California Archives

Construction Begins on 100 MW/50 MWh Solar + Storage Project in California

Kern County, California, home to some of the most utility-scale solar development of any county in the nation, is set to feature another large array. Leeward Renewable Energy, Central Coast Community Energy, and Silicon Valley Clean Energy announced that construction has begun on the Rabbitbrush Solar project.

The project is being developed by Leeward Renewable Energy, with engineering, procurement, and construction provided by McCarthy Building Companies. Central Coast Community Energy and Silicon Valley Clean Energy both signed on to purchase generation from the project via 15-year power purchase agreements.

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California Increases Salmon Spawning to Make Up for Drought

November 3, 2021/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Chelsea Campos /NBC Bay Areaby Joe Rosato Jr.

In an effort to blunt the devastating toll California’s extended drought has taken on the state’s chinook salmon population, state and federal fish hatcheries in Northern California are spawning millions of additional salmon smolts in order to increase their odds of survival.

The state’s prolonged drought has left many of its dams and rivers unable to supply the cold water currents wild salmon require for their eggs to survive. So, hatcheries are trying to make up for nature’s dry spell with human intervention.

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California’s Atmospheric River Storms Dropped 7,600,000,000,000 Gallons of Rain, but It Was No Drought Buster

November 2, 2021/in Home Headline, Media Coverage, San Diego County /by Chelsea Campos /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby Gary Robbins

Federal forecasters estimate that the atmospheric river storms that hit parts of northern and central California from October 23-26 dropped 7.6 trillion gallons of rain — which can also be expressed as 7,600,000,000,000.

“That’s enough water for over 244 million people for an entire year,” the National Weather Service’s Western Region Headquarters in Salt Lake City said in a statement.

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California Drought Persists, Even With Recent Rain. Conserve Water Now With These Tips

November 2, 2021/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Chelsea Campos /The Sacramento Beeby Hanh Truong

Even with the recent storm drenching Northern California, it’s important that residents conserve water, experts said. The storm — which included a ‘bomb cyclone’ — dropped more than five inches of rain on the capital city in 24 hours. But it won’t end the state’s drought. And next year could be dry, too.

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Opinion: California Must Act Urgently on Climate

November 2, 2021/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Chelsea Campos /CalMattersby Mike Young

A delegation of 15 state lawmakers is joining a conference of world leaders in Scotland to discuss climate change solutions. As leaders of the world’s 5th largest economy, their participation is important, but it’s more urgent for them to act once they return.

The latest research reveals California’s climate crisis overwhelms policies to stop it, and our low-income communities, communities of color and seniors face the most harm. If unchecked, this mismatch will undo decades of work Californians have dedicated to preserve a healthy environment and build an equal society.

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Opinion: Conservation Is Critical During Drought, but Not the Only Solution

November 1, 2021/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Chelsea Campos /ACWAby Steve Lamar and Sean Bigley

Gov. Gavin Newsom has extended the drought emergency statewide and called on all Californians to redouble their efforts to conserve water. His call to action is critical even with the storms that recently soaked California, because we know that a lot more rain and snow will be needed to lift the state out of the drought.

The Governor’s approach to statewide conservation is laudable, as well, because it continues to empower water managers with matching local water supply conditions with conservation, rather than relying on statewide mandates. While conservation is a critical tool for saving water during a drought, it is only one of many actions that must be taken to address drought. Investing in water infrastructure and the ability of local water managers to diversify supplies are also essential to building climate resilience throughout the state.

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California Drought: Key Talks Over Water Use Break Down, S.F. May Face Tighter Regulation

November 1, 2021/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Chelsea Campos /San Francisco Chronicleby Kurtis Alexander

For nearly three years, some of California’s biggest water users, including San Francisco, have been quietly meeting with the state to figure out how much water they should be taking from the San Joaquin River and its tributaries.

The talks were launched to prevent some of California’s mightiest rivers from drying up, and keep fish populations from disappearing, while still allowing cities and farms to draw the supplies they need. The vision was nothing short of a grand compromise on divvying up California’s water.

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Opinion: California Should Create More Water – Much More

October 28, 2021/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Mike Lee /CalMattersby Jim Wunderman

Wouldn’t you know it? Just like washing your car, almost the moment I finished writing this article, the skies opened up.

I’d write one every day if it meant ending our water woes. But it tells you everything you need to know about California’s dire water situation – that the atmospheric river that recently pummeled Northern California and other parts of the state doesn’t even begin to make a dent in our drought.

And it highlights the urgency for California to create more water. Much more.

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How Improved Atmospheric River Forecasting Can Help Keep Water Flowing in California

October 27, 2021/in California and the U.S., Home Headline, Media Coverage /by Chelsea Campos /ABC10by Monica Woods

Atmospheric rivers can bring dangerous flooding, but, without them, California can head into drought. Improving forecasts for these huge storms is a focus for the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes to keep water flowing in the state.

Marty Ralph remembers living in Los Angeles in the 1980s when a huge rainstorm dropped nearly half the rainfall for the whole year in 12 hours. It was at that moment he realized he wanted to study these kind of storms

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