Newsletters
Wildfire liability, a budget deal, electric trucks and dead cows
Legislature feels heat on wildfire plan. CPUC, utilities prepare to square off at U.S. Supreme Court. Democrats leery of tax hikes.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Climate Change
Trump administration says no new talks with California on car rules
Automakers backed Obama-era rules on car emissions and gas mileage, then asked President Trump to change them. Now the companies fear a long Washington-California court fight.
Climate Change
No longer the loneliest? Why Oregon’s all-in climate push matters to California
After efforts to unite the West under a carbon-trading program stalled for nearly a decade, Oregon will decide this month whether it wants to follow in California’s footsteps. This bill would make Oregon the second state after California to rely on the market for emissions reductions throughout the entire economy. Supporters say that expanding the cap-and-trade market to Oregon could increase competition, lower compliance costs, and speed decarbonization of the West. But others worry a failure in Oregon could hurt carbon trading's chances in other states.
Newsletters
Presidential politics, what was unsaid, and a scary moment
Democratic presidential hopefuls shop for California support but steer clear of state issues. Kamala Harris has a scary moment. Democrats get new leader.
Newsletters
Gas-powered engines, Democrats’ turmoil, and clean water
r Resources Board chair delivers message to auto industry. Proposed clean water tax hits snag. California Democrats prepare to elect new chair.
Environment
Why California’s air board won’t ban gas-powered cars yet
Mary Nichols, the powerful head of the California Air Resources Board, didn’t even need to explicitly threaten a ban on gas-powered cars last week to get the attention of carmakers. The warning was only in her prepared statements for a workshop with the state Transportation Commission. But the remarks, obtained by Bloomberg, hit headlines and […]
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.
Capitol
Meet California’s new environment czar, who walked the state to ‘reset’
What better way to decompress from a stressful federal government job than by trekking 2,600 miles on foot from Mexico to Canada? That’s what Jared Blumenfeld, the new head of the California Environmental Protection Agency, did three years ago, setting out on the arduous and beloved Pacific Crest Trail that traces California’s searing deserts, rugged […]
Housing
Minneapolis just eliminated single-family zoning. Should California cities follow suit?
Minneapolis made national headlines earlier this month when the city council forced neighborhoods previously zoned only for single family homes to allow the construction of duplexes and triplexes. Is this the right cure for California's housing woes?