Environment

An aerial view of fire damage to a neighborhood of multi-million dollar homes Laguna Niguel on June 1, 2022. Photo by Mike Blake, CalMatters

Politics

California lawmakers failed to fix the insurance market. So what comes next?

Legislators weren’t able to reach a compromise that helps insurers with wildfire risk while also protecting homeowners. Interest groups hope to find one in meetings this fall.

By Alexei Koseff • September 14, 2023

A customer fills up their tank at a True Zero hydrogen fuel station in Oakland on Aug. 25, 2023. Photo by Semantha Norris, CalMatters

Environment

Lawmakers strike $106 million deal for fueling hydrogen cars, trucks — even though hardly anyone drives one

Hydrogen fueling stations will get 15% of funds in a state program — even though Californians own only about 12,000 hydrogen cars. The funds come from fees paid by car owners.

By Alejandro Lazo • September 14, 2023

Water

California lawmakers move to ban irrigation of some decorative lawns

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

By Rachel Becker • September 13, 2023

Illustration by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters; iStock, Midjourney

Environment

Climate bill on Newsom’s desk would force companies to reveal carbon footprint

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

By Alejandro Lazo • September 12, 2023

A man charges his car at an electric vehicle charging station in Burlingame. Photo by Martin do Nascimento, CalMatters

Environment

California scales back electric car rebates to focus on lower-income car buyers

Now that electric cars are mainstream, higher-income Californians will no longer qualify for state subsidies. Lower-income buyers could get up to $12,000.

By Alejandro Lazo • September 7, 2023

Environment

California’s wildfire smoke and climate change: 4 things to know

California wildfires every year emit as much carbon as almost 2 million cars, posing a threat to efforts to battle climate change.

By Alejandro Lazo • September 5, 2023

Fisheries Technicians Ben Harrison, left, and Aaron Tuttle, right, run a net to collect juvenile coho salmon for PIT tagging in Horse Creek along the Klamath River on July 18, 2023. Photo by Semantha Norris, CalMatters

Environment

The world’s largest dam demolition has begun. Can the dammed Klamath River finally find salvation?

As four aging hydroelectric dams are demolished, tribes and communities along the Klamath River wait anxiously to see what the future holds. “Once a river is dammed, is it damned forever?” experts ask.

By Rachel Becker • August 31, 2023

Environment

Toxic trash: California’s aging hazardous waste sites have troubling safety records

Neighbors to one of California's biggest hazardous waste recyclers say they're unfairly exposed to pollution, but can California afford to lose one of the few facilities that still takes toxic waste?

By Robert Lewis • August 22, 2023

A hydrogen vehicle owner adds fuel to his vehicle at an Iwatani hydrogen fuel station in West Sacramento on July 25, 2023. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

Environment

Hardly anyone owns a hydrogen car. California may pay up to $300 million for fuel stations anyway

With only 12,000 hydrogen cars on the road, and just two models for sale, California lawmakers are debating how much state money should support them.

By Alejandro Lazo • August 18, 2023

Ormond Beach Power Plant in Oxnard on Dec. 21, 2013.

Environment

Southern California’s natural gas plants to stay open through 2026

Three fossil fuel plants will stand by to provide emergency power for three more years despite California's mandate to switch to clean energy by 2045.

By Rachel Becker • August 15, 2023