Santa Cruz County Local Environment News Articles and Digest

Environment Health Elections & Politics Government

Despite Newsom Veto, State Takes Steps to Ban Artificial Turf Due to ‘Forever Chemicals’

10/17/2023
California cities can ban synthetic turf under a law Gov. Gavin Newsom signed. He rejected a bill to ban PFAS in fake lawns.

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Business, Economy & Jobs Environment Sustainability Government

Wind Turbine Developments Off Central Coast on ‘Fast Track’

10/16/2023
Image for display with article titled Needed to Slow Climate Change, California’s Controversial Offshore Wind Farms Could Transform the Coastline

Image for display with article titled Needed to Slow Climate Change, California’s Controversial Offshore Wind Farms Could Transform the Coastline

California can’t reach goal of 100 percent clean energy without wind, but at what cost to the coastline?

From CalMatters...

Environment Health Elections & Politics Government

He Bashes Republicans for ‘Rights Regression,’ but in Recent Decisions, Newsom Neglects Protections for Marginalized Californians

10/15/2023
Gov. Newsom vetoed bills to outlaw caste discrimination and to consider gender affirmation in child custody cases. Advocates wonder if he’s thinking about his national political profile.

From CalMatters...

Environment Land Use & Development Government

‘Another Attempt to Industrialize the Coast’: California’s Central Coast Residents Want to Halt Offshore Wind

10/15/2023
Massive ocean wind farms off Morro Bay and Santa Barbara County—which could transform these quiet coastal towns and affect marine life—face a turbulent path.

From CalMatters...

Environment Water Agriculture, Food & Gardening Government

San Joaquin Valley Groundwater Pumpers Need to Slow Down or Face Fines, State Says

10/12/2023
Hundreds of wells in Tulare Lake aquifer are at risk of going dry. Today's recommendation is the first time that state officials have moved to crack down on local plans that fail to stop excessive groundwater pumping.

From CalMatters...

Environment Health Community Service & Support

Climate Change Took Them to ‘Dark Places.’ Now These Californians are Doing Something About it

10/09/2023
The facts of climate change can lead to feelings of hopelessness and despair. Some California activists are creating communities for people to talk about those feelings.

From CalMatters...

Environment Housing Community Service & Support Government

Public Utilities Commission to Vote on Plan That Could Make it Harder to Power Homes With Solar

10/05/2023
The CPUC is considering a rule that would gut the payments that solar panels on apartment buildings receive, and many housing groups are blazing mad about it.

From KSBW NBC/ABC...

Environment Animals

Spider Webs Seen Falling From the Sky Across the Central Coast

10/04/2023
A sticky and fluffy substance has been seen falling in Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties—a natural phenomenon called ballooning, when spiders use their webs to fly through the air.

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Environment Elections & Politics History Government

Dianne Feinstein Dies, ‘Charted Own Path’ in Legendary Career

09/29/2023
Image for display with article titled Dianne Feinstein Dies at 90. ‘Charted Her Own Path’ in a Career Born in the Political Violence of the ’70s

Image for display with article titled Dianne Feinstein Dies at 90. ‘Charted Her Own Path’ in a Career Born in the Political Violence of the ’70s

The longest-serving California senator had a legendary political career spanning seven decades.

From CalMatters...

Environment Health Sustainability Government

The Bay-Delta Ecosystem is Collapsing. Now California Has Dueling Plans to Save It

09/28/2023
A long-awaited, controversial report weighs updates to standards that state officials say have failed to protect fish and wildlife. But environmentalists, Native tribes and others already are furious about how long this has taken—and the state is years away from taking action.

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Environment Housing Government

New Plan to Fix Home Insurance Crisis: What You Need to Know

09/22/2023
Image for display with article titled Lara Reveals Plan to Keep Home Insurance Companies in State—But Will It Work?

Insurance commissioner proposes his own plan after legislature punts on fixing crisis

From CapPublicRadio...

Environment Health

Why California Rivers Saw Fewer Harmful Algal Blooms This Year

09/20/2023
Outbreaks have wreaked havoc on the state’s river ecosystems for years. But this year was different. Faster, colder river waters led to fewer outbreaks of the harmful algae.

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Environment Sustainability Watsonville Wetlands Watch

Watsonville Wetlands Watch Receives $3M Grant to Bolster Tree Plantings

09/20/2023
Santa Cruz County is well-known for its forestry, with approximately 75% of its overall terrain covered by trees, according to Global Forest Watch.

From YubaNet...

Environment

Study: Near-Surface Permafrost Will be Nearly Gone by 2100

09/15/2023
An international team found that the amount of near-surface permafrost could drop by 93% compared to the preindustrial period of 1850 to 1900. Permafrost may exist only in the eastern Siberian uplands, Canadian High Arctic Archipelago and northernmost Greenland—as it did in the mid-Pliocene Warm Period.

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Public Safety Environment Crime & Justice Government

Legislature Fails to Address California Fire Insurance Crisis

09/14/2023
Image for display with article titled Legislators Punt on Fixing State's Fire Insurance Crisis — What Now For Homeowners?

As climate change heightens fire risks, insurers leave the state and lawmakers do nothing to keep them here.

From CalMatters...

Business, Economy & Jobs Environment Transportation Government

Lawmakers Strike $106 Million Deal for Hydrogen Vehicle Fueling Stations

09/13/2023
Hydrogen fueling stations will get 15 percent of funds in a state program — even though Californians own only about 12,000 hydrogen cars. The funds come from fees paid by drivers.

From CalMatters...

Environment Land Use & Development Water Government

Your Lawn May be Gone. New Bill Bans Irrigation of ‘Ornamental’ Lawns

09/13/2023
The irrigation bill, which aims to force businesses and institutions to remove their lawns, now goes to the governor.

From CalMatters...

Environment Health Elections & Politics Government

Climate Bill Forcing Companies to Reveal Carbon Emissions Passes, Newsom Yet to Say if He’ll Sign it

09/12/2023
About 5,300 companies would file annual emissions reports. The aim is to hold corporations accountable for the role they play in climate change.

From CapPublicRadio...

Environment Animals

Meet California’s (Possible) Future State Bat

09/12/2023
There’s an official state bird, mineral, tree, fish, insect, lichen, fabric, sport, dance, soil and even dinosaur.

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Business, Economy & Jobs Environment Transportation Government

California to Focus Most Electric Car Rebates on Low-Income Buyers

09/08/2023
Image for display with article titled California to End Most Electric Car Rebates, Refocusing Subsidies to Help Low-Income EV Buyers

Data shows wide disparity in EV ownership between higher-income areas and "disadvantaged communities."

Santa Cruz County Local News: Environment