California Should Stop Forcing Drivers to Subsidize Deforestation: "California spent the past year congratulating itself for raising the ambition of its Low Carbon Fuel Standard, the state’s flagship program to cut greenhouse gas emissions from transportation. In June 2025, the California Air Resources Board approved sweeping amendments that accelerate carbon-intensity reductions across gasoline and diesel. The LCFS now aims to cut transportation fuel emissions far more quickly than ever before, reaching a 30% reduction by 2030 and 90% reduction by 2045. Without further reforms, much of this decarbonization will exist only on paper." ECOMODERNIST
California Wants to Mix Hydrogen with Gas to Cut Climate Pollution: "The Southern California Gas Co. wants to blend and inject hydrogen into the town's gas infrastructure, after the state agency that regulates utilities directed them and other companies to launch pilot projects. Proponents see it as key to helping California reduce planet-warming pollution by curbing reliance on gas while integrating cleaner energy into existing infrastructure. It's part of a statewide effort to create safety rules for hydrogen blending." DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT TODAY
Comstock Metals Expands Solar Recycling Network with New California Center: "By establishing the hub in the heart of California, the largest solar market in the U.S., Comstock aims to streamline logistics and reduce the environmental impact of transporting decommissioned infrastructure. This development is intended to address a looming waste problem that Comstock chief executive officer Corrado De Gasperis forecasts will soon be measured in the hundreds of millions of panels." PV MAGAZINE
Does California Want To Be Part Of The Nuclear Renaissance?: "If natural gas is banned, then nuclear will have to make up the shortage. It can take 10 to 12 years to add new nuclear capacity, from the planning and licensing phase to completion of construction. We should add a few years, this being California, where all construction projects become slogs. " ISSUES & INSIGHTS
Enpower Sells Wadham Energy Biomass Facility to High Rock Energy Group: "Enpower Corp., a California-based independent power producer, has sold its wholly owned subsidiary Wadham Energy Limited Partnership to High Rock Energy Group. The sale transfers a 27 MW rice husk biomass facility in Colusa County, California, which has operated for over 30 years providing baseload renewable power to the state's electricity grid." BIOENERGY INSIGHT
The Trump vs. Newsom Energy Showdown is Just Getting Started: "Jon Wellinghoff, who served on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission under presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, said in an interview that the antagonism between the California and federal governments jacks up the risk on private energy companies interested in investing in the state, especially in the renewable sector. 'They’re going to look at a need for a higher risk premium to ultimately invest in those types of projects when you have this conflict going on between state and federal interests,' Wellinghoff said. 'Obviously we can get a lot less done and it’s a lot less efficient if the two governments are working against each other as opposed to working for each other.'" POLITICO
Trump Administration Sues Petaluma and Morgan Hill Over Natural Gas Bans: "The Trump administration contends that these cities cannot adopt local rules that effectively eliminate the use of natural gas-powered appliances by banning the infrastructure that supports them. In its complaint, the Department of Justice describes Petaluma and Morgan Hill’s restrictions as not only unlawful but also burdensome to residents, arguing they 'deny consumers reliable, resilient, and affordable energy' and undermine broader national energy interests." CALIFORNIA ENERGY JOURNAL
Unlocking Industrial Electrification in California: "...there exists significant opportunity in California to electrify many industrial heating processes while also providing major benefits to the grid. The flexibility of some types of industrial load, if met with appropriate rates and other supportive policies, can benefit the grid by flattening demand. And utilities can sweeten the financial deal for industrial customers who electrify by rewarding those that do so with flexible demand with low off-peak rates. In sum, intelligent rate design for industrial electrification and load-shifting can financially incentivize customers to switch from fossil fuel heating while also providing grid benefits to grid operators like the ability to mitigate and control system costs, which drives down electric rates for all customer classes (industrial, commercial, and residential)." INDUSTRIOUS LABS
Why California is Keeping This Unusual Solar Plant Running When Both Trump and Biden Wanted it Closed: "NRG spokesperson Erik Linden said Ivanpah's ownership has continued to invest in the facility and 'remains steadfast in its commitment to providing reliable renewable energy to the state of California.' The existing power purchase agreements remain in effect and the plant will operate under their terms for the duration of the agreements, he said." TECH XPLORE
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WEDNESDAY AGGREGATE: SoCalGas AMI Cost Tracking; SCE Low-Income Budgets; a Challenge to Undergrounding Resolution SPD-37
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MONDAY AGGREGATE: Sempra Utilities' Cost of Capital Updates; SoCalGas Microgrid Optional Tariff; SDG&E Wildfire Costs
