| 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

| 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

Margarita Parra

Margarita leads Clean Energy Works’ transportation portfolio. Trained as a chemical engineer from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia with a masters in Environmental Engineering from New Zealand and a diploma in Sustainable Development from India, Margarita has worked for more than two decades in Latin America, China, India, and the United States to reduce local air pollution and carbon emissions from transportation integrating sustainability and equity goals.

| 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

How Electric School Buses Can Help Californians Save Money, Cut Pollution, and Keep the Lights On

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Right now, nine out of ten school buses across the country run on fossil fuels. California, however, leads the nation in electric school bus adoption, with more than 3,100 electric buses in the state. Every electric school bus provides an opportunity to cut air and climate pollution and save money in California communities. Electric school … Read more

David Wensil

David Wensil is an Energy Commission Specialist for the Fuels and Transportation Division of the California Energy Commission. In his role, David leads the implementation of the Zero Emission School Bus and Infrastructure block grant program, known as ZESBI, which provides funding for charging infrastructure to support Local Educational Agencies in their transition to electric school bus fleets. David holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Anna Bella Korbatov

Anna Bella Korbatov joined the Fermata Energy team in 2017. She manages the company’s policy and regulatory affairs strategy and lead’s the company’s collaboration with state agencies, utilities, and local jurisdictions on the design of Vehicle Grid Integration (VGI) rates and programs, make ready funding, interconnection policies, and grant-funded opportunities.

Joe LaCava

Councilmember Joe LaCava is honored to represent the residents and businesses of San Diego, City Council, District 1, where he is currently serving his second term. LaCava was unanimously elected by his colleagues as the President of the City Council and chairs the Council’s Rules Committee. He works on the Environment Committee and is First Vice Chair on the San Diego Association of Governments Board of Directors. 

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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

| 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