As California reauthorizes its groundbreaking cap-and-trade program, UCS board member Kyle Meng shares his perspective in a recent op-ed in the @sacbee.com. Read it here: act.ucsusa.org/4nGapQm
Daniel Barad
@danielbarad.bsky.social
CA Senior Policy Manager @ucsusa.bsky.social. Posts about policy, science, and the fight for a livable planet.
1/Refinery closures in California are sparking panic over gas prices—but the real issue? CA’s in the midst of a fossil fuel breakup.
2/We can’t cling to oil and claim climate leadership. CA needs a plan that: ⚡️keeps the clean transportation transition on track ⛽️ Manages declining gas supply without price spikes 💸 Protects low-income drivers from volatility CA can manage this transition. Let’s get to work.
A Fossil Fuel Phaseout Without Stable Prices? Good Luck, Babe!
California must show it can manage this transition without affordability impacts on working Californians.
blog.ucs.org
🎶You’d have to stop the world just to stop this transition🎶 …but that doesn’t mean we don’t have to plan for it. Read my @ucs.org blog about CA’s fossil fuel phaseout and the importance of minimizing impacts to everyday Californians as we go to zero emissions.
A Fossil Fuel Phaseout Without Stable Prices? Good Luck, Babe!
California must show it can manage this transition without affordability impacts on working Californians.
blog.ucs.org
“Unconstitutional. Illegal. Foolish.” Today’s vote to roll back clean air protections is an attack on states’ rights & the health of 150M Americans. California will fight back to defend our right to breathe clean air. ➡️ bit.ly/3YXi5Dn @gavinnewsom.bsky.social @robbonta.bsky.social
As our freight system has evolved to meet the demands of consumers, it must also evolve to address its impacts on public health and the planet. Indirect Source Rules or "ISRs," is a promising solution. Learn more in UCS's Sam Wilson's blog.
Indirect Source Rules: An Emerging Route Toward Clean Freight
As our freight system has evolved to meet the demands of consumers, it must also evolve to address its impacts on public health and climate
blog.ucs.org
#CA business and clean air organizations, including #IBEW CA, oppose the attacks on California’s Clean Air Act authority, which has put people to work across the state. Protecting the Advanced Clean Cars Program ensures more work is on the horizon! ibew.org/ibew-califor...
CA's Senate Energy Committee can bring us one step close to a clean, more reliable, more connected by passing Sen. Becker's #SB540 today! This bill will help California keep the grid running all day and night on more clean energy—it is that grid espresso.
Western Energy Markets, Sabrina Carpenter, and the Grid Espresso Paradox
California's SB 540 hits all the right notes for the state's future energy needs.
blog.ucs.org
In his new blog post, UCS’s Dave Cooke explains why Senator Bernie Moreno’s so-called “Transportation Freedom Act” undermines consumer choice in cars and would hit consumers in the wallet: Read it here: act.ucsusa.org/3RanW3Q
![A graphic with a quote criticizing the Transportation "Freedom" Act. The quote reads: "[The Transportation 'Freedom' Act] is about the freedom for industry to continue wreaking havoc on our lungs and our pocketbooks. And it must not move forward." The quote is attributed to Dave Cooke, Senior Vehicles Analyst at UCS (Union of Concerned Scientists). His headshot appears in a circular frame. Behind the text is a grayscale image of parked SUVs in front of a building with a Toyota logo. There’s a bold orange button that says "READ THE BLOG POST." The Union of Concerned Scientists logo is at the bottom. Photo credit: Brandon Bell/Getty Images. © Union of Concerned Scientists 2025.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:rvuee746th6j5qacfrfc7jed/bafkreig7avpdnjchh6imsuz332upfo7cjii7gq6a7h22vuce56i2d2iyiu)
Here’s a great blog by @ucsusa.bsky.social Senior Scientist Dr. Jess Dunn on #SB615 (@benallenca.bsky.social). This is an awesome bill on EV battery recycling that’s 5+ years in the making. Time to Close the EV Battery Loop!! #CAleg
California's Push to Close the EV Battery Loop
With electric vehicle sales increasing, a recycling policy for their batteries will be critical to minimize impacts.
blog.ucs.org
AB674 is an @ucsusa.bsky.social sponsored bill based on our independent science showing old vehicles make up fewer than 1/5 of the cars on the road but emit more than 2/3 of the smog-forming pollution. It passed committee today! Thank you to @asmdamonconnolly.bsky.social for leading on this bill!
