Alejandro Lazo

California wants to drain road repair funds to subsidize green jet fuel that critics say costs 10x more than effective climate solutions.

The Trump administration ordered the restart of a Santa Barbara oil pipeline shut since the 2015 Refugio spill, invoking emergency powers under the Defense Production Act. But California officials say the move defies court orders and state oversight.

California built a first-in-the-nation system to police refinery profits during price spikes. Regulators delayed it for five years.Gasoline has surged to record highs as global oil markets spike amid the Iran war.The spike exposes a deeper problem: fewer refineries and limited California fuel supply.

The Environmental Protection Agency rescinded the legal foundation for U.S. climate policy. California is preparing to sue — and may try to write its own rules.

New budget language lays out how Gov. Gavin Newsom plans to structure a $200 million electric vehicle rebate program, including price caps, automaker matching funds and a focus on first-time buyers.

A new report estimates that California’s data centers are driving increases in electricity use, water demand and pollution even as lawmakers stall on oversight.

California state officials are in Brazil for the annual United Nations climate conference. The visit highlights California’s role as a climate leader and supports its environmental policies, especially since the U.S. has no official federal delegation. However, some critics question whether the trip is worthwhile because California lacks the power to make international agreements.

Legal experts, including a former federal official and UCLA professor, say California could go it alone if the federal government stops regulating greenhouse gases. One reason to try is to protect the state’s clean-car economy.

Social Security and Medicare benefits will keep flowing in a government shutdown, but federal employees will be working without pay and delays likely will occur across many services.

California lawmakers passed a six-bill climate and energy package extending cap and trade to 2045, expanding the state’s wildfire fund, approving new oil drilling, and opening the door to a regional power market.

After weeks of tense and messy negotiations, California’s legislative leaders finally released several proposals that range from expanding domestic crude oil production to lowering electricity rates. But the biggest barrier was the reauthorization of the state’s cap and trade program.

California spent decades building one of the greenest power grids on Earth. It ditched coal, cut fossil fuels, and built so much solar it now runs the world’s second-largest battery fleet to keep clean power flowing after dark.Now lawmakers are poised to tie that grid to coal-burning states.