The key to building an affordable, resilient, and reliable energy system is increasing the use of distributed energy resources — things like rooftop solar, battery storage, and technologies that manage energy demand. California’s electricity rates are through the roof, creating an affordability crisis at the same time that extreme weather is hammering communities across the state. To address these dual crises, Californians must shift to using clean energy at home and on the road, which will also help the state meet or exceed its climate goals.
At this event, Assemblymember Damon Connolly spoke about legislative efforts to support local, decentralized microgrids in the face of opposition from corporate utilities. Kurt Johnson, Community Energy Resilience Director at The Climate Center outlined The Climate Center’s Grid for the Future vision and preview exciting, soon-to-be-released new policy proposals. These proposals lay out how we can empower individuals to take control of their energy bills by actively managing energy production and consumption, while also reducing costs and providing backup power when needed.
