This issue brief is a supplement to our November 2023 report series, Funding a Clean and Equitable Energy Transition: Lessons from California.
As the pace of climate change accelerates, the need for a clean energy transition is becoming increasingly urgent. At the household level, this means eliminating fossil fuel use by electrifying our gas stoves, water heaters, furnaces, and cars, as well as investing in energy efficiency to keep our electricity demand — and electric bills — in check, notwithstanding our greater reliance on electric appliances. At the community level, we need to invest in more public transit, bike lanes, car-sharing, and, ultimately, more sustainable land use and building patterns.
Under-resourced households and communities cannot finance this transition on their own. State and federal funding programs, non-profits, green banks, and private philanthropy will all play a key role in bringing a clean transition to all. Here, we focus on government funding programs. Who decides when and how funds will be allocated — and to whom? And what role can advocates and community members play in these fundamental decisions? Focusing on California as an example, this issue brief outlines who controls funding programs and identifies opportunities to shape their direction.
Read the issue brief.
Read the related blog post.
