Search Results for: California

About ERG

Our Mission The mission of the Energy and Resources Group is a sustainable environment and a just society. ERG is a col­lab­o­ra­tive com­mu­nity of grad­u­ate stu­dents, core fac­ulty, nearly 200 ... Continue Reading »

Who We Are

A Brief History of ERG For thirty years, the Energy and Resources Group (ERG) at the University of California, Berkeley has provided its outstanding graduate students and exceptional faculty the ... Continue Reading »

Financing Your Education

COST OF ATTENDANCE Please see the UC Berkeley Registrar’ Fee Schedule for the current cost of attendance in UC Berkeley graduate academic programs. ERG is an academic program and does ... Continue Reading »

Contact

345 Giannini HallUniversity of CaliforniaBerkeley, CA 94720-3050 Phone: (510) 642-1640Fax: (510) 642-1085 Email: ergdeskb@berkeley.edu

Publications

“Biodiversity Scales from Plots to Biomes With a Universal Species-Area Curve” John Harte, Adam B. Smith, and David Storch“Carbon Cycle Uncertainty Increases Climate Change Risks and Mitigation Challenges” Paul A. ... Continue Reading »

Harte Lab: Ecology & Global Change

Ecology and global change are the primary topics of research in the Harte Lab. Among the goals are: to characterize ecological feedbacks to climate change, to predict effects of global change on biodiversity, and to develop fundamental theory that predicts the structure of ecosystems across spatial scales.

Faculty by Primary Interest

Areas of Interest Climate ChangeEcologyEnergyGovernanceWaterInternational Climate Change ERG CORE David Anthoff David Anthoff is an environmental economist who studies climate change and environmental policy. He co-develops the integrated assessment model ... Continue Reading »

ERG Admissions FAQ

Below is a list of frequently asked questions (FAQ) we receive and their answers. If you don’t find what you need on this page, please email us at erggrad@berkeley.edu. [bs_collapse ... Continue Reading »

Sustainability Summer Minor and Certificate

The Minor and Certificate in Sustainability provides a comprehensive understanding of the most pressing issues facing the world today. ERG’s Minor/Certificate program offers a practical and relevant interdisciplinary approach at ... Continue Reading »

Summer Instructors

The Energy and Resources Group summer instructors understand the complex and interdisciplinary nature of sustainability. All have significant experience teaching and/or professional experience in the subject areas of their courses. ... Continue Reading »

Equity Diversity

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at ERG Equity and inclusion are at the heart of our mission to provide education and research for a sustainable and just society. We aspire ... Continue Reading »

Faculty Recruitment

The University of California, Berkeley seeks applicants for four tenure track (assistant professor) positions and one tenured (associate or full professor) position in the area of “Climate Equity and Environmental ... Continue Reading »

Sustainability Minor/Certificate FAQs

Synchronous vs. Asynchronous Learning What is the difference between synchronous vs. asynchronous instruction, and online courses vs. remote instruction courses? Courses originally offered online (i.e. Energy and Society and Water ... Continue Reading »

Statement on Social Justice and Solidarity with Peaceful Protesters

ERG faculty and staff released the following statement May 31: “All of us at the Energy and Resources Group (ERG) at the University of California, Berkeley, mourn the tragic loss ... Continue Reading »

Affiliated Faculty

ERG has a small core faculty but a much larger group of affiliated faculty. Affiliated faculty are based in other departments on campus or at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, ... Continue Reading »

Undergraduate Minor in Energy and Resources

The Minor in Energy and Resources offers under­grad­u­ates basic knowl­edge and skills to address issues arising from the inter­ac­tion of social, eco­nomic, polit­i­cal, tech­ni­cal, and envi­ron­men­tal fac­tors shaping our world. ... Continue Reading »

Minor/Certificate in Sustainability — Courses

Summer 2022 Curriculum ERG’s minor and certificate require a minimum of five courses and 15 total units of coursework, completed over one or two summers (or for a UC Berkeley ... Continue Reading »

Open Positions

Join the ERG Team The Energy and Resources Group is a col­lab­o­ra­tive com­mu­nity of grad­u­ate stu­dents, core fac­ulty, nearly 200 affil­i­ated fac­ulty and researchers across the cam­pus, and over 600 ... Continue Reading »

Awards

Student Awards ERG students have been recognized nationally and internationally for their research. Below, you can find a selection of recent awards received by ERG Masters and PhD students. CAL ... Continue Reading »

