California

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.

The Post-Wildfire Dilemma: Rebuild or Retreat?
Even after experiencing devastating wildfires, residents are often willing to take the risk to return and start over.

Public Opinion Differs on New Bay Area Road Diet
Some love it; some hate it: The main drag of Downtown Los Gatos, at the southern end of the South Bay Area, got a complete streets makeover.

Another Berkeley 'First': Banning Natural Gas Lines in New Buildings
On Tuesday night, the City Council of Berkeley, Calif., unanimously voted to ban natural gas infrastructure from new buildings starting next year, the first city in the U.S. to pass such an ordinance. Fifty cities in the state could be next.

An 'Urban Orchard' Next to the Los Angeles River
The city of South Gate, located on the southern stretch of the Los Angeles River, downriver of Downtown Los Angeles, recently published an initial study of the "Urban Orchard Project."

Transit Oriented Development Shifts Into High Gear Near BART Stations in the Bay Area
Transportation and land use are being considered together at a new scale in the Bay Area, as transit oriented development pops up next to BART stations all over the region.

Opinion: Here’s Hoping the New BART Inspector General Can Help Get the Agency Back on Track
BART is a financial and operational mess, and its new inspector general has a slew of major issues to tackle.

No More 'Manholes' in Berkeley
In removing all gendered language from its civil code, the city of Berkeley is tossing out some familiar nomenclature.

More EV Charging Coming to San Francisco Private and Public Parking Facilities
To reach an ambitious net-zero target for transportation emissions in San Francisco, Mayor Breed and two supervisors introduced legislation to require large parking facilities provide electric vehicle charging for 10% of spaces.

A 'Safe' Parking Lot for the Homeless Proposed in San Francisco
If approved, a new facility in San Francisco will allow homeless people living in RVs and vans a safe place to park. Access to support services will also be available at the site.

Airbnb Limitations Fall Short in California Legislature
A state bill that would have limited the number of short-term rentals in the coastal areas of San Diego County has been delayed until next year's legislative session.

The 'Vanlord' Providing Shelter to L.A.'s Homeless
A creative rental industry has emerged in Los Angeles as the affordable housing crisis grows.

No Quick Fixes for L.A.’s Transit Ridership Woes
One of the largest transit systems in the country continues to lose large numbers of riders. But the causes behind the drop and the solutions to stop it are hard to pinpoint.

Private Branding of the Public City
Oracle Park, the Blue Shield of California Theater, Ford GoBike—branding abounds in San Francisco.

In California, Struggles Over Insurance Regulation in the Era of Climate Change
Setting insurance rates by looking to the past to predict the future doesn’t make sense with increasing environmental uncertainties, argues the California insurance industry.

Beachfront Residences Can't Extend Yards Onto Public Beaches, CA Coastal Commission Decides
"It's like squatting by the rich," said one commissioner.

Funding Research of Atmospheric Rivers to Better Prepare for Heavy Rains
Atmospheric river seems like a phrase that has only recently entered the parlance of the times, but the state of California has seen enough of the idea in action want to know more, and prepare for more.

Report: Lack of Apartments Contributes to the Housing Affordability Crisis
It's going to take "radical policies" and "political courage" to overcome the housing shortage in California, according to a recent working paper, but they will be necessary to overcome the negative consequences of the planning and zoning status quo.

Feds Release Capital Investment Grants for Three Rail Transit Projects
Three major public transit projects in the western United States received a major infusion of funding from the federal government this week.

The Four Kinds of Housing that Help the Homeless
Projects to add housing resources to help give homeless people a roof over the head have run into all sorts of public opposition—often times fueled by ignorance of how different kinds of homeless housing options work.
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