By Sierra Club CA, on November 1st, 2011 SACRAMENTO – Most California Democratic legislators voted consistently to protect our air, water and wild places, while the vast majority of their Republican counterparts continued to be obstacles to environmental progress, Sierra Club California’s annual Legislative Report Card finds.
Sierra Club California tracked the votes of California’s Assemblymembers and Senators, recording each Earth-friendly vote as a positive score. From clean energy to water conservation to protecting state parks, the measures addressed many of California’s most urgent 2011 environmental priorities.
“Overall, . . . → Read More
By Kathryn Phillips, on September 20th, 2011 I’ve been thinking a lot about the endangered California desert tortoises and wondering what lessons they might reveal. These very private creatures have been making news lately even though their natural approach to attention is more in tune with Greta Garbo’s.
First there was the revelation that construction of the Ivanpah large-scale solar plant proposed in the Mojave Desert would wipe out nearly 550 juvenile tortoises. Then there was Governor Brown’s wink-wink quip to a Fresno audience that, by siding with large-scale solar development, he planned to take care of the tortoise. “We’re going to give it a lot of shade,” Brown said, according to press reports.
California desert tortoises have managed to adapt to some of the most brutal summer conditions on the continent and survive as a species for eons. Human activities ranging from off-road vehicles to mining and development have carved away their quiet home and their numbers have dwindled. Large-scale solar development, and a governor who seems bent on crushing environmental review, are just their latest challenges.
. . . → Read More
By Sierra Club CA, on July 28th, 2011 At its February 24, 2011 meeting, the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) was poised to vote on Proposition 84 funding for the easement sale on the Usal Redwood Forest. The forest is owned by the Redwood Forest Foundation, Inc (RFFI), a non-profit organization. The funding request was intended to support the sale of a conservation easement to The Conservation Fund. . . . → Read More
By Sierra Club CA, on July 22nd, 2011 The end of July finds the Capitol in a legislative lull with legislators away from Sacramento until August 15th. In most years past, legislators and the Governor spent the summer, and sometimes into the fall, haggling over numerous issues in order to pass a budget with a 2/3 majority vote. This year, however, was different. The Democrats used their new authority under Proposition 25, approved by the voters last year, to pass a state budget with a simple majority vote. . . . → Read More
By Sierra Club CA, on June 13th, 2011 Today, Sierra Club California is pleased to announce the release of the 2010 California Coastal Commission Conservation Voting Chart. This chart, entering its 23nd year, is a combined effort of various coastal environmental groups, and measures the pro-conservation scores of the Commission. The 2010 chart examines 21 separate votes, which were selected in consultation with coastal conservation activists, based on their likely impact on coastal resources and their potential to set statewide precedent.
“We are disappointed . . . → Read More
By Sierra Club CA, on May 11th, 2011 Join us in Sacramento for our annual Lobby Day! Sunday and Monday August 28th and 29th Become part of a team that will help Sierra Club California pass our priority legislation during the most exciting and challenging time of the year at the State Capitol! You will have opportunities to interact with other activists and our professional lobbying staff, as well as with legislators and their staff. . . . → Read More
By Bill Magavern, on May 10th, 2011 When T. S. Eliot called April “the cruelest month,” he was probably not thinking of the California Legislature, but your Sierra Club California advocates have had our hands full this month. As you will read elsewhere in this issue of Capitol Voice, we cheered the enactment of a 33% clean energy standard and moved 2 of our own sponsored bills through their first policy committees.
But I want to tell you more about a very important part of . . . → Read More
By Sierra Club CA, on April 27th, 2011 Support
AB 19 (Fong), water conservation, would require the water metering or submetering of multi-unit residences like apartment buildings and condominiums that are constructed after January 1, 2014. Metering or sub-metering ensures water users receive an appropriate signal regarding the volume and cost of their water use, and thus incentivizes residents to undertake responsible water use and conserve water. AB 19 is sponsored by Sierra Club California.
SB 790 (Leno), electric utility choice, would strengthen existing law related to . . . → Read More
By Sierra Club CA, on April 19th, 2011 California’s water supply is under intense pressure from climate change, increasing population, and development. We need to encourage greater water conservation in order to ensure a sustainable water supply for future generations.
You can help by urging your legislators to support AB 19, introduced by Paul Fong, to ensure a more stable water supply.
Most apartment buildings and condominiums do not provide water meters to individual units. Instead, the cost of water use is included with the cost of . . . → Read More
By Sierra Club CA, on April 11th, 2011 Raise in renewable power generation will juice up California’s economy, benefit the environment
On Tuesday, Gov. Jerry Brown is expected to sign SB x1 2, requiring public and private utilities to obtain 33 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020. The governor’s action comes at a critical time for the state of California. Most experts agree that clean energy will provide new jobs to lift the Golden State’s economy, while reducing the pollution that causes . . . → Read More
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Gov. Brown's cap-and-trade spending plan angers businesses
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(October 22, 2011)
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Developers thumb up new bay lands policy amendments
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Bay area could become first region to plan for sea level rise in long-term development
(October 6, 2011)
BCDC approves amendment to the bay plan addressing sea level rise
(October 6, 2011)
California Watch: With drought long passed, will voters back pricey water bond?
(October 5, 2011)
KALW News: One man’s trash is Arthur Boone’s recycling
(October 3, 2011)
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