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A survey of 500 likely voters in Los Angeles County reveals strong public support for 'polluters pay' litigation, with 74% of respondents supporting lawsuits against major oil and gas companies to cover climate costs. The data shows that 69% of voters believe taxpayers face increased costs due to climate change, and 87% believe oil and gas companies should be responsible for some portion of these costs.

The briefing outlines a three-pronged strategy to modernize the US power grid to accommodate increasing electricity demand from data centers, manufacturing, and electric vehicles. It advocates for 'Big Wires' (high-voltage transmission and grid-enhancing technologies), 'Small Wires' (distribution upgrades for diffuse loads like EVs), and 'Non-Wires' solutions (virtual power plants) to ensure a reliable and affordable transition to a fully electrified economy.

The report analyzes the federal permitting process for high-capacity electric transmission lines in the U.S., identifying systemic delays caused by poor interagency coordination, capacity shortages, and regulatory misalignment between federal and state authorities. Based on a dataset of 37 projects and case studies, it argues that while litigation is often cited as a primary barrier, it is rarely the sole cause of project failure. The authors recommend that the President prioritize transmission as a national priority, that Congress consolidate siting authority for multi-state projects, and that agencies adopt more agile, transparent, and collaborative environmental review processes, including expanded use of programmatic EISs and categorical exclusions.

The report outlines a vision for the San Joaquin Valley (SJV) to leverage its land and industrial base to become a hub for clean energy, focusing on solar, bioenergy, and hydrogen. Using modeling from the RAND Corporation, it argues that a diverse energy portfolio can create thousands of high-wage jobs and reduce local pollution. The authors emphasize the need for a coordinated, valley-wide community benefits framework to ensure that rural and disadvantaged communities receive equitable economic gains from new developments.

The report estimates that governments in Los Angeles County will need to spend at least $12.5 billion through 2040 to adapt to climate change, with municipal governments bearing the largest share. The highest costs are associated with stormwater management to mitigate flooding ($4.3 billion) and combating urban heat islands through cool pavements ($2.5 billion) and tree planting ($1.4 billion). The study highlights that these costs disproportionately affect low-income communities and communities of color, and argues that fossil fuel companies should be held legally accountable for these expenses.

The document explores the theoretical capacity of superhot rock energy in South America, highlighting its potential to meet rising energy demands, reduce fossil fuel reliance, and leverage existing oil and gas expertise, while noting that commercial scale is not expected by 2030.

The document argues that superhot rock energy could be a ubiquitous, low-land-footprint renewable source capable of replacing fossil fuel generation. Preliminary modeling suggests that approximately 20% of U.S. land area has superhot rock potential at depths below 8 miles, with just 1% of this resource potentially providing 4.3 terawatts of energy capacity. The report highlights that the U.S. oil and gas sector's subsurface expertise could accelerate commercialization, and that mature plants could eventually offer electricity as low as $25-40 per MWh.

The document argues that superhot rock energy could provide a ubiquitous, low-land-footprint source of firm power in Europe. Preliminary modeling suggests that approximately 9% of Europe's land area has superhot rock potential at depths below 12.5 km, with just 1% of this resource capable of providing 2.1 terawatts of energy capacity. While not expected to meet 2030 climate goals, the technology could eventually replace fossil fuels, leverage existing oil and gas workforce expertise, and offer competitive electricity costs of $25-40 (USD) per MWh for mature plants. Realizing this potential requires significant public and private investment in deep drilling R&D, pilot projects, and new regulatory frameworks.

The document explores the potential of superhot rock energy in Africa, highlighting its capacity to provide massive amounts of carbon-free electricity and its potential to drive economic growth and energy access.

The document explores the potential of superhot rock energy in Asia, highlighting its capacity to provide massive amounts of carbon-free electricity and its potential to replace fossil fuels while requiring minimal land use.

The document explores the potential of superhot rock energy in North America, estimating that 13% of the land area has potential at depths below 12.5 km. It argues that this resource could provide massive amounts of carbon-free electricity, leverage existing oil and gas expertise, and require significantly less land than other energy sources, with mature costs potentially as low as $25-40 per MWh.

