Environment

Politics

Death Watch: The bill killer is in the house

Updated May 30, 2019 Welcome to death watch. The legislative kind. We’ve tracked which bills California lawmakers have rejected as the Legislature hit the half-way point for making new laws for this year. May 31 is the deadline for bills to pass the house in which they were introduced, a critical hurdle in the legislative […]

By

CalMatters Staff

• May 23, 2019

Electric cars are key to California's green future. Photo by davidf, istockphoto.com

Climate Change

Despite sharp growth in electric cars, vehicle emissions keep rising

Unless the emissions trend is reversed, the state could stall on its route to clean air.

By

Julie Cart

• May 16, 2019

Climate Change

Despite sharp growth in electric cars, vehicle emissions keep rising

Unless the emissions trend is reversed, the state could stall on its route to clean air.

By

Julie Cart

• May 16, 2019

Aerial view of a misty morning over the Napa Valley, where vineyards are claiming oak-studded wildlands.

Economy

Weakling or bully? The battle over CEQA, the state’s iconic environmental law

Inside the Capitol’s corridors and pro-development quarters around the state, the California Environmental Quality Act is increasingly disparaged as a villain in the state’s housing crisis. But the act’s environmentalist defenders are pushing back, saying many projects slip too easily through—leading to overdrawn groundwater tables and disappearing forests. And whatever the urgency to build more housing, environmentalists say there’s nothing to preempt a rigorous review of commercial proposals—even ones as visually appealing as vineyards in the Napa Valley.

By

Alastair Bland

• May 13, 2019

Politics

Hot off the grille: Is California ready to legalize roadkill cuisine?

An advancing bill in California would legalize the "salvaging" of roadkill. Proponents promise safer roads, protected animals and less food waste. But will Californians stomach it?

By

Ben Christopher

• May 8, 2019

Capitol

California’s war on plastic pollution targets tiny hotel toiletries

A California bill would force hotels to rid rooms of single-use, sample-sized plastic bottles of free shampoo, conditioner, lotion and other toiletries.

By

Elizabeth Castillo

• April 22, 2019

California Wildfires

Newsom team calls for less utility liability on wildfire—and ignites ‘a hornet’s nest’

Gov. Gavin Newsom's strike team offered a provocative–and politically challenging–idea for easing utility wildfire liability that has already prompted PG&E to file for bankruptcy.

By

Judy Lin

• April 12, 2019

Fracking site: Scientists don’t fully understand all the chemicals used in the practice or how they interact with one another, a state report says. Photo by grandriver/istockphotos

Environment

Activists want California to ban fracking. What does Gov. Newsom want?

Dozens of California counties and cities ban fracking, even where there is no oil drilling. About 20% of California oil comes from fracked wells.

By

Julie Cart

• April 11, 2019

Environment

Here’s what it will take to protect California from fires

After years of catastrophic wildfires, California lawmakers and taxpayers are eager to protect the state—but it won't be easy. It's expensive. It will take time. And Californians will have to think of fire not just as a destroyer, but also as a tool.

By

Byrhonda Lyons

• March 31, 2019

Signs of regrowth in Malibu Creek State Park, February 2019. Photo by Julie Cart/CALmatters

Environment

California blooms again after last year’s fires—but it’s not all good

Malibu's sprouting hills show how fresh growth can renew wildfire danger.

By

Julie Cart

• February 28, 2019