On his way out the door, California Governor Jerry Brown created plenty of opportunities for the next administration to continue in his footsteps.
The last year of California Governor Jerry Brown's administration saw the state make ambitious moves toward 100 percent renewable energy, Vision Zero, and increased housing supply. In The Planning Report, State Senator Robert Hertzberg explains the motivations and opportunities that yielded this session's gains.
For one, legislators moved urgently to preempt any actions the Trump administration might take to steamroll California's environmental protections. A long tradition of bipartisan climate action paved the way for quick action this session. "I'm seeing an increasingly deep and sophisticated approach to energy and cleantech markets in the Legislature," Hertzberg says.
Strong economic growth and a budget surplus also allowed a greater number of priority issues to receive funding, he notes.
Hertzberg's own efforts this year included safeguards for data privacy and a controversial approach to bail reform. Read the full interview in The Planning Report.
FULL STORY: Senator Hertzberg Assesses Just Concluded CA Legislative Session
Shuttering a Large Coal Plant: A Tale of Two States
Environmentalists in California are upset that Los Angeles will build a new 840-megawatt natural gas plant to replace a 1,800-megawatt coal plant. The coal plant has been crucial to the economic development of Millard County, Utah.
Courts May Fine Cities That Fail to Build Housing in California
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed his first budget, the state's largest ever at $215 billion. Housing activists will be pleased to learn that it has, to use Newsom's terms, both "carrots and sticks" to compel cities to produce more housing.
California May Join Hawaii With 100 Percent Renewable Energy by 2045
Senate Bill 100 by Sen. Kevin de León has one more hurdle to clear before it becomes law. While the state's greatest climate challenge isn't electricity generation, it will be helpful as more motorists turn toward electric vehicles.
Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
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Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.
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