Climate Futures Lab

The Climate Futures Lab is a hub of social science research on the impact and equity of climate change responses at the University of California, Berkeley. The lab is led ... Continue Reading »

Argues ERG’s Dan Kammen California Must Accelerate Carbon Neutrality Goal

June 17, 2022

In an op-ed published in the Los Angeles Times, ERG’s Dan Kammen pushes for California to set a more ambitious carbon neutrality goal, and suggests that this plan should mobilize ... Continue Reading »

000 Californians May Lack Safe Drinking Water ERG Researchers Lead New Study: 400

January 26, 2022

ERG alumna Dr. Lara Cushing (MA ’10, PhD ’15) and ERG PhD student Nicholas Depsky contributed to a UC Berkeley, UCLA-led study recently published in the American Journal of Public ... Continue Reading »

Report ERG Alumni at Pacific Institute California Drought is Increasing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

September 30, 2021

ERG alumni Peter Gleick (PhD ’86) and Julia Szinai (PhD ’21) of the Pacific Institute research group discussed in a recent article on The Hill how the findings of their ... Continue Reading »

ERG’s Brockway and Callaway Reveal Link Between California Grid Limits and Energy Poverty

September 23, 2021

A new research paper published in Nature Energy authored by Anna Brockway, an ERG PhD student and ERG professor Duncan Callaway highlights how existing social inequities are exacerbated by California's grid limits. (Photo by Jeremy Bezanger)

Lara Kueppers Elected Fellow of the California Academy of Sciences

September 16, 2021

ERG's Lara Kueppers was among 3 Rausser College faculty elected Fellow of the California Academy of Sciences by a unanimous vote of the Board of Trustees. Academy Fellows are nominated by their peers and recognized for their exceptional contributions to the world of science.

ERG Professor Dan Kammen Optimistic for Advancing California’s Climate Agenda

November 10, 2020

In a recent San Francisco Chronicle article, ERG professor Dan Kammen was featured discussing how Biden's goals of addressing climate change could potentially be achieved in the near future. While divisions in Congress are likely to slow progress, Kammen remains optimistic for the advancement of California's climate agenda. “It would be easier, of course, if Biden had the Senate. But the Senate does have a way of sensing the mood of the nation. There’s going to be some serious reckoning... There’s going to be increasing amounts of senators on the Republican side that ultimately switch over," said Kammen.

ERG Professor Margaret Torn on the Growing Impact of Californian Wildfires

November 3, 2020

In the recent Scientific American article "California’s Mega Fires Have Arrived 30 Years Early", ERG adjunct professor Margaret Torn argued that as more people living in wildland-adjacent areas, the catastrophic impacts of wildfires only continues to grow. “We’re changing how catastrophic a fire is because we have put more properties and lives at risk... because we’re building in fire zones,” Torn stated.

Kammen Responds to California’s Canceled Rolling Blackouts in AP News

September 1, 2020

ERG professor Dan Kammen was recently quoted in AP News regarding California's power grid operator cancelling rolling blackouts. These scheduled widespread blackouts were averted after regulators warned that the electric grid would not have enough power to meet demands in the midst of a heat wave. Kammen commented that the state needs to do more to store and sell clean energy sources, and he hopes this week’s blackouts will prompt officials to act. “This is kind of a stress test on the system,” he said. “We have not built up enough of a smart enough system to take advantage of all the renewables we have in place.”

ERG PhD Student Anna Brockway Calls for Rethinking California’s Electric Grid

August 27, 2020

ERG PhD student Anna Brockway and two UC Berkeley students recently published their article, "California must prepare its electric grid for complex climate risks", on the San Francisco Chronicle. The op-ed discusses the necessity of reworking California's electrical system to pave the way for efficient climate adaptation. "In order to make good decisions about maintenance, facility siting and the specs of new equipment, electric grid operators must understand how weather and climate affect electricity demand, supply and delivery. Normally, they look at historical weather patterns and operating conditions. But now, the electricity system must prepare for more record-setting events," the article states.

