On Monday, September 10, Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill that committed California to be fueled by 100 percent zero-carbon power by 2045, with 60% of the state’s electricity powered by renewables by 2030. Relying entirely on zero-emission energy sources for its electricity puts California on target to meet the goals of the Paris Climate Accord and is a big commitment made by the world’s fifth-largest economy. In addition, Brown also issued an executive order calling for statewide carbon neutrality by the same year.

Our research has shown that 69% of Americans say it’s important/very important that utilities make an effort to generate or purchase at least some part of their power via renewable energy sources – so even though this is being forced on California utilities, it’s good for their brands. If you work for a utility in the other 49 states, think of the branding and marketing hay you could make by committing your utility to follow California standards without being mandated to.

Trump administration wants to make it easier to release methane into air – The New York Times

In other news: While California has stepped up with new zero-emissions, carbon-neutral energy policies, EPA is scaling back efforts to fight climate change. Here’s what you need to know regarding expected EPA rollbacks of Obama-era methane regulations – a gas that makes up 9% of greenhouse gases yet is more than 25 times as potent as carbon dioxide.

The massive plastic-cleaning device invented by a 24-year-old is headed out to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch – here’s what the launch looked like – Business Insider

Boyan Slat’s long-awaited (and questioned) system for cleaning up marine plastic waste is in the water now. How successful this impressive 2,000-foot-long floating array is at its job will not be immediately clear, but if it operates as planned, it could collect 50 tons of plastic over the next year.

How much hotter is your hometown than when you were born? – The New York Times

For many people, climate change is hard to grasp. It feels too big and too removed. This interactive, customized article is a great example of how to make the effects of climate change personal and real.