Assemblymember Damon Connolly@asmdamonconnolly.bsky.social · last yr.Today, #AB674 passed out of the Assembly Transportation Committee! This bill improves the Clean Cars 4 All program, which helps lower-income consumers replace older, high-polluting vehicles with cleaner transportation.
Today, #AB674 passed out of the Assembly Transportation Committee! This bill improves the Clean Cars 4 All program, which helps lower-income consumers replace older, high-polluting vehicles with cleaner transportation.
Big "mask-off" moment for several automakers - supporting legislation to neuter EPA and states' ability to cut vehicle pollution.
Dave Cooke@ucsdave.bsky.social · last yr.General Motors, Toyota, and Stellantis, as well as the trucking and auto industries broadly, are working with Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) to gut vehicle regulation via a bill that seems to have flown under the radar. Read about this disaster of a bill here: blog.ucs.org/dave-cooke/a...
I spent yesterday at the CA Senate Environmental Quality Committee pushing for 3 @ucsusa.bsky.social priority bills and testifying against one bill undermining a CA Clean Air Rule! Read this thread to learn how it went!
What do Sabrina Carpenter and Western Energy Markets have in common? Read my @ucsusa.bsky.social blog to find out!
Western Energy Markets, Sabrina Carpenter, and the Grid Espresso Paradox
California's SB 540 hits all the right notes for the state's future energy needs.
blog.ucs.org
On March 12, the EPA started rolling back decades of environmental leadership that protect the water we all depend on. California EPA Secretary Yana Garcia breaks down the facts and how California is fighting back.
How Federal Attacks on #CleanWater Impact #California #shorts #trump #epa #climate #news #water
YouTube video by California Governor Gavin Newsom
youtube.com
Great stuff as usual from @sammyroth.bsky.social. I love the transmission financing plug and the plea to starting think seriously about what we can take out of rates! I may need a bit more evidence from the utilities that returns need to be that high before I’m willing to settle for the scalpel
Sammy Roth@sammyroth.bsky.social · last yr.Politicians love to chase easy answers. Alas, when it comes to CA's rising electric rates, there aren’t any. Gavin Newsom and company need to spend more money, scrutinize utility profits and — gasp — maybe accept the risk of blackouts. My latest for @latimes.com: www.latimes.com/environment/...
Politicians love to chase easy answers. Alas, when it comes to CA's rising electric rates, there aren’t any. Gavin Newsom and company need to spend more money, scrutinize utility profits and — gasp — maybe accept the risk of blackouts. My latest for @latimes.com: www.latimes.com/environment/...
Commentary: Californians pay too much for electricity. Here are three bold solutions
It's time for Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers to show courage and take some political risks.
latimes.com
Senator Josh Becker’s SB 540 gives CA the fastest, cheapest options to build a 100% clean energy economy, cut pollution from gas fueled power plants by 31%, and save $800 million in costs each year. YES ON SB 540! sd13.senate.ca.gov/news/press-r...
Senators Becker, Stern Announce Pathways Bill to Expand California’s Energy Markets, Boost Grid Reliability, Lower Costs, and Reduce Air Pollution
SACRAMENTO, CA — Today, Senate Chair of Energy, Utilities and Communication Josh Becker (D-Menlo Park) and Senator Henry Stern (D-Los Angeles) introduced SB 540, legislation aimed at optimizing Califo...
sd13.senate.ca.gov
"Here, we still want to cut global warming emissions by replacing polluting cars with clean vehicles and ramping up renewable energy to phase out fossil fuel powerplants," writes UCS's Daniel Barad from California.
The California Legislature: Where Global Warming is Real and Science Still Matters
How will the state continue to lead in matters of climate and clean energy?
blog.ucs.org
Check out the first blog of a series called “The State of Science” which will cover the latest at the intersection of science, the environment and California state policy.
Daniel Barad@danielbarad.bsky.social · last yr.CA is still a climate leader--but we have to fight to keep it that way 🌎 My @ucsusa.bsky.social blog covers: 🔋 SB 615 (@benallenca.bsky.social) on EV battery recycling 🏭 SB 222 (@scottwiener.bsky.social) on fossil fuel accountability 💰 @governor.ca.gov plan to make polluters pay And MUCH more!
CA is still a climate leader--but we have to fight to keep it that way 🌎 My @ucsusa.bsky.social blog covers: 🔋 SB 615 (@benallenca.bsky.social) on EV battery recycling 🏭 SB 222 (@scottwiener.bsky.social) on fossil fuel accountability 💰 @governor.ca.gov plan to make polluters pay And MUCH more!
The California Legislature: Where Global Warming is Real and Science Still Matters
How will the state continue to lead in matters of climate and clean energy?
blog.ucs.org