ERG Professor Kammen on How California’s Power Outages Pose New Challenges

August 26, 2020

ERG Professor Dan Kammen was recently featured on U.S. News explaining the severity of California's energy shortages. Despite pandemic restrictions that have somewhat reduced overall electricity demand in California, Kammen points out the rising demand for electricity due to heat waves. "Investments in electricity storage and distribution would [allow California avoid future rolling blackouts]. But those could be expensive, and even harder to budget for at a time when the state faces huge deficits amid the pandemic-related slowdown," Kammen stated.

Peterman Selected as New Senior Vice President for the Southern California Edison

September 3, 2019

Carla Peterman, an ERG alumna, brings her numerous experience in public service for her new position in Southern California Edison (SCE), one of the nation's largest electric utilities.

ERG PhD Student Kripa Jagannathan Spotlighted for California Outreach

November 1, 2018

As a graduate student in the UC Cooperative Extension Program, Kripa Jagannathan has the opportunity to supplement her research at ERG with outreach to California farmers and water utilities officials. ... Continue Reading »

US: Kammen SF Chronicle Op-ed Green Energy is Gold for California

August 21, 2018

Energy and Resources Group Professor and Chair, Daniel Kammen advocates for passage of the “100 Percent Clean Energy Act” (Senate Bill 100) and the green energy economic opportunities that California and US should not miss.

Dan Kammen Discusses Climate Change Initiative Being Developed by California Universities

August 20, 2017

In a recent Nature article, ERG Professor Dan Kammen comments on the potential establishment of a California-based climate change research institute. The proposal is backed by all University of California ... Continue Reading »

ERG Alumnus Peter Gleick on California’s Drought

August 25, 2016

ERG Alumnus Peter Gleick comments for News Deeply on what makes California's current drought different.

ERG Alum Listed as a Top Expert Against California’s Drought

July 21, 2016

"Meet nine top experts who are driving the conversation on California’s water policy." - News Deeply

Norgaard: On the Front Lines of California Water Issues

January 29, 2016

ERG professor emeritus Richard Norgaard, discusses the three greatest threats to California's water.

An Environmental Leader California

November 27, 2015

Professor Daniel Kammen will be joining Gov. Jerry Brown at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris to discuss California's climate initiatives as a model for the world to follow.

Only 15% of California’s Big Solar Projects are on the Right Kind of Land

October 19, 2015

Postdoctoral scholar, Rebecca Hernandez, comments on California's utility-scale solar projects.

California Leads a Quiet Revolution

October 6, 2015

Professor Daniel Kammen shares his thoughts on California's energy revolution with the New York Times.

California daring others to follow ScienceMag: In boosting climate goals

May 2, 2015

Dr. Dan Kammen on how CA's new GHG reduction targets are not only good for the state but also international talks

The Road from CalCAP: Can the University of California Achieve Carbon Neutrality by 2025?

April 22, 2015

How Zimmerman (MS'08), ERGies and colleagues started to "save the planet" by getting Cal capped

California’s Cleaner Fuel Comes at Cost to Water: Report

March 18, 2015

Heather Cooley (MS'04) and PhD candidate Julian Fulton release California water footprint report from Pacific Institute.

California could power itself three to five times over with solar

March 17, 2015

ERG postdoctoral fellow Hernandez with Hoffacker and Field from Stanford publish in Nature Climate Change.

Study IDs key birds that host Lyme disease bacteria in California

February 27, 2015

“The role of birds in the maintenance of Lyme disease bacteria in California is poorly understood,” lead author Erica Newman, ERG PhD candidate.

Study Led by ERG’s Jenny Rempel Finds High Levels of Arsenic in Prison Drinking Water

September 22, 2022

A new study led by ERG’s Jenny Rempel and researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, and Virginia Tech is among the first to examine how arsenic contamination affects the drinking ... Continue Reading »

ERG’s Chelsi Sparti Recipient of the 2022 Switzer Environmental Fellowship

July 29, 2022

ERG Master’s student Chelsi Sparti has recently been chosen as one of the recipients of the 2022 Switzer Environmental Fellowship, a program of the Robert and Patricia Switzer Foundation that ... Continue Reading »

ERG Researchers Predict Clean Energy Will Require Extensive Electrification Upgrades

July 14, 2022

ERG professor Duncan Callaway and graduate students Anna Brockway and Salma Elmallah have published a Haas Energy Institute working paper identifying the necessity of upgrading California's electric distribution system in anticipation for a clean energy future.

