News & Commentary

Solving Problems—Not Pointing Fingers—in Texas

July 13, 2022 Expert BlogTexasChristy Walsh

Blaming any one power source is a mistake. We can’t make any one source of power foolproof, but we can make a grid that’s nimble, resilient, and reliable.

Honolulu Benchmarking Will Cut Costs, Save Energy and Water

July 6, 2022 Expert BlogHonolulu, HawaiiElizabeth Stampe, Olivia Walker

Honolulu’s City Council passes a benchmarking and transparency ordinance to help building owners cut costs by tracking their energy and water use, enabling them to save money and resources while reducing emissions.

CA’s Energy Trailer Bill: What just happened?

July 1, 2022 Expert BlogCaliforniaMerrian Borgeson

Colorado Regulators Approve Plan That Phases Out Coal by 2031

June 22, 2022 Expert BlogColoradoAlana Miller

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission has approved Xcel’s plan to accelerate the end of coal in the state.

Organic Agriculture Helps Solve Climate Change

June 9, 2022 Expert BlogUnited States, CaliforniaLena Brook

As farmers grapple with everything from extreme weather events to heat stress to wildfires, and agriculture becomes less predictable in the face of a changing climate, it is essential for governments to help farmers transition to practices that increase resilience…

Climate Change Is Burning NM. It's Time for Clean Energy.

May 26, 2022 Expert BlogNew MexicoNoah Long

To continue to live and sustain our homes and families, we have to work together to improve our resilience and transition to clean energy, economic development, and new investments in family sustaining jobs in clean industries.

CO, Xcel Poised to Lead a Rapid Clean Energy Transition

May 25, 2022 Expert BlogColoradoNoah Long

This is a huge step forward, and one Coloradans can be proud of. 

Delta Voluntary Agreements Are a “Plan to Fail” in Droughts

April 25, 2022 Expert BlogCaliforniaDoug Obegi

Rather than planning for droughts and ensuring that minimum water quality objectives are achieved in critically dry years, the proposed voluntary agreement appears to be a “plan to fail” to protect the Delta in future droughts.

Bay-Delta VA: A Sweetheart Deal to Subsidize Agribusiness

April 18, 2022 Expert BlogCaliforniaDoug Obegi

It’s not surprising, given who was in the room negotiating this backroom deal, that the VAs are a sweetheart deal that would subsidize the mitigation obligations of the state’s largest irrigation districts and industrial agribusinesses, undermining the Public Trust.

Let’s Help More California Farms Become Organic

April 14, 2022 Expert BlogCaliforniaLena Brook

The California Department of Food and Agriculture, along with the Office of the First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, recently released a roadmap for our state’s new and ambitious Farm to School Program.

NRDC Wraps Up the 2022 Washington State Legislative Session

March 30, 2022 Expert BlogWashingtonRalph Cavanagh

Despite ongoing challenges from the Covid-19 pandemic and remote legislative operations, we concluded Washington State’s short legislative session with notable successes for the climate and environment.

In NM Special Session, Time to Invest in Clean Energy

March 28, 2022 Expert BlogNew MexicoNoah Long

The New Mexico legislature will convene a special session in April to address budget items. It’s an opportunity to lead the clean energy transition.

How Regenerative Agriculture Can Mitigate Drought

March 22, 2022 Expert BlogCaliforniaArohi Sharma

This is how we can help California farms and ranches be part of a drought mitigation strategy.

Learning about CA's Water Rights is the First Step to Reform

March 8, 2022 Expert BlogCaliforniaDoug Obegi

There is a growing recognition of the need to reform California’s water rights system, which is deeply inequitable, unsustainable, and all but broken.

New CA Program Can Deliver Organic School Lunches

February 25, 2022 Expert BlogCaliforniaLena Brook

By prioritizing procurement from organic farmers that avoid all or most pesticide use, our state’s farm-to-school program will also help reduce health risks faced by these especially vulnerable children. 

Smart from Start to Finish

February 4, 2022 Expert BlogCaliforniaHelen O'Shea

On a windy, bright day in Lemoore, California, another 250 megawatts of clean power was added to California’s energy mix with the dedication of the Aquamarine Solar Project.

Diablo Canyon Redux: Joint Letter to CA Governor Misfires

February 4, 2022 Expert BlogCalifornia, WestRalph Cavanagh

NRDC hopes that those who submitted the letter will join us and many others in supporting much more affordable and practicable approaches to decarbonizing California’s economy.

Oregon Looks to “Reach” Code for Energy, Carbon Savings

February 1, 2022 Expert BlogOregonRalph Cavanagh

Senate Bill 1518, to be considered during Oregon’s “short” February 2022 legislative session, is a critical pushback against the embedded lowest common denominator aspect of building codes when it comes to energy and climate.

California’s Rooftop Solar Net Metering Program

January 28, 2022 Expert BlogCaliforniaNRDC

California is in the midst of seeking input from stakeholders, through a California Public Utilities Commission process, to evolve its approach to its net metering rooftop solar program in a manner that accounts for emerging needs and market trends.

New Report: Pathways to Net-Zero for New Mexico’s Economy

January 24, 2022 Expert BlogNew MexicoJacqueline Ennis, Noah Long

Achieving the state’s near and long-term climate goals will depend on New Mexico’s leaders undertaking ambitious and timely action in the upcoming legislative session.