Santa Cruz County Local Environment News Articles and Digest

Public Safety Environment Resilience

Why California Is Having Its Best Wildfire Season in 25 years

07/30/2023
Huge winter rains and snow are continuing to reduce fire risk, experts say.

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Economy & Jobs Environment History Government

7 Ways California Leads the Battle Against Climate Change

07/29/2023
Image for display with article titled Here Are 7 Ways California Leads in the Battle Against Climate Change and Air Pollution

The nation’s first Air Pollution Control District formed in Los Angeles more than 75 years ago.

From YubaNet...

Environment Sustainability

Litigation Now a Key Tool in Seeking Climate Justice

07/27/2023
The total number of climate change court cases has more than doubled since 2017 and is growing worldwide. These findings, published by the UN Environment Programme and the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University, show that climate litigation is becoming an integral part of securing climate action and justice.

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Environment Elections & Politics History Government

10 Frequently Heard Claims Made by Climate Deniers

07/25/2023
Image for display with article titled 10 Frequently Heard Claims Made by Climate Deniers and Whether They’re True or Not

Climate change deniers make plenty of arguments against the scientific consensus. Do they have a point?

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Environment Elections & Politics History Government

It Started With ‘Star Wars’: Understanding Climate Denial

07/25/2023
Image for display with article titled It Started With ‘Star Wars’: Climate Change Denial, Where it Came From and What it Costs the Planet

The roots of the climate denial movement go all the way back to the Cold War.

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Environment Sustainability Resilience

Flood Protection Policy with Santa Cruz County Roots Adopted by National Association of Counties

07/23/2023
The National Association of Counties delivered a unanimous vote Friday that will include equitable flood protection for disadvantaged communities.

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Environment

Utilities Propose Changes to Billing

07/22/2023
California’s electric bills are rising, but regulators are debating a new plan to charge customers based on their income level.

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Economy & Jobs Environment Transportation Government

How Electric Cars Can Boost California's Power Grid

07/20/2023
Image for display with article titled California’s Electric Cars Can Feed the Grid and Help Avoid Brownouts, but the Tech is not Cheap

Bi-directional charging allows EV owners to sell power to the grid

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Economy & Jobs Public Safety Environment Government

Rise in California Wildfires Caused by Human-Driven Climate Change, Study Finds

07/18/2023
Image for display with article titled Climate Change Caused 172 Percent More Land to be Burned by Wildfire, Study Finds

Two new studies show climate change is the primary force causing more severe wildfires.

From The Sacramento Bee...

Environment Water Sustainability

California Republicans Fighting Again to Raise the Shasta Dam

07/17/2023
Raising Shasta Dam to increase its capacity would provide 634,000 more acre-feet of water per year, legislators say. But that assumes there will always be enough precipitation, and the move risks flooding sacred Native American lands and harming local habitats.

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Environment Sustainability

Santa Cruz Recycling Center Offering Summer Facility Tours

07/16/2023
The vast scale and effort of recycling are on full display at the Santa Cruz Resource Recovery Center, which offers tours every Friday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. until Aug 25.

From CalMatters...

Economy & Jobs Environment Water

Ending Mono Lake Diversions to Los Angeles: Good for the Environment, Bad for the Climate

07/12/2023
The environmental costs of ending water diversions from Mono Lake to Los Angeles would be mixed: It might help a shore bird habitat but would require changes that increase carbon emissions.

From CalMatters...

Public Safety Environment Government

Drones, Satellites and AI: How California Fights its Unpredictable Wildfires With Big Data

07/11/2023
As nights warm and droughts intensify, past models predicting fire behavior have become unreliable. So California is working with analysts and tapping into new technology to figure out how to attack wildfires. Gleaned from military satellites, drones and infrared mapping, the information is spat out in real time and triaged by a fire behavior analyst.

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Environment Water Sustainability

Composting Toilet Pilot Program Moves Closer to Launch in San Lorenzo Valley

07/07/2023
The autonomous, water-free system captures waste in biodegradable bags and sawdust and are then taken to a central location for composting.

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Economy & Jobs Environment Land Use & Development Housing Government

California YIMBY Housing Bill Threatens Coastal Commission Powers

07/06/2023
Image for display with article titled How California’s Housing Crisis Chips Away at Powers of Coastal Commission

New bill could strip some environmental protection powers in favor of new housing development.

From Benito Link...

Environment Animals

CDFW Confirms Detection of Snake Fungal Disease

07/06/2023
Research by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s snake fungal disease project indicates that the pathogen is occurring in more locations and impacting more snakes in California than previously known.

From CalMatters...

Economy & Jobs Environment Government

State, Truck-Makers Strike Deal Over Zero-Emission Vehicles

07/06/2023
Truck manufacturers won’t file legal challenges over California's controversial mandate, and in return, the state air board will relax some smog-fighting requirements.

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Environment Transportation Sustainability

Santa Cruz Metro Awarded Millions to Meet Zero Emission Goals

07/03/2023
Metro CEO Michael Tree told the Sentinel the hydrogen fuel cell-electric bus purchase is the largest of its kind in North America.

From Lookout Santa Cruz...

Environment Land Use & Development Sustainability Housing

As Santa Cruz Plots an Electric Future, U.S. Energy Officials Tour City with Offer of Federal Funds

07/01/2023
Ariel Marshall, a senior official from the U.S. Department of Energy visited Santa Cruz city leaders to learn about progress made on all-electric housing and other developments. Marshall’s message was clear: there’s federal money for the city’s climate-friendly projects.

From The Pajaronian...

Public Safety Environment Sustainability Resilience Neighborhoods Government County of Santa Cruz Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency

Santa Cruz County Takes Back Flood Mitigation Funding

06/29/2023
Image for display with article titled Santa Cruz County Takes Back Flood Mitigation Funding

The county has withdrawn from an agreement with the Pajaro Valley Regional Flood Management Agency (PRFMA) after the two disagreed on how to spend $1 million in funds meant to address flood risk.

Santa Cruz County Local News: Environment