Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 4, 2024

Over the next 15 years, California will have to repurpose about 1 million acres of cropland, most of it out of the 5.5 This is the story of Allensworth, California, and its wonderful community leaders. Its cofounder Colonel Allensworth fled the Jim Crow South looking for a new life in California. But how can we do things right?

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Legal Planet

FEBRUARY 28, 2024

On behalf of CLEE and the Climate and Wildfire Institute (CWI), and with additional support from the Moore Foundation, I am pleased to announce publication of the California Year in Fire Report. The Report was conceived of, researched, and written by Leana Weissberg , who is now the California Director of American Forests.

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Legal Planet

APRIL 16, 2024

I’ve been digging into the rules , the explanatory website set up by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), and secondary sources to try to figure some of these things out. For instance, the primary pressure on electric utilities to cut emissions comes from regulations issued by the California Public Utility Commission , not CARB.

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Yale E360

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

California sea otters were nearly hunted to extinction in the 19th century, with only a small number surviving along the central coast. Scientists could study how otters safeguard California's underwater kelp forests and marshland, even in the face of worsening climate change. As otters rebounded, a natural experiment unfolded.

Climate Change 237

Climate Change 237

Legal Planet

MARCH 13, 2023

On Thursday, March 2, 2023, California’s principal energy agencies – the California Energy Commission (CEC) and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) – held a first-of-its-kind, joint en banc hearing at Cal Poly Humboldt with Tribal government leaders and all 10 commissioners of the CEC and CPUC.

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Union of Concerned Scientists

FEBRUARY 15, 2024

California’s transportation fuel policy is knee deep in cow poop, and it’s not a good look. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is considering amendments to its Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) regulation, but indicated they have no plans to address the problems caused by counter-productive subsidies for manure biomethane.

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Legal Planet

SEPTEMBER 14, 2023

State Capitol, Sacramento, California After a hard-fought battle, the California Legislature passed the second of two nation-leading corporate climate accountability bills yesterday afternoon. California has the opportunity to uphold its reputation as a global leader on climate by making SB 253 and SB 261 law—let’s hope it does.

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Union of Concerned Scientists

AUGUST 8, 2023

When you think of solar power , California undoubtedly comes to mind. The state’s strong climate goals paired with abundant sunshine have helped California reach record rooftop and utility-scale solar buildout. Out of the 5,700 megawatts of installed community solar in the country, less than 1% of that is in California.

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Legal Planet

APRIL 24, 2023

After three years of drought , a parade of storms brought flooding, landslides, and a massive snowpack to California. But California does not have this luxury. Historically, the amount of precipitation that falls in California has been more variable from year-to-year than for any other state.

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Legal Planet

MAY 19, 2023

Monterey County Oil Field (credit: Monterey County Weekly) For the first two decades of this century, and under the able leadership of former Chief Justices Ronald George and Tani Cantil-Sakauye, the California Supreme Court was quite active in interpreting and shaping California environmental law. Well, break’s over.

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Legal Planet

DECEMBER 28, 2023

(Credit: Bet Hannon Business) While there’s a great deal that’s dysfunctional and downright wrong about water law and policy in California, occasionally there are positive developments to report. Bureau of Reclamation, operator of the Central Valley Project (CVP) and California’s State Water Project.

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Union of Concerned Scientists

SEPTEMBER 26, 2023

How a bill becomes a law in California: Senate Bill 389 went through various committees and votes before being approved by the California Legislature this month. Other western states are decades ahead of California Oregon joined the Union in 1859, and 50 years later in 1909 enacted its water code.

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Legal Planet

JANUARY 3, 2024

With California’s 2035 zero-emissions vehicle transition target now just over a decade away, state and local leaders face an urgent need to ensure that sufficient electric vehicle charging infrastructure is available to meet the needs of all drivers.

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Legal Planet

FEBRUARY 12, 2024

For those following offshore wind development in California, January 19, 2024, marked an important moment—the release of the long-awaited Draft Assembly Bill 525 Offshore Wind Strategic Plan from the California Energy Commission (CEC). However, the Plan does not appear to directly commit to implementing co-management in California.

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Legal Planet

FEBRUARY 20, 2024

If you’re interested in California water, the 20th Annual California Water Law Symposium is a great way to spend this Saturday! The symposium is a collaborative student-run event that consistently brings together leading minds in water law and policy to discuss California’s critical water issues. MCLE credits.

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Law 2024 Government 2023 130

Legal Planet

SEPTEMBER 21, 2023

The state of California has joined the party. And when California shows up at the party, the volume goes way up. Last month, Politico launched the California Climate newsletter with an expanded reporting team based in the Golden State. By “party” I mean the increasingly ambitious climate liability litigation against Big Oil.

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Union of Concerned Scientists

AUGUST 24, 2022

The California Air Resources Board is close to finalizing an updated scoping plan that will guide the implementation of policies aimed at meeting its commitment to becoming carbon neutral by 2045. The extraction, refining and use of petroleum has shaped California for almost 150 years.

