Beginning January 1, 2025, the “Making Conservation a California Way of Life” regulatory framework requires urban retail water suppliers — not individual households or businesses — to adopt a series of “urban water use...more
7/25/2025
/ California ,
Conservation ,
Drinking Water ,
Environmental Justice ,
Environmental Policies ,
Groundwater ,
Infrastructure ,
Inland Waterways ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Sustainability ,
Urban Planning & Development ,
Water ,
Water Quality ,
Water Supplies
The budget reconciliation bill signed into law on July 4 (also known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill”) adds a new provision to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) that allows project sponsors/applicants to pay for...more
7/18/2025
/ Budget Reconciliation ,
California ,
Clean Energy ,
Energy Policy ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Storage ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Review ,
Investment ,
NEPA ,
New Legislation ,
One Big Beautiful Bill Act ,
Renewable Energy ,
Solar Energy ,
Tax Credits ,
Wind Power
California stands at a pivotal juncture in 2025, confronting an array of environmental and housing challenges. As usual, the California State Legislature is considering numerous strategies to address these issues. This year’s...more
6/24/2025
/ Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) ,
Affordable Housing ,
California ,
California Coastal Commission ,
California Endangered Species Act ,
CEQA ,
Citizen Suits ,
Clean Energy ,
Demolition ,
Density Bonus ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Policies ,
Habitat Conservation Plan ,
Housing Developers ,
Housing Market ,
Impact Fees ,
Natural Disasters ,
Natural Resources ,
New Legislation ,
Real Estate Development ,
Sackett v EPA ,
Water Conservation ,
Waters of the United States ,
Wetlands ,
Wildfires
New U.S. solar capacity will be more than 10% lower in 2030 than in 2025, according to a forecast by the Solar Energy Industries Association and energy research firm Wood Mackenzie. The outlook includes the expected effects...more
6/13/2025
/ Budget Cuts ,
California ,
Clean Energy ,
Energy Policy ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Storage ,
Federal Budget ,
Renewable Energy ,
Solar Energy ,
Tariffs ,
Tax Credits
On May 29, 2025, the Supreme Court held that the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) — which requires federal agencies to analyze the environmental impacts of projects that they carry out, fund, or approve — does not...more
6/9/2025
/ California ,
Clean Energy ,
Energy Policy ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Storage ,
Environmental Policies ,
Government Agencies ,
NEPA ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Renewable Energy ,
SCOTUS ,
Solar Energy ,
Wind Power
The California Independent System Operator Board of Governors has approved the ISO’s 2024-2025 transmission plan, recommending 31 infrastructure projects to help meet projected load growth and changing grid conditions....more
The Trump administration took steps to rescind a Biden-era regulation that lowered fees for renewable energy projects on federal lands, saying the rule unfairly favored development of wind and solar facilities. The Interior...more
Attorneys general from 17 states, including California, and Washington, D.C., are challenging an executive order President Donald Trump signed during his first day in office, pausing approvals, permits, and loans for all wind...more
The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) has recommenced the review of solar, storage, and geothermal project applications on federal lands. This follows a 60-day suspension of all renewable energy authorizations, including...more
Governor Gavin Newsom is pushing to lay the groundwork for building a $20-billion water tunnel in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta before his term expires, and state water regulators are considering whether to grant a...more
4/28/2025
/ California ,
Energy Projects ,
Environmental Litigation ,
Environmental Policies ,
Governor Newsom ,
Groundwater ,
Infrastructure ,
Permits ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Regulatory Agencies ,
Water Rights
Fighting about rooftop solar in California never seems to get old. Kicking off the latest conflict is legislation that would reduce the benefits that longtime solar customers receive for extra electricity they produce and...more
With the promise of newer, cheaper nuclear power on the horizon, U.S. states are vying to position themselves to build and supply the industry’s next generation as policymakers consider expanding subsidies and paving over...more
