UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and California Governor Gavin Newsom Sign New Agreement to Boost Clean Energy Investment in London

The United Kingdom and California are taking their climate and clean energy collaboration to the next level.

On Monday, UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in London.

The agreement is designed to boost investment, foster innovation, and strengthen ties between businesses and research institutions on both sides of the Atlantic.

This isn’t just another paper exercise — it represents decades of cooperation and a shared commitment to tackling climate change while growing jobs and supporting industry.

Connecting Clean Energy Markets Across the Atlantic

The MoU will connect the UK’s fast-growing clean energy sector with California’s robust market.

By opening up export opportunities, the partnership supports British businesses seeking to expand in the US.

Companies like Octopus Energy are already investing on the West Coast, and the new agreement provides a framework to scale such efforts even further.

Beyond business growth, the partnership emphasizes energy security, lowering bills for families, and reducing reliance on volatile fossil fuel markets.

It also aims to accelerate the deployment of renewable technologies that can help households, communities, and public services become more resilient to climate shocks.

Shared Goals on Climate and Biodiversity

The UK and California are not just focusing on energy production.

The agreement also emphasizes protecting biodiversity and preparing communities for extreme weather events.

Both governments will share expertise and strategies to safeguard natural environments and local economies, ensuring climate action delivers tangible benefits on the ground.

According to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), the UK’s net zero economy grew three times faster than the overall economy in 2024, reflecting a major boom in clean energy jobs.

California is seeing similar growth, with clean energy employment expanding at three times the rate of other sectors in the state.

Leaders Highlight Investment and Innovation Opportunities

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband highlighted that the MoU strengthens opportunities for UK businesses and secures investment: “This government’s clean energy mission is about taking back control of our energy to cut bills, create jobs, and tackle the climate crisis.

Strong international partnerships like today’s announcement with the State of California strengthen opportunities for UK businesses and secure investment for our country.”

Governor Gavin Newsom emphasized California’s attractiveness for clean economy investment: “California is the best place in America to invest in a clean economy because we set clear goals and we deliver.

Today, we deepened our partnership with the United Kingdom on climate action and welcomed nearly a billion dollars in clean tech investment from Octopus Energy.”

Industry Reaction

Businesses have welcomed the deal.

Nick Chaset, CEO of Octopus Energy US, said the agreement gives companies confidence to scale their technology across California: “As a British tech business and investor growing in the US, this MoU opens up opportunities to bring our smart technology to California, cutting energy bills and improving the customer experience.

Already, our Octopus Electroverse platform — the world’s largest public charging network — spans 1.3 million chargers in 50 countries.

Closer UK-California collaboration allows us to expand innovation faster.”

What’s Next?

The focus now shifts to implementation.

Both governments will need to ensure that clean energy investments, technology rollouts, and research partnerships move from planning to tangible results.

Investors, tech companies, and research institutions will be closely watching how the collaboration translates into jobs, new projects, and improved energy systems.

Summary

The UK and California have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen their decades-long cooperation on clean energy, climate action, and environmental protection.

The agreement aims to connect clean energy markets, boost investment, create jobs, and support research collaboration.

Leaders Ed Miliband and Gavin Newsom, alongside businesses like Octopus Energy, emphasized innovation, lower bills, and resilient energy systems.

The next steps will focus on turning the agreement into concrete projects and expanding the impact on both economies.