Monterey County Local News: Sustainability


All Local Sustainability News articles contributed by our local media allies and other local newsrooms.

Image caption: California has a goal of 6 million heat pumps cooling and heating buildings by 2030.
6 Million New Heat Pumps: Essential to California's Climate Future

Heat pumps, an energy-efficient way to both heat and cool homes, are a necessary element of California's climate goal of net zero carbon emissions. Here's what they are, how they work, and how to get one.

Image caption: Long-duration energy storage, such as this thermal energy storage facility, allows renewable energy sources to operate at full capacity without overloading the power grid.
How California Leads the Race For Long Duration Energy Storage

Long-duration energy storage is essential if renewables are to become the basis for a future, carbon-neutral power grid. Here's how California is leading the race to store energy from solar, wind, and other clean sources for use whenever it's needed.

Image caption: How California reclamation districts turned millions of acres of wetlands into fertile agricultural land, starting in the earliest days of the Gold Rush.
Reclamation Districts: Turning ‘Swamps’ Into Farmland

California has used reclamation districts to turn millions of acres of unusable swamps into fertile agricultural land, starting in the earliest days of the Gold Rush. Here’s how it happened.

Image caption: Dairy products are California’s top agricultural commodity, but the industry is often criticized for its impact on the environment.
Sustainable Sustenance

California is a leading producer of agricultural crops. So it’s not surprising to find cutting-edge ideas taking root here.

Image caption: Moss Landing in Monterey Bay is the world’s largest battery storage facility for solar and other renewable energy.
Solar Power and California’s Clean Energy Goals

Solar power, and a network of giant battery storage facilities, are playing an essential role in moving California toward its goal of exclusive reliance on renewable energy sources.

Image caption: RCDs look after the land, whether it’s used for grazing, growing, or getting out into nature.
California Dirt

What do resource conservation districts protect? Pretty much everything that’s worth saving.

Image caption: Water is a human right under California law, but it doesn’t always work out that way.
Agriculture and Water Shortages in the State’s Breadbasket, Explained

Residential wells are drying up in the state’s main agricultural region at the same time that agricultural businesses consume almost 90 percent of the water there.

KSQD logo From KSQD...

05/02/2024
Image for display with article titled Organic Rising: Central Coast Farmers Featured in New Film

Anthony Saua, director of Organic Rising, talks about the rise of organic agriculture and its importance to health, the environment and slowing global warming,

King City Rustler logo From King City Rustler...

05/02/2024
Image for display with article titled Farmworker Housing Study Oversight Committee Convenes to Review Progress

Despite significant progress since the release of a landmark 2018 farmworker housing study quantifying critically overcrowded housing conditions for agricultural workers in the region, thousands more homes are needed.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

04/26/2024
A bill to rein in a proposed monthly fee on California electric bills would let California’s largest for-profit utility companies charge customers $24 per month — with fees as low as $6 for lower-income customers — as a kind of membership fee for the power grid.

California Local Pin Marker From Monterey Herald...

04/25/2024
The Big Sur Land Trust purchase of the 84-acre parcel protects and enhances the Canyon Del Rey watershed.

California Local Pin Marker From Monterey Herald...

04/25/2024
CalTrans continues to work toward a May 27 reopening of Highway 1 at the Rocky Creek slip-out.

King City Rustler logo From King City Rustler...

04/24/2024
Image for display with article titled Pinnacles National Park Takes on Massive Paving Project This Spring, Early Summer

Pinnacles National Park will break ground on a park-wide paving project beginning at the end of April, resulting in some closures for visitors during the late spring and early summer period.

California Local Pin Marker From Monterey Herald...

04/24/2024
An update on efforts by the County of Monterey to meet state mandated levels of affordable housing shows lack of significant progress.

California Local Pin Marker From The Lutrinae...

04/22/2024
A look at the progress made toward the goals outlined in the CSUMB Inclusive Sustainability Plan created in 2020.

King City Rustler logo From King City Rustler...

04/11/2024
Image for display with article titled Scheid Family Wines Enters 7th Year of 100% Wind-Powered Wines

This Earth Month, Scheid Family Wines celebrates nearly seven years of being 100% powered by renewable wind energy.

KSQD logo From KSQD...

04/05/2024
Image for display with article titled California’s Insurance Crisis Hits Homeowners Hard

In this program, State Senator John Laird and Executive Director of Consumer Watchdog, Carmen Balber discuss California's homeowner's insurance crisis and whether Commissioner Ricardo Lara's proposed fixes will actually help the flight of insurance companies from the state or make it worse.

Salinas Valley Tribune logo From Salinas Valley Tribune...

04/04/2024
Image for display with article titled Salinas Valley Recycles Unveils Education Center and Garden Near Gonzales

Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority, aka Salinas Valley Recycles (SVR), will celebrate the grand opening of its new Education Center and Garden near Gonzales this Saturday in conjunction with the Youth Council’s year-end community project — a Sustainability Fair.

Monterey County Weekly logo From Monterey County Weekly...

04/03/2024
Image for display with article titled Highway 1 Slides and Slip-Outs Have Again Closed Off Public Access to Big Sur From All Sides.

A summary of the history and reasons behind closures of Highway 1 which regularly impact and isolate the Big Sur region.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

03/05/2024
The consumer price index shows services are mostly responsible for persistent inflation, but prices for food and other goods in California remain high.

California Local Pin Marker From Monterey Herald...

03/03/2024
The Pacific Fishery Management Council is considering closure of deep-sea coral restoration and research sites to fishing to protect habitats from bottom fishing gear in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Monterey County Weekly logo From Monterey County Weekly...

02/28/2024
Image for display with article titled Monterey City Manager Details Need for City Facility Upgrades

Many key city facilities – a lot of them built in the 1950s – are either in need of replacement or complete overhaul, including the Library and Police and Fire headquarters.

King City Rustler logo From King City Rustler...

02/28/2024
Image for display with article titled Alliance on Aging’s 2024 Trashion Show in King City Transforms Waste into Wearable Art

Alliance on Aging’s 2024 Trashion Show in King City was a groundbreaking success, captivating more than 300 attendees with its innovative approach to transforming waste into wearable art.

California Local Pin Marker From CapPublicRadio...

02/26/2024
Ecologists estimate that up to 14,000 sequoias have been killed in recent wildfires. The National Park Service for the first time has begun replanting some severely burned areas.

California Local Pin Marker From Monterey Herald...

02/25/2024
In October, CSU Monterey Bay received a $1.13 million grant from the U.S. Geological Survey to support its ongoing role in a project called OpenET.
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