Building Healthy Communities from the Ground up

Campaign Updates

OUT NOW: CEJA's 2023 Environmental Justice Legislative Scorecard

OUT NOW: CEJA’s 2023 Environmental Justice Legislative Scorecard

Defensive Wins, a Disastrous Budget, and a Need for Community-Centered Environmental Justice Solutions

2023 was, in many ways, a disappointing year for environmental justice communities across California. Bold bills like SB 556 (Gonzalez) – which aimed to shift the burden of proof to polluters, holding fossil fuel companies legally accountable for health issues like cancer or high-risk pregnancy suffered by Read More

Environmental Justice Groups Across the Country Issue Letter to the Department of the Treasury on Hydrogen Funding

On October 13, 2023, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced $1.2 billion in funding for hydrogen infrastructure development in California, as part of $7 billion in hydrogen hub funding available nationwide.  In response, CEJA submitted a letter to the DOE vehemently opposing California’s approach to obtaining this funding.  California’s application process entirely cut out input from low-income communities of color Read More

A Letter from CEJA to the Department of Energy RE: Hydrogen Funding for ARCHES

October 13, 2023 To: David Crane Suzanne Baker Angelique Besnard Catherine Clark David Crane   Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations U.S. Department of Energy  1000 Independence Ave SW  Washington, D.C. 20585  The undersigned groups regretfully write to express our strong opposition to the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) funding the first phase of California’s hydrogen Read More

Environmental Justice Equity Principles for Green Hydrogen in California

We represent heavily polluted communities throughout the State of California. Our communities border oil refineries, gas-fired power plants, industrial farming operations, fossil fuel extraction facilities, waste processing centers, ports, transportation corridors and other polluting operations. These cumulative sources of pollution cause a wide range of adverse health outcomes in working class communities of color. Our communities share a common fence Read More

Organizations Across CA Urge the Closure of 3 Toxic Gas Plants

On Wednesday, August 9, the California Energy Commission (CEC) is scheduled to vote on whether to keep three toxic gas plants – Ormond Beach, Huntington, and AES Alamitos – operational for another three years. It will cost over a billion dollars to keep these dangerous once-through-cooling gas plants active. A recent study commissioned by Regenerate California, of which CEJA is… Read More

The Regenerate California Coalition Examines California’s Underperforming Gas Plants

New analysis of California’s 2022 heat wave confirms gas plants failed to deliver promised power while toxic emissions soared in environmental justice communities.

Results call into question Gov. Newsom’s strategy to prolong the life of gas plants to prevent energy shortfalls.

Download the 2023 Heatwave Report here

California gas plants underperformed and over polluted in the record breaking heat wave Read More
CEJA Responds to the California May Budget Revision

CEJA Responds to the California May Budget Revision

Governor Gavin Newsom released his May Budget Revision and, unfortunately, we didn’t receive the necessary environmental justice allocations CEJA wanted to see.   Members of our diverse, grassroots environmental justice coalition came together to respond to the California Budget Revision. We hope the governor’s office listens to the concerns of our community members, and seriously considers our suggestions for the future. Read More
The front face of the California State Capitol Building

How to Ensure Environmental Justice is Served in CA’s May Budget Revise

As CEJA eagerly awaits the Governor’s May Revise announcement this Friday, May 12, we want to share our assessment of what a just and equitable budget must include. If Governor Newsom wants to stand with impacted communities, his proposal must preserve and fund critical environmental justice budget priorities and protections.  

What CEJA Wants in the California Budget Revise

CPUC Community

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How to Save Money While Energy Costs Spike

How to Save Money While Energy Costs Spike

The soaring cost of energy has been impossible to ignore this past winter. We’ve seen energy bills reaching $300, $500, and even $900 all over news headlines, social media, and of course, in the mailboxes of families who are already experiencing financial stress from rising inflation and housing costs.  The price of natural gas, the fossil fuel that powers heaters Read More
OUT NOW: 2022 Legislative Scorecard

OUT NOW: 2022 Legislative Scorecard

Big Progress, Serious Concerns

Ten years after CEJA released our first environmental justice scorecard, we have seen incredible progress in lawmakers’ awareness of environmental and climate justice issues. In 2022, grassroots organizing and advocacy propelled four of our priority bills onto the governor’s desk, and three were signed into law.  But major challenges continued. As the embattled oil and gas Read More