Energy and Technology

Over 300 people showed up in the rain on May 15th to learn about the Green New Deal (GND). People of all ages, from little children with their parents (there was a table for the kids to color postcards with climate-friendly slogans to be sent to Gov. Newsom) to older folk, including many like myself, who are in the “Old Greyhair” League, were at the Fairgrounds to hear about local efforts to implement the GND. 

There is a good bit of talk about a Green New Deal (GND), a plan to address climate change by directing federal dollars to restructure the economy, protect us from further disasters, create high paying jobs and reduce social inequities. How might a Green New Deal benefit the North Bay? 

Forecast models indicate that an atmospheric river-type storm will approach Central California on Tuesday, with showers increasing along the coast during the late morning hours and moderate to heavy rainfall increasing and spreading inland during the afternoon hours and continuing overnight. Snow levels will remain high with heavy snowfall possible in the southern Sierra. The brunt of the storm is expected to be felt on the Central Coast, where rainfall totals could near five inches in some of the coastal hills.

The atmospheric river that began Monday February 25 and lasted through February 27 is one for the books. Record rains flooded our local waterways. The Laguna de Santa Rosa and Russian River swelled to historic heights; the Russian River peaked at 45.4 feet late Wednesday night, clocking in at the worst flood since 1995. 2,600 houses and dozens of businesses were under water. 3,700 citizens were evacuated. Mudslides buckled roads throughout west county, cutting off neighborhoods from their larger communities. Roadways washed out and flooded, putting us two steps back after beginning to make small gains in improving our infamous pot-holed roadways. First responders worked around the clock, making swift water rescue after swift water rescue, risking their own lives to ensure the safety of others.

After an extensive and thorough investigation, CAL FIRE has determined the Tubbs Fire, which occurred during the October 2017 Fire Siege, was caused by a private electrical system adjacent to a residential structure.

Sonoma County activists and students gathered at a May 15 meeting to discuss local approaches to support the Green New Deal, a proposal to tackle economic inequality and combat climate change at the same time.

CAL FIRE investigators were immediately dispatched to the Camp Fire and began working to determine the origin and cause of the fire. After a very meticulous and thorough investigation, CAL FIRE has determined that the Camp Fire was caused by electrical transmission lines owned and operated by Pacific Gas and Electricity (PG&E) located in the Pulga area. 

University tries very hard to get students involved with sustainability. With the way the campus is going with its efforts, there will be many other changes and programs to keep the school on a positive track towards a healthier campus for the environment. If all of the students on campus get involved with the practices that are being shown, there could be a positive and dramatic change in the community.

North Coast Senator Mike McGuire, Chair of the Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture (JCFA) is hosting an important hearing in Humboldt County to discuss the impacts on California’s fisheries and wildlife from offshore wind energy development. 

On March 20, the City of Sebastopol launched a three-month 'Bus Buddies' program in an effort to help encourage ridership on Sonoma County Transit's Route 24. Overall ridership on the shuttle has already increased over 57% since free fares were announced last summer. The program aims to keep the momentum going, and ridership growing.

Two new proposed gas stations in the county have raised concerns about the environmental impact of the stations.  

In the next few days, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) contract crews will be working in Santa Rosa, Fort Ross, Annapolis and Monte Rio to conduct accelerated wildfire safety inspections of substations using helicopters.

Over 300 educational, business, government and community from the North Bay Counties will meet onApril 5, 2019 at Sonoma State University to discuss pathways to Economic, Social and Environmental Resilience at the14th Annual Sustainable Enterprise Conference.