Infrastructure

A rare lightning storm crackles over Mitchell's Cove in Santa Cruz around 3 a.m. August 16, 2020. The severe storm system rolled through the San Francisco and Monterey Bay areas early Sunday, packing a combination of dry lightning and high winds that triggered wildfires throughout the region. The National Weather Service on Sunday extended a red flag fire warning for the entire Bay Area until 11 a.m. Monday morning. Photo by Shmuel Thaler, The Santa Cruz Sentinel via AP

WhatMatters

The weekend: blackouts, lightning, fire tornado — and first shutoffs in 20 years

2020 just keeps getting better. As many as 2 million Californians experienced one-hour blackouts on Friday and Saturday nights as the state triggered rolling power outages for the first time in nearly two decades amid a record-breaking heat wave. The sky-high temperatures, paired with gusty winds and dry conditions, exacerbated fires across the state, contributed […]

By

Emily Hoeven

• August 17, 2020

Capitol

Approve Assembly Bill 1720: Two energy storage projects would create jobs

Assembly Bill 1720 will help the state move forward building clean energy storage and create jobs through infrastructure projects.

By

Guest Commentary

• August 3, 2020

Commentary

Recognize the progress of high speed rail

Someday California’s high-speed rail system will be regarded like the Golden Gate Bridge, as an icon, and BART, which has helped reduce Bay Area traffic.

By

Guest Commentary

• July 14, 2020

WhatMatters

Senate to focus on power shutdowns, as fire weather returns

Senate to scrutinize power shutdowns. Lack of emergency-evacuation system hinders fire victims. State to shun some carmakers.

By

Dan Morain

• November 18, 2019

WhatMatters

Gavin Newsom and PG&E + Trump and carmakers + Katie Hill’s goodbye

Anger toward PG&E runs deep. Can microgrids help solve state's power woes? Trump administration pressured carmakers to take his side in emissions fight.

By

Dan Morain

• November 1, 2019

The microgrid, or small energy system, that powers the California desert town of Borrego Springs is seen from above. Photo courtesy of San Diego Gas & Electric

Environment

Five things to know about microgrids

It may be satisfying for frustrated utility customers to declare they are going to "cut the cord." But the reality isn't so simple.

By

Julie Cart

• November 1, 2019

Gov. Gavin Newsom surveys a home destroyed in the Kincade Fire

California Wildfires

Comforting California, Newsom bashes a familiar villain — PG&E

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s lambasting of PG&E as California reels from wildfires and mass blackouts reflects his roots in San Francisco — and a public perception that’s built up over the last half century.

By

Laurel Rosenhall

• October 31, 2019

WhatMatters

Gavin Newsom takes aim at PG&E, while the GOP barks at Newsom over road money

Newsom, CPUC take aim at PG&E. GOP accuses Newsom of bait and switch on gas tax spending. Governor vetoes beverage industry recycling bill.

By

Dan Morain

and

Ben Christopher

• October 15, 2019

WhatMatters

Assessing Gavin Newsom’s first legislative session, why no microgrids, and a hole in California’s gun laws

Bill signings sum up Newsom's first year in office. Microgrids not a simple answer to state's power problems. Authorities turn to feds for gun prosecutions.

By

Dan Morain

• October 14, 2019

Commentary

My turn: The Legislature must make hard choices to avert PG&E bankruptcy

Gov. Gavin Newsom needs legislators to begin the uncomfortable work of making changes to our infrastructure, our policies, and yes, our liability laws, so that we can build a state meets the current challenges of climate change while reducing its impact in the future.

By

Guest Commentary

• January 21, 2019