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
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Santa Rosa City Council moves toward innovative “electric-ready” building ordinance

Frog Song solar by Laurie-Ann Barbour

by Mike Turgeon, The Climate Center Climate Action Fellow In a marathon study session on Tuesday, October 23rd, the Santa Rosa City Council, at the urging of the Friends of the Climate Action Plan (FoCAP), received a long-overdue update on the progress of the 2012 Municipal and Community Climate Action Plans.  The Climate Action Plan implementation … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Energy Efficiency Transportation
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Finally no nukes in California: Too expensive and dangerous, as “Diablo Songbird” revealed

Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant

On January 11, the California Public Utilities Commission voted unanimously to close down the Diablo Canyon nuclear generating station in San Luis Obispo by 2025. Diablo is the last operational commercial nuclear power plant in California, so when it closes, California will have closed its chapter of nuclear power as an energy source. California is … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Energy Efficiency
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Are cities leading on climate?

Since President Trump withdrew from the Paris Accord, we have been hearing a banquet of news about how cities are leading on climate action. The Guardian recently devoted an article to showcasing New York City, Houston, Miami and San Francisco as good examples of climate leadership. According to the article, New York City has already … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Energy Efficiency Transportation
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The Climate Center partners with MCE and others for building efficiency optimization project

California Energy Commission “Local Government Challenge Grant” project receives highest score in its category On April 11th the Center received news that it had been awarded, along with its Project partners, $1.7M in funding for a project that will help the state achieve its greenhouse gas reduction goals and that aims to develop a replicable model … Read more

Categories Business Network Clean Energy Community Choice Energy Energy Efficiency Transportation
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Loving Clean Energy – It’s a personal thing!

It is true: I love clean energy, but not necessarily because of some ideology, technical fascination or theoretical notion that it will contribute to a safer planet. I love it because it makes my life better. My day-to-day work at The Climate Center revolves around advocating Community Choice and other clean energy policies in California. … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Energy Efficiency
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Energy intensity down, U.S. economy up, and stranded assets as oil demand drops

With the incoming administration, I expect to hear the same arguments pitting energy conservation against the economy, followed by a call to build more pipelines and drill. Next time you hear that argument, you can share this graph. Between 1980 and 2011 the economy expanded by 230% from $6.5 trillion to 15.2 trillion (in inflation-adjusted dollars), while energy … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Energy Efficiency