Blackouts

Commentary

California can help vulnerable communities prepare for blackouts

AB 418 would provide local governments needed resources to ensure that critical services remain available during blackouts.

By Guest Commentary • September 22, 2021

Commentary

Newsom, facing recall, worries about blackouts

Californians could see power blackouts this summer, and if they do, Gov. Gavin Newsom, facing a recall election, could feel the backlash.

By Dan Walters • August 3, 2021

WhatMatters

Newsom offers cash to conserve energy

Good morning, California. It’s Monday, August 2. Blackouts a real threat First, Gov. Gavin Newsom offered cash for vaccinations. Now, he’s offering cash for energy conservation. In a sign that California is at dire risk of rolling blackouts this summer, Newsom on Friday signed an emergency proclamation that orders the state to reimburse utilities for […]

By Emily Hoeven • August 2, 2021

WhatMatters

A massive week for California

Good morning, California. It’s Monday, July 12. Pivotal deadlines This week is going to be a big one for California. Today, a judge is expected to issue a decision in the lawsuit Gov. Gavin Newsom brought against his own elections chief to be listed as a Democrat on the ballot for the Sept. 14 recall […]

By Emily Hoeven • July 12, 2021

WhatMatters

A hot and dangerous weekend

Good morning, California. It’s Friday, July 9. Drought + heat + fire A trifecta of troubling conditions is set to collide in California over the weekend. First: drought. With the vast majority of the state gripped by extreme dryness, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday asked all Californians to voluntarily cut their water use by 15% […]

By Emily Hoeven • July 9, 2021

WhatMatters

With recall date set, Newsom put to test

Gov. Gavin Newsom will face the most pivotal day of his political career on Sept. 14, the date of the second recall election in California.

By Emily Hoeven • July 2, 2021

WhatMatters

Today’s big vote leaves much undecided

Good morning, California. It’s Monday, June 28. Ongoing negotiations As it turns out, deciding how to spend $262.6 billion is an extraordinarily complicated task. So, although state lawmakers will vote today on the record-breaking budget they unveiled Friday after reaching new agreements with Gov. Gavin Newsom, many details still have to be worked out. It’s […]

By Emily Hoeven • June 28, 2021

WhatMatters

Could Newsom’s fun and games backfire?

The images coming out of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recent public events have been, to say the least, surreal — and could pose a political liability for the governor, who must balance buoying Californians’ spirits with acknowledging the ongoing harm of the pandemic as he fends off an almost-certain recall election. On Wednesday, Newsom rode a […]

By Emily Hoeven • June 17, 2021

WhatMatters

Newsom: Vaccine verification system in works

One key component of California’s reopening may come down to semantics. What’s the difference between a “vaccine verification system” and a “vaccine passport”? Hard to say — but Gov. Gavin Newsom distinguished between the two during a Friday press conference, suggesting the state is working on an electronic system that businesses can use to check […]

By Emily Hoeven • June 14, 2021

Commentary

Will California keep the lights on when Diablo Canyon shuts down?

California has no time to spare in developing new, clean energy resources before its last nuclear power plant closes in 2024-25.

By Guest Commentary • May 18, 2021