Remembering Bill Marcus

The highly respected and long-time energy economist Bill Marcus passed away earlier this year after a battle with prostate cancer.

“He was the most effective and influential utility regulatory advocate ever,” Ralph Cavanagh NRDC Energy co-director, Climate & Clean Energy Program, said.

Marcus worked at various organizations for more than 40 years, including the California Energy Commission. He was the Principal Economist for JBS Energy in Sacramento for 35 years.

“He was a great guy professionally and personally,” noted Mike Florio, former California Public Utilities Commission member, who was an attorney with The Utility Reform Network for many years.

Marcus dedicated much of his time to protecting the rights of utility consumers. He warned about the climate impacts of fossil fuels. He advocated for the closure of nuclear power plants, including Rancho Seco in Sacramento, the San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant in San Diego, and the Diablo Canyon Power Plant located near San Luis Obispo, which will close mid-decade.

“Numbers are our friends,” was Marcus’ favorite quote.

He held a bachelor’s degree in economics from Harvard University and a master’s degree in Economics from the University of Toronto.