The energy storage industry is booming. Mobile batteries, including electric cars and buses, are an important part of the strategy to ensure the safety and reliability of a carbon-free electric grid. California’s century-old system is failing with public safety power shutoffs and rolling blackouts, and vulnerable to increasing climate extremes. However, automakers and charging infrastructure … Read more
This webinar is the third in The Climate Center’s Climate Safe California webinar series. To equitably reduce emissions and protect communities from worsening climate impacts, we must engage local voices in planning clean energy microgrids with storage to power resilience hubs, as well as health centers, fire stations, grocery stores, and other critical facilities during planned … Read more
This webinar is the fifth in The Climate Center’s Investing in Climate Action for Jobs, Health, and Equity webinar series. This webinar addresses the challenges of securing clean, resilient, and reliable energy for California communities. Panelists discussed both current state programs for funding community energy resilience, as well as how to secure the additional investments required … Read more
With less than two weeks left in the legislative session for this year, Governor Newsom has released a set of game-changing climate proposals. His draft climate package includes a more ambitious goal for reducing climate pollution by 2030, public health setbacks from dangerous oil and gas drilling, and a commitment to nature-based carbon sequestration. This is great … Read more
UPDATE August 24, 2022: Late last week, members of the California State Assembly circulated an alternative proposal for avoiding power outages that would avert the need for extending the life of the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant. The Climate Center strongly supports the majority of this proposal and recommends state leaders prioritize investment in clean, distributed energy to address the … Read more
SACRAMENTO, August 11, 2022 — Today, the California Energy Commission (CEC) held a workshop to mark the creation of a new $170 million Community Energy Resilience investment program. The program is modeled after the Community Energy Resilience Act (SB 833), which was held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee today following the creation of the new … Read more
February 4, 2022 — After months of debate surrounding the California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) proposed rule changes regarding solar energy and storage, a judge on the commission announced Thursday that the matter “will not appear on the Commission’s voting meeting agenda until further notice.” In response, The Climate Center CEO Ellie Cohen said: “This … Read more
SACRAMENTO — Today, Senator Bill Dodd (D-Napa) and The Climate Center are introducing the Community Energy Resilience Act (SB 833). The bill proposes a program to assist cities and local governments in developing energy resilience plans using clean, distributed energy resources, curbing the demand for fossil-fueled generators during power outages. “Not only have recent power … Read more
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
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
