Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Matt Vespa @missionvespa.bsky.social · 21h

💯. @governor.ca.gov - be the Governor that stood up to for-profit utilities and sign #AB1167 to make California the 7th state to protect customers from footing the bill for their lobbying and promotional campaigns!

UCLA Emmett Institute @uclalawemmett.bsky.social · 22h

Gov. Newsom should sign AB 1167 to keep costs down for utility ratepayers by ensuring they are not forced to subsidize utilities’ political lobbying and PR, our @denisegrab.bsky.social writes at @legal-planet.org.

legal-planet.org/2025/10/08/s...

Signing AB 1167 Would be a Win for Energy Affordability - Legal Planet

AB 1167, which seeks to protect ratepayers from subsidizing utility lobbying, still awaits Governor Newsom’s signature.

legal-planet.org

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Matt Vespa @missionvespa.bsky.social · 1d

Next up, let's sign #AB1167 to protect Californians from footing the bill for monopoly utilities' lobbying engines!

✅ builds guardrails and defines activities utilities must pay for
✅ increases transparency to spot abuses of customer funds
✅ establishes consequences for utilities that break the law

Governor Gavin Newsom @governor.ca.gov · 2d

I just signed legislation to further protect consumers and put money back in your pocket, including:

✅ Making it easier to get food delivery app refunds
✅ Banning car retailers from tacking on add-on services
✅ Strengthening our Financial Protection Department after Trump's gutting of the CFPB

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Matt Vespa @missionvespa.bsky.social · 2d

Still awaiting signature - commonsense legislation supported by over 90% of CA voters that will make sure utilities don't pass the costs of their lobbying and image polishing into energy bills.

@gavinnewsom.bsky.social: let’s save people money and sign #AB1167!

earthjustice.org/experts/matt...

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Reposted by Matt Vespa

Leah Stokes @leahstokes.bsky.social · 2d

Governor Newsom has a bill on his desk to hold utilities accountable, and get them to stop passing along their dark money campaigns to everyday Californians.

Is he going to side with utilities, or side with the public and help lower electricity rates?
energyandpolicy.org/california-l...

California passes bill curbing utilities use of ratepayer money for political spending

State lawmakers last week made California the seventh state to pass a bill limiting investor-owned utilities from using customer money to pay for political and lobbying costs.

energyandpolicy.org

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Matt Vespa @missionvespa.bsky.social · 8d

It takes a LOT to get a bill all the way through the CA legislature. Help us seal the deal by asking @cagovernornewsom.bsky.social to sign AB 1167 (protecting Californians from paying utility political & promotional costs in their energy bills) and AB 1280 (supporting industrial electrification)!

Right To Zero @righttozero.bsky.social · 9d

TAKE ACTION and tell @governor.ca.gov to sign these commonsense bills into law
earthjustice.org/action/tell-...

Tell Newsom to sign these commonsense bills into law

earthjustice.org

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Reposted by Matt Vespa

David Pomerantz @davidpomerantz.bsky.social · 12d

Gov. Newsom has made lowering utility bills a top priority. One thing that he can do that would help both immediately and over time: sign AB 1167, now sitting on his desk, which protects Californians from having to pay for utilities' lobbying and advertising! energyandpolicy.org/california-l...

California passes bill curbing utilities use of ratepayer money for political spending

State lawmakers last week made California the seventh state to pass a bill limiting investor-owned utilities from using customer money to pay for political and lobbying costs.

energyandpolicy.org

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Matt Vespa @missionvespa.bsky.social · 12d

Its happening! California cities including Menlo Park, Sunnyvale, Palo Alto, and Mountain View have adopted smart new policies to encourage heat pump upgrades when air conditioners break. The goal? Lower bills, cleaner air, and reduced climate pollution. ⚡🔌

www.sierraclub.org/press-releas...

California Cities Embrace Novel Strategy to Cut Energy Bills and Climate Pollution: Target Air Conditioner Replacements

Heat pumps provide highly-efficient cooling and heating in a single unit, meaning households that upgrade can often get rid of their polluting gas furnace entirely and cut a key source of climate and ...

www.sierraclub.org

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Reposted by Matt Vespa

Josh Lappen @jlappen1.bsky.social · 13d

It's crucial to question the clean energy industry's self-defeating, destructive strategy in dealing with the Trump Administration. Adopting the energy-dominance framing doesn't work - but does make it easier for fossil actors to blame decarb for energy cost rises. More:

bsky.app/profile/jlap...

Sammy Roth @sammyroth.bsky.social · 13d

President Trump keeps promising "energy dominance." Renewable energy companies keep begging MAGA Republicans to let them help.

Thing is, "energy dominance" is a ridiculous lie. Everyone knows it. Wind and solar companies need to punch back.

My column: www.latimes.com/environment/...