ERG’s Dan Kammen on How Putin’s Invasion of Ukraine Underscores the Urgency of Shifting to Renewable Energy

March 7, 2022

ERG's Dan Kammen was featured in a recent article in the Los Angeles Times proposing that Russian aggression has hastened the need for America and other nations to transition away from relying on fossil fuels. (Photo by Karsten Würth)

ERG’s Bodie Cabiyo on How Innovative Use of Low-Value Wood Can Advance Carbon-Beneficial Forest Management

December 8, 2021

A new research paper exploring the potential for the innovative use of low-value wood was recently published in PNAS by Bodie Cabiyo, a PhD candidate at ERG, with corresponding author Daniel Sanchez (PhD '15). Their research supports that the innovative use of low-value wood has the ability to reduce wildfire risk, and reduce California's net emissions. (Photo by Olena Sergienko)

ERG Alumna Laura Moreno Studies the Staggering Reality of Food Waste

May 2, 2021

ERG alumna Laura Moreno was recently featured on the California Magazine for her research on understanding food waste in the United States.

ERG Dan Kammen Addresses Texas’ Recent Electric Grid Failure

March 23, 2021

In a recent San Francisco Chronicle article, titled "Why the massive power outages in Texas are so much worse than California's summer blackouts," features ERG professor Dan Kammen discussing how such energy outages have highlighted a similarity between California and Texas. “What is so interesting here is that like in California — extreme weather (for us, fires) — has stressed an old, outdated and ‘not smart’ grid,” Kammen stated. “Without well-integrated solar, wind, AND energy storage our grids are vulnerable.”

Farbes ERG Alums Williams

February 3, 2021

A new article, "Carbon-neutral pathways for the United States," published in the open-access journal AGU Advances by ERG alums Jim Williams, Jamil Farbes, ERG alum and adjunct professor Margaret Torn, and others found that "reaching zero net emissions of carbon dioxide from energy and industry by 2050 can be accomplished.

Alumni ERG Students

January 21, 2021

Current ERG PhD student Julia Szinai, alumnus Ranjit Deshmukh, ERG professor Dan Kammen, and assistant adjunct professor Andrew Jones were recently featured by UCSB for their leading research in "Power, Water and Climate". Working with researchers from UC Santa Barbara and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, they developed "a framework evaluating the impacts of climate change on California’s water and energy systems".

ERG’s Dan Kammen Enthusiastic for Berkeley Scholars to Join Biden Administration

January 4, 2021

Recently, President-elect Joe Biden has nominated UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy (GSPP) faculty member Jennifer Granholm to lead the U.S. Department of Energy and Haas School of Business Professor Emeritus Janet Yellen to serve as secretary of treasury. Two campus alumni are also expected to serve within the administration, with Alejandro Mayorkas selected to lead the Department of Homeland Security, or DHS, and Adewale Adeyemo picked for deputy treasury secretary. ERG professor Dan Kammen expressed enthusiasm for the candidates in multiple news sources, stating that “The Department of Energy is going to be central to almost everything in the Biden-Harris plan, from energy transformation to re-entering the Paris Climate Accords. We’re also going to need a huge infusion of attention and effort to be put into creating jobs. That fits Jennifer Granholm to a T. I’m just so impressed that they made this choice. I think she’s ideal for the job at this time.” Read the Berkeley News article on Jennifer Granholm here, the San Francisco Chronicle article here, and the Daily Californian article on all four Berkeley scholars here.

ERG Professor Dan Kammen Discusses Climate change in the age of Joe Biden

December 18, 2020

ERG Professor Dan Kammen was recently interviewed in The Daily Californian, where he discussed what the fight against climate change would look like in 2021 and what he anticipates for President-elect Joe Biden’s administration. “California’s always had a very aggressive plan,” Kammen said. “We’re now in a position where 10 states have joined California and have targets of zero-carbon economies by mid-century, so President-elect Biden is working with a much better deck.”

ERG Dan Kammen on What the Biden-Harris Victory Means For COVID-19 & Climate Change

November 16, 2020

ERG professor Dan Kammen recently published an op-ed on the Daily Californian, discussing the powerful impact the Biden-Harris victory has on addressing the issues of COVID-19 and climate change. Kammen further states that the new leadership's energy and climate platform can be a game-changer for achieving social and climate justice. "Science, social justice and both domestic and global partnerships to address climate change are now back on the agenda in the United States," Kammen writes. "More than any one specific action, the commitment Biden has already shown to a science-driven administration is critically important domestically and worldwide."