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has approved new maintenance and operation standards for battery storage resources, including requiring facility owners to develop emergency response and emergency action...more
California Assemblymember Chris Ward (D-San Diego) has introduced AB 1260, legislation designed to strengthen and expand the initial framework for California’s community solar + storage program established by AB 2316. The...more
A new bill has been introduced in California’s state legislature that would add an assessment of funding opportunities for offshore wind port infrastructure to the governor’s Five-Year Infrastructure Plan. Introduced on...more
The California Public Utilities Commission on January 30 streamlined its transmission permitting requirements as part of a broader effort to meet the state’s clean energy goals. Among the changes, the CPUC now requires...more
2/7/2025
/ California ,
Clean Energy ,
CPUC ,
Energy Policy ,
Energy Projects ,
Infrastructure ,
New York ,
Offshore Wind ,
Public Utilities Commission ,
Public Utility ,
Renewable Energy ,
Solar Energy ,
Transmission Grid
President Donald Trump’s ban on new offshore wind leases won’t halt giant wind farms already planned off California’s coast, but industry officials say the policy shift is a blow to a renewable energy industry still working...more
President Donald Trump on Monday issued a memorandum directing the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the Interior to develop a new plan within 90 days “to route more water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to...more
1/27/2025
/ California ,
Clean Water Act ,
Crops ,
Department of the Interior ,
Desalination ,
Environmental Justice ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Farmers ,
Governor Newsom ,
Groundwater ,
Infrastructure ,
State and Local Government ,
State Water Boards ,
State Water Project ,
Trump Administration ,
U.S. Commerce Department ,
Water ,
Water Resources Control Board ,
Water Rights ,
Water Supplies ,
Wildfires
According to a new study published in the journal Renewable Energy, no blackouts occurred when wind, water, and solar electricity supply exceeded 100% of demand on California’s main grid for a record 98 of 116 days from late...more
1/10/2025
/ Batteries ,
Biden Administration ,
California ,
Clean Energy ,
Department of Energy (DOE) ,
Energy Policy ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Energy Storage ,
Renewable Energy ,
Solar Energy ,
Tax Credits ,
Wind Power
Utility-scale U.S. solar installations are set to continue record-breaking growth with over 32 GW installed in 2024, due in part to a requirement that modules imported during the anti-circumvention tariff moratorium be in...more
Public Service Co. of New Mexico (PNM) announced on November 11 that it plans to join the California Independent System Operator’s (CAISO) extended day-ahead market, or EDAM, beginning in 2027. The market is slated to launch...more
11/19/2024
/ BOEM ,
CAISO ,
California ,
Department of the Interior ,
Endangered Species ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Energy Storage ,
Environmental Impact Statements ,
Hydrogen Power ,
Nuclear Power ,
Offshore Wind ,
Power Plants ,
Renewable Energy ,
Solar Energy
California officials have joined a legal effort to restore water to the Kern River after an abrupt shutoff of water dried up the river and killed thousands of fish in Bakersfield....more
10/25/2024
/ Bureau of Land Management ,
California ,
Critical Habitat ,
Environmental Policies ,
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ,
Farms ,
Geothermal Energy ,
Groundwater ,
Infrastructure ,
Inland Waterways ,
Natural Resources ,
Salmon ,
Water ,
Water Resources Control Board ,
Water Supplies
Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed a bill that aimed to make rooftop solar systems more affordable for school districts....more
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) on July 19 ramped up its support for offshore wind, with a proposal to fund the procurement of up to 7.6 GW. The proposal recommended launching three solicitation rounds for...more
A judge has temporarily blocked a plan by a California state water board to take over monitoring groundwater use in a portion of the crop-rich San Joaquin Valley, according to a copy of the decision obtained on July 16. Kings...more
7/22/2024
/ California ,
Climate Change ,
Crops ,
Department of Environmental Quality ,
Drinking Water ,
Drought ,
Farm Bureau ,
Farmers ,
Groundwater ,
Lack of Authority ,
Public Schools ,
State and Local Government ,
Wastewater ,
Water Conservation ,
Water Resources Control Board ,
Water Rights