Commentary: Trump's campaign against wind and solar is exposing his 'energy dominance' lies

Solar and wind companies need to start punching back.

www.latimes.com

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Matt Vespa @missionvespa.bsky.social · 20d

93% of CA voters agree that utilities should not charge customers for their lobbying, PR, and marketing campaigns. AB 1167 & SB 24 deliver commonsense guardrails to protect customers. @gavinnewsom.bsky.social these bills deserve your signature! energyandpolicy.org/california-l...

California passes bill curbing utilities use of ratepayer money for political spending

State lawmakers last week made California the seventh state to pass a bill limiting investor-owned utilities from using customer money to pay for political and lobbying costs.

energyandpolicy.org

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Matt Vespa @missionvespa.bsky.social · 29d

Let’s get it done #caleg. Time to stop for profit utilities from slipping their lobbying costs into Californians energy bills. YES on AB 1167/SB 24!

a23.asmdc.org/press-releas...

Berman and McNerney Announce Joint Effort to Protect CA Ratepayers from Utilities’ Abuses | Official Website - Assemblymember Marc Berman Representing the 23rd California Assembly District

SACRAMENTO, CA – California state Senator Jerry McNerney (D-Pleasanton) and Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park) announced a joint legislative package today to protect California ratepayers from ...

a23.asmdc.org

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Matt Vespa @missionvespa.bsky.social · Aug 20

Short Answer: No.

Good recs in here on what more CA should do to counter Trump's attacks on climate action.

calmatters.org/environment/...

California has a fallback plan for Trump’s clean car attacks. Does it go far enough?

After Gavin Newsom asked agencies to “double down” on policies to transition away from fossil fuels, experts say new recommendations may fall short.

calmatters.org

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Reposted by Matt Vespa

Candice Youngblood @candyoungblood.bsky.social · Aug 20

“These are dark times. But remember, California is being targeted because our leadership has made a difference.” @lasmogguy.bsky.social

#FutureIsElectric

Right To Zero @righttozero.bsky.social · Aug 19

New blog from @lasmogguy.bsky.social just dropped ⬇️ ⬇️

While Trump wreaks havoc, California and @airresources.bsky.social can resist the big chill on zero-emissions.
earthjustice.org/experts/adri...

California Can’t Afford to Blink in the Showdown over Zero-Emissions

While Trump wreaks havoc, California can resist the big chill on zero-emissions

earthjustice.org

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Reposted by Matt Vespa

Adrian Martinez @lasmogguy.bsky.social · Aug 18

Hey folks - started a substack. Subscribe (for free) if you want to read it.

open.substack.com/pub/lasmoggu...

Smog Chronicles

It's Getting Hot in Here, So Write on Substack

open.substack.com

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Matt Vespa @missionvespa.bsky.social · Aug 13

Replace an air conditioner, get a heater too…without the pollution.

My blog on how cities and counties in California can take climate action by adopting local A/C-to-heat-pump policies that cut emissions, clean our air, and keep homes comfortable year round.

earthjustice.org/experts/matt...

The Year-Round Comfort Upgrade that Will Keep Cities Leading on Climate

Why the big swap of air conditioners for heat pumps is a great idea.

earthjustice.org

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Reposted by Matt Vespa

Stand.earth @stand.earth · Aug 13

Well would you look at that? Despite fear-mongering from the fossil fuel industry, cities actually *can* build homes that are better for their health and the climate both quickly and affordably.

This Massachusetts town banned gas — and housing boomed anyway

Critics say stringent, pro-electrification building codes and restrictions on natural gas will impede housing developers. A Boston suburb is proving them…

www.canarymedia.com

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Matt Vespa @missionvespa.bsky.social · Aug 12

Forget about AI, where San Francisco is really innovating is heat pump deployment!
☑️ $50/mo bill credit for 2-3 years for replacing gas water heater with heat pump
☑️ free HPWHs for disadvantaged communities
☑️ expanding all-electric requirements to major remodels

www.cleanpowersf.org/waterheater

Water Heater Upgrade Program — CleanPowerSF

End your toxic relationship with that old gas water heater. Move on with an electric heat pump water heater.

www.cleanpowersf.org

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Matt Vespa @missionvespa.bsky.social · Aug 12

More of this plz ⚡☕

Right To Zero @righttozero.bsky.social · Aug 12

Yesterday, our team toured Bellwether Coffee in Berkeley to see firsthand how their innovative technology is transforming coffee roasting.

By replacing gas-powered equipment with all-electric roasters, Bellwether is slashing carbon emissions by up to 90% ☕

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Matt Vespa @missionvespa.bsky.social · Aug 10

California utilities are making record profits in large part due to investments needed for climate adaptation (wildfire) and mitigation (enabling electrification). Limiting profits of some climate crisis-fueled costs is common sense.

www.canarymedia.com/articles/uti...

