The Supreme Court won’t review a long-running legal debate over the extent of states’ water permitting authority for major pipelines, hydroelectric dams, and other projects. The justices on Dec. 9 declined to take up California Trout v. Hoopa Valley Tribe, a case focused on Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, which calls on states to […]
California’s climate threats could soon be jumping from wildfires and blackouts to floods and mudslides as the wet season kicks into gear. About half the water that falls in the state in any given year does so in the 90 days between Dec. 1 and the end of February. Too much rain has at times […]
During last month’s PG&E Public Safety Power Shutoffs, like so many across California, my family lost electricity for four days. We couldn’t turn on the lights, access the internet or charge our phones. But we didn’t lose water for a moment, thanks to the steps our water provider had taken to prepare for this kind […]
Several storms have barreled across much of California since before Thanksgiving. But now, a shift in the weather pattern looks to bring calmer weather. Storm after storm dove across the state over the past several weeks, delivering rain, wind and mountain snow. The jet stream, which helps to influence the track storm systems take, was […]
The meeting last June in a wood-beamed barn in Newburg, Md., an hour due south of Washington, had all the makings of a secret conclave. The guest list was confidential. No press accounts were allowed. The topic was how to pivot American agriculture to help combat climate change — an issue so politically toxic that […]
The combination of pumped hydro with other storage technologies can increase renewables penetration, improve operational safety and reduce maintenance costs at large-scale hydropower plants, according to new research. The study also focuses on techniques to determine the optimal size of renewables-based pumped hydro storage systems. Pumped hydro is highly cost competitive as a large-scale energy storage […]
Supreme Court Won’t Review States’ Rights For Water Permits
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /Bloomberg by Ellen M. GilmerThe Supreme Court won’t review a long-running legal debate over the extent of states’ water permitting authority for major pipelines, hydroelectric dams, and other projects. The justices on Dec. 9 declined to take up California Trout v. Hoopa Valley Tribe, a case focused on Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, which calls on states to […]
California Threats Jump From Fires To Floods As Wet Season Hits
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /Bloombergby Brian K. SullivanCalifornia’s climate threats could soon be jumping from wildfires and blackouts to floods and mudslides as the wet season kicks into gear. About half the water that falls in the state in any given year does so in the 90 days between Dec. 1 and the end of February. Too much rain has at times […]
Opinion: Keeping Our Water On When The Power Goes Off
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /Capitol Weekly by Cynthia KoehlerDuring last month’s PG&E Public Safety Power Shutoffs, like so many across California, my family lost electricity for four days. We couldn’t turn on the lights, access the internet or charge our phones. But we didn’t lose water for a moment, thanks to the steps our water provider had taken to prepare for this kind […]
Pattern Change to Bring Drier Trend to Most of California Through Mid-December
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /AccuWeatherby Courtney SpamerSeveral storms have barreled across much of California since before Thanksgiving. But now, a shift in the weather pattern looks to bring calmer weather. Storm after storm dove across the state over the past several weeks, delivering rain, wind and mountain snow. The jet stream, which helps to influence the track storm systems take, was […]
How a Closed-Door Meeting Shows Farmers are Waking Up on Climate Change
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /Politico California by Helena Bottemiller EvichThe meeting last June in a wood-beamed barn in Newburg, Md., an hour due south of Washington, had all the makings of a secret conclave. The guest list was confidential. No press accounts were allowed. The topic was how to pivot American agriculture to help combat climate change — an issue so politically toxic that […]
Coupling Pumped Hydro With Renewables and Other Storage Technologies
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /pv magazine by Emiliano Bellini Mentioned: San Diego County Water AuthorityThe combination of pumped hydro with other storage technologies can increase renewables penetration, improve operational safety and reduce maintenance costs at large-scale hydropower plants, according to new research. The study also focuses on techniques to determine the optimal size of renewables-based pumped hydro storage systems. Pumped hydro is highly cost competitive as a large-scale energy storage […]