mechanisms-for-solar.html).
Now, Mike Hall of Forbes has weighed-in with a highly complimentary article on the work being done by the California Public Utilities Commission in this area - praising the innovative use of reverse auctions as a weigh to best allocate taxpayer dollars and to build the solar energy sector in the state - calling reverse auctions the "killer policy app"! Read his analysis by clicking on the link below:
Getting Solar Policy Right In California - Forbes.com
We'll continue to follow the emerging developments in the California energy market and work to keep you informed. Certainly though, we'd argue that reverse auctions are indeed the "killer policy app" for all forms of public sector procurement - and now funding allocations - to get the most "bang" (or charge - in the case of electricity) out of precious taxpayer dollars today!
David
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