California lawmakers have a radical idea for lowering electricity…

Two bills would replace $15 billion in utility power-grid investments with cheaper public financing — a new approach to cutting sky-high electricity rates.

www.canarymedia.com

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Matt Vespa @missionvespa.bsky.social · Aug 6

👇🏼 If you want your community to be designated a priority area for zonal electrification, this is a good time to let @californiapuc.bsky.social know!

UCLA Emmett Institute @uclalawemmett.bsky.social · Aug 6

Care about the transition away from building gas service? The California Public Utilities Commission is holding public forums on the Neighborhood Decarbonization Zones tomorrow (Thur) at 2 pm and 6 pm. www.cpuc.ca.gov/events-and-m...

Public Forum on Neighborhood Decarbonization Zones

www.cpuc.ca.gov

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Matt Vespa @missionvespa.bsky.social · Aug 5

The misguided halt to progress on state residential building codes passed by #CAleg should not deter local action to decarbonize existing buildings. Exceptions in AB 130 give many cities and counties the continued ability to adopt codes to help ensure central AC units are replaced with a heat pump.

California halts building code updates in a blow to electrification

Local jurisdictions may still be able to adopt ambitious codes that help homes ditch gas and promote heat pumps under exceptions in the new law, AB 130.

www.canarymedia.com

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Reposted by Matt Vespa

Josh Lappen @jlappen1.bsky.social · Jul 30

Not at all a coincidence that this type of clean-energy comms - which presents a positive case in forceful terms rather than trying to dance around the issue - is coming almost exclusively from non-US firms. The comparison tells us a lot about why the IRA failed. More below:

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David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · Jul 30

Motherfucking wind farms…

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Reposted by Matt Vespa

Nina Lakhani @ninalakhani.bsky.social · Jul 22

Our Palestinian colleagues are being deliberately starved to death… how much is enough for us to stand up in solidarity against a genocide and demand our governments stop

Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · Jul 21

A horrifying statement published today by the Editorial Committee of the Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency.

"Without immediate intervention, the last reporters in Gaza will die"

Translation from French to English by @cnorristrent.bsky.social:

Without immediate intervention, the last reporters in Gaza will die
July 21, 2025

AFP has been working with 1 writer, 3 photographers and 6 videographers, all freelance, in the Gaza Strip since its staff journalists left in 2024.

Along with a few others, they are now the only ones left to report what is happening in the Gaza Strip. The international press has been banned from entering the territory for nearly two years.

We refuse to watch them die.

One of them, Bashar, has been working with AFP since 2010, first as a fixer, then freelance photographer, and since 2024, as lead photographer. On July 19th he managed to post a message on Facebook: “I no longer have the strength to work for the media. My body is thin and I can’t work anymore.”

Bashar, 30, works & lives in the same conditions as all Gazans, moving from one refugee camp to another under Israeli bombings. For > a year he’s lived in utter destitution, working at extreme risk to his life. Hygiene is a major issue for him, with recurring bouts of severe intestinal illness.

Since Feb, Bashar’s been living in the ruins of his home in Gaza City with his mother, 4 brothers & sisters and the family of one of his brothers. Their house is devoid of any furnishings, except a few cushions. On Sunday morning, he reported that one of his brothers had “fallen, due to hunger.”

Even though these journalists receive a monthly salary from AFP, it’s no longer enough to buy food, or they have to pay completely exorbitant prices. The banking system has collapsed, and those who exchange money via online bank accounts charge a commission of up to 40%.

AFP no longer has the ability to provide them with a vehicle and there is not enough fuel to allow these journalists to travel for their reporting. Driving a car means becoming a target for Israeli airstrikes. AFP reporters therefore travel on foot or by donkey cart. (alt txt continued in next post)

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Matt Vespa @missionvespa.bsky.social · Jul 21

GOOD NEWS: Southern California's landmark rule to electrify industrial water heaters and boilers was upheld in federal court! Big win for 17 million Californians in the Los Angeles area breathing dirty air.

earthjustice.org/press/2025/c...

Court Upholds Landmark Rule to Electrify Water Heaters & Boilers

Southern California standard is nation’s first to electrify industrial boilers, cutting smog-forming pollution by a staggering 5.6 tons per day

earthjustice.org

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Matt Vespa @missionvespa.bsky.social · Jul 21

Also, stop by the Riverwood Inn in Phillipsville on your way up Avenue of the Giants! Newly 🏳️‍🌈 owned and their peaches & cream tahini pudding was 👨‍🍳💋
www.instagram.com/reel/DKuztRK....

Login • Instagram

Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.

www.instagram.com

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Matt Vespa @missionvespa.bsky.social · Jul 21

On top of being incredibly restorative, I can report that EV charging up through the redwoods is a LOT better than 4 years ago. More stations in better places and they all worked! And for whatever reason, fast charging went past 80%. 🚗🔌

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