Community Energy Resilience

| Press Release

California regulators propose new fees on small-scale solar and storage

FrogSong solar by Laurie-Ann Barbour

December 13, 2021 — Today, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued a new proposed rule impacting small-scale solar energy and storage across California. The proposal includes a new fee structure that will make rooftop solar and customer-owned batteries cost-prohibitive for the average Californian. In response, The Climate Center Energy Program Manager Woody Hastings said: … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Community Energy Resilience
| Press Release

Governor Newsom announces $15 billion down payment for climate resilience, but more is needed

September 23, 2021 — Today, Governor Newsom announced a $15 billion climate package that includes nearly $4 billion for electric vehicles, $5 billion for drought management, and $1.5 billion for wildfires, forest management, and prescribed burns in the state of California. In response, The Climate Center CEO Ellie Cohen said: “We are grateful to Governor … Read more

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

California’s budget surplus is a historic opportunity for climate-safe investments

We live in an extraordinary time for California’s budget. Despite previous predictions of a major COVID-induced deficit, the state instead is currently sitting on an unprecedented budget surplus to the tune of nearly $100 billion. This presents a massive opportunity to invest in climate resilience, clean energy, green jobs, and more. The legislative budget process … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Community Energy Resilience Just Transition Transportation
| Post

The Climate Center Testimony in Support of SB 99, the Community Energy Resilience Act of 2021

Senate Energy Committee Support Testimony for SB 99 https://senv.senate.ca.gov/ April 19, 2021 Hearing   Good afternoon Chairman Hueso, Vice-Chair Dahle and Members of the Committee. My name is Kurt Johnson, I’m the Community Energy Resilience Director at The Climate Center. Our flagship Climate-Safe California campaign aims to accelerate California climate policy timelines to achieve net-negative … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Community Energy Resilience
| Post

Choking on fumes: Diesel generators are booming with state funding

Los Angeles Smog by Massimo Catarinella

In a state that takes pride in claiming to be a world leader in technology and reducing carbon emissions, state and local government decision-makers in California have taken a giant step backward in funding diesel back-up generators to mitigate for Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS).  In recent years, power shutoffs have cost California billions of … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Climate Justice Community Energy Resilience Fossil Fuels Public Health
| Post

Support these bills– avoid Texas-scale catastrophe in CA 

Photo: Andrewglaser at English Wikipedia

[av_textblock size=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” font_color=” color=” id=” custom_class=” template_class=” av_uid=’av-o4o9hj’ sc_version=’1.0′ admin_preview_bg=”] By Ellie Cohen, The Climate Center, and Ed Smeloff, Vote Solar Californians might be wondering about the connection between recent power outages in Texas and those in California last summer. While some are eager to blame renewables in both cases, the actual … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Community Energy Resilience
| Blog Post

CPUC Approves $200M Investment in Microgrids for Vulnerable Communities

On January 12, 2021 the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved a new decision in the CPUC microgrid proceeding. While the decision did very little to advance microgrid commercialization as required by SB 1339, it did include $200 million in utility ratepayer funding for a new incentive program to support microgrid development in vulnerable communities. These funds will not be … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Community Energy Resilience Just Transition
| Post

Equitable clean energy– support this new bill

Technology and market trends of this moment are laying the groundwork for a clean, affordable, reliable, equitable and safe electricity grid in California. Unfortunately, our laws are sabotaging us. The failings of our archaic electrical system, which ignited many of California’s recent wildfires, are causing homeowners, businesses, hospitals, firefighters, and others to buy fossil fuel-powered back-up generators– increasing emissions that drive climate change … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Community Energy Resilience Fossil Fuels Transportation
| Post

California 550 MW virtual power plant would be the biggest yet

by Dan Gearino, InsideClimateNews Highlights Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners and OlmConnect have collaborated on a virtual power plant project titled Resi-Station Resi-Station would use batteries at homes and businesses in California to act like a 550-megawatt power plant, becoming the largest virtual power plant in the world This power can be used as backup in the … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Community Energy Resilience
| Post

Utilities commission must act to encourage clean energy microgrids

by P.J. Quesada, CalMatters Highlights Many Californians are experiencing the negative health effects associated with dirty energy pollution To combat this, the California Public Utilities Commission should advance a regulatory framework for more microgrids throughout the state, especially for essential businesses  California ok’d the use of diesel powered generators during power shutoffs that occur during … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Community Energy Resilience