Clean Energy

Advanced Geothermal Energy, a Round-the-Clock, Renewable Energy Source

The USA Climate Pavilion, Blue Zone, COP30 in Belém, Brazil

During this press conference, which took place in Belém, Brazil at COP30, The Climate Center’s Chief Program Officer Barry Vesser discussed Advanced Geothermal Energy Systems (AGES). These systems have the potential to provide communities with clean electricity at any time of day or night, almost indefinitely. AGES are a perfect complement to solar and wind … Read more

Advancing Affordability Through  Electrification

Press Conference 2 Area D, COP30, Belém, Brazil

At this press conference at the United Nations climate conference — COP30 in Belém, Brazil — California State Senators Josh Becker and Henry Stern discussed SB 254, a California bill signed into law by Governor Newsom this year to address electricity affordability. The senators also shared the difficulties Californians are experiencing with rising electricity costs … Read more

| Blog Post

We’re at the UN climate conference in Brazil

I’m thrilled that The Climate Center is attending the United Nations annual climate conference once again. This year’s 30th “Conference of the Parties,” or COP30, brings together governmental representatives from almost every country in the world, along with tens of thousands from civil society, to advance climate action. Chief Program Officer Barry Vesser and Legislative … Read more

Categories Carbon Drawdown Clean Energy Fossil Fuels

The Best Ideas from COP30, the UN Climate Summit in Brazil

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This year, the United Nations climate summit — COP30 — took place in Belém, Brazil. This is The Climate Center’s fifth year as an official observer organization at the Conference of the Parties (COP). The event provided a unique platform to glean ideas from around the world and showcase California’s continued commitment to climate action … Read more

| Blog Post

Clean energy gains globally

Clean energy has now surpassed coal as the world’s leading source of electricity. It costs less — with solar now the cheapest form of power by far — and can be installed faster than fossil fuel infrastructure. In fact, in the first half of 2025, clean energy demand outpaced fossil fuel power globally for the … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Community Energy Resilience
| Blog Post

Corporate utilities are making California’s electricity more expensive

Man measuring solar panel

Last week, Governor Newsom vetoed three common-sense bills to advance affordable, clean energy. That included AB 740 (Harabedian), a low-cost, non-controversial bill co-sponsored by The Climate Center that passed the state legislature with overwhelming bipartisan support. AB 740 and two other bills that were vetoed (AB 44 and SB 541) aimed to expand the state’s … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Community Energy Resilience
| Press Release

Governor Newsom vetoes bill to expand virtual power plants – The Climate Center response

SACRAMENTO, October 6, 2025 — Late on Friday, October 3, 2025, Governor Newsom vetoed AB 740 (Harabedian), co-sponsored by The Climate Center, Advanced Energy United, and Environment California.  The bill would have accelerated the use of virtual power plants (VPPs), which are networks of clean, distributed energy resources like smart thermostats, home batteries, rooftop solar, … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Community Energy Resilience Energy Efficiency

Inside Sacramento: 2025 Climate Policy Recap

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The 2025 California legislative session ended on September 13. During this webinar, we heard from legislators, environmental justice leaders, and clean energy experts about several hot topics that emerged during this session — from the future of refineries and the state’s Cap and Invest program (formerly Cap and Trade), to scaling up nature-based solutions and … Read more

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States are taking the lead on climate

Last week, the U.S. Climate Alliance, a bipartisan coalition of governors representing 24 states and 60 percent of the U.S. economy, gathered in New York City for Climate Week. As Trump lied to the United Nations about clean energy, the Alliance delivered a showcase of state-level climate actions, including a new analysis highlighting how states … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Community Energy Resilience