From above, California’s San Joaquin Valley spills out of the Sierra Nevada in a checkerboard of earth-toned farmland. It’s some of the most valuable land in the world; every year, the agribusiness industry here produces billions of dollars’ worth of milk, vegetables and nuts. But the scale, and the industrial intensity, of agriculture require an […]
There have been brief moments of reprieve in the drought that has stretched on since 2000 in the western United States—a water-rich 2011, a snow-laden 2019—but those breaks have only highlighted the more dramatic feature of the last few decades: unrelenting dryness. Without human-driven climate change forcing Earth’s temperatures up, the ongoing drought would still […]
The underground chemical stew beneath the Salton Sea is believed to hold enough lithium to power millions of cars and homes with green energy. But only if — a big if — enough of that scalding “geothermal brine” can be brought to the surface and the lithium sifted out. That’s an incredibly complex process. And […]
Solar panels can be placed on your roof, on a plot of land, or basically anywhere else where they are anchored to something solid. That said, there are only so many solid spaces available to install them. To beat climate change, our electricity mix is going to need a lot more renewable energy systems to take over […]
On a chilly morning 5 miles north of Fruita, Lowell King, standing at the edge of a cornfield, reaches down, grabs a clump of dirt, and starts tearing at the soil with his meaty fingers. King eventually points to a tiny white spot in the dirt. “Anytime you can see stuff almost like that mold […]
California hasn’t seen rain in over a month, and some of the state’s key reservoirs are starting to be impacted. Shasta Lake, the state’s largest reservoir, was at 54% of its historical average as of Feb. 9, compared to 72% last year, the California Department of Water Resources said. San Luis Reservoir on the eastern slope of […]
A Vision for More Sustainable Farmlands
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /High Country Newsby Theo WhitcombFrom above, California’s San Joaquin Valley spills out of the Sierra Nevada in a checkerboard of earth-toned farmland. It’s some of the most valuable land in the world; every year, the agribusiness industry here produces billions of dollars’ worth of milk, vegetables and nuts. But the scale, and the industrial intensity, of agriculture require an […]
The Drought in the Western U.S. Could Last Until 2030
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /National Geographicby Alejandra BorundaThere have been brief moments of reprieve in the drought that has stretched on since 2000 in the western United States—a water-rich 2011, a snow-laden 2019—but those breaks have only highlighted the more dramatic feature of the last few decades: unrelenting dryness. Without human-driven climate change forcing Earth’s temperatures up, the ongoing drought would still […]
Opinion: Will Salton Sea Lithium Dreams Come True? It Will Be Years Before We Know
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /Desert Sunby Desert Sun Editorial BoardThe underground chemical stew beneath the Salton Sea is believed to hold enough lithium to power millions of cars and homes with green energy. But only if — a big if — enough of that scalding “geothermal brine” can be brought to the surface and the lithium sifted out. That’s an incredibly complex process. And […]
Floating Solar Panels Could Be the Next Big Thing in Clean Energy
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /Popular Scienceby Thor BensonSolar panels can be placed on your roof, on a plot of land, or basically anywhere else where they are anchored to something solid. That said, there are only so many solid spaces available to install them. To beat climate change, our electricity mix is going to need a lot more renewable energy systems to take over […]
One Colorado Farmer Is Going Against the Grain to Use Less Water. It’s Working.
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /The Colorado Sunby Chris OutcaltOn a chilly morning 5 miles north of Fruita, Lowell King, standing at the edge of a cornfield, reaches down, grabs a clump of dirt, and starts tearing at the soil with his meaty fingers. King eventually points to a tiny white spot in the dirt. “Anytime you can see stuff almost like that mold […]
Where California’s Key Reservoirs Stand After the 2nd Driest January Ever
/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /SF GATEby Amy GraffCalifornia hasn’t seen rain in over a month, and some of the state’s key reservoirs are starting to be impacted. Shasta Lake, the state’s largest reservoir, was at 54% of its historical average as of Feb. 9, compared to 72% last year, the California Department of Water Resources said. San Luis Reservoir on the eastern slope of […]