Air Resources Board

An electric motorcycle parked in front of a motorcycle dealership.

Environment

In nationwide first, California plans to rev up sales of electric motorcycles

Bikers — many of whom love their noisy combustion engines — say zero-emission motorcycles aren’t ready for long-distance rides. Motorcycles emit an “outsized portion” of smog-causing pollutants.

By

Alejandra Reyes-Velarde

• October 28, 2024

A gas pump at a Chevron station displays a screen showing $185.71 spent and 29.482 gallons pumped. The pump offers three fuel options: Regular (87), Plus (89), and Supreme (91). A gas nozzle is visible in the foreground, resting in its holder. In the background, a road with a truck passing by and trees can be seen. A nearby pump station includes an advertisement for a mobile app and fuel rewards.

Climate Change

California’s plan to overhaul a key climate program — raising the cost of gas — ignites debate

The state air board will vote on changes to its landmark clean fuel program that would cut more greenhouse gases but could raise the cost of gas and diesel.

By

Alejandro Lazo

• October 25, 2024

A CalVans van parked in a field in a vineyard outside of Dinuba on May 2, 2024. CalVans is a nonprofit trying that provides safe vans for farm worker transportation. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local

California Divide

Will electric vehicle mandate be a roadblock to safe commutes for California farmworkers?

The CalVans program in the Central Valley transports thousands of laborers to the fields. It is now trying to meet a mandate to electrify its fleet — a key test of how to make the state’s climate policies work in rural and disadvantaged areas.

By

Jeanne Kuang

• May 30, 2024

An Electrify America charging station in the parking lot of a center in Fresno on Jan. 29, 2024. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local

Commentary

California’s catalog of dysfunctional programs has a couple of new entries

California has amassed a catalog of programs and projects that fail to deliver as promised. The list of dysfunctional efforts has a couple of new entries.

By

Dan Walters

• January 30, 2024

Gov. Gavin Newsom, at left, meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, China, on Oct. 25, 2023. Photo by the Office of the California Governor via AP Photo

Environment

Newsom’s visit underscores electric car reality: China holds the keys to battery industry

China modeled some of its climate programs on policies first adopted by California. Now, California depends on the world’s most populous country for essential materials in its electric vehicle ambitions.

By

Alejandro Lazo

• October 26, 2023

Holstein cows eating in their pens at the Airoso Dairy near Pixley on Sept. 29, 2023. Several farms house digesters systems that feeds methane gas to the CalGren facility to produce renewable natural gas. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local

Environment

California weighs ending climate credits for cow poop

California grants climate credits for fuel made from cow manure, but there’s a paradox: The state's program encourages collection of methane yet promotes natural gas.

By

Alejandro Lazo

• October 19, 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

Vapor is released into the sky at a refinery in Wilmington on March 24, 2012. Photo by Bret Hartman, Reuters

Commentary

Since 2011, 80% of the credits issued by a California program aiming to reduce pollution have gone to biogas and biofuel projects that have their own environmental drawbacks. Meanwhile, communities near oil refineries and dairies suffer the brunt of the impact from ongoing emissions.

By María Arévalo and Katherine Lee • August 1, 2023

Anaplex, a metal-plating company, was shut down by air-quality officials in 2017 and 2018 because of hexavalent chromium emissions. Small amounts of hexavalent chromium, which comes from nearby metal-plating plants, were found in the air inside Lincoln classrooms in 2017 tests. Photo by Lauren Justice for Cal Matters

Environment

California becomes the first state to phase out toxic hexavalent chromium

The state Air Resources Board voted today to ban the substance known as chromium 6, giving platers several years to switch to an alternative the platers say won’t produce the same chrome shine.

By

Alejandro Lazo

• May 25, 2023

The AB 3121 Task Force to Study and Develop Reparations Proposals for African Americans meets in Oakland on Dec. 14, 2022. Photo by Martin do Nascimento, CalMatters

Commentary

California politicians should look before they leap on these issues

California politicians tend to make decisions in the here and now, without fully exploring long-term consequences of their decrees.

By

Dan Walters

• May 7, 2023