2026 California Legislation That Saves Money Using Local, Clean Energy

Zoom

Electricity prices are skyrocketing in California and families are struggling to pay their bills. In response, the California legislature is taking steps to make electricity more affordable using clean energy. This webinar highlighted current legislation, including bills that promote plug-in and community solar. These technologies make it easier to utilize locally generated clean energy to save money and make the grid more resilient. Bills discussed included SB 868 (Wiener), AB 1813 (Ward), and SB 905 (Becker). Participants had an opportunity to ask questions and take action to support these bills.

Presentations and Resources

Speakers

Ken Branson

Policy Advisor for Senator Josh Becker

Ken Branson is an experienced entrepreneur, engineer, product manager, engineering manager, and philanthropist. After a career in enterprise software and a successful IPO, he turned his attention to helping to address climate change, the defining challenge of our time. Ken is proud to be helping Senator Becker advance the kind of policies we need as California continues to lead the nation in mitigating and adapting to climate change while maintaining a vibrant economy.

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Matthew Freedman

Staff Attorney, The Utility Reform Network

Matt Freedman is a senior attorney for The Utility Reform Network (TURN) with over 30 years of experience working on energy policy and law at both the federal and state level. At TURN, Matt represents the interests of residential utility customers at the California Public Utilities Commission, other state agencies, and the California Legislature.

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Bernadette Del Chiaro

Senior Vice President, California, Environmental Working Group

Bernadette Del Chiaro heads up the California operations of the Environmental Working Group, a national nonprofit public health and environmental organization. Prior, she served as the executive director of the California Solar & Storage Association where she built one of the largest and most active clean energy business groups in the United States. Bernadette has authored several reports and has been quoted widely in the media, including MSNBC, NPR, BBC, New York Times, and Los Angeles Times.

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Derek Chernow

Executive Director of Californians for Local Affordable Solar & Storage

Derek Chernow is the Executive Director of Californians for Local Affordable Solar & Storage. He has served as Western Regional Director for the Coalition for Community Solar Access, Executive Director of the California Alternative Energy & Advanced Transportation Financing Authority, and Acting Director at the California Department of Conservation. He also spent many years working in the California State Legislature, including as Chief of Staff to the Chair of the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Resources, Environmental Protection, Energy & Transportation. 

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Pooja Agarwal

Pooja Agarwal (Moderator)

Community Energy Resilience Policy Manager

Pooja Agarwal is The Climate Center’s Community Energy Resilience Policy Manager. She manages research projects, collaborates with stakeholders, drafts policy communications, and tracks relevant legislation and regulation. As a graduate student, Pooja conducted research on climate and energy policy, clean energy supply chains, and equitable stakeholder engagement. She has also worked in the philanthropic sector, most recently coordinating grantmaking strategy and operations in the Climate Initiative at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

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