News & Commentary

New York State Must End Tax Breaks for Fossil Fuels

October 27, 2020 Expert BlogNew YorkRich Schrader

Every year, New York State spends $1.6 billion on benefits for the oil and gas industry. We must pass legislation to stop subsidizing this dangerous industry.

Stop Treating Oil Drilling as a Climate Policy Afterthought

October 5, 2020 Expert BlogCaliforniaAnn Alexander

California’s oil extraction industry once again emerged mostly unscathed by the state’s climate policy.

NY Legislature Passes Bill to Close Fracking Waste Loophole

July 22, 2020 Expert BlogNew YorkRob Friedman

After years of deadlock, key legislation that regulates oil and gas waste passed the New York State Legislature this week. The legislation closes a longstanding and dangerous loophole that exempts dangerous oil and gas industry waste from New York’s existing…

CA Refineries Are Driving Our Addiction to Oil Imports

July 6, 2020 Expert BlogCaliforniaAnn Alexander

If California truly means business about moving away from fossil fuels, it’s going to have to tackle the refinery problem—which puts surrounding communities at risk every day from pollution and frequent accidents.

Strategic Gas Planning Is Vital to NY's Climate Leadership

June 30, 2020 Expert BlogNew YorkSamantha Wilt

With transparency, sufficient data, and stakeholder engagement, New York can ensure the gas system transition is as equitable, cost-effective, and certain as possible while achieving its nation-leading climate goals.

California Makes History with Clean Trucks Rule

June 25, 2020 Expert BlogCaliforniaPatricio Portillo

In a groundbreaking win, CARB adopted the world’s first zero-emission commercial truck requirement, the Advanced Clean Trucks rule. The rule, which requires truck makers to sell an increasing number of clean, zero-emission trucks in California in place of dirty diesel…

AB 345: Please Keep Off the Astroturf

June 23, 2020 Expert BlogCaliforniaAnn Alexander

AB 345, which passed the California Assembly and is now pending in the Senate, would require regulators to establish setback buffers to keep drilling operations away from homes, schools, playgrounds, and hospitals. 

What Does the Plastic Bag Ban Mean for New Yorkers?

February 27, 2020 ExplainerNew York, United StatesCourtney Lindwall

Here’s everything you need to know before plastic carryout bags disappear from the Empire State on March 1.

Bold Steps Toward Putting the Brakes on CA Oil Drilling

November 20, 2019 Expert BlogCaliforniaAnn Alexander

Keeping the Lights On with Clean Energy

November 14, 2019 Expert BlogCaliforniaPeter Miller

California needs to ensure a reliable supply of electricity. But we need to do it as much as possible with clean resources, to avoid further burdening vulnerable communities that have historically hosted polluting facilities and to reduce our climate pollution…

CalEPA’s Opportunity to Jump-Start Progress Away from Oil

November 6, 2019 Expert BlogUnited States, CaliforniaAnn Alexander

AB 936: The Path to California’s New Oil Spill Protections

October 16, 2019 Expert BlogUnited States, CaliforniaAnn Alexander

It is our fervent hope that the cleanup preparation measures required by AB 936 never become necessary, as California moves toward transitioning away from oil.

Protecting California From the Realities of Nonfloating Oil

October 16, 2019 Expert BlogUnited States, CaliforniaJosh Axelrod

AB 936, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on October 12, 2019, takes proactive steps to prepare California for the risks of a nonfloating oil spill.

California's Clean Truck Rule: First of its Kind and Long Overdue

October 4, 2019 Expert BlogUnited States, CaliforniaPatricio Portillo

California is launching a new rule to tackle one of the largest sources of pollution: medium- and heavy-duty trucks.

Governor Newsom Starts to Lead California Out of its Oily Mire

September 20, 2019 Expert BlogUnited States, CaliforniaAnn Alexander

California Legislature Passes Landmark Nonfloating Oil Bill

September 12, 2019 Expert BlogUnited States, CaliforniaAnn Alexander

The legislature has rightfully recognized, in passing the bill, that nonfloating oil is a disaster waiting to happen.

We Must Act Now to Protect California’s Coast

September 5, 2019 Expert BlogCaliforniaIrene Gutierrez

California’s clean ocean economy is too valuable to squander for the prospect of a finite and dirty resource like offshore oil.

Cities Fight to Keep Courts Open for Claims Against Big Oil

August 1, 2019 Expert BlogCalifornia, Baltimore, Rhode IslandDavid Hawkins, Pete Huffman

Federal appeals courts will soon hear important cases brought by municipal governments grappling with the mounting costs of climate change.

Protecting California Waters From Oil: AB 936 Advances

June 4, 2019 Expert BlogCaliforniaJosh Axelrod

An important piece of oil spill legislation is moving through the California legislature that will help the state respond more effectively to spills of non floating oil.

Facing Future Threats: AB 936 Tackles Non-Floating Oil

February 26, 2019 Expert BlogCaliforniaJosh Axelrod

California could see a huge influx of non-floating oils brought in on ocean tankers in the coming years. State legislators are trying to get the state prepared.