Mid-year updates from Clean Energy Works

Dead Heat: The Danger Of Home Power Shutoffs

As summer heat intensifies, utility disconnections pose growing risks — yet, few states require the same shutoff protections in summer as they do in winter. Clean Energy Works’ Co-Executive Director, Tamara Jones, joined Climate One’s Dead Heat podcast to discuss the urgent need for policies that protect vulnerable households from power shutoffs when they would be most dangerous and reduce energy insecurity through energy efficiency improvements. (Climate One)

How Electric School Buses Can Help Californians Save Money, Cut Pollution, and Keep the Lights On

Right now, 98% of school buses across the country run on fossil fuels. California, however, leads the nation in electric school bus adoption, with more than 3,100 electric buses. In this webinar, our Director of Transportation, Margarita Parra, joins  industry experts, state regulators, and researchers to explore policies that maximize the benefits of scaling up electric school bus use across the state, especially in low-income communities. (The Climate Center)

California, Massachusetts, and Illinois Engage on Inclusive Utility Investments

• California Clean Energy Financing Proceeding: Utility commission calls for comments on a joint utility pilot proposal. The California Clean Energy Financing Options proceeding (R. 20-08-022) centers a critical question: what financial instruments could utilities offer to assure distributed energy upgrades are affordable, accessible, and acceptable to more California households? As part of this endeavor, stakeholders recently weighed in on a joint utility pilot proposal for inclusive utility investments, as directed by the commission after it had evaluated all options identified by all stakeholders contributing to the docket. The proposal aims to expand access to home energy upgrades without relying on personal debt to overcome the upfront cost as well as the split incentives faced by renters — both major barriers identified by California Energy Commission a decade earlier. (California PUC)

• Energy affordability legislation sets the stage for Massachusetts to deliver meaningful ratepayer savings. In May 2025, Governor Healey introduced an energy affordability bill (H.4144) that includes a key provision on inclusive utility investment (Section 52). The bill would require electric distribution companies to develop program proposals and seek approval from the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) for a tariff that would expand access to money-saving energy efficiency and clean energy upgrades. (MA Legislature)

• Illinois nears completion of a three-year workshop process for the Equitable Energy Upgrade Program. With sustained stakeholder engagement, Illinois has developed guidelines for inclusive utility investments to implement the 2021 Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, which directs large investor-owned electric utilities to establish an Equitable Energy Upgrade Program. Throughout this period, the Illinois Commerce Commission has facilitated workshops to shape program design, with input from the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition and other stakeholders on issues such as time-of-use rates and bill payment assistance, participant bill savings assurances, and consistency with existing program best practices. (Illinois Commerce Commission)

New posts from Clean Energy Works

Reflecting on our 2025 Fellowship Retreat

At the first in-person gathering of our inaugural cohort of Inclusive Utility Investment Fellows, the participants centered equity in the clean energy transition, featuring powerful sessions on utility advocacy, local energy equity, and personal storytelling. (Clean Energy Works)

Exploring Equity Frameworks for Inclusive Utility Investments

Fellows took a deeper dive into what it takes to build a just energy transition in their own communities, with focused learning on inclusive utility investments and peer-driven exploration of community-rooted solutions. (Clean Energy Works)

Insights from California Demand Flexibility Summit

Our Senior Associate of Transportation Decarbonization, Lidiya Kassahun, joined national stakeholders at the 2025 California Demand Flexibility Summit to explore how the state can reach 7,000 MW of demand flexibility by 2030. Our blog shares key insights on California’s approach, the technologies driving it, and best practices for program design and implementation. (Clean Energy Works)

Are you attending the FORTH Roadmap Conference?

Clean Energy Works is proud to support the 2025 Forth Roadmap Conference as a Community Partner! Join us October 14-16, 2025 in Detroit, MI, at the nation’s leading electric transportation conference to connect with industry leaders, explore emerging trends, and shape the future of mobility.

Use CEW75 for $75 off full price conference tickets. Find out more and register with our link . We hope to see you there!