Environment

Facing a mental health crisis, Cal Fire crews sought less of a workload. But they have to wait two years under their new contract.

Here are six ways that Californians will be affected by the state’s new climate change blueprint.

After a unanimous vote today by the CPUC, homeowners get smaller payments from utilities, which solar companies say will slow construction of new rooftop solar projects. But new state incentives will be available.

Despite December storms, water supplies remain low in many areas. Some managers expect to impose severe restrictions on their customers.

Several dozen companies competed for leases to build massive floating wind farms in deep ocean waters off Morro Bay and Humboldt County. The auction was the first major step toward producing offshore wind energy off the West Coast.

Moderate weather and well-timed rainstorms in much of California combined to curb the acreage and structures burned.

The California Coastal Commission voted 8-to-2 despite the ecological risks to the Monterey Bay coast, high costs of the water and a divide between affluent and lower-income communities.

A new version of California’s climate plan sets a more stringent — some say unrealistic — target for cutting greenhouse gases. It also relies more on controversial carbon capture and removal projects, which would be responsible for 15% of all cuts.

The CPUC’s scaled-back plan eliminates consumer fees. The original was abandoned after criticism from the governor and solar advocates that it could hurt the transition to renewable energy.

In one of the highest-profile California election results, Proposition 30 failed despite the state's commitment to climate action and its history of taxing the wealthy. But the ballot measure also was complicated and divided Democrats, a recipe for failure.