Media Center

Community Solar Bill Clears First Legislative Hurdle

April 27, 2022 Press ReleaseCalifornia

SACRAMENTO – A bill to increase access to renewable energy for more Californians, such as through community solar with storage, passed through the Assembly Utilities and Energy committee today. If passed, the bill will provide clean energy access and bill…

California Passes Nation’s First Building Code that Establishes Pollution-free Electric Heat Pumps as Baseline Technology; Leads Transition Off of Fossil Fuels in New Homes

August 11, 2021 Press ReleaseCalifornia

A majority of the state’s new homes and buildings estimated to be gas-free starting in 2023, cutting climate pollution and delivering significant air quality gains

NRDC Statement: CA Governor Newsom Announces Fracking Ban

April 23, 2021 Press ReleaseCalifornia

SACRAMENTO – Governor Newsom announced action to ban new permits for hydraulic fracturing starting in 2024 and called on state regulators to evaluate phasing out all oil production in the state by 2045.

New Guide Charts Path to High-Road Clean Energy Jobs

April 13, 2021 Press ReleaseCalifornia

San Francisco — As the Biden-Harris administration looks to create good union jobs and tackle climate change at the same time, a new guide charts how cities can incorporate workforce development and equity goals into their climate action plans.

Governor Newsom Announces a Suite of Climate Actions

September 23, 2020 Press ReleaseCalifornia

Sacramento – Governor Gavin Newsom announced that the State of California will ensure 100 percent electric passenger vehicles by 2035, as well as a host of additional actions.

NRDC Sues Over Department of Energy’s New Rule Hampering Energy-Saving Standards

April 14, 2020 Press ReleaseCalifornia

SAN FRANCISCO – The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) sued the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today over its new energy efficiency standards-setting process that will impede future efforts to make America’s appliances and equipment more efficient, significantly harming consumers…

Lighting Industry Sues to Block California’s Jan. 1 Expanded Light Bulb Efficiency Standards

December 19, 2019 Press ReleaseCalifornia

SACRAMENTO – Two lighting industry trade associations are suing California in a desperate attempt to block the state’s updated light bulb efficiency standards from going into effect on January 1. The lawsuit puts at risk the billions of dollars Californians…

Are Leading TV Manufacturers Exploiting Weaknesses in the Federal Energy-Use Test to Hide True Energy Costs?

September 21, 2016 Press ReleaseCalifornia

SAN FRANCISCO – There are flaws in the government’s method for testing the energy use of televisions and three major TV manufacturers representing half of the U.S. market appear to be exploiting them, which could cost owners of recently purchased…

Report: Computer Energy Use Could be Cut in Half at Little Cost and With No Performance Loss, While Slashing Carbon Pollution

July 28, 2016 Press ReleaseCalifornia

SAN FRANCISCO & WASHINGTON, D.C. – Electricity use by computers can be cut in half using off-the-shelf technology with no impact on performance, and at negligible cost, according to a new Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) analysis released today. Also…

NRDC Joins PG&E, Labor & Other Enviro Groups in Historic Proposal to Replace California Nuclear Plant with Efficiency, Renewables

June 21, 2016 Press ReleaseCalifornia

SAN FRANCISCO—The Natural Resources Defense Council today signed a historic proposal with Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E), labor unions, and other environmental groups to replace Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant with zero-emissions energy--including energy efficiency, wind, and solar power--within…

New Report: Ultra High-Definition TVs Could Add $1 Billion To Viewers’ Annual Energy Bills

November 17, 2015 Press ReleaseCalifornia

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (Nov. 17, 2015) – The latest ultra high-definition (UHD) televisions use an average of 30 percent more energy than their high-definition (HD) predecessors, which could add $1 billion to U.S. viewers’ annual utility bills if energy-saving improvements…

California’s Energy Efficiency Success Story: $90 Billion in Utility Bill Savings, Hundreds of Thousands of Jobs, and 40+ Polluting Power Plants Avoided

August 20, 2015 Press ReleaseCalifornia

SAN FRANCISCO (Aug. 20, 2015) – California’s 40-year commitment to energy efficiency has saved Californians $90 billion on their utility bills, created hundreds of thousands of efficiency jobs, and will have avoided the pollution from 41 power plants by the…

California Public Utilities Commission Makes a Bad Call for San Diego, Approves Natural Gas Power Plant in Carlsbad

May 21, 2015 Press ReleaseCalifornia

LOS ANGELES (May 21, 2015) – The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) erred today by overruling its own staff’s recommendation and approving a giant pollution-emitting power plant in San Diego. By a vote of 4-1, the commission adopted a proposal…

Re-Imagining Watts 50 Years After the Riots

May 19, 2015 Press ReleaseCalifornia

LOS ANGELES (May 19, 2015) — Fifty years after the Watts Uprising, a coalition of community groups today launched Watts Re:Imagined – a sustainable redevelopment vision for the South Los Angeles neighborhood. The plan draws on the region’s rich historical…

Always-On Inactive Devices May Devour $19 Billion Worth of Electricity Annually

May 6, 2015 Press ReleaseCalifornia

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (May 7, 2015) – Approximately $19 billion worth of electricity, equal to the output of 50 large power plants, is devoured annually by U.S. household electronics, appliances, and other equipment when consumers are not actively using them…

Plug-in Equipment Energy Efficiency Bill Advances in California Legislature

April 28, 2015 Press ReleaseCalifornia

SACRAMENTO (April 28, 2015) – Legislation to help curb energy waste from the 50-plus plugged-in appliances, electronics, and miscellaneous electrical devices in the average California household, such as video equipment and kitchen appliances, as well as similar power-guzzling equipment in…

Mayor Eric Garcetti Announces Plans for a Sustainable Los Angeles

April 8, 2015 Press ReleaseCalifornia

LOS ANGELES (April 8, 2015) — Mayor Eric Garcetti today announced a comprehensive plan to address environmental, economic, and equity challenges across key aspects of life in the City of Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Sustainability Plan proposes solutions in…

America’s Data Centers Consuming Massive and Growing Amounts of Electricity

August 26, 2014 Press ReleaseCalifornia

SAN FRANCISCO (August 26, 2014) – Much of the massive amounts of electricity that America’s data centers devour to support our business and online activity is being wasted running computer servers doing little or no work most of the time…

Clothes Dryers Cost Consumers Up to $4 Billion in Annual Energy Waste

June 12, 2014 Press ReleaseCalifornia

SAN FRANCISCO (June 12, 2014) – The clothes dryers in U.S. homes are wasting up to $4 billion worth of electricity annually because energy-saving standards for the common appliance have not been significantly updated for almost 30 years, according to…

New Game Consoles to Cost U.S. Consumers $1 Billion in Annual Electric Bills

May 16, 2014 Press ReleaseCalifornia

SAN FRANCISCO (May 16, 2014) – The latest-generation game consoles are on track to cost American consumers $1 billion annually in utility bills--$400 million of that in standby mode when no one is using them--and devour enough electricity to power…