Latest news with #NorthernCalifornia
CBS News
2 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Nevada City aims for the stars with Dark Sky community certification
In a world that's growing brighter by the year, one small gold rush town is working to keep its night dark and its skies full of stars. Something unique about Nevada City is that it still uses historic gas lamps, which benefit it during mandatory electricity power shut-offs during fire season. But the low-light gas lamps have another benefit, for the night sky. The city is continuing the effort to protect the night sky by applying to become a certified dark sky community. "It's alarming how many people actually can't see stars in the world," said City Planner Lisa McCandless. Light pollution is increasing roughly 10 percent each year, according to Dark Sky International's website. It's an organization committed to protecting night skies on a global level. "One of the reasons I live here is that I can see the stars," Mayor Gary Petersen said. "But you just see over time it starts to decline." "Nevada City has the opportunity to be the first city in Northern California to be certified," said Rod Brown, chair of the Nevada City Planning Commission. The only other two certified dark sky communities in the state are down near San Diego. And Nevada City is applying to join them. Part of the criteria is community outreach and lighting ordinances, things the city has been working on over the last two years. "So the ordinance that I drafted, I tried to make it just right for Nevada City, not overly restrictive but also protective," McCandless said. In the ordinance, they aren't asking constituents to change out lighting. But they are putting regulations on the type of lighting that can go in from now on, in addition to switching out any city lighting. "Brighter lights do not mean safety or security, but what it really means is that we start to not see the beautiful sky," Mayor Petersen said. "It's an illusion thinking that brighter lights that shine out are safer. In actuality, if the lights are pointed down on the ground, you can see your surroundings better," McCandless said. The city will be opting for warmer, more pointed lighting that won't shine out and up into the sky as much. Therefore, allowing you to see the stars and the Milky Way. "It's amazing. It's beautiful, especially if you go a little outside and into the woods, you can just see everything," said a nearby resident, Margot Roa. "Light pollution is bad for human health. It disrupts our sleeping rhythms and such. It's also bad for the environment and nature," Brown said. "It is easy to forget that life keeps going, and there are plenty of species that really rely on dark skies and nighttime to survive," said Aaron Zettler-Mann, executive director with the South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL). SYRCL is in support of the city's application. Zettler-Mann says animals like owls and bats will benefit, due to their nocturnal hunting habits. "Their eyes are accustomed to very dark places," Zettler-Mann said. "Just like for a human, if you're driving down the street at night and someone with those incredibly bright blue headlights is coming in the other direction, you can't see as well. Street lights are kinda doing something similar with owls." Nevada City says if the application does go through, the goal for certification is March 2026.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
PG&E Corporation (PCG) is Among the Energy Stocks Losing This Week
The share price of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG) fell by 8.38% between June 10 and June 17, 2025, putting it among the Energy Stocks that Lost the Most This Week. Brightly-lit nighttime view of an electricity power grid with distribution lines and transmission substations. PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG) provides natural gas and electric service to approximately 16 million people throughout a 70,000-square-mile service area in northern and central California. PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG) continues to plunge and reached a new 2-year low this week following the backlash of the company's role in past wildfire incidents, and a proposed California legislation that would overhaul utility regulation and financing in the state. The legislation calls for the creation of a new regulatory authority and excludes utility shareholders from earning profits from as much as $15 billion in capital spending on fire mitigation and infrastructure. Moreover, it seems to include provisions for improving the Golden State's utility wildfire insurance fund, requiring ongoing contributions from utilities. While we acknowledge the potential of PCG as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 10 Best Nuclear Energy Stocks to Buy Right Now and Disclosure: None.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
PG&E Corporation (PCG) is Among the Energy Stocks Losing This Week
The share price of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG) fell by 8.38% between June 10 and June 17, 2025, putting it among the Energy Stocks that Lost the Most This Week. Brightly-lit nighttime view of an electricity power grid with distribution lines and transmission substations. PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG) provides natural gas and electric service to approximately 16 million people throughout a 70,000-square-mile service area in northern and central California. PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG) continues to plunge and reached a new 2-year low this week following the backlash of the company's role in past wildfire incidents, and a proposed California legislation that would overhaul utility regulation and financing in the state. The legislation calls for the creation of a new regulatory authority and excludes utility shareholders from earning profits from as much as $15 billion in capital spending on fire mitigation and infrastructure. Moreover, it seems to include provisions for improving the Golden State's utility wildfire insurance fund, requiring ongoing contributions from utilities. While we acknowledge the potential of PCG as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 10 Best Nuclear Energy Stocks to Buy Right Now and Disclosure: None. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Independent
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
California preps for intense fire season – as Trump slashes federal aid
California, still recovering from a series of devastating January blazes, may not be prepared for the upcoming fire season amid changes made by the Trump administration. As temperatures soar in the West, experts say that Trump's weakening of federal agencies that respond to wildfires leaves the state in a potentially precarious situation, according to The Los Angeles Times. The experts specifically referred to changes at the U.S. Forest Service, FEMA and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. State officials believe parts of Northern California, the Sierra Nevada and areas close to the ocean are at risk of 'significant fire potential.' 'The level of anxiety is so extreme among people who understand the consequences of converging crises,' Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, told the newspaper. 'It's every single one of these agencies, departments and entities that would be helping us either preemptively prepare or emergently respond to wildfire events and other kinds of disasters — all of which are dysfunctional at exactly the same moment.' Trump has requested a 63 percent reduction in the U.S. Forest Service's budget. This would include a 30 percent reduction in its workforce, amounting to roughly 10,000 employees. The agency is the nation's largest firefighting entity and oversees more than half of the state's forestland. There are about 11,000 firefighters set to work during the upcoming fire season. About 3,500 of those are in the Pacific Southwest. The newspaper reported that crews that cleared flammable vegetation, scientists who studied fire conditions and employees who managed operations, technology and machinery were not protected from staffing reductions. At FEMA, Trump's administration terminated the agency's Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grants. The payouts went to states to prepare for disasters like wildfires. The president has further suggested cutting $646m from FEMA's budget and eliminating the agency after hurricane season. Speaking on the budget cuts, Swain said: 'The problem is when there is an extreme event or a disaster or an where people are going to mess up and make mistakes — not on purpose, not due to lack of training or lack of professionalism, but because they're being asked to do 200 things simultaneously, and all of them are life-and-death critical.' In January, 12 people died in the Palisades Fire, a blaze that directly impacted Los Angeles. Over 6,000 structures were destroyed and more than 23,000 acres were scorched.
CBS News
2 days ago
- Climate
- CBS News
PG&E power shutoffs likely for parts of Northern California Thursday through Sunday
Elevated wildfire concerns have prompted PG&E to issue a likely Public Safety Power Shutoff warning for parts of Northern and Central California into the weekend. The possible shutoffs are expected to start Thursday as significant wind gusts forecasted to hit the region. PG&E's website lists that shutoffs are likely to happen from Thursday through Sunday. Which counties could be impacted by the PSPS? Parts of the following counties are listed under the likely shutoff warning, according to PG&E: Alameda Contra Costa Fresno Merced Monterey Napa San Benito San Joaquin San Luis Obispo Santa Barbara Santa Clara Shasta Sonoma