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Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 27, 2023

But for states like California, with large populations, an ambitious and necessary clean energy timeline , and ongoing natural resource issues , where to actually build these projects will require thoughtful planning. Source: 2021 SB 100 Joint Agency Report, California Energy Commission.

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Scientific American

APRIL 24, 2024

California has hit record-breaking milestones in renewable electricity generation, showing that wind, water and solar are ready to cover our electricity needs

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Electricity 145

Legal Planet

MAY 19, 2022

This data will allow California to identify the source of these emissions, work with programs to hold emitters accountable for violations, and further reduce the amount of short-lived climate pollutants in the atmosphere. The California Legislature has the chance to live up to the challenge as it finalizes the budget.

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Environment + Energy Leader

OCTOBER 4, 2022

The post New California Laws Ban Sale of Textiles, Cosmetics Containing PFAS appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader. The legislation outlaws offering products with the chemicals by 2025.

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Environment + Energy Leader

JULY 1, 2022

California passes a law that requires plastic to be recycled at a rate of 65% by 2032. The post California Passes Nation’s Toughest Plastic Waste Law appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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Union of Concerned Scientists

AUGUST 29, 2023

For California to achieve its climate goals and federal air quality obligations, the state legislature must approve the extension of a modest portion of vehicle registration fees (called “AB 8 Fees”). The California legislature cannot risk losing millions of dollars in clean transportation funding. Let’s do it!

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Yale E360

AUGUST 2, 2023

Thanks to intensifying storms in the North Pacific, winter waves along the California coast have grown around a foot taller over the last half-century, new research shows. Read more on E360 →

Climate Change 246

Climate Change 246

Environment + Energy Leader

FEBRUARY 21, 2023

The facility will also support the continued integration of renewable energy assets on California’s electric grid, a key component of the state’s decarbonization goals. The post Wärtsilä Completes 125MW LeConte Energy Storage Project in California appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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Renewable Energy Electricity 264

Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 6, 2023

Últimamente me han preguntado mucho si California sigue en sequía. Esta pregunta surgió recientemente con la medida de acumulación de nieve en California por parte del estado. Mi respuesta como defensor del Derecho Humano al Agua es que la sequía no terminará hasta que todas las personas tengan acceso a agua potable.

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Union of Concerned Scientists

MAY 11, 2023

There is not enough water in California to sustain our current practices and everybody knows it. In normal years and in dry years, California agriculture, industry, and households draw more groundwater than we should. Agriculture is the main water user in California by far, accounting for 80% of the water use in the state.

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Legal Planet

AUGUST 5, 2021

The piece, “ When Living in California Means Fearing the Outdoors ,” is by a staff opinion writer at the Times, and it discusses how much of an impact on people’s lives the wildfires in California over the past few years have had, with a particular focus on the writer’s personal experiences. million acres a year burned in California.

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Union of Concerned Scientists

APRIL 19, 2023

In late April, California air regulators are poised to pass one of the most meaningful regulations to reduce pollution from commercial trucks, vans, and buses. The current draft of the ACF rule was released in late March and made several changes to the version that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) heard back in October 2022.

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Environment + Energy Leader

APRIL 4, 2022

California ports implement program to encourage increased sustainability and efficiency of drayage trucks. The post California Ports Program Encourages use of Zero Emissions Trucks appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader.

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Environment + Energy Leader

SEPTEMBER 7, 2022

The post Heat Continues to Stress California Grid, Rolling Blackouts Possible appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader. Increased energy conservation measures may be necessary as temperatures remain above 100 degrees throughout the state.

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Conservation 264

Environment + Energy Leader

NOVEMBER 2, 2022

The post California Communities Built for Resilience with Microgrid, Battery Storage appeared first on Environment + Energy Leader. The homes are designed to be all-electric with the hopes of providing insight to sustainable construction.

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Environment + Energy Leader

SEPTEMBER 13, 2022

San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) submitted a proposal with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Sept. San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) submitted a proposal with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Sept.

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Environment + Energy Leader

SEPTEMBER 13, 2022

San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) submitted a proposal with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Sept. San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) submitted a proposal with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Sept.

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Environment + Energy Leader

FEBRUARY 24, 2022

To improve its coastal and ocean health, the California government’s Ocean Protection Council devised a 37-page Statewide Microplastics Strategy containing case studies, policy prescriptions, and monitoring methods. The strategy’s multi-pronged approach includes.

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Circle of Blue

JUNE 17, 2021

Guillermina Andrade (left) and Vicente Tapia filled barrels from a water depot outside the East Porterville, California, fire station. California is not yet to that level of emergency. In theory, yes, says Ellen Hanak of the Public Policy Institute of California. Photo © J. Drought Monitor categories.

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Union of Concerned Scientists

MARCH 28, 2023

But agricultural practices, especially in California, must be updated to survive the future. I have engaged with hundreds of stakeholders in rural California, agreeing often and disagreeing sometimes. Source: Water, environment, and socioeconomic justice in California: A multi-benefit cropland repurposing framework.

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