Berkeley, Calif. (Jan 8, 2025)—The announcement of former State Senator Nancy Skinner to the California Energy Commission (CEC) was made public by Governor Newsom yesterday. Among her many accomplishments as senator, she authored SB 59, a landmark law that will unlock the potential for electric vehicles (EVs) to export the energy stored in their batteries to power homes and communities. She also led the governor's two special sessions seeking to hold the oil industry accountable by investigating price gouging and preventing market manipulation.
Below is a statement by Daniel Barad, Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) Western states senior policy manager.
“We are thrilled by the appointment of former State Senator and clean energy champion Nancy Skinner to the CEC. We have worked closely with Ms. Skinner during her time in the legislature, where she was a committed leader in expanding clean energy and holding the fossil fuel industry accountable. In her new role, we hope to partner with her to support smart electric vehicle deployment, grid investments, and fossil fuel company oversight.
“We encourage Ms. Skinner to promptly guide the CEC to implement SB 59, a UCS-sponsored bidirectional EV charging bill that can bring significant benefits to the grid. We also expect a continued effort to equitably phase out petroleum. Investments in EVs and charging infrastructure through the Clean Transportation Program should also remain a top priority.
“While we are sad to see Commissioner Patty Monahan leave the CEC, we thank her for her years of service and leadership on issues pertaining to clean transportation, charging infrastructure, and so much more.”
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