Sacramento Citizens' Climate Lobby
OUR MISSION
Citizens’ Climate Lobby is a non-profit, nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy organization focused on national policies to address climate change.
The Sacramento Chapter is one of 600+ active chapters around the world.
What we do:
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We lobby in support of bipartisan national legislation by building helpful, friendly relationships with our federally elected representatives, with respect, appreciation and gratitude for their service.
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We write letters to the editor and op-eds, and meet with editorial boards to gain their editorial endorsement. Additionally, we work with digital media, radio, TV and all forms of social media.
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We give presentations and do outreach at community events to promote CCL and introduce others to important current legislation related to climate change.
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We support our volunteer chapters with monthly conference calls, and we support the leaders of those chapters with weekly conference calls.
HOT NEWS
Electric Vehicles and tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)
This article was written by CCL member Mark Heckey and published in Comstock's Magazine (Business Insight for California's Capitol Region) in December. Cynthia Shallit, also a member of CCL and SacEV, assisted in the information gathering.
Read the article here and please comment on it!
Going Electric Gets More Complicated, the Inflation Reduction Act Transforms the EV Tax Credit Incentive
https://www.comstocksmag.com/web-only/going-electric-gets-more-complicated
Thank you Mark for helping more people understand the how the IRA will affect the purchase of an EV in 2023.
Revitalizing the Need for Clean Energy Permitting Reform
In a sizzling summer where climate change has affected millions of lives in the US alone, it is more important than ever for humanity to adapt by building clean energy infrastructure. Solar panels, wind turbines, and other renewable technologies are integral in mitigating further environmental impacts from excessive CO2 emissions. However, implementation faces two hurdles: long permitting processes and the slow building of power lines.
It takes an insanely long time to gain approval for the construction of clean energy infrastructure. The issuing of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) takes an average of 4.5 years. This is in addition to gaining the necessary approvals from numerous other agencies, both local and government alike. Even California needs to expand the rate of building power lines to adequately support clean energy infrastructure. According to the California Energy Commission, for California to go 100% clean energy by 2045, “California will need to roughly triple its current electricity grid capacity.” We are not nearly doing enough to meet our climate goals—we must take action to address these two obstacles.
One way to do so would be to pass a bipartisan deal that speeds up the approval of clean energy projects and the building of new power lines to support those projects. Currently, the Debt Ceiling Legislation passed on June 1st of 2023 will hasten the permitting process by creating a single agency tasked with monitoring the progress of such projects and limiting the environmental review process to 1-2 years. This is a great improvement, however, this law doesn’t address the issue regarding the building of power lines needed to support clean energy infrastructure projects. There needs to be more focused permitting reform legislation passed to address these issues.
Currently, many environmental organizations such as CCL are taking the initiative in educating and advocating for bipartisan permitting reform legislation which would address the above issues. Doing so would greatly help California meet its climate goals and prove to be a successful example to the rest of the world. We must take action soon.
Writing to your legislators, voting, engaging in community outreach, and educating the public are great ways to get significant permitting reform legislation passed. We must stand together for this cause, for the betterment of the environment, our futures, and the futures of our loved ones. We are a much more powerful force if we unite as one to create change.
MORE HOT NEWS
Our Current Goals
In 2023, our chapter is focused on inspiring, informing, and motivating the community to take action for the environment. We are passionate about informing the community about the IRA (Inflation Reduction Act of 2022), a landmark legislation that spearheads our transition to emissions-reducing energy alternatives. With its money-saving, environmentally-friendly initiatives, it allows us to mitigate environmental impacts and prepare for a world in which climate change is a snowballing reality. Some things included under this provision include tax rebates and tax credits for some of the most common house appliances, like clothes dryers, water heaters, and more! Join us today to learn more!
Take a look at our Go Electric! page to for additional details:
National Climate Legislation Passed!
The 117th Congress passed legislation containing $584 billion dollars for the climate . This comes from three pieces of legislation: the CHIPS and Infrastructure Acts plus the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Together they dedicate more than half a trillion dollars over the next decade for fighting climate change.
We have waited a long time for strong climate bills and endured several false starts that ended in failure. The bills are not perfect, but there is much that will encourage reduction of greenhouse gases.
The IRA includes– a fee on methane – which sets a precedent for pricing greenhouse gas emissions. It provides a range of incentives to consumers to relieve the high costs of energy and decrease utility bills and includes a number of clean energy tax credits. It is the most significant investment in climate action the US has ever taken.
Taken together, the bills get the US to a 40% reduction of emissions by 2030 compared to our emission levels in 2005. President Biden’s goal is to achieve a 50% reduction in that time frame, so there is still work to do locally and nationally. Join us, and let’s make it happen.
What We Believe
Politicians don't create political will, they respond to it.
Citizens, organized by Congressional district, who are well trained and have a good system of support, can more than influence the political process.
In respect for all viewpoints, even for those who would oppose us.
Based on what both climate scientists and economists tell us, we believe that putting a price on carbon and returning the fees to households is the best first step to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to mitigate the impacts of a changing climate.
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
To learn more, join an introductory call any Wednesday at 5 pm.
Or listen to a recording of the call.
Learn about our work from this short film