ERG Professor Dan Kammen on the Importance of Political Policies Against Climate Change

August 6, 2020

ERG Professor Dan Kammen was featured on a recent Al Jazeera article, discussing America's progress towards building a greener economy. "The 2020 election in the United States is absolutely critical, because we know on the climate side that we have very few years left to get on an innovative green energy path," Kammen stated.

‘Cheaper to save the climate’— ERG Professor Lara Kueppers Comments on Clean Energy Study

July 1, 2020

Following a recent UC Berkeley study showing how the United States can achieve 90% clean electricity by 2035, ERG Professor Lara Kuepper commented on the importance of reducing harmful emissions. This report, featured on The Daily Californian, found that by "prioritizing energy generated from wind, solar and battery storage, decarbonizing electricity at a rapid rate is possible."

ERG Professor Dan Kammen on How Electric Vehicles Help Advance Social Justice

June 24, 2020

ERG Professor Dan Kammen recently published an article on the San Francisco Chronicle titled "How electric vehicles can help advance social justice". He praises Lyft's recent promise of its transition to 100% electric vehicles (EV) on its platform by 2030. Kammen ties the climate victory in with California Public Utilities Commission's move to protect the often vulnerable employees of the gig economy by considering drivers for ride-hailing companies to be employees in accordance with the state’s AB5 law.

ERG Almnus Daniel Sanchez Interviewed in “Breakthroughs” on Climate Change Solutions

May 29, 2020

ERG Alumnus Daniel Sanchez was recently featured in Breakthroughs, the magazine of the Rausser College of Natural Resources, for his work as a Cooperative Extension specialist. Along with other featured specialists, the article focuses on their work on "tackling climate change's impacts on Californians."

Community Forum Webinar Features Kammen to Discuss COVID-19 and the Climate Crisis

March 31, 2020

On Tuesday, March 31, 4:30 - 6:00 pm, Fossile Free California will be hosting a community forum on COVID-19 and the climate crisis. This live webinar features ERG Professor Dan Kammen, who will be presenting his views on how the current global pandemic intersects with the climate crisis.

ERG PhD Student Szinai and Alumnus Gopal Link Grid Costs to Electric Vehicle Charge Management

March 9, 2020

ERG PhD student Julia Szinai, ERG Alumnus Anand Gopal, and two other co-authors from Lawrence Berkeley National Lab have recently published a collaborative research paper on ScienceDirect.

ERG PhD Veronica Jacome Awarded UC President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship

February 25, 2020

ERG PhD Student Veronica Jacome has recently been selected as a University of California President's Postdoctoral Fellow.

ERG’s Lara and Kammen on Potential for Biomass Feedstock from Drought

January 23, 2020

ERG student José Daniel Lara and ERG professor Daniel Kammen, in collaboration with forest researchers in UC Berkeley's department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, recently published "Characterization of the woody biomass feedstock potential resulting from California’s drought" in Nature, Scientific Reports.

Distinguished Scientist and ERG Emeritus Remembering Jack Hollander

December 3, 2019

ERG emeritus professor Jack M. Hollander passed away on November 10, 2019 at age 92.

Kammen on the Increasing Normalization of Power Shutoffs on KCBS Radio

November 4, 2019

Daniel Kammen discusses how power shutoffs and evacuations may become the the new normal as climate change continues to spark deadlier wildfires year after year.

Alumna Alexandra von Meier on Multi-Customer Microgrids to Combat Wildfires

October 16, 2019

Alexandra von Meier, an ERG Alumna and director in the California Institute for Energy and Environment’s Electric Grid program area, discusses how locally sourced power, compared to shutting off power, can better prevent wildfires.

Berkeley Leadership on Climate and Justice: ERG Chair Kammen Comments

September 23, 2019

ERG Professor and Chair Dan Kammen writes an op-ed in the Daily Californian commenting on activism at UC Berkeley and the global climate strike.

ERG Alumnus Patrick Gonzalez Speaks to Congress on Climate Change

June 27, 2019

ERG alum, Dr. Patrick Gonzalez presents scientific findings to Representative Mike Quigley and other members of the U.S. House of Representatives Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition Members in the U.S. Capitol

housing policy is climate policy Kammen and Senator Wiener: For America’s cities

March 25, 2019

In an op-ed today in the New York Times, professor Dan Kammen and state Senator Scott Wiener are blunt: “To solve the climate crisis, we have to solve the housing crisis.”

