CleanTechnica intl_tech D1

发布：2026-05-28 · 事件：2026-05-28

May 27, 2026 6 hours Guest Contributor 0 Comments Support CleanTechnica's work through a Substack subscription or on Stripe . Tom Steyer vs Xavier Becerra is the choice that matters for the world’s 4t...

May 27, 2026 6 hours Guest Contributor 0 Comments Support CleanTechnica's work through a Substack subscription or on Stripe . Tom Steyer vs Xavier Becerra is the choice that matters for the world’s 4th largest economy What happens in California has BIG ripple effects for the pace of our global clean energy transition. With AI tech valuations ballooning, California is now the world’s 4th largest economy , ranking ahead of Japan, India, and the UK, and only a bit behind Germany, China, and the entire United States. On June 2nd California voters will decide which two of the top three leading candidates for governor will be on the ballot in November. After following the money, the track records, and the facts, I’m convinced there’s only one candidate who will lead my state in a better direction: Tom Steyer . I’ve spent my entire 20+yr career working on climate, clean energy, and social justice solutions, going back to growing up in a sustainability-minded farming community in Mendocino County, CA (which has since been devastated by wildfire ). After starting as scientist and engineer, I now evaluate the sustainability and social responsibility of companies for my day job at Etho Capital , while sometimes teaching university courses , co-authoring a climate solutions textbook , and volunteering time to co-organize one of California’s longest-running communities of cleantech professionals ( E-Discuss ). I’m a scientist and engineer at heart. I like calm, rational, fact-based decision-making. With that said, I’ve come to realize the biggest key to solving our interconnected climate, health, inequity, and affordability crisis is better communication that moves hearts and minds. So I’m taking the time to share a few facts that hopefully at least some of you read, consider, and share with others. For California’s governor race on June 2nd, here are the facts that matter most : 1) Tom Steyer vs Xavier Becerra is the only meaningful choice for California voters concerned most about affordability, climate action, public health, education, and/or overall social justice and equity. In the “Jungle Primary” where the top two candidates of any party advance to the general election in November, the most recent polling has Xavier Becerra, Tom Steyer, and [Republican] Steve Hilton in the top three, with similar polls consistently showing other candidates, like [D] Katie Porter, [R] Chad Bianco, and [D] Matt Mahan, don’t have a chance of finishing in the top two on June 2nd to make it through to the November runoff, so a vote for them is wasted. 2) Tom Steyer has an impressive track record of progressive policy wins advancing clean energy, climate action, public health, and public education , often defeating big money fossil fuel, tobacco, and utility industry lobbyists in the process. Yes, Steyer is a billionaire, but he’s the only top candidate in the race calling for higher taxes on billionaires , and Steyer has consistently put his money and time into advancing clean energy and progressive causes since he left the hedge fund industry over a decade ago. 3) Xavier Becerra is backed by big money from some of the shadiest corporate donors in America , including Chevron (with Becerra saying Chevron is “not the bad guy” ), PG&E (which burned my community to the ground in 2017), Meta ( AI hyperscaler and the world’s largest social media conglomerate), Sempra / SoCal Gas and SoCal Edison (CA’s other largest investor-owned utility monopolies), alongside an offshore and onshore oil drilling company (California Resources Corp) , other big tech companies , drug companies and the profit-driven side of the health care industry , and police unions pushing to minimize law enforcement accountability . Most companies donating millions to boost Becerra and/or attack Steyer through PACs and shady orgs fail the types of ESG sustainable investing screens my Etho Capital team conducts each year. Chevron, PG&E and Meta routinely rank as some of the worst bad-actor companies in the world, and they’re quite savvy about how to manipulate our political system to maximize their profits. What do you think they’re paying for when they support Becerra? 4) Tom Steyer has a strong moral compass, he’s surrounded himself with good people, and he’s running to be Governor for all the right reasons . We’re certainly not BFFs, and I’ve never been funded by Steyer or any of his orgs, but I’ve spoken with Steyer a number of times over the years through my own work in climate solutions and sustainable investing. I’ve been consistently impressed by Steyer’s depth of knowledge, thoughtfulness, honesty, passion, and commitment on clean energy and climate issues. I also have many friends in the energy and climate world who have worked much more closely with Steyer and his inner circles, and they only have positive things to say about Steyer as a leader who listens, deliberately surrounds himself with diverse voices, and works hard on solutions with honor and integrity. M