Climate Policy

Step-by-Step: The Role of Sequencing in Effective Climate Policy

The key to climate policy is to start by supporting investments in new technologies that produce both innovation and political change

This is the third in a series of posts.  The first post is here.  The second post is here. How might sequencing work in climate policy?  And why is it important?  I’ll explore these questions by walking through the most important stage of climate policy – initiating action on climate change. The initial steps of …

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The Multiple Goals of Climate Policy

Effective climate policy requires consideration of efficiency, equity, technological innovation, carbon reductions and political feasibility

This is the second in a series of posts.  The first post is here. When people think about climate policy, they probably think that the goal of climate policy is reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  And of course, the ultimate goal of climate policy is to reduce emissions, eventually getting us to an economy that is …

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The Difficult Politics of Climate Change

How can we enact policy that is effective, resilient, and expands its ambition over time?

Climate change is a difficult problem to solve, politically.  The costs of addressing climate change are born by current generations, but the benefits accrue to many generations to come.  Addressing climate change might require people today to make significant sacrifices to benefit people around the world, as well as future generations.  There are significant, powerful …

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Deal or No Deal?

Should Congress pass EPRA?

This is the second in a series of posts on permitting reform.  The first post is here. Given the provisions of the Energy Permitting Reform Act (EPRA), should Congress enact it as it stands now?  Answering that question is tricky, in part because it depends both on uncertain political and administrative action, as well as …

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Should We Do Permitting Reform?

What is at stake with the Manchin bill.

As Congress wraps up its lame duck session before the new Congress and President arrive in January, there is a lot of debate about whether to move forward on permitting reform within a quickly shrinking window of time.  The basis of debate is the Energy Permitting Reform Act (EPRA) co-sponsored by Senators Manchin and Barrasso.  …

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Even in Dark Times, There are Still Reasons to be Thankful

The election was largely a disaster. But we’ve also seen some positive developments.

Trump’s triumphant return to power promises to be a disaster for environmental protection, casting a pall over all else. Even so, if you’re someone who cares about energy and environment, there are some things to be thankful for ithis year   Here are a few.

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Community Benefits Tools and Policy Drivers:

Select mechanisms can help ensure that energy projects deliver meaningful benefits for California communities

This is the third in a series of posts detailing CLEE’s new set of resources on Equitable Climate Infrastructure Investment. Communities and local and state governments are increasingly turning to community benefits tools to support an equitable climate transition, catalyze substantive long-term investments in community priorities, and achieve effective, durable projects. CLEE’s new report, Community Benefits Tools and California …

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The Dangerous Hypocrisy of Elon Musk

Tesla CEO Elon Musk wants to slash government and regulations for a Trump administration—even though California regulations helped build his companies.

Our chances of helping avoid the most catastrophic climate disruptions just dimmed dramatically. Donald Trump’s victory and self-declared mandate means a lot of things—among them, that crucial climate and environmental policies are threatened like never before. There will be plenty to say in coming days about what this means for America’s role in the world …

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A 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 …

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In Their Own Words: Climate Policy and the Party Platforms

The GOP and Democratic Platforms take starkly different approaches.

The two major parties have very different views about energy policy and climate change. Here are their official views, in their own language. Compare and contrast!

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