Governor Newsom Appoints ERG Alum Carla Peterman to New Wildfire Recovery Commission

January 31, 2019

Governor Gavin Newsom’s office has released three appointments to the new Commission on Catastrophic Wildfire Cost and Recovery, which includes ERG alumna Carla Peterman (PhD ’17). Peterman served as a ... Continue Reading »

ERG’s Lara Kueppers on Climate Change and CA Wildfires

January 9, 2019

ERG Professor Lara Kueppers recently commented in Bustle on the relationship between climate change and the California wildfires.  “‘Due to climate change, she explains, ‘warm temperatures extend over a larger ... Continue Reading »

ERG’s Kammen Comments on ‘Yellow Vest’ Protests in New York Times

December 7, 2018

“So while President Macron has highlighted the need for funds to invest in clean energy, that is not actually what was planned,” Mr. Kammen said.

Campus and Alumni Mourn the Passing of ERG Professor Gene Rochlin

November 28, 2018

It is with a very heavy heart that I have to pass on the news that University of California Berkeley Energy and Resources Group (ERG) core faculty emeritus Gene Rochlin passed away this weekend. 

Energy by Whom? With ERG Alumna Nikky Avila

November 26, 2018

Nikky Avila (PhD ’18) was recently featured on the podcast “Somebody Call a Doctor.” Avila discusses how distributed energy technologies are disrupting conventional electricity planning paradigms and enabling social innovation. She ... Continue Reading »

Faculty and Alumni Encourage You to Vote! ERG Students

October 10, 2018

As the November 6, 2018 midterm elections approach, the Energy and Resources Group faculty, students, and alumni are taking action to increase voter participation. We encourage all voices to be heard ... Continue Reading »

Lyft Commits to Cancelling Out its Carbon Emissions – Will it Make a Difference?

May 23, 2018

Lyft announced its plans last month to purchase carbon offsets to cancel out the carbon emissions created by its drivers. It’s also part of a larger strategy to lessen Lyft’s ... Continue Reading »

The Fundamentals of a Clean(er) Economy – Dan Kammen

April 25, 2018

ERG Chair Dan Kammen wrote an Op-Ed piece for the Daily Californian this week, outlining the stark global reality of climate change in 2018 and the need for collective action. ... Continue Reading »

Emission-Free Neighborhoods? The Oakland EcoBlock Project Pioneers Residential Sustainability

February 14, 2018

The College of Environmental Design (CED) at UC Berkeley spotlighted the innovative Oakland EcoBlock project this week, lead by CED professor Harrison Fraker and ERG chair Dan Kammen. The project, ... Continue Reading »

What Environmental Policy Options Does the U.S. Have in 2018?

January 16, 2018

In a Knowledge @ Wharton public policy podcast, Dan Kammen joins Eric Orts, legal studies and business ethics professor, and director of the school’s Initiative for Global Environmental Leadership. Kammen and ... Continue Reading »

UC Wins Excellence in Green Power Use Award from EPA

October 30, 2017

Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded the University of California system with the Excellence in Green Power Use Award for its investments in renewable energy, and continued progress ... Continue Reading »

Wind and Solar Energy Potential in The Democratic Republic of Congo – New ERG Study

October 2, 2017

Image: Renewable Riches: How Wind and Solar Could Power DRC and South Africa (2017) Ana Mileva, Ranjit Deshmukh, and Grace Wu discuss The Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) position to harness ... Continue Reading »

ERG Student Jose Daniel Lara Joins UC’s Carbon Neutrality Initiative as a 2017 Fellow

September 19, 2017

Jose Daniel Lara was recently selected to represent UC Berkeley as a fellow for the University of California’s Carbon Neutrality Initiative (CNI). Jose will foster communication about UC-wide goals to ... Continue Reading »

DACA Rescinded – Information for Undocumented Students and Prospective Applicants

September 5, 2017

Photo: Adrienne Shih – The Daily Californian Following President Trump’s decision on Tuesday morning to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA), UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ and UC ... Continue Reading »

Paper Authored by PhD Candidate Noah Kittner and Professor Dan Kammen Published in Nature Energy

August 16, 2017

Noah Kittner and Dan Kammen's new paper, "Energy stor­age deploy­ment and inno­va­tion for the clean energy tran­si­tion," was published in Nature Energy on July 31, 2017

