Yolo County Local Environment News Articles and Digest

Education Environment Sustainability

Research Explores Capacity of Biochar to Combat Climate Change, Improve Forest Soils

12/08/2023
A Cal Poly Humboldt professor is partnering with USDA researchers to study biochar, which results from heating dry plant-based materials at high temperatures without oxygen. The CO2 in the charcoal then stays in the soil for hundreds of years, rather than in the atmosphere.

From New York Times...

Environment Animals

Plan to Eliminate Catalina’s Deer Infuriates Locals

12/07/2023
Conservationists intend to shoot all of the deer on Santa Catalina Island by helicopter. Some people are opposed, either for not wanting to eliminate the deer or for missing out on future chances to hunt them.

From Capital & Main...

Environment Government

CA Air Resources Board Staff Barred from Talking to Retired Staffer

12/06/2023
Staff at the state’s air regulatory agency have been restricted from communicating with Jim Duffy, a scientist who retired from the agency in 2022. Duffy had criticized gas lobbyists and an agency director.

From Sacramento Bee...

Environment Land Use & Development Housing

State Might Soon Require Replacing Broken A/C Units

12/06/2023
California energy regulators are considering requiring homeowners to replace broken air-conditioning systems with heat pumps or HVAC systems that are more energy efficient. The change would go into effect in 2026.

From CapPublicRadio...

Environment Homelessness Crime & Justice

Sacramento DA Adds to Lawsuit Against City Over Homelessness Response

12/06/2023
Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho is adding environmental violations to his lawsuit against the city of Sacramento over what he calls its failure to act regarding the homelessness crisis.

From Los Angeles Times...

Environment Transportation Sustainability

High-Speed Rail Project Connecting SoCal to Las Vegas Wins Grant

12/05/2023
Private company Brightline secured a $3 billion grant through the U.S. Department of Transportation toward a 218-mile high-speed rail line from Rancho Cucamonga to Las Vegas. The line would allow people to make the trip to Sin City in a little over two hours.

From SFGate...

Business, Economy & Jobs Environment Sustainability

Imperial County Might Have Enough Lithium for 375 Million Batteries

12/04/2023
A new study by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has found that approximately 3,400 kilotons of lithium are located below Imperial County in Southern California. This could produce more than $7 billion in lithium carbonate annually, helping power significant numbers of electric vehicles.

From KQED...

Business, Economy & Jobs Environment Transportation Sustainability Government

Oakland Might Have to Pay Developers Millions Over Coal Terminal

12/04/2023
An Alameda County judge ruled on Nov. 22 that the city of Oakland thwarted a proposed coal export terminal. The judge will rule if the developer who sued is entitled to $159 million in damages or moving forward with the project.

From Daily Democrat...

Education Environment Animals

Yolo Basin Foundation’s ‘Flyway Nights’ Speaker Series Begins Dec. 7

12/02/2023
Yolo Basin Foundation’s “Flyway Nights” speaker series highlights the work of River Partners to restore habitat for the monarch butterfly.

From Daily Democrat...

Environment Animals

Yolo Audubon Members Clean Up Babel Slough

12/01/2023
Spanning 3.5 miles through the agricultural fields of the Clarksburg area, Babel Slough is one of Yolo County’s top birding hotspots, serving as a haven for migratory species.

From YubaNet...

Environment Sustainability

Science Points to ‘Climate Collapse’ as UN Chief Calls for Action

11/30/2023
The world is heating up at an unprecedented pace, new climate data shows, and leaders gathered for the COP28 conference in Dubai must get us out of “deep trouble,” UN chief António Guterres said.

California Local Pin Marker From California Local...

Business, Economy & Jobs Environment Water Sustainability Government

California Looks to Ocean Waves for New Clean Energy Source

11/29/2023
Image for display with article titled Surf's Up! California May Look to Ocean Waves as Possible New Clean Energy Source

Costs to turn waves into energy are high, but so's the payoff for California's clean energy future.

From SFGate...

Public Safety Environment Health

Sewage Spill Closes Southern California Beach

11/29/2023
Two miles of public beach were closed in Laguna Beach following a spill of 94,500 gallons of sewage. Orange County is testing water to determine when the beach will be safe to reopen.

From YubaNet...

Environment Sustainability

DOE Analysis Confirms Salton Sea Is a Rich Domestic Lithium Resource

11/28/2023
An analysis by the U.S. Department of Energy found that with expected technology advances, the Salton Sea region’s total lithium resources could produce more than 3,400 kilotons of lithium, enough to support over 375 million batteries for electric vehicles—more than the total number currently on U.S. roads.

California Local Pin Marker From California Local...

Environment Health Agriculture, Food & Gardening Community Service & Support Government

Hunger and Food Insecurity in California: What It Is, What to Do About It

11/17/2023
Image for display with article titled Hunger and Food Insecurity in California: What Must We Do to Make Sure Everybody Eats?

Almost 1 of every 4 people in the world’s fifth-largest economy has trouble getting enough nutritious food to eat.

California Local Pin Marker From California Local...

Business, Economy & Jobs Environment Sustainability Government

California Slashes Rooftop Solar Incentives—Again

11/17/2023
Image for display with article titled California Slashes Rooftop Solar Incentives for Building Owners—Again

California's Public Utilities Commission cut payments to building owners who sell solar power to the grid.

From The Guardian...

Environment Animals

Southern California Has Wolves Again, for the First Time in Nearly 150 Years

11/13/2023
A 2021 fire has helped bring wolves back to Southern California for the first time since the 19th century. A rancher is worried about how to keep wolves, which are federally protected, from harming cattle.

From Daily Democrat...

Environment Resilience

‘Leok Po’ Workshop Puts Focus on Indigenous History

11/12/2023
Held in partnership with Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, a workshop on “cultural burning” at the Cache Creek Nature Preserve was attended by around 70 professional firefighters as well as others interested in land management.

California Local Pin Marker From California Local...

Business, Economy & Jobs Environment Elections & Politics Government

Led by Oil Companies, Lobbyists Flood State Govt With Cash

11/09/2023
Image for display with article titled Oil Companies are Biggest Spenders in Huge Year for Corporate Lobbyists in California

With year still not over, 2023 sees $358 million flooding Sacramento from all lobbyists.

California Local Pin Marker From California Local...

Environment Resilience

Despite Promises, Homeowners Still Face Fire Insurance Crisis

11/08/2023
Image for display with article titled Despite State’s Promises, Homeowners Still Facing Fire Insurance Crisis

Denials and non-renewals of homeowner fire policies have continued to climb.

Yolo County Local News: Environment