Energy Efficiency

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Congressional Climate Crisis Action Plan would decarbonize U.S., add $8 trillion in benefits by 2050

Congressional climate action plan

by Megan Mahajan, Forbes Highlights The U.S. House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis has released their climate policy report titled Solving the Climate Crisis: The Congressional Action Plan for a Clean Energy Economy and a Healthy, Resilient and Just America  Climate policy firm Energy Innovation modeled a subset of the Select Committee’s recommendations using … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Climate Targets Energy Efficiency Transportation
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Electrify everything, or aim for beneficial electrification?

My how things have changed. Back in the day, when most of the electricity we used was derived from fossil energy sources, any reduction of electricity use was considered a good thing by those concerned about emission. Now that the grid is on a trajectory toward ever cleaner sources, the dynamic has changed. Fuel switching … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Community Energy Resilience Energy Efficiency Transportation
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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE – March 27, 2020

Due to the COVID-19 disruption, the legislature has gone into recess until April 13 at the earliest. While the legislature is on recess, The Climate Center continues to analyze the bills that were introduced in February, and is in the process of determining positions on many of them. Below are several, but not all, of … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Climate Justice Community Choice Energy Community Energy Resilience Energy Efficiency Fossil Fuels Transportation
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In this new solar-powered apartment complex, all 600 units have batteries that form a virtual power plant

Solar Panel Power Generation. by mrganso found on https://www.needpix.com/photo/1123513/photovoltaic-system-solar-solar-energy-solar-panel-photovoltaic-renewable-energy-revolution-power-generation-solar-field

by Adele Peters, Fast Company Highlights: A Salt Lake City apartment complex, named Soleil Lofts, is the first to incorporate solar plus storage into every unit. The local utility will use solar and storage as a virtual power plant and will avoid using fossil fuels during peak hours The developing company, Wasatch Group, used batteries … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Community Energy Resilience Energy Efficiency
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California moves to tackle another big emissions source: fossil fuel use in buildings

by Justin Gerdes, Greentech Media Highlights: The California Public Utilities Commission has dedicated $45 million to heat pump water heater incentives. Around $4 million will be exclusively for low-income residents. Since 90% of heat pump water heaters and furnaces in California are powered by natural gas or propane, the heat pump water heater incentives will … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Energy Efficiency Fossil Fuels
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Wind, solar to dominate new power plants in 2020

Rooftop PV installation on the Forest County Potawatomi Tribe administration building

Highlights: As of January 1, 2020, new houses in California are required to install rooftop solar. “One utility, Sacramento Municipal Utility District, has asked regulators to approve a plan that says builders in its territory can comply with the solar mandate by subscribing to the utility’s community solar programs instead of putting solar on every … Read more

Categories Business Network Clean Energy Energy Efficiency
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New Jersey executive order leverages land use rules to control where and what developers can build

Gov. Philip D. Murphy, a Democrat from New Jersey, (New Jersey National Guard photo by Mark C. Olsen) found on https://www.flickr.com/photos/njnationalguard/44910726671

by Tracey Tully, The New York Times Highlights: A New Jersey democrat has introduced legislation that requires new building projects to account for climate resiliency and mitigating environmental impacts such as GHG emissions in order to receive government approval The state is currently experiencing sinking, accelerated sea-level rise, and flooding along its 130-mile coastline The … Read more

Categories Business Network Clean Energy Energy Efficiency
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Opinion: Microgrids could prevent need for planned power outages

Community microgrids are safe, reliable, clean, smart, and distributed.

Our aging and unstable electrical system must be replaced now, not decades from now This piece was originally published in the Mercury News opinion section on October 25, 2019. (Subscription required.) The dramatic increase in the size and severity of California’s wildfires in recent years is just one example of the devastating effects of climate … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Community Energy Resilience Energy Efficiency
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These three circular economy principles can help combat the climate crisis

45% of global emissions come from making things, everyday products like cars and clothes, and managing land Only a systems-level approach will enable us to achieve the 1.5 ̊C target by 2050 while building greater resilience to climate change. Energy lies at the core of efforts to address climate change. Worldwide, the electricity, heat and … Read more

Categories Business Network Clean Energy Energy Efficiency
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In an extraordinary day, the Center shared a vision for safe, reliable, resilient, and carbon-free power

Clean Power Alliance Executive Director Ted Bardacke talks with LA Times reporter Sammy Roth about the latest in Community Choice developments at The Climate Center's annual Business of Local Energy Symposium.

In late June, 325 Community Choice operators and advocates, clean energy businesses, and elected officials from around the state converged on the Business of Local Energy Symposium hosted by The Climate Center (CCP) and our partners in Southern California to discuss best practices and what leadership in a dynamic environment of local clean energy means. … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Community Choice Energy Energy Efficiency