Community Energy Resilience

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Call your state legislators to support SB 233 and help California avoid power outages

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

Categories Clean Energy Community Energy Resilience Transportation
| Press Release

California lawmakers approve $6 billion in cuts to climate and energy programs

SACRAMENTO — Today, the California state legislature voted to approve a 2023-2024 budget that cuts $6 billion from the state’s planned investments in climate and clean energy. The cuts represent an 11 percent overall reduction in California’s investments in a climate-safe future. In response, Nicole Rivera, Government Affairs Director for The Climate Center, said: “California’s … Read more

Categories Carbon Sequestration Clean Energy Climate Justice Community Energy Resilience Fossil Fuels Transportation

Extreme Heat Plans: Challenges of Implementation

As climate change impacts begin to take hold, one of the immediate concerns has been extreme heat. In various parts of California and the West, extreme heat events have been occurring more frequently and with more intensity. Extreme heat plans, developed to mitigate negative impacts and adapt to this new heat reality, are being implemented … Read more

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Bill for reliable, clean energy using electric vehicle batteries passes out of Senate Appropriations Committee

Smith electric school bus

SACRAMENTO — Today, SB 233 advanced out of the California Senate Appropriations Committee. Introduced by Senator Nancy Skinner and co-sponsored by The Climate Center, Nuvve, and the Union of Concerned Scientists, the bill will require most new electric vehicles (EVs) sold in California to have bidirectional charging capability by 2030 (amended from 2027). Bidirectional charging … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Community Energy Resilience Transportation
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California leaders must hold the line on climate investments

Photo by Tessa Richardson.

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

Categories Carbon Sequestration Clean Energy Community Energy Resilience Fossil Fuels Transportation
| Blog Post

Testimony: Resilient, reliable, and clean energy using EV batteries

On April 25, 2023, SB 233, introduced by Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) and sponsored by The Climate Center, advanced out of the Senate Transportation Committee. The bill aims to unlock the potential for California’s millions of electric vehicles to power homes during outages, lower energy bills for Californians, and make the whole electricity grid more reliable. … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Community Energy Resilience Transportation
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Pamela Martinez joins The Climate Center as the Community Energy Resilience Project Manager

Woman hiking with a dog

I am beyond thrilled to join The Climate Center as the Community Energy Resilience Project Manager. Prior to joining The Climate Center, I worked with the UFW Foundation in multiple roles including Community Organizer and Emergency Relief Program Manager. My passion to join the nonprofit sector began at a very young age. As farm workers, … Read more

Categories Climate Justice Community Energy Resilience Public Health
| Blog Post

Testimony: California can leverage electric vehicles to keep the lights on

On April 18, 2023, SB 233, introduced by Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) and sponsored by The Climate Center, advanced out of the Senate Energy, Utilities, and Communications Committee. The bill aims to unlock the potential for California’s millions of electric vehicles to power homes during outages, lower energy bills for Californians, and make the whole … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Community Energy Resilience Transportation
| Blog Post

Welcome remarks from the 2023 California Climate Policy Summit

Welcome to the 2023 California Climate Policy Summit!  Thank you for being here today. It is inspiring to see so many climate activists and leaders from across the state — from environmental and environmental justice organizations, from local government, from the faith and healthcare communities, from business and labor — welcome! Thank you for being … Read more

Categories Carbon Sequestration Clean Energy Climate Justice Community Energy Resilience Divestment Fossil Fuels Public Health
| Press Release

New bill leverages California’s electric vehicle boom to avoid power outages

SACRAMENTO — SB 233, introduced by Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) and sponsored by The Climate Center, aims to unlock the potential for California’s millions of electric vehicles to shore up the electric grid and power homes during outages.  The bill will require most new electric vehicles (EVs) and electric vehicle supply equipment sold in California … Read more

Categories Community Energy Resilience Transportation