New ERG Chair Daniel M. Kammen

July 25, 2017

We are pleased to announce the appointment of the new Energy and Resources Group Chair, Professor Daniel M. Kammen. His appointment began July 1, 2017. Daniel Kam­men is a Pro­fes­sor of Energy with ... Continue Reading »

Kammen and Hausfather of ERG Respond to Withdrawal from Paris Agreement

June 22, 2017

ERG Professor Dan Kammen and graduate student Zeke Hausfather respond to President Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement

Friend of ERG and Pioneer of Energy Efficiency Art Rosenfeld

February 2, 2017

Arthur Hinton Rosenfeld, a close friend to many in the ERG community, passed away Friday, January 27, 2017. He was 90 years old. “Art Rosenfeld helped make California the world ... Continue Reading »

Kammen highlighted in Scientific American

December 22, 2016

Daniel Kammen comments for Scientific American on the opportunities scientists think they can seize with the appointment of Trump's climate skeptics.

ERG Alumni Gleick and Cooley: Water Experts to Watch on Climate and Energy

September 14, 2016

ERG alumni Peter Gleick (M.S. '80, Ph.D. '86) and Heather Cooley (M.S. '04) are featured on NewsDeeply's roundup of CA leaders at the nexus of water, energy and climate.

ERG Student Avila Receives Rosenfeld Fellowship

September 12, 2016

Congratulations to ERG postdoctoral fellow Nikky Avila, who was recently awarded the 2016 Rosenfeld Fellowship.

RAEL and GRID Alternatives Partner for Off-Grid Solar

August 1, 2016

Solar Industry Magazine has announced a partnership between the Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory (RAEL) and nonprofit solar installer GRID Alternatives. RAEL is a unique new research, development, project implementation, and community ... Continue Reading »

ERG Alumnus Peter Gleick Pushes for New Water Conservation Policy

July 2, 2016

“I think the state board is going to have to reconsider this strategy in light of what apparently is a complete abandonment of urban conservation efforts.” - Peter Gleick

ERG Alum Receives Microsoft Grant for Ugandan Micro-grid Systems

June 27, 2016

New Sun Road is a California technology company directed by ERGie Jalel Sager (MS’11 , PhD’15). They are committed to implementing solutions to climate change and global energy poverty, provide ... Continue Reading »

Alum Epstein Explores Resilient Farming Systems in Post-disaster Nepal

June 20, 2016

"On the 25th and 26th of April and 12th of May Nepal was struck by massive earthquakes. One year later we wanted to explore which farming systems fared better or worse after this natural disaster. "

ERG’s Energy Research Featured in Multiple News Outlets

May 25, 2016

“Research at the Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory [ERG Professor Daniel Kammen’s lab] at the University of California Berkeley highlights that while cities currently contribute to global climate change by ... Continue Reading »

ERG Alum Calls For Effective Groundwater Management

May 25, 2016

ERG alum Michael Kiparsky (MS '04, PhD '10) co-authored an opinion column in The Fresno Bee on the pressing need for fair and effective groundwater management agencies in California.

Two ERG Projects Included in White House Plans for Sustainable Water Future

March 31, 2016

Commitments by two groups within ERG were included in the White House Summit on Water last week

ERG Summer Courses Available

February 28, 2016

ERG is offering four of its most popular courses this summer! Enroll Today!

Jones & Kammen compare neighborhood footprints

January 7, 2016

The first-of-its-kind interactive map was produced by the University of California, Berkeley’s CoolClimate Network and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, and covers census block groups –neighborhoods of several ... Continue Reading »

ERG at the Paris Climate Talks

December 1, 2015

The 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris has begun and will continue until December 11th. Energy and Resources Group faculty, students and alumni will be playing an active role at the conference and the many peripheral activities.

Kripa Akila Jagannathan selected for UC-Sponsored Food Fellowships 2015-2016

November 16, 2015

ERG graduate student Kripa Akila Jagannathan was selected for a fellowship sponsored by the UC Global Food Initiative Program!

Proposed state fee would end solar savings

November 1, 2015

ERG professor Dan Kammen looks at impacts of proposed new CPUC rules.

Solar Power Expansion Could Pose Ecological Risks

October 22, 2015

Post­doc­toral scholar, Rebecca Her­nan­dez, discusses her study on the ecological footprint of solar power development with Scientific American.

