States are where the climate action is these days, and California has been a leader among leaders! Recent federal attacks on climate progress coupled with unprecedented climate impacts make me more committed than ever to ensure we continue to lead here in the Golden State to rapidly cut climate pollution and make our communities more resilient.
Our movement is leveraging winning municipal action and innovative technological solutions to drive state climate policy while making California a more affordable place to live.
Cities and counties are passing resolutions and building momentum in support of the Make Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act, a two-year bill that could pass in 2026 and a top priority for The Climate Center. So far, nine cities or counties across California have passed resolutions in support, including Los Angeles. If you are interested in bringing a Make Polluters Pay resolution to your local city or county council, please write to us at info@theclimatecenter.org to learn more.
And in a recent pilot of a virtual power plant, the solar company Sunrun installed a network of 100,000 residential batteries at homes across California. Those batteries — including a battery in the home of one of my colleagues here at The Climate Center — delivered a combined 535 megawatts of clean energy to the California grid during a two-hour period. That’s one-quarter of the total electricity provided by the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant at its maximum, or enough to meet about half of the highest demand in San Francisco!
Linking local clean power and batteries together, Californians can meet growing energy needs while also saving money, slashing emissions, and making polluting gas power plants obsolete. To scale up virtual power plants, we are co-sponsoring AB 740 (Harabedian) this year.
The climate crisis doesn’t care about politics. Together, we will continue fighting for climate progress that is affordable and resilient, that creates jobs and reduces pollution, and that supports thriving communities and nature.
Thanks for taking action today.
This blog first appeared in The Climate Center’s bi-weekly newsletter. To keep up with the latest climate news and ways to take action for a climate-safe future, subscribe today!
