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This briefing by RMI argues that integrating urban nature—such as forests, street trees, and bodies of water—into city planning reduces greenhouse gas emissions, lowers energy costs, and improves equity. The document highlights that the global value of urban nature's benefits is nine times the costs, and it calls for a significant increase in annual investment to reach a potential $2 trillion in annual net benefits by 2030.

This fact sheet details a USD 272.6 million green bond issued by the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) on December 19, 2019, to finance the expansion of its headquarters in Sacramento, California.

This report summarizes a 2020 workshop on the barriers to electric vehicle (EV) charging access in California's multi-unit dwellings (MUDs). It identifies key obstacles such as outdated electrical infrastructure, split incentives between landlords and tenants, and restrictive parking zoning. Proposed solutions include 'make-ready' utility investments, updated building codes, and the adoption of lower-cost Level 1 charging to ensure equitable access for low- and moderate-income residents.

This fact sheet from the Climate Bonds Initiative details a USD 400 million green bond issued by the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) on May 7, 2020, with a maturity date of August 15, 2050.

The Carbon-Free Regions Handbook: Electricity provides a framework for transitioning regional electricity systems to renewable or zero-emission energy. It outlines five primary actions: implementing ambitious Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS), phasing out coal-fired generation through retirement and moratoriums, modernizing rate designs to include dynamic pricing, integrating distributed energy resources (DERs) into grid planning, and expanding community solar projects to increase accessibility.

Friends of the Earth opposes a draft 5-year oil and gas leasing plan by the Trump administration that would expand offshore drilling off the coast of California. The organization highlights the risks of environmental disaster and supports state-level legislation in California to block the necessary fossil fuel infrastructure for new leases.

This report by Energy Innovation outlines a three-step framework for improving the performance of publicly-owned utilities (POUs), including municipal utilities, public utility districts, and cooperatives. It emphasizes the use of performance-management practices, governance reforms, and financial restructuring to align utility operations with customer values and public policy priorities.

This report analyzes how smart land use policy can help California achieve its 2030 goal of reducing carbon emissions to at least 40% below 1990 levels. Using the RapidFire model and data from the E3 California Pathways study, the authors demonstrate that compact, transit-oriented development can close the emissions gap left by technological advances alone, while providing significant economic, public health, and environmental co-benefits.

This research paper integrates basin-scale models to analyze the impact of climate variability on water and electricity demand and supply in Sacramento, California, specifically examining the nexus between these resources across residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural sectors.

This report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) provides an overview of model standards and policy design criteria for permitting, inspection, interconnection, and net metering of distributed photovoltaic (PV) systems. It aims to help local governments and utilities reduce non-hardware balance of system costs—which can account for up to 40% of installed system costs—by adopting streamlined, standardized processes. The document highlights specific model frameworks such as the Solar ABCs Expedited Permit Process and IREC Model Interconnection Procedures, while detailing the existing solar-friendly policy landscape in Colorado.

This 2006 fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) outlines the principles of whole building design and climate-responsive architecture to reduce energy consumption in homes and offices. It details specific design features—such as building placement, shell insulation, cool roofs, and efficient lighting—that lower utility costs and greenhouse gas emissions, while noting the challenges of retrofitting existing buildings and the financial barriers faced by low-income residents.

This 2006 fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) outlines technologies and strategies to improve energy efficiency in the United States industrial and manufacturing sectors, highlighting specific gains in energy-intensive industries and the financial mechanisms available to offset capital costs.

This briefing presents preliminary results from the California Energy Policy Simulator (EPS) regarding a scenario where California reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 55 percent below 1990 levels by 2030. The analysis indicates that while such a target would require an energy and industrial transition of "unprecedented speed and scope," it is achievable without new technologies and would result in significant economic gains, job growth, and public health improvements.

The report 'HOW NOT TO PARACHUTE MORE CATS' by Hunter and Amory Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute argues that global resource crises—including energy, water, and climate change—can be solved by understanding interconnections and prioritizing resource efficiency over the expansion of supply. The authors advocate for a 'least-cost' approach, demonstrating that energy efficiency and renewable technologies are often cheaper and more effective than fossil fuels or nuclear power. They suggest that these technical solutions can simultaneously improve economic health, reduce nuclear proliferation, and enhance global security by reducing dependence on volatile resources like Mideast oil.

This report chapter argues that while market economies are powerful tools for resource allocation, they are frequently dysfunctional due to theoretical misconceptions, capital misallocation, and organizational or regulatory failures. It proposes 'natural capitalism' as a framework to extend market principles to all forms of material value, including natural capital, by identifying and turning market imperfections into business opportunities for resource efficiency.