Blog Post Archives

August 21, 2025 | Blog Post

Testimony: Transitioning to a clean transportation future in California

On August 20, 2025, the Assembly Utilities and Energy, Natural Resources, and Transportation Committees held a joint hearing on how to further an equitable transition from fossil fuels to clean transportation fuels. The following testimony was given to the committees by Allison Hilliard, Legislative Manager for The Climate Center: We need bold, equitable action to … Read more

Allison Hilliard

August 7, 2025 | Blog Post

Three things you should know about geothermal energy

The Geysers geothermal field in the Mayacamas Mountains (pictured here) produces the most geothermal energy of any region in the world. Photo by David A. Hofmann / Flickr.

You may not have heard much about geothermal energy before, but chances are you’re going to be hearing a lot about it over the next few years. Geothermal power plants convert heat from the Earth into electricity, generating about one-tenth of the carbon emissions of a fossil gas plant. Geothermal energy is clean, reliable around … Read more

Ellie Cohen

Clean Energy Just Transition

August 6, 2025 | Blog Post

Pooja Agarwal joins The Climate Center as the Community Energy Resilience Policy Manager

My introduction to climate work started with a pretty eye-opening discovery in my middle school cafeteria. As part of our sixth-grade service learning project, my classmates and I had to identify a problem impacting our public school and come up with a solution. My team and I figured we’d tackle something environmental — we had … Read more

Pooja Agarwal

Community Energy Resilience

July 24, 2025 | Blog Post

The ‘drill, baby, drill’ agenda arrives in California

Activists with Greenpeace, Oil & Gas Action Network and Regenerating Paradise gather at a burn scar site in the North Complex Fire urging Governor Newsom to take immediate action to phase out fossil fuels and end neighborhood drilling.

Just one year ago, fossil fuel corporations were forced to withdraw a California ballot measure that would have canceled public health protections for communities near oil and gas drilling operations. Today, those same corporations are fighting back with a vengeance, laying the groundwork to expand drilling on land and at sea in California. Since losing … Read more

Ryan Schleeter

Climate Justice Fossil Fuels Just Transition

July 16, 2025July 15, 2025 | 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

Kurt Johnson

Clean Energy Community Energy Resilience Energy Efficiency

July 15, 2025July 10, 2025 | 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

Ellie Cohen

Clean Energy Fossil Fuels Just Transition

June 13, 2025June 12, 2025 | 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

Ellie Cohen

Clean Energy Community Energy Resilience

May 2, 2025May 1, 2025 | 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

Ellie Cohen

Clean Energy Climate Justice Climate Targets Community Energy Resilience Fossil Fuels Natural Carbon Sequestration

April 28, 2025April 22, 2025 | Blog Post

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

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

Ellie Cohen

Clean Energy Climate Justice Public Health

April 25, 2025April 22, 2025 | Blog Post

Opening remarks at the California Climate Policy Summit 2025

On April 22, 2025, The Climate Center convened 400 climate activists, environmental justice advocates, state decision-makers, elected officials, business leaders, scientists, and policy experts for the fourth annual California Climate Policy Summit. Thank you to everyone who joined us! Together, we’ll continue building support for accelerated, equitable climate policy. Read here the opening remarks from The … Read more

Ellie Cohen

Community Energy Resilience Fossil Fuels Just Transition Natural Carbon Sequestration