Community Energy Resilience

| Press Release

Governor Newsom signs first-in-the-nation bidirectional EV charging bill into law

SB 59 (Skinner) is designed to prevent power outages, lower energy bills, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels

SACRAMENTO — Last night, Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 59 (Skinner) into law. SB 59 authorizes the California Energy Commission (CEC) to require that classes of electric vehicles (EVs) sold in California have bidirectional charging capability, which makes it possible to use the enormous amount of energy stored in EV batteries to shore up the … Read more

Categories Community Energy Resilience Transportation
| 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

Business Network Event: The Grid for the Future is Decentralized, Reliable, and Affordable

SOMO Village, 1400 Valley House Drive, Suite 240, Rohnert Park, CA 94928

The key to building an affordable, resilient, and reliable energy system is increasing the use of distributed energy resources — things like rooftop solar, battery storage, and technologies that manage energy demand. California’s electricity rates are through the roof, creating an affordability crisis at the same time that extreme weather is hammering communities across the … Read more

| Blog Post

Testimony: Making electricity more affordable and reliable using EVs

Person charging EV

On July 1, 2024, SB 59 passed out of the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee by a vote of 12-3. Introduced by Senator Nancy Skinner and sponsored by The Climate Center, SB 59 aims to unlock the potential for California’s millions of electric vehicles to shore up the electric grid, power homes during outages, and … Read more

Categories Community Energy Resilience Transportation
| Blog Post

What do EVs have to do with wildfires?

For more than two weeks in June, fire crews battled more than 20 fires across California, including the 15,000-acre Post fire in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Experts are warning Californians to brace for a very active wildfire season. A wet winter that produced more vegetation than usual and record-breaking early heatwaves are already fueling … Read more

Categories Community Energy Resilience
| 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
| Blog Post

How California is preparing for more heat waves

Vue Her on his farm in Singer, California, outside of Fresno. Photo by U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Californians face growing risks from extreme heat thanks to the climate crisis.  Worldwide, we’ve experienced record-breaking temperatures for 12 consecutive months — a trend that comes with grave consequences. In June of 2021, a heat wave killed nearly 900 people in the Pacific Northwest. In the summer of 2022, more than 60,000 people died in … Read more

Categories Climate Justice Community Energy Resilience Public Health
| Press Release

California lawmakers vote to approve billions in cuts to climate programs

System Change Not Climate Change

SACRAMENTO — Moments ago, the California legislature passed AB 107, the Budget Act of 2024. As expected following Governor Newsom’s May revise, this budget includes billions in cuts and deferrals to climate spending, impacting programs for wildfire resilience, distributed clean energy, sustainable agriculture, and more. In response, The Climate Center’s Chief Operating Officer Barry Vesser … Read more

Categories Climate Justice Community Energy Resilience Fossil Fuels Public Health

How Electric Vehicles Can Transform the Energy Landscape

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Electric vehicles (EVs) have enormous potential to help us address multiple problems at once. They can significantly lower energy costs for consumers, reduce harmful air pollution, and contribute to a more resilient electricity system by storing energy in their batteries for use during extreme weather events. Current technology allows an electric car battery to power … Read more