Environmental and Policy Focus -- Court of Appeals upholds determination: Reuters - Mar 14 -
The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday rejected a challenge to a determination by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service...more
Environmental and Policy Focus - California lawmakers pass $687 billion drought plan -- San Francisco CBS Local - Feb 27:
California lawmakers have passed a $687 million plan to provide immediate relief to...more
Renewable Energy Focus - With $6.5 billion loan, nuclear energy gets new life in U.S. -- SustainableBusiness.com - Feb 24:
Although Republicans lambasted Department of Energy (DOE) programs that support renewable energy...more
Renewable Energy Focus - San Francisco announces 0-50-100 plan to fight climate change: SustainableBusiness.com - Feb 14 -
San Francisco says it is closing in on the goals of its 2004 Climate Action Plan, and the city...more
Environmental and Policy Focus - White House proposes new fuel efficiency rules to reduce emissions from heavy trucks: Los Angeles Times - Feb 18 -
President Obama moved ahead Tuesday with plans to further tighten...more
Renewable Energy Focus - Department of Energy announces $30 million for novel and hybrid solar technologies: Solar Server News - Feb 6 --
U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz has announced $30 million in Advanced...more
Environmental and Policy Focus - Sens. Feinstein, Boxer propose emergency drought legislation: SFGate - Feb 13:
Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer proposed emergency drought legislation Tuesday ahead of President...more
Renewable Energy Focus: Judge rules that San Diego Gas & Electric can’t cancel Montana wind farm deal: Sacramento CBS Local - Jan 27:
A California utility was barred Monday from canceling its power purchase contract...more
Environmental and Policy Focus - Steinberg bill aims to ease California drought: The Sacramento Bee - Feb 3 --
California’s Senate leader is drafting legislation that would expedite help for communities facing what may...more
Environmental and Policy Focus: Ninth Circuit debates application of dormant Commerce Clause - CourtHouse News - Jan 22:
A Ninth Circuit appellate panel’s rejection of a challenge to the “life-cycle analysis” approach...more
On January 9, 2014, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 9, announced that it will require oil and gas operators engaged in hydraulic fracturing off the southern California coast to disclose any chemicals...more
Environmental and Policy Focus: Judge recommends approval of California natural gas plant -- UT San Diego - Jan 7 -
An administrative law judge has urged the California Public Utilities Commission to authorize...more
Gov. Brown wants to use cap-and-trade fees to fund high speed rail project - Insurance For Less - Jan 8:
Gov. Jerry Brown announced plans to provide new funding for California’s high speed rail project from corporate...more
1/14/2014
/ Air Pollution ,
Cap-and-Trade ,
Carbon Emissions ,
Environmental Policies ,
Fracking ,
Funding ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
High-Speed Rail ,
Oil & Gas ,
Plastic Bag Bans ,
Public Projects
Renewable Energy Focus - Catching rays in California, and storing them - New York Times - Dec 23:
Solar power is growing so fast in California — with installations by customers increasing tenfold since 2006 — that it is...more
On December 30, 2013, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) amended its All Appropriate Inquiries (AAI) Rule, codified in 40 CFR Part 312, to include a specific reference to the updated ASTM International Standard...more
California plans tighter control of hydraulic fracturing, but not enough for some - New York Times - Dec 13:
California oil and gas companies using hydraulic fracturing to tap the nation’s largest oil shale formation...more
Environmental and Policy Focus - California Intends to Add Trichloroethylene (TCE) To Proposition 65 Reproductive Toxicity Lis: BNA - Dec 12 -
California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has...more
Renewable Energy Focus - Renewable energy to the rescue for California's Salton Sea: SustainableBusiness.com - Nov 27 -
Geothermal energy is coming to the rescue of California's Salton Sea while also giving a huge boost...more
Following significant delays, the California Nonresidential Building Energy Use Disclosure Program is now slated to go into effect on January 1, 2014 for buildings over 10,000 square feet. An owner of a building subject to...more
Following the recent passage of Senate Bill 4 ("SB 4"), California's controversial new law addressing well stimulation techniques including hydraulic fracturing (sometimes called fracking) and acidization, the California...more
11/27/2013
Environmental and Policy Focus - California releases new regulations for hydraulic fracturing: San Jose Mercury News - Nov 22 -
California’s Division of Oil, Gas & Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) has released proposed...more
11/25/2013
Renewable Energy Focus: $6 million for electric vehicle infrastructure in California -- Green Car Congress - Nov 13:
The California Energy Commission has issued a $6 million competitive grant solicitation to fund the...more
Environmental and Policy Focus - California Court Upholds State's Authority to Sell Carbon Allowances at Auction: Reuter's - Nov 14 --
The California Air Resources Board (ARB) can sell carbon emission allowances at...more
Renewable Energy Focus: Feds move to choose vendors based on environmental performance -- SustainableBusiness.com - Oct 29:
The U.S. General Services Administration, the government's purchasing arm, is proposing a new...more
Environmental and Policy Focus: California's New Hydraulic Fracturing Law Cited In Pending CEQA Lawsuit: EnergyWire - Oct 30 --
Earlier this year, the Sierra Club, the Center for Biological Diversity, Earthworks and...more