With 4 Weeks Left, the Election – and the Future of Climate Policy – Hang in the Balance
The White House and control of the House remain toss-ups.
Given the stark differences between the perspectives of the two parties, the outcome of the 2024 election will be pivotal for climate and energy policy. With a month to go, things are still incredibly close. Harris has a tiny edge in the electoral college, and the Republicans have a similar edge in the House. I wrote about the Senate yesterday, where Republicans are somewhat favored to win control because the key Montana race is starting to lean Republican. But e...
CONTINUE READINGA Small Win for Curbside EV Charging in California
AB 2427 marks progress for a key charging segment
Late last month, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2427, which represents a modest step in the effort to ensure all Californians have access to convenient electric vehicle (EV) charging, not just those who own their homes and have garages, by supporting efforts to invest in curbside EV charging. As CLEE described in a report issued earlier this year, curbside charging will be a key tool for residents of dense urban centers, multifamily buildings, and homes that lac...
CONTINUE READINGThe Two Races Most Likely to Determine Control of the Senate
The outcomes will shape environmental policy in the new Congress.
To keep control of the Senate, Democrats must hold on to the White House and two Senate seats in red states. If Republicans win in Ohio or Montana, they are virtually guaranteed to flip the Senate, with important consequences for environmental policy. Here are the candidates in these key races and their views on energy and climate, in their own words. Only one of the candidates emphasizes environment or energy issues in the form of Republican Tim Sheehy’s full-th...
CONTINUE READINGA Good Day to Drop Big Oil
Major league sports teams like to talk about sustainability measures on Green Sports Day, which is Oct. 6. They should do something about their fossil fuel sponsors.
On Sunday, October 6, sports teams throughout the U.S. will participate in something called Green Sports Day, an annual event to promote sustainability in sports. Often, it’s a chance for a franchise to promote the recycling or energy conservation that goes on at its stadium. One thing these teams almost certainly will not be talking about—but should be—is the oil and gas companies that continue to buy influence with American audiences through a wide range...
CONTINUE READINGSB 1221 is Law. Time for Targeted Neighborhood Electrification.
This new California law will help build pilot programs for up to 30 neighborhood decarbonization zones to transition off gas.
Governor Newsom recently signed a bill (SB 1221) that lays the groundwork for a vital shift in California’s clean energy transition. The bill– by Senator Dave Min, with support from key decarbonization advocates–will create a pilot program at the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to designate up to 30 “neighborhood decarbonization zone” projects. In these zones, utilities can work together with communities to transition from building gas service...
CONTINUE READINGA Data-Driven Case for Level 1 EV Charging in Multifamily Housing–and its Equity Implications
New data insights from a community choice aggregator elevate the role of Level 1 charging in an equitable (and rapid) EV transition
Discussions about Level 1 (L1) and Level 2 (L2) electric vehicle charging generally posit a simple tradeoff: L2 (which requires a dedicated high-capacity electrical hookup) offers greater speed and convenience, while L1 (which can run on a standard 120V outlet) offers broader scale and affordability. L1’s benefits find particular traction in residential charging spaces–where drivers parking overnight may not need high-speed charging, and lower-power equipment can hel...
CONTINUE READINGMrs. Palsgraf, Meet Enviromental Law
A case involving a freakish accident with fireworks casts a big shadow in environmental law.
Today in my first-year Torts class, I teach the Palsgraf case, one of those cases that every lawyer knows by heart. More about Palsgraf in a moment. It’s a tort case, so it won’t surprise you that oil companies use similar arguments against having to pay damages for climate change. But it may be more surprising that the same doctrine pops up in NEPA and in the constitutional law of standing. Palsgraf one of the handful of cases that lawyers remember longer af...
CONTINUE READINGThe Walz-Vance Debate and Environmental Policy
After Hurricane Helene, Vance and Walz were pressed on climate change during the VP debate. Here’s everything they said on energy and the environment.
The subject of climate-fueled disasters figured prominently in the vice presidential debate. The CBS News moderators asked a question about climate change within the first few minutes, although the multi-faceted answers weren’t always factual and much of the post-debate discussion in newsrooms and spin room interviews centered on contentious yet civil exchanges on immigration and democracy. Moderator Norah O’Donnell first posed the climate question this way: �...
CONTINUE READINGClimate Politics and Policy in Nebraska
In a divided nation, could the Cornhusker State turn out to hold the balance of power?
When Nebraska’s in the national news, it's usually because of its football team or its most prominent resident, Warren Buffett. Lately, however, it’s been featured in the national political news due to Trump’s unsuccessful effort to get the state to abandon its practice of giving one electoral vote to each congressional district. In a tight presidential race, Omaha’s one electoral vote could really matter. And now it’s getting some attention because of a Senate...
CONTINUE READINGClimate Policy After the 2024 Election
In this UCLA Emmett Institute webinar, panelists discussed the climate implications of the 2024 election from the state, national, and international perspective.
https://youtu.be/sE7jxRUtu14?si=nrYSvS7EMu7rMLT0&t=51 Climate certainty. Legislative action. Whipsaw regulations. An exodus of civil servants. Chinese leadership despite being the world’s largest emitter. Those are a few of the possible outcomes of the Nov. 5 presidential election, according to our panelists. More than in any previous election, the two major candidates’ track records on environmental policies are well-established and diametrically opposed...
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