Track Descriptions: California’s Energy Future California is facing dual crises: intense, climate-fueled disasters along with sky-high electricity prices. This breakout track will explore how California policymakers can develop a more affordable, resilient, and equitable electricity system built on distributed, clean energy resources. Discussion will focus on policy options to enhance affordability and related technical solutions, including bidirectional electric vehicles, microgrids, and virtual power plants. Phasing Out Polluting Fuels California is a climate leader in many respects, yet remains a major oil and gas producer. Policy leaders must develop a coordinated plan to phase out fossil fuel extraction, refining, and use. In this breakout track, we will focus on the pending closure of the Los Angeles Phillips 66 refinery as a real-world test case for the transition to clean energy. We’ll also discuss the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund bills making their way through the legislature and the Transportation Fuels Transition Plan currently being drafted by the California Air Resources Board and stakeholders. Carbon Drawdown With climate impacts continuing to worsen as climate pollution increases, the call for carbon removal grows louder. With the carbon removal industry growing and new policies emerging globally, California must develop a portfolio of approaches that maximize the benefits of each carbon removal strategy. Policymakers must also create safeguards to protect communities and ensure carbon removal does not slow down real emissions reductions. This breakout track will explore the role of biomass and nature-based solutions in the world of carbon removal, including how these solutions foster resilience to the climate crisis. Critical Policy Trends for 2025 As California faces ever-worsening climate impacts and pollution in frontline communities — and a pro-oil, anti-climate presidential administration — state leaders must deepen their commitment to helping ecosystems and communities thrive. This breakout track will explore trends and reforms in the legislature this session, including the state’s Cap and Trade program and new efforts to support advanced geothermal energy.