VX News is the editorial voice of the annual VerdeXchange Conference, featuring in-depth interviews with industry leaders and policymakers driving innovation in clean energy, water, transportation, and climate policy.
California Lawmakers Urge CARB to Reconsider Cap-and-Invest Amendments
As part of our conference conversations, VX News shares a letter dated April 27, 2026, from California lawmakers urging the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to reconsider proposed amendments to the Cap-and-Invest program. The letter warns the changes could weaken emissions targets, inject new allowances into the market, and undermine both price signals and long-term climate investment—raising broader concerns about affordability, accountability, and the pace of the energy transition.
The Extended Day-Ahead Market Goes Live: EDF’s Michael Colvin
Building on past VX coverage of Western grid integration and governance reform, including the Pathways Initiative and California’s legislative efforts to enable a regional market, we reconnected with Michael Colvin, Director of the California Energy Program at Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), to assess where things stand today and what comes next. In conversation, Colvin outlines the launch of the Extended Day-Ahead Market for Western Energy, the role of independent governance in enabling multi-state participation, and the broader infrastructure challenges shaping the energy transition.
California’s Energy Future: A Conversation with Chair David Hochschild
As California confronts rising demand, wildfire-driven costs, and federal policy uncertainty, VX News spoke with California Energy Commission Chair David Hochschild on the state’s entry into a new phase of energy deployment—defined by speed, scale, and resilience.
Little Hoover Commission’s Virtual Hearing: Senator Josh Becker on Data Centers, Energy Grid Costs, and Who Pays?
Testifying before California’s Little Hoover Commission at its recent hearing on data centers and electricity policy, Sen. Josh Becker framed the rapid growth of data centers as a pivotal moment for California’s energy system—one that could either accelerate the clean-energy transition or impose new costs on households and small businesses.
Sir Andrew Steer on Catalyzing Climate Finance — Net Zero Delivery Summit
At the Net Zero Delivery Summit, Sir Andrew Steer emphasized the new economics of climate change, arguing that it is no longer just an environmental issue but a growth opportunity for the 21st century. He stated that bold action can drive economic efficiency, new technologies, and lower risks. Steer also highlighted the critical role of the private sector and the need for transition finance to help industries decarbonize. He stressed the importance of balancing a sense of "fear and dread" with "hope and possibility" to motivate action, and urged for a shift away from disagreements and towards building broad public support for the transition.
VX Excerpt: Powering California’s Future (PPIC)
Gunda addresses California’s “mid-transition” status, flat loads, expected demand from electrification and data centers, and the added strain of upcoming refinery closures. Together, their insights underscored how the evolving dynamics of demand, supply, and infrastructure investment shape what California households and businesses ultimately pay.
From the White House to USC: Dr. Kelly Sanders on the Energy Transition
In this VX News interview, Dr. Kelly Sanders—former Assistant Director of Energy Systems Innovation at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and current Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Southern California (USC)—reflects on U.S. climate and energy policy.
LADWP’s New CEO & Chief Engineer Janisse Quiñones on Accelerating LA’s Clean Energy Transition
In this timely VXNews interview, LADWP’s new CEO & Chief Engineer Janisse Quiñones addresses LADWP’s critical role in Los Angeles’ transition to 100% clean energy by 2035 and highlights significant investments underway to increase capacity of transmission infrastructure to ensure reliability.
