California’s high electricity rates have to come into focus in recent weeks with affordability packages proposed by the State Legislature and Administration. These packages consider alternative ways to finance transmission infrastructure as one way to reduce costs. In this blog we provide context for these proposals by examining a suite of potential options to reduce electricity rates. […]

Although California has made significant climate progress, there is growing evidence of implementation barriers such as financing, procurement and permitting bottlenecks that are slowing clean energy deployment. This is the focus of a recent report by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) – developed in partnership with former Governor Newsom advisor and state energy czar Ana Matosantos […]

SB 308 (Becker) would establish a world-first framework to deliver carbon dioxide removal at scale. In this blog post we highlight the key elements of the bill, how it could facilitate hundreds of millions of dollars in new federal clean energy investments and enable the state’s climate goals. *** Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) refers to […]

California’s ambitious goals to achieve 90% clean electricity by 2035 and 100% by 2045 hinge on whether the state can rapidly develop new transmission. In this blog post we analyze six key barriers and opportunities to developing this infrastructure, including siting and permitting, public financing, competitive solicitation, grid-enhancing technologies and advanced reconductoring, interregional transmission and […]

California has set goals of 90% retail electricity sales to be carbon-free by 2035 and 100% by 2045. Solar and wind will provide the majority of this generation, but non-intermittent resources capable of meeting electricity demand on a 24/7 basis have also been identified as key to ensure grid reliability and lower ratepayer costs. These […]

California has identified the deployment of carbon dioxide removal, including direct air capture and biomass carbon removal, as necessary to achieving the state’s climate goals. As newer technologies the federal Department of Energy is awarding four grants of roughly $500-700 million each to establish Regional Direct Air Capture Hubs (“DAC Hubs”) to support early development. […]

Last week Conservation Strategy Group and the UC Davis Policy Institute for Energy, Environment and Economy co-hosted the inaugural California Biomass Workshop to address the key challenges and opportunities in delivering a sustainable bioeconomy to California. Over 200 attendees from state and federal agencies, tribes, research organizations, technology developers, community groups and environmental NGOs led […]

California’s rural communities are in the grip of a wood waste crisis – with millions of tons of residues from wildfire prevention and agriculture being piled and burned or left to decompose every year, causing major carbon and air pollution. This problem is expected to become significantly worse as the state ramps up its forest […]

Hydrogen is sometimes referred to as the Swiss Army Knife of climate solutions due to its potential to replace fossil fuels in multiple sectors. However, not all hydrogen is created equal – with certain production methods better for the climate than others. Prioritizing end-uses for hydrogen based upon regional characteristics can also ensure that project […]