2016

Climate Change
California will rate big energy users
State officials recently added a new piece to the patchwork quilt that is California energy policy:  a mechanism for easily—and publicly—tracking how non-residential buildings use energy. The details aren’t worked out yet under a law that took effect three months ago. But such programs are already in place in San Francisco and a smattering of other […]
By • March 29, 2016
Politics
Reader reaction: Special interests game the initiative process
This letter first appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle Letters to the Editor on March 23, 2016, in response to Why your signature is worth more than ever. Regarding “Populist concept now for the rich” (March 21): For some time now, the giant special interests such as Big Tobacco have gamed the initiative process by […]
By • March 23, 2016
Justice
California crime on the rise
After a decades-long decline in violent and property crime, early indications from cities across California point to a significant increase in lawbreaking. In California’s 68 largest cities, violent crime jumped 11 percent in the first six months of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014. Among major U.S. cities, three California cities saw the largest […]
By • March 23, 2016
Politics
Why your signature is worth more than ever
Democracy has a price. And at the moment, it’s higher than ever in California. With a presidential election coming up this fall, dozens of groups are trying to get measures on the ballot — asking voters to sanction recreational marijuana, stiffen gun controls, increase cigarette taxes and pass numerous other laws. The competition among them […]
By • March 16, 2016
Environment
California officials say going green will cost you some, save you some
Before remodeling a kitchen or building a house, Californians should consider Title 24 of the state building code. It spells out the state’s energy-use requirements for new and existing structures. Since 1978, Title 24 has set such standards for builders and homeowners, guiding them along a path that will lower the energy footprint of California’s buildings. The code is updated every three years, with the […]
By • March 16, 2016
Economy
New GOP leader wants to give ‘a hand up’
A month after taking over as the California Assembly’s Republican leader, Chad Mayes brought his caucus to a shelter for homeless mothers. The lawmakers listened as women shared stories of drug abuse and recovery. They poked their heads into rooms crowded with bunk beds. They greeted children bouncing balls on the playground. “It’s important to […]
By • March 9, 2016
Environment
Renovating a home is about to cost more
Owning a home in California could get more complicated starting next year with a new law intended to cut energy consumption, partly by increasing the efficiency of home heating, cooling and lighting systems. The legislation requires a doubling of statewide energy savings by 2030. All sectors of California’s built environment — state buildings, commercial and […]
By • March 9, 2016
Climate Change
How is California doing on climate change?
A panel of energy experts gave mostly passing marks to California’s landmark climate change law, but raised concerns about the cost of implementing additional, more stringent, measures. In a spirited but cordial debate Thursday night in Bakersfield, lawmakers, regulators and advocates explored the state of play in the decade since the passage of AB32, the […]
By • March 4, 2016
Climate Change
Oil gears up for another climate fight
A Harvard economist known globally for his work on climate change policy sat in the Sacramento office of the oil industry’s lobbying firm recently, making the case that California is fighting global warming the wrong way. The state has a good cap and trade system, Robert Stavins said, but some of its other environmental policies […]
By • March 2, 2016
Events
California’s Energy Future-event
Thu, March 3, 20166:00 PM – 8:30 PM PSTSOLD OUT LOCATION:The Mark1623 19th StreetBakersfield, CA 93301 California, home to America’s car culture as well as its most ambitious climate change policies, is experimenting with a new future for energy. Gov. Jerry Brown hopes to cut gas consumption in half by 2030 with government mandates and […]
By • February 25, 2016

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2016 - Page 13 of 16 - CalMatters
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