California Public Utilities Commission

Aerial view of Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant on the Pacific coast in San Luis Obispo County, California.

California's Lone Operating Nuclear Plant Gets Five-Year Extension

The Pacific Gas and Electric Company's Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant received approval from the California PUC to operate its two reactors until 2029 and 2030. Five days later, the NRC issued a temporary license renewal.

December 25, 2023 - The Mercury News

White and red Cruise autonomous car on San Francisco street with concrete Brutalist-style building in background on grey, rainy day.

California Grounds Cruise Autonomous Fleet

In the wake of serious pedestrian injuries and a federal investigation, state agencies have barred the driverless taxi company from continuing to operate.

October 25, 2023 - CALmatters

Cruise (owned by General Motors) self driving vehicle performing tests on the city streets

California Approves Autonomous Cars Over Local Concerns

Despite repeated calls from San Francisco officials to slow the deployment of self-driving cars, a state commission approved expanded access to San Francisco streets.

August 13, 2023 - CALmatters

Solar Installation

California Could Drastically Cut Solar Incentives

Rooftop solar customers in California could face higher costs and reduced incentives if a proposed overhaul of the state's solar program is approved by the Public Utilities Commission.

December 23, 2021 - Los Angeles Times

Bio Gas Installation Cows

Renewable Natural Gas Makes Inroads in California, Oregon, and Missouri

What is expected to be the nation's largest dairy biogas operation opened in the Central Valley. To the north, Gov. Kate Brown signed the nation's first bill to establish goals to add renewable gas to pipelines, and pigs in Missouri also made news.

August 10, 2019 - NGT News

Natural Gas

California Takes Step Toward Replacing Gas with Electricity in Buildings

Two weeks after Berkeley became the nation's first city to outlaw natural gas lines in new buildings, the California Public Utilities Commission voted to update an old regulation to allow funding for 'fuel switching' from gas to electric appliances.

August 7, 2019 - Utility Dive

California Wildfire

PG&E Promises to Keep the Lights on After Declaring Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Pacific Gas and Electric has declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the face of "actual and potential" liability.

January 29, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Northern California Wilidfires

California's Largest Utility Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

PG&E announced that it is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, facing $30 billion in liability after two years of catastrophic wildfires in the state of California.

January 15, 2019 - The Mercury News

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

California Energy Efficiency Program Could Be Much More Effective for Low-Income Residents

According to an analysis by the Energy Efficiency for All coalition, California's Energy Savings Assistance Program could be four times as effective for low-income renters if it were better deployed.

October 9, 2018 - NRDC

Electric Car

With $768 Million in June, California Continues EV Infrastructure Investment

CPUC Commissioner Carla Peterman explains the state's investment plan for building out electric vehicle charging stations in public spaces and homes.

July 11, 2018 - The Planning Report

Transportation Network Company

Should Ride-Hailing Vehicles Reduce Emissions?

Driving an electric ride-hailing vehicle may be good for the planet but costly for the driver who may have to limit the distance of rides and search for fast-chargers. Uber is trying to help out.

June 22, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

Proterra Electric Bus

California to Invest $1 Billion in Electric Trucks, Buses, Charging Infrastructure

The investment comes not from the state legislature but from two regulatory bodies, the Air Resources Board and the Public Utilities Commission, authorizing the expenditure of VW settlement funds and utility ratepayer funds, respectively.

June 4, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

Lyft

Multiple Studies Find Ride-Hailing Contributes to Congestion and Transit Losses

Surveys on ride-hailing conducted by regional planning agencies, academic institutions, and public transit agencies throughout the U.S. reviewed by the Associated Press largely led to the same conclusion: more traffic and reduced use of transit.

March 9, 2018 - Associated Press

Power Lines

The High Cost of Burying Power Lines

With speculation that downed power lines and exploding transformers may have caused California's most deadly and destructive wildfires, many question why utility companies don't bury these lines through fire-prone areas.

October 27, 2017 - San Francisco Chronicle

Northern California Wilidfires

Wine Country Wildfires Put Spotlight on Transmission Lines

No cause has yet been attributed to California's deadliest wildfires, but the connections to fallen power lines and exploding transformers, maintained by PG&E, have been exposed in a series of reports by the Bay Area News Group.

October 23, 2017 - The Mercury News

Scott Pruitt

California Is 'Recruiting' U.S. EPA Employees

Under the Trump Administration, federal employees dedicated to causes like climate change mitigation face uncertain prospects. They could turn to accommodating state governments.

March 28, 2017 - High Country News

Palm Springs

California Stuck With an Expensive Overabundance of Energy Facilities

The Los Angeles Times uncovers a state with a lot more energy that it needs, which has regulators explaining their decisions residents and businesses opening their wallets.

February 6, 2017 - The Los Angeles Times

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