Accomplishments with Environment California

Environment California is a statewide, citizen-based environmental advocacy organization. Their professional staff combines independent research, practical ideas and tough-minded advocacy to overcome the opposition of powerful special interests and win real results for California's environment.

Environment California was founded in 2003 and has worked with the Fund on a canvass program to build its membership base since its inception. Today, Environment California has 85,000 active members, nearly all of whom were first identified through the canvass.

Canvassers educate the public and mobilize support for Environment California’s campaigns. Thanks in part to the field presence the canvass provides, Environment California has led the way on two huge recent victories that bring more solar power to California and reduce global warming pollution.

In 2003, the newly formed Environment California launched its first grassroots campaign, enlisting Fund canvassers to knock on 200,000 doors and collect 10,000 signatures in support of getting more California homes built with solar roof panels. As Environment California lobbied the state legislature to adopt bills establishing aggressive solar policies in 2003, 2004 and 2005, Fund canvassers helped build a groundswell of public support.

As a result of Environment California’s dogged grassroots outreach efforts, the California Public Utilities Commission approved the California Solar Initiative (CSI) in January, 2006, committing a combined $3.2 billion in incentive funds to drive consumers toward solar power over the next 11 years. And finally, in August 2006, Gov. Schwarzenegger signed the Solar Homes Bill into law, joined at the signing by an Environment California advocate and more than a dozen Fund canvassers.

The Fund's Environment California canvasses are currently working to ban plastic bags and help prevent ocean pollution.

The Fund also works with Environment California's sister organizations in 15 states across the country to build their membership and name recognition.