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.
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.
Scientists Rebuke U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Climate Report as Flawed and Misleading
Following the release of a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) report that downplayed the risks of climate change, over 85 scientists quickly issued a 439-page rebuttal. The scientists' report and a separate fact-check by Carbon Brief both found the DOE report to be misleading and fundamentally incorrect, particularly its claims about drought and wildfires, which directly conflict with scientific evidence and real-world impacts in places like California.
Mark Gold Named CalCOFI’s New Director By Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Mark Gold has been named the new director of the California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) program. Gold's focus will be on strengthening the program's partnerships to overcome challenges like reduced federal funding. He plans to leverage CalCOFI's extensive data to address the impacts of climate change, offshore wind development, and coastal pollution on the marine environment.
Outgoing CARB Chair Liane Randolph on Legacy, Leadership, and the Reauthorization of ‘Cap-and-Invest’
Outgoing CARB Chair Liane Randolph reflects on key climate and air quality accomplishments during her tenure, emphasizes the importance of defending state authority amid federal rollbacks, and the need for fresh leadership paired with experience.
Mary Nichols on California’s Climate Legacy Amid a ‘1959 Rewind’
Former Chair of the California Air Resources Board and longtime national climate leader Mary Nichols reflects on the stakes for California as federal threats loom and the state’s Cap-and-Trade Program faces reauthorization.
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.
Senator Stern on Backing Regional Leaders’ Call for $3.3B Transit Investment from Cap-and-Trade Reauthorization
Senator Henry Stern calls for Southern California to secure a fair share of Cap-and-Trade revenues, pointing to the region’s heavy congestion, pollution, and transit needs. Linking transit investment directly to public health, Stern underscores how transit funding is critical for clean air and climate action as well as mobility.
50L Home Pilot Offers Roadmap for Policy, Funding, and Cultural Change
VX News highlights the U.S. Green Building Council California’s (USGBC-CA) published results from its 50 Liter Home pilot project in Los Angeles—a proof-of-concept and replicable model showing how households can achieve dramatic water savings while maintaining comfort and quality of life.
LADWP’s New Ratepayer Advocate — Meet Tim O’Connor
Tim O’Connor, newly appointed Executive Director and Ratepayer Advocate for the Office of Public Accountability (OPA) at LADWP, outlines his vision with VX News for modernizing the role to meet today’s affordability, climate, and infrastructure challenges.