What's New in California (WNIC) is a compilation of news stories published by outside organizations relevant to California politics and policy. Akin Gump aggregates these stories, but the information contained in them does not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of the firm.
IN THIS ISSUE
- Policy Issues
- Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
- Transportation & Infrastructure
- Health, Education and Labor
- State Budget
- Privacy
- Sports Betting
- California Politics
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
U.S. Ponies Up $1B to Keep California's Last Nuclear Plant Humming
The Biden-Harris administration announced this week that it had reached preliminary approval to allocate at least $1.1 billion in an effort to keep California's sole remaining nuclear power plant running.
The Energy Department says that it is negotiating final terms for the Diablo Canyon Power Plant on the central coast of California to remain open and avoid its 2025 end date, according to the Associated Press.
Solar industry, utilities, ratepayer advocates clash over California net energy metering proposal
Utilities, the solar industry, environmental groups and ratepayer advocates in California remain deeply divided over a proposal from the state's Public Utilities Commission to reform its net energy metering framework.
The revised proposal would ease the transition to the new tariff by adopting a five-year "glide path" methodology that increases the export compensation by a fixed amount.
More information
- CNN: Biden administration will give PG&E $1.1 billion to help keep California nuclear plant onlin
- CNBC: Biden grants PG&E $1.1 billion to keep Diablo Canyon nuclear plant open
- KRCR: Former Los Angeles Mayor visits the Northstate to discuss infrastructure needs
- Auto Evolution: California Wants To Ban Diesel Truck Sales As Early as 2024, but Not Everywhere at Once
Transportation & Infrastructure
California regulators OK $1 billion for EV charging project, mostly for trucks
The California Public Utilities Commission has approved a $1 billion vehicle electrification charging project, with most of the money earmarked to accelerate the number of midsize and heavy-duty trucks on the state's roads.
Some 70 percent of the funds will go to charging medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, which combine to account for a disproportionate amount of greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector. Costs of the five-year program will be spread out among utility ratepayers across California.
California Looks to Ban Diesel Trucks at Ports by 2035
The California Air Resources Board is proposing phasing out older big rigs operating in the busy corridors shuttling shipping containers between ports, rail yards and warehouses and require that all new vehicles be powered by clean fuels starting in 2024. From 2025, the state would bar trucks powered by internal combustion engines that have more than 800,000 miles on them from operating at ports and rail yards.
The goal is to push more than 30,000 heavily polluting trucks to clean energy by 2035.
California Oil Companies Facing New Tax Are No-shows at Gas Price Hearing
More articles
- San Diego Union-Tribune: California Public Utilities Commission OKs $1B for EV charging project, mostly for trucks
- Politico: Bickering over gas prices
- Cal Matters: Oil tax likely won't be considered until January
- Cal Matters: Another California desalination plant approved — the most contentious one yet
- Inside Climate News: Water as Part of the Climate Solution
- Automotive News: U.S. heartland lags in EV sales, but new models should help, S&P Global says
Health, Education and Labor
A California crisis: Too many rural communities have no access to mental health treatment
One of the greatest challenges facing California is mental health care. We see it in the number of unhoused people suffering from mental illness. We see it in the abnormally high behavioral health worker vacancy rates. And we see it in the rising levels of depression and anxiety since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, the demand for robust behavioral health treatment is at an all-time high.
UC, CSU campuses in the hot seat
Monday marked the start of the third week of strikes at all 10 University of California campuses, where 48,000 unionized academic workers—who conduct much of the system's teaching, grading and research—are calling for significantly higher wages, expanded child care subsidies, enhanced health coverage and other benefits they say are necessary to keep up with the sky-high cost of living in the Golden State.
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