California is considering a bill that would allow insurers and victims of climate-driven natural disasters to sue the oil industry for damages. State Sen. Scott Wiener, who authored the bill, said the oil industry should be liable in a natural disaster because companies intentionally deceived the public about the risks of fossil fuels on climate change. Those changes have intensified storms and wildfires and caused billions of dollars in damage. Such disasters have also driven the state insurance market to a crisis. The bill is supported by several environmental and consumer protection groups, but the oil industry has already signaled it will fight the legislation.

California's offshore wind industry could be a casualty if President-elect Donald Trump makes good on his promise to sign an executive order to "end" the offshore wind industry. While he cannot do it with a stroke of a pen, California's offshore wind plans rely on a federal policy that offers billions of dollars in grants, subsidies and tax incentives. The technology is well on its way to being deployed in the ocean off California, which is counting on the clean energy source to meet its goals to scrub fossil fuels from the electric grid. Wind developers say they need certainty from state and federal partners that environmental policies will remain in place to reassure investors.

Fossil fuels are still a large source of electricity, but California has made progress with renewables while keeping the lights on. The state recently hit a milestone: 100 days this year with 100% carbon-free, renewable electricity for at least a part of each day. The state notched the milestone while avoiding blackouts and emergency power reductions this year, even with the hottest July on record. That's according to Stanford University engineering Professor Mark Z. Jacobson. Energy experts say the progress is largely due to the substantial public and private investments in renewable energy. But California still has a long way to go to stop burning fossil fuels. Natural gas remains its single largest source of electricity.