The Climate Center 
Governor Newsom is taking on Big Oil in a big way. Recently, he announced that California is suing five of the largest oil corporations in the world — Exxon, Shell, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, and BP — as well as the American Petroleum Institute, for their decades of climate deception. This lawsuit is huge not only because … Read more
On October 7, 2023, Governor Newsom signed SB 253, SB 261, and AB 1167 into law to set stricter standards for corporate polluters. SB 253, the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act, requires U.S.-based corporations doing business in California that make over $1 billion annually to publicly disclose their full carbon footprint. SB 261, the Climate-Related … Read more
As the world’s fourth-largest economy and the second-largest state contributor to U.S. climate pollution, California has a responsibility to lead on climate. Governor Newsom has the unique power to reduce pollution, create jobs in the clean energy economy, and save lives. If he takes several key steps over the coming months, we have a shot … Read more
Updated September 6, 2023. On Friday, September 1, 2023, the Assembly Appropriations Committee amended SB 233 to remove the core of the bill: mandating that all electric passenger vehicles and school buses sold in California by model year 2030 have bidirectional capability. In response, bill author Senator Nancy Skinner has decided to make SB 233 … Read more
We’ve all experienced extreme heat and wildfires in California over the past few years. Temperatures records have been broken up and down the West Coast during the summer and early fall, and this year is predicted to be another scorcher. It’s time to address the dangers of extreme heat, particularly for our children. Senate Bill … Read more
Last year, Governor Newsom set aside $40 million to in a fund to support displaced oil and gas workers and an additional $20 million for a pilot program to train displaced oil and gas workers in Kern and Los Angeles counties for abandoned oil well abatement. Facing a projected $31.5 billion deficit this year, the … Read more
The 2023-2024 California state budget is nearly final! After an initial draft budget that included $6 billion in cuts to climate investments, action from people like you convinced Governor Newsom and state lawmakers to restore funding for several key climate and energy programs. Thank you to everyone who took action! While we appreciate the reinstatement … Read more
The 2022-23 state budget cycle committed nearly $1 billion to retrofit existing buildings in low-income communities and provide consumer rebates for building upgrades. This program is essential for addressing inequities and disproportionate pollution impacts for lower-income communities and communities of color, all while ensuring robust tenant protection, anti-displacement, and workforce standards. But Governor Newsom is … Read more
On December 15, 2022, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) voted unanimously to adopt new rules for how residential rooftop solar customers, schools, churches, farms, and businesses will be compensated for the electricity they deliver back to the grid. Pressure from corporate utilities resulted in a proposal that will slash the rate paid to these … Read more
Update: On March 28, 2023 Governor Newsom signed SBX 1-2 into law, giving state regulators the power to penalize oil companies for making too much money, the first of its kind in the country. Under the new law, the California Energy Commission has the authority to impose a penalty if oil company profits surpassed a … Read more
