by Daisy Nguyen, Associated Press Highlights California issued 2,691 permits to drill new wells or rework existing ones the first half of this year and the issued 48 new permits for hydraulic fracturing Consumer Watchdog and FracTracker have partnered on a “Newsom Well Watch” website and say that California has issued 190% more oil and … Read more
“One factor that did not cause the rotating outage: California’s commitment to clean energy. Renewable energy did not cause the rotating outages.” That’s right, California’s climate policies and clean energy goals did not cause the state’s recent blackouts, as the three lead California energy agencies wrote in a letter to the Governor and the Legislature in August. The … Read more
by Aimee Barnes, State of the Planet Highlights Senator Kamala Harris’ “Climate Plan for the People” platform during her Presidential campaign highlighted the creation of an international coalition to manage the transition away from fossil fuel production In order to reach the best-case climate scenario as proposed by the Paris Agreement, the world will need … Read more
by Emily Atkin, Heated Highlights The Democratic National Committee (DNC) removed language from their platform that called for the end of fossil fuel subsidies and tax breaks, citing its inclusion as an “error” During an amendment process of the party platform, the DNC voted to add in the elimination of subsidies and tax breaks this … Read more
by Karen L. Jones, California Health Report Highlights According to the California Department of Public Health, the death rate due to chronic lower respiratory disease is 12 times higher in the San Joaquin Valley compared to the rest of the state and 14 times higher than the national rate The intense pollution in the region … Read more
by Emily Holden, The Guardian Highlights The gas industry has been orchestrating efforts to push against any climate policy that threatens their business models through coalition building, hiring lobbying firms, social media strategy, and op-eds Though natural gas is touted as a safe resource, the extraction and transportation of the gas leaks methane, which is … Read more
by Phil Willon, The Los Angeles Times Highlights Assembley Bill 345, legislation that would have mandated setbacks of oil drilling sites from homes, schools, and other community dwellings, was voted down 5-4 The bill would have also required the Department of Conservation to create an environmental justice progam where residents near drilling sites could voice their … Read more
by Chris Flood and Attracta Mooney, Financial Times Highlights Multibillion-dollar Nordic asset manager, Storebrand, has dropped ExxonMobile, Chevron, Southern Company, BASF, and Rio Tinto from its portfolio after these companies lobbyed against stricter environmental standards Investors of oil companies and other industries that deal with fossil fuels are pushing these companies to lobby against climate-related standards Jan … Read more
by David Roberts, Vox Highlights A new initiative, Rewiring America founded by Saul Griffith, asserts that rapid decarbonization through electrification would create 15 million to 20 million jobs in the next decade and that it’s possible to eliminate 70 percent to 80 percent of US carbon emissions by 2035 through rapid deployment of existing electrification … Read more
by Justin Gerdes, Greentech Media Highlights Realizing that Massachusetts will not meet its emissions reduction targets if the state continues to use natural gas, the Department of Public Utilities is investigating the future of natural gas companies at the request of State Attorney General Maura Healey Electrification of buildings, energy efficiency, and geothermal network applications … Read more
