California is a major oil refining state, mostly making fuels for our own use but also for export. California and local governments have policies requiring a transition away from fossil fuels in the electricity, transportation, and oil extraction sectors. But California has no requirements for phasing out oil refineries — the largest industrial fossil fuel … Read more
Electric vehicles (EVs) have enormous potential to help us address multiple problems at once. They can significantly lower energy costs for consumers, reduce harmful air pollution, and contribute to a more resilient electricity system by storing energy in their batteries for use during extreme weather events. Current technology allows an electric car battery to power … Read more
Across California, 24 Community Choice Agencies provide clean power to more than 14 million customers. Community Choice Agencies are local, not-for-profit government agencies that empower communities to purchase electrical power on behalf of their residents. In this webinar, we celebrated the successes of California’s Community Choice Agencies and Sonoma Clean Power’s tenth anniversary. Sonoma Clean … Read more
A record-setting amount of state and federal funding is available right now to support community energy resilience projects in low-income and disadvantaged communities. Such projects include rooftop solar that can provide clean, reliable, and affordable energy for all. In this webinar, a panel of experts discussed opportunities and challenges of securing funding through the Inflation … Read more
The final agreement reached at COP28, the annual United Nations climate conference that concluded in December, recognized the need to transition away from fossil fuels. But it contained almost no details about how nations can wean themselves off of oil, gas, and coal. In this webinar, we heard from California legislators, The Climate Center’s own … Read more
California’s new lawsuit against major oil corporations cites decades of deception about the causes of climate change and billions in damages to California communities. The lawsuit, along with several key climate bills passed this year, will hold corporate polluters accountable. AB 1167 (Carrillo) will make the owners of orphaned and idle oil and gas wells … Read more
California is laying the groundwork to scale up nature-based climate solutions using strategies like urban tree planting and regenerative agriculture. To see the benefits of these solutions, we must invest in the on-the-ground partnerships that are necessary for the widespread adoption of climate-friendly practices on our lands. New Regional Carbon Farming Hubs are uniquely positioned … Read more
With both states and the federal government investing heavily in new hydrogen projects, hydrogen has re-emerged as a major topic of debate in climate, energy, and environmental justice circles. There are many unresolved questions about hydrogen, including the definition of green hydrogen, how to get hydrogen to where it is needed, and what its appropriate … Read more
This webinar explored how businesses and entrepreneurs are already contributing to climate solutions and their role in accelerating the transition to a clean energy economy. The panel included a high-tech, energy efficiency service company, a business using energy analytics to help Community Choice Agencies reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and a collaboration between the solar company … Read more
As climate change impacts begin to take hold, one of the immediate concerns has been extreme heat. In various parts of California and the West, extreme heat events have been occurring more frequently and with more intensity. Extreme heat plans, developed to mitigate negative impacts and adapt to this new heat reality, are being implemented … Read more