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| Blog Post

Testimony: Virtual Power Plants can deliver clean and cheap electricity

On July 15, 2025, the California Senate Energy, Utilities, and Communications Committee voted to advance AB 740 (Harabedian), a bill to scale up the use of virtual power plants (VPPs) in California. VPPs are networks of clean, distributed energy resources like smart thermostats, home batteries, smart plugs, electric water heaters, and electric vehicles. When aggregated, … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Community Energy Resilience Energy Efficiency
| Blog Post

California needs an energy transition that benefits communities, workers, and the climate

Phillips 66 Los Angeles Refinery in Wilmington. Photo by Emmett Institute / Flickr.

Early this past Saturday morning, I woke up with my heart racing, wondering why so many people had to die in the horrific, climate-fueled flooding in Texas last Friday. And why so many more will suffer from the cruel, big, ugly bill signed into law by the president over the weekend — a bill that … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Just Transition
| Post

California should go on offense over EVs

On June 12, President Trump signed congressional resolutions to repeal California’s vehicle emissions clean air standards and revoked California’s 2035 electric vehicle sales mandate. Then on June 20, the Supreme Court ruled that oil companies can sue states over vehicle emissions standards in the future. And now, Republicans are pushing a budget bill that would … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Community Energy Resilience Transportation
| Take Action

Urge Governor Newsom to use electric vehicles for cheap, reliable electricity

Californians are facing the twin crises of soaring utility bills and unreliable electricity. Wildfires, heatwaves, and other climate-fueled extreme weather events pose an increasing threat to the reliability and resilience of our electrical grid.  Electricity rates continue to climb as corporate utilities spend on expensive grid infrastructure upgrades. In addition, utilities are using climate-polluting “peaker” … Read more

Categories Community Energy Resilience Transportation
| Blog Post

The anti-climate bill that worries me right now

California should ensure that rooftop solar is affordable for working-class Californians because it saves all of us money and makes the grid more resilient and clean. Instead, with the help of corporate utilities, state leaders are attempting to walk back promises to early adopters and make solar much less affordable for everyone. On June 3, … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Community Energy Resilience
| Post

Polluters have already spent $9 million to block California climate action this year

Big Oil’s record-breaking lobbying spending is delaying climate action in California (again). Oil and gas corporations operating in California spent more than $9 million to influence the state legislature in the first three months of 2025 alone. Chevron and the Western States Petroleum Association (WSPA), the top lobbying spenders from 2024, each spent more than … Read more

Categories Fossil Fuels
| Post

Climate action will make California more affordable

Right now, California lawmakers have an opportunity to secure a more affordable and livable future for us all through climate-smart policies. Our work here is more urgent than ever: the state faces an estimated $12 billion deficit and the law- and science-denying administration in D.C. is hellbent on destroying 55 years of environmental protection and … Read more

Categories Climate Justice Fossil Fuels
| Press Release

California is facing a historic budget deficit. Making polluters pay is the solution. 

Activists and lawmakers gather for the Make Polluters Pay rally in fall of 2024. Photo by Ryan Schleeter.

SACRAMENTO — Today, Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled his May budget revision, which outlines his plans to address a historic deficit estimated at $12 billion.  In response, Barry Vesser, Chief Operating Officer for The Climate Center, said: “California is in a budget crisis. Making Polluters Pay is the solution. The state cannot afford to continue giving … Read more

Categories Climate Justice Fossil Fuels
| Blog Post

The 2025 California Climate Policy Summit: Growing our power together

Thanks to the more than 400 of you who were able to join us last week for the 2025 California Climate Policy Summit in Sacramento. It was an inspiring day of learning, action, and community, despite the challenges we face from rapidly worsening climate impacts and a science-denying, pro-oil federal administration. California State Senate President … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Climate Justice Climate Targets Community Energy Resilience Fossil Fuels Natural Carbon Sequestration
| Blog Post

The Climate Center presents Senator Monique Limón with the second annual California Climate Leadership Award

Ellie Cohen and Senator Monique Limón

Welcome Senator Monique Limón! We are thrilled and honored to award you with this year’s California Climate Leadership Award. Senator Limón was elected to the Senate in November 2020 and represents Santa Barbara County, most of Ventura County, and part of San Luis Obispo County. Senator Limón is a leader among leaders. She is Chair … Read more

Categories Clean Energy Climate Justice Public Health