By Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr., Premier Christy Clark,
Governor Jay Inslee and Governor John Kitzhaber

December 11, 2014

The United Nations Climate Change Conference in Lima, Peru wrapped after 12 days of negotiations on global carbon emissions.

Yet, even as we work through the complexities of an international agreement, it would be a mistake to miss the extensive change that's already taking place here on North America's Pacific Coast. Last year, our four governments - the states of California, Oregon and Washington and the Province of British Columbia - reached a landmark agreement to align climate and energy strategies for 54 million Americans and Canadians. 
 

The Pacific Coast represents the world's fifth-largest economy, with a GDP of $2.8 trillion. By working together we are transforming our economies and influencing world markets for the better. Our regional model shows that it is possible to take serious action on climate change and simultaneously expand an economy with well-paying jobs. And we believe it can be a blueprint for other regions to take action.

To read the full op-ed, click here.

A coalition of businesses, organizations, public officials and other community leaders, similar to the group that formed to defeat Proposition 23 in 2010 which would have killed the state's clean energy and climate law (AB 32), has launched a new effort known as California Delivers. This collection of diverse voices - including the California Business Alliance for a Clean Economy - is calling on state lawmakers and the governor to prioritize protecting California's clean energy law (AB 32) from ongoing attacks and extending the benefits beyond 2020.

"California's growing clean energy economy is critical to creating jobs, improving public health, and making our communities safer and more livable, and protecting consumers," said State Senator Fran Pavley and AB 32 joint author. "Of course, we always envisioned that the law would continue until the job was done. We need to be committed to extending the many benefits of AB 32 benefits well beyond 2020."

To learn more, click here.

The VerdeXchange gives attendees the opportunity to join over 600 delegates, from throughout California and around the world, to assess "what's in-market," "what's about to be in-market," and "what's needed" in the global, trillion-dollar verde economy. Speakers include global, national, and regional clean tech leaders, green-build designs and developers, and producers of solar, wind, energy efficiency, infrastructure engineering, alternative-fuel vehicles, project financiers, water, connected-home entrepreneurs and environmental stewards.

To learn more and register, click here.

Pick My Solar, a new member of the Alliance based in Los Angeles, is committed to bringing solar technology to as many homes as possible while promoting fairness and transparency in this sometimes complicated market.

To learn more, click here.