THE NET-ZERO BLOG
Climate policy analysis and updates from Sacramento
Inaugural California Biomass Workshop a key opportunity for progress
Workshop Announcement: Conservation Strategy Group and UC Davis Policy Institute for Energy, Environment and the Economy are co-hosting the California Biomass Workshop on January 31st, 2024 at the Citizen Hotel in Sacramento. The purpose of the workshop is to bring together a diversity of stakeholders from around the state to coordinate and advance solutions to address a major resource management challenge - the wood waste crisis.
Data analysis of California’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund
California’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) generates roughly $4 billion per year in cap-and-trade auction proceeds for appropriation by the Legislature to support the state’s climate goals. As legislators contemplate cap-and-trade reauthorization, including the potential to revise current GGRF allocations, we analyze the latest available GGRF data (May 2024).
How clean hydrogen can enable California’s climate goals
Hydrogen is sometimes referred to as the Swiss Army Knife of climate solutions due to its potential to replace fossil fuels in multiple sectors. However, not all hydrogen is created equal – with certain production methods better for the climate than others. Prioritizing end-uses for hydrogen based upon regional characteristics can also ensure that project investments are as optimal as possible. This blog post examines California’s opportunity to produce and consume clean hydrogen.
Governor Newsom and Legislature reach landmark agreement on Clean Energy Central Procurement
Last week the Administration and Legislature reached an agreement on a new package of clean energy policies, key to which is the proposed authorization for the Department of Water Resources to centrally procure diverse clean energy resources. By providing a demand backstop, central procurement can give investors more confidence to allocate risk-capital towards these projects.
Direct Air Capture Hubs: California projects successful in receiving DOE grants
Earlier today, the Department of Energy announced the recipients sharing in $1.2 billion in Direct Air Capture (DAC) Hub funding made available via the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. In this blog post, we highlight the projects in California that were successful in receiving federal funding. We explore the state’s remaining challenge in attracting the remaining full-scale funding grants available.
Recommendations to solve California's biomass challenge
With its world-leading policies on electrification and clean power, California has made important progress towards achieving its climate goals. However, not all emissions are from the energy and industrial sectors. Land-based emissions, including from burning or decaying biomass, must also be addressed to achieve a carbon neutrality goal. In this blog post, we identify potential priority approaches for biomass utilization, including for durable wood products, advanced biofuels and biomass electricity, that can help California meet its climate goals.