[Source: Los Angeles Times] When it comes to air quality, the products you use to smell nice or keep your kitchen clean could do just as much damage as the car you drive. A new study of the air around Los Angeles finds that consumer and industrial products now rival tailpipe emissions as a source Read More…
Newsroom
Californians voted to spend billions on more water storage, but state government keeps sitting on the cash
[Source: Los Angeles Times] We could be headed into another drought. There’s little Sierra snow and valleys are dry. Is California ready this time? Not really. Good signs: There’s still a lot of water stashed in reservoirs from last year’s abnormally wet winter. And we’ve become better at using less water in our homes and Read More…
Is Trump’s EPA chief bluffing? Or will he gut California’s tough emissions standards?
[Source: Sacramento Bee] California officials and clean air advocates are increasingly concerned the Trump administration may attempt to unravel a key program to drive down greenhouse gas emissions from automobile fleets while also jeopardizing the ability of California and other states to set pollution standards stronger than federal rules. Backed by automakers, Trump officials are Read More…
Kimberly-Clark to close its paper-products plant in Fullerton, which employs 330 people
[Source: Orange County Register] Kimberly-Clark intends to shutter its plant here as part of a restructuring it announced last month, the paper products giant has confirmed. The plant, which opened in 1956, employs 330 people. “Kimberly-Clark has informed employees at the Fullerton manufacturing facility of its proposed plan to close this facility,” company spokesperson Terry Read More…
Many big cities don’t have enough money to pay their bill
[Source: The Press Enterprise] An analysis of the fiscal health of the 75 most populated cities in the country found that the vast majority don’t have enough money to pay for their bills, including many in California. A new report by transparency group Truth in Accounting found that 64 of the 75 cities owed more Read More…
Brown calls for 5 million electric vehicles by 2030, $2.5 billion for charging stations
[Source: The Mercury News] Gov. Jerry Brown on Friday announced a sweeping new environmental initiative to cap his final year in office, signing an executive order that commits the state to a goal of 5 million zero-emission vehicles on the road by 2030. The ambitious target dwarfs his previous goal of 1.5 million EVs by 2025, and Read More…
The state of the U.S. solar industry: 5 questions answered
[Source: PBS/SoCal News] On Jan. 22, 2018, the Trump administration announced plans to impose punitive duties on solar panels imported from abroad. This decision came in response to a complaint filed by two solar companies, but much of the industry opposes the action, which trade groups say will increase the cost of solar projects and depress demand. Read More…
New law restricts immigration enforcement at worksites
[Source: CalChamber] As of January 1, California employers must comply with strict rules passed under the new Immigrant Worker Protection Act (AB 450), which protects workers in the state from immigration enforcement while they’re on the job. Under AB 450, all employers, regardless of size, must limit U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents’ access Read More…
What are your rights and responsibilities if your L.A. business gets raided by ICE?
[Source: San Francisco Business Times] Efforts by Gov. Jerry Brown and state lawmakers to turn California into a “sanctuary state” may run headlong into a widespread immigration crackdown by federal officials, leaving some businesses and employers in the crossfire. A report from the San Francisco Chronicle said that U.S. immigration officials are preparing for a “major Read More…