Dear John,
As Climate Week NYC approaches, I’m excited to share some important clean energy victories from across the country that your support made possible. Let’s start with a big one from California.
California secured one of the most important climate victories in years—a strong, 20-year extension of the state’s Cap-and-Invest program. Make no mistake: this win was far from guaranteed.
For months, the future of California’s climate leadership hung in the balance. As deadlines neared, lawmakers were divided and had no formal proposal to work from, the oil industry
began to walk back its support and many feared ongoing uncertainty in the market would severely undermine future investment in the most cost-effective emissions reduction opportunities we have. | | But Ceres stayed focused on what we know works: making the business case.
While others
focused on revenue fights and technical reforms, we elevated the bigger case for stability, investment in our clean economy, and reducing climate risk across the state. We rallied companies across industries—including IKEA, Netflix, REI and gas giants Shell and Phillips 66—as an alternative business voice from the Chamber of Commerce and others. The business voice—representing more than 1,000 companies—reached the Governor’s office and state policymakers. When it came down to an 11th hour vote, Ceres and our partners stepped up to urge members to vote yes.
And it worked! Lawmakers approved a very strong cap and invest extension through 2045 that, for the first time, explicitly ties to the state’s climate goals and aims to address energy affordability. Earlier today, the Governor signed the bill making it official. |
| | | | On the left, Governor Newsom signs a transformative package on clean, reliable, and affordable energy. On the right,
I am standing with Governor Newsom as celebration is in the air for this historic moment among the broad coalitions behind passage, including Ceres. | | |
| Now the hard work of implementation begins. Ceres will be there to ensure the program delivers on its promise to cut pollution and tackle energy affordability challenges so we can build a cleaner, more resilient economy. We need you by our side—will you make a gift today that helps support this work? |
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California isn’t the only success story this month.
In Minnesota, Ceres convened business leaders, labor unions, lawmakers, and regulators to explore a promising solution to our energy challenges: virtual power plants. This emerging innovation uses existing technologies like solar panels, battery storage, and smart thermostats to boost grid capacity and reliability while also keeping costs down for consumers. Our state policy team is already working with businesses in Minnesota to
support legislation to help the state leverage virtual power plants to affordably reach 100% clean energy by 2040. | | | | | Ceres staff convened business leaders, labor unions, lawmakers, and regulators in Minnesota to explore virtual power plants as a promising solution to our energy challenges. | | And earlier this week, Washington state joined a multi-state
agreement with nearly a dozen other states designed to help increase energy-efficient, zero-emission home heating equipment like heat pumps amid rising energy costs and growing efforts to secure energy affordability, improve indoor air quality, and strengthen local economies. Ceres is ensuring businesses play a critical role in making this goal a reality.
Victories like this don’t happen without you. Your support allows Ceres to be at the table in these high-stakes moments, reaching companies, engaging with decision-makers, and making sure the case for climate action is impossible to ignore. | | | | | | | | 
Kelly Trombley
Senior Director, State Policy
[email protected] | | |
Ceres is a nonprofit advocacy organization working to accelerate the transition to a cleaner, more just, and resilient world.    
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| | | | | Ceres is proud to receive these accolades as a reflection of our effectiveness, integrity and impact.
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