Clean Energy

| Blog Post

The climate imperative: As goes California, so goes the world

Activists and lawmakers gather for the Make Polluters Pay rally in fall of 2024. Photo by Ryan Schleeter.

California has a reputation for precedent-setting climate policy, and the last year has shown us why. Thanks to the support of our generous donors, The Climate Center has been at the center of passing nation-leading, new laws. This year, together with policymakers, scientists, business leaders, local governments, activists, and others across the climate movement, we: … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Climate Targets Community Energy Resilience Fossil Fuels Natural Carbon Sequestration
| Report

Envisioning the California Grid for the Future

Clean, Affordable, Reliable, Resilient, Equitable, and Safe

This paper presents a pathway for reforms needed in California to achieve a future in which everyone has access to clean, affordable, and reliable electricity. The landscape in this new world is dotted with solar panels on every suitable rooftop, complemented by a resilient network of microgrids as well as mobile and stationary batteries that … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Community Energy Resilience Energy Efficiency Transportation
| Post

Big utilities are killing affordable clean energy

Corporate utilities including PG&E, Southern California Edison, and San Diego Gas & Electric are influencing rules to maximize their profits and cut off millions of Californians from accessing affordable, clean energy. Case in point, last Friday, Governor Newsom vetoed SB 1374 (Becker). This common-sense bill would have allowed schools and apartments to use their own … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Climate Justice
| Post

How did the California legislature do on climate this year?

Climate champions in the state legislature introduced critical bills this year aimed at supporting affordable and reliable clean energy and forcing oil and gas corporations to clean up their pollution.  Four key bills survived and, with your help, could soon become law if signed by Governor Newsom: With major support from you and from across … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Climate Justice Community Energy Resilience Fossil Fuels

What the California Legislature Achieved on Climate in 2024

Zoom

Climate progress in the California legislature in 2024 was nowhere near what is needed to address the accelerating climate crisis.  While our leaders must do more to rein in climate pollution and challenge Big Oil’s political influence, there are signs of hope to build on. This year, climate champions introduced bills to defend and grow … Read more

| Post

State and federal funding available to build resilience for California communities

Frontline, working-class communities across California endure greater harm from climate-fueled extreme weather events than wealthier communities. For example, they typically have fewer trees providing shade during heat waves and fewer resources to evacuate in the event of extreme rain or flooding. State and federal funds are crucial for enhancing preparedness, response, and resilience in frontline … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Community Energy Resilience

California’s Community Choice Agencies Celebrate Success

Zoom

Across California, 24 Community Choice Agencies provide clean power to more than 14 million customers. Community Choice Agencies are local, not-for-profit government agencies that empower communities to purchase electrical power on behalf of their residents. In this webinar, we celebrated the successes of California’s Community Choice Agencies and Sonoma Clean Power’s tenth anniversary. Sonoma Clean … Read more

| Blog Post

Millions of dollars available for community energy resilience projects in California

Climate-fueled extreme weather events, including extreme heat and atmospheric rivers, are causing more and more power outages across California. State leaders must invest in clean, resilient energy solutions, starting in frontline communities.  Despite proposed cuts to the state’s climate budget, millions of dollars are already allocated to fund resilience initiatives across California, including community resilience … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Community Energy Resilience
| Blog Post

Opening remarks from the California Climate Policy Summit 2024

The Climate Center CEO Ellie Cohen opens the third annual California Climate Policy Summit. Photo by Lara Aburamadan / Survival Media Agency.

On March 19, 2024, The Climate Center convened more than 350 climate activists, environmental justice advocates, state decision-makers, elected officials, business leaders, scientists, and policy experts for the third annual California Climate Policy Summit. Thank you to everyone who joined us! Together, we’ll continue building support for climate policy commensurate with what science demands. Read … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Climate Justice Community Energy Resilience Divestment Fossil Fuels Public Health