The document argues that Oceania possesses significant superhot rock energy potential, with modeling suggesting that 15% of the region's land area has resources at depths below 12.5 km. It highlights that just 1% of this resource could provide 1.1 terawatts of energy capacity. The report suggests that the region's existing oil and gas expertise could be leveraged to commercialize this technology, which offers high energy density and low land-use requirements compared to other renewables. While not expected to meet 2030 climate goals, it is presented as a long-term solution for decarbonization and grid stability.

The author contends that California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) has been compromised by corporate interests, leading to a proposal that would spend up to $27 billion on polluting biofuels from 2025 to 2035. The text calls for the program to be updated to prioritize zero-emissions transportation over combustion fuels, citing warnings from scientists at Stanford and UC Davis regarding greenhouse gas emission claims and market instability.

The Private Equity Stakeholder Project (PESP) testifies that private equity firms use extractive financial tactics—such as high leverage, sale-leasebacks, and debt-funded dividends—to maximize returns, often resulting in the bankruptcy or closure of hospitals. The document highlights specific cases including Prospect Medical Holdings, Steward Health Care, and Apollo Global Management's Lifepoint/ScionHealth, noting severe impacts on patient safety and staffing. PESP proposes state-level policy solutions including stricter merger reviews, financial transparency, anti-looting measures, and joint and several liability for investors.

The report argues that next-generation geothermal technologies, specifically Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) and closed-loop systems, can expand U.S. geothermal resource potential from 40 GW to over 5,000 GW by engineering reservoirs in ubiquitous hot rock. It outlines a two-phase pathway: reaching 'liftoff' by 2030 through 2-5 GW of deployment across 5-10 geologic settings, followed by scaling to 90-132 GW by 2050. Key barriers identified include high up-front capital costs, long federal permitting timelines (7-10 years), and the need for power purchase agreements (PPAs) that value clean firm and flexible power. The report highlights that the industry can leverage the existing oil and gas workforce and supply chain to accelerate deployment.

The report analyzes transmission development between 2010 and 2020, finding that while projects requiring an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) represent only 3.5% of new lines, they account for 26% of new line miles. These projects are typically longer, more likely to be driven by renewable generation interconnection, and more likely to cross state or international borders. The average EIS review timeline is 4.3 years, with a moderate correlation between line length and review duration. The authors argue that these long and unpredictable timelines pose a challenge to future grid reliability and decarbonization goals, especially as federal funding and authority increase the likelihood of projects triggering federal reviews.

The document outlines strategies for reducing methane emissions from US municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills, emphasizing the transition from traditional manual surface emissions monitoring (SEM) to advanced technologies like satellites, aircraft, drones, and fixed sensors. It provides a six-step framework for monitoring-informed mitigation: selecting a system, deploying it, pinpointing sources, identifying root causes, deploying mitigation measures, and verifying reductions. The guide highlights that while organic waste diversion is critical for future emissions, improving waste-in-place controls offers immediate climate benefits.

To meet its 2045 clean energy goals, California must roughly triple its energy capacity, but faces significant barriers in grid infrastructure, interconnection processes, and land use. The document proposes solutions such as grid-enhancing technologies, interconnection reforms with equity considerations, and incentivizing clean energy on built environments or disturbed lands.

In 2022, the United States had over 4.2 million climate jobs, with clean energy job creation outpacing overall job growth. Energy efficiency was the largest sector with 2.2 million jobs, followed by public transportation (821,220) and electricity transmission and distribution (over 703,000). Significant growth was observed in clean vehicles, which grew by 14.7%, and grid modernization, which saw an 11.6% increase in electricity transmission and distribution. Federal laws like the Inflation Reduction Act are expected to create over 303,500 annual construction jobs and 100,000 permanent jobs. Adaptation and resilience jobs are emerging across all 50 states, though exact total figures are unavailable.

Climate Central analyzed 2,041 U.S. monitoring stations from 1970 to 2023, finding that 64% of locations experienced a decrease in annual snowfall. The report highlights regional disparities, noting that while the western U.S. faces shrinking snowpack and increased snow drought, the Great Lakes region sees a trend toward more lake effect snow due to reduced ice cover, though the overall snow season is projected to shorten. These shifts threaten water security in the West, the winter recreation industry in the Northeast, and aquatic ecosystems in the Northern Great Plains.