Go Small and Go Home: UC Berkeley Team Working to Create an Affordable Housing Fix

August 26, 2015

ERG grad student Ian Bolliger talks about Cal team's tiny house project in Richmond.

but scientists say the work’s just begun. Obama’s Clean Power Plan is finally out

August 5, 2015

ERG Professor Daniel Kammen was featured in two magazine publications regarding Obama's Clean Power Plan and the impacts it might have on the U.S. population.

Energy and Resource Group research finds that well-placed PV is yielding big savings on PG&E’s distribution grid

June 27, 2015

ERG Professor Duncan Callaway and and ERG student Michael Cohen's (MS '12) release report on Economic Effects of Distributed PV Generation on California's Distribution System.

meet with President Napolitano UC students tour peach farm

April 22, 2015

ERG grad student, Kripa Jagannathan, discusses her research on aligning climate models for farmer needs with the UC president

Holdren: What Works at ERG Works

April 13, 2015

John Holdren's "tricks of the trade" presentation plus photos during the ERG Big Event.

Cooley (MS’04) on CA Drought in NYT

April 5, 2015

“Folks realize we have now reached the limits of supply, so the focus is on demand.”

BOOK: Applying Anthropology and Physics to Sustainability

March 30, 2015

New book by Dove and Kammen released this week.

Zoë Chafe leads new WHO Report

March 12, 2015

"We wanted to help policymakers and members of the general public understand that household heating with biomass is a complicated issue," says ERG PhD candidate Zoë Chafe.

Data: Big disparities in energy use across desert

February 13, 2015

ERG PhD candidate Chris Jones explains household electricity consumption.

ERG Grad Student Selected To Represent UC Berkeley in Sacramento

February 6, 2015

Rachel Golden will share her views in the state capital in April.

Kripa Jagannathan selected for UC Food Fellowship

December 28, 2014

ERG Master's-PhD To ssess the accuracy of different climate models at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Kripa Jagannathan selected for UC Food Fellowship

December 8, 2014

At LBNL, the ERG Master's-PhD student will assess the accuracy of different climate models in predicting specific metrics that are relevant for farmer’s decision making needs.

Profs. Leach & Ray Launch UN Gender Equality Report

October 24, 2014

Dr. Isha Ray at UN Headquarters discussing report on gender equality.

What if it’s not that “green”?

October 22, 2014

NBC interview of Dr. Kammen on new technology not meeting green expectations.

Water Quality: Woelfle-Erskine’s Search for Salmon

October 10, 2014

“As the dry season becomes more intense and rainfall more erratic, we’d expect to see this pattern propagating northward.”

Kammen: UC Divestment is a “no-brainer”

September 11, 2014

UC faculty, alumni and student activists say it's time to take divestment seriously. Professor Kammen gives insight into why in the East Bay Express.

Brown Schwarzenegger

September 10, 2014

Kammen speaks at Schwarzenegger's climate pep rally where both parties agree that it's time to fight the dark side.

ERG’s Woelfle-Erskine on Why Dams are Still an Issue

September 2, 2014

"The fight is far from over as far as dams are concerned."

Upcoming Certificate Course on Economic Impact of Climate and Energy Policy

August 13, 2014

3-day cer­tifi­cate course Oct 3-5, offer­ing a prac­ti­cal per­spec­tive on the eco­nomic effects of cli­mate and energy policy.

Grist Features ERG Climate Change Solutions

July 2, 2014

Professor John Harte and three ERG students are "Hacking the Climate" with featured articles in the popular online publication.

Kammen on UC Climate Advisory Group

June 9, 2014

UC President forms Global Climate Leadership Council including UC professors and climate experts.

Are Obama’s Carbon Rules Enough?

June 3, 2014

The New York Times calls the EPA's emission proposals "modest." Professor Dan Kammen points out the challenge.

50% of U.S. household carbon footprint Suburban sprawl

January 8, 2014

Chris Jones (ERG PhD) and Prof. Dan Kammen point out that U.S. households are responsible for about 20% of annual worldwide greenhouse gas emissions, which are driving climate change.

Clean energy future: Kammen and Wolfram talk it out on NPR

November 30, 2013

ERG's Kammen and Haas' Wolfram don't exactly see eye-to-eye on energy in NPR interview.