California Cleantech Management in 2023

Once I began with Union of Involved Scientists again in January, the California legislative session was simply ramping up. As invoice introductions trickled in, it turned clear there could be loads of alternatives for UCS to leverage our science-based analysis to tell world-leading coverage options.

Because the trickle of payments turned a speeding river of committee hearings, funds negotiations, and ground votes, not solely did we keep afloat, however we constructed a strong, evidence-backed raft that may hold us skillfully navigating the treacherous white waters of the California legislature.

Now that I’ve reached the extent of my white-water rafting information, here’s a recap of our very productive session:

Electrical car directionality stalled however will return

UCS co-sponsored Senator Nancy Skinner’s Senate Invoice 233 (SB 233) which might have required all electrical autos to be bidirectional by 2030. Bidirectional means the battery in your electrical automotive powers the automotive (one path) and will present energy in your residence, home equipment, energy instruments, and even the grid (the second path). Bidirectional succesful EVs may present large advantages to Californians when the facility goes out or when the grid is strained by excessive electrical energy demand.

The invoice stalled on the very finish of session, however the UCS will proceed to work to advance bidirectional charging in California.

Funding for zero-emission car and charging was renewed

UCS joined a broad coalition of environmental, environmental justice, enterprise and public well being teams to push for the extension of car registration charges that might fund $170 million yearly for zero-emission car incentives and charging infrastructure.

After months of negotiations, at 11:40 pm on the final night time of session, Meeting Invoice 126 (Reyes) handed the Meeting ground and now sits on the governor’s desk awaiting his signature!

This laws additionally included vital updates to the payment program that may guarantee these funds are spent within the communities that want them essentially the most.

California’s vans cleaned up and defended

Talking of autos, over the previous two years, UCS advocated for the California Air Assets Board to strengthen and ultimately undertake the Superior Clear Fleets rule, which it did earlier this yr. This regulation requires 100% of recent medium- and heavy-duty vans (something from supply vans to large rigs) bought in California to be zero emissions by 2036 and 100% of enormous fleets to be zero emissions by 2045.

Picture courtesy of CARB

Earlier than we even had an opportunity to have fun that historic victory, {industry} pursuits compelled us to (efficiently) push again towards a invoice that might have exempted a big swath of California from complying with the rule. That invoice included an audit that might have undermined the rule earlier than it was even finalized.

There will likely be extra industry-led efforts to undermine the lifesaving, local weather crisis-slowing Superior Clear Fleets rule and we will likely be able to cease them of their tracks.

An vital step taken in the direction of getting water rights proper

California’s water rights system is outdated, unjust, and must be reformed. We supported three payments this yr to present the state extra oversight and enforcement energy over senior water rights holders, who additionally occur to be among the many strongest company pursuits within the state.

Senate Invoice 389, which merely would give the State Water Board the long-overdue authority to substantiate that water rights holders have the water rights they are saying they do, handed the legislature and is on the governor’s desk.

The remaining payments, Meeting Invoice 460 and Meeting Invoice 1337, have been unable to make it out of the Senate Pure Assets and Water committee. They’re nonetheless alive and will be superior subsequent session; We is not going to cease working to go them.

To regionalize or to not regionalize stays unanswered

Early within the legislative session, Assemblymember Chris Holden launched Meeting Invoice 538 which might have modified the governance of the California’s grid operator from a governor-appointed board to an impartial construction that might permit for a extra coordinated, region-wide grid.

UCS served as a useful resource to stakeholders, legislators, and legislative employees on all sides of this invoice by writing an in depth coverage transient explaining the dangers and advantages of the proposal. Regionalizing the grid may permit California to benefit from renewable power in different states comparable to wind energy from Wyoming and hydropower within the Pacific Northwest. But it surely additionally would require California to surrender a few of its power autonomy.

Finally, the invoice didn’t go, however the thought lives on and UCS plans to remain engaged in a multi-state initiative to chart a considerate path in the direction of regional grid coordination.

A win for offshore wind, geothermal energy, and long-duration storage

UCS supported Meeting Invoice 1373 by Assemblymember Eduardo García. This invoice would create a Central Procurement Entity that might permit the state to buy renewable power assets which might be usually uncared for by utilities as a result of they take a very long time to develop and are too huge for a single utility to tackle by itself. These assets embody offshore wind, geothermal, and long length storage comparable to pumped hydro.

This invoice handed each the Meeting and Senate with extensive margins and the governor has already been vocal about his help.

California takes a world-leading stance on company accountability

Simply earlier than Governor Newsom and Lawyer Normal Bonta introduced California’s historic lawsuit towards main fossil gas producers in September, the California legislature handed two payments that may additional assist the state maintain giant firms accountable.

Senate Invoice 253 by Senator Scott Wiener would require giant firms to transparently disclose the greenhouse gasoline emission related to their complete provide chain. And Senate Invoice 261 by Senator Henry Stern would require these corporations to publicly disclose their climate-related monetary threat.

UCS supported these payments. We joined three different environmental organizations who’re working to advance a rule on these points via the Securities and Trade Fee. We’re urging the governor to steer the nation and signal these payments. He has since publicly pledged to take action.

Be able to take motion

UCS goes to maintain pushing for the strongest, science-backed public insurance policies potential in California. The legislature is taking some much-needed time without work, however it will likely be again in January 2024. We’ll hold you up to date through our blogs, however please additionally keep watch over your inbox for alternatives to name your legislators or submit feedback to businesses.

Daniel Barad, the Western States Coverage Supervisor for the Union of Involved Scientists. Courtesy of Union of Involved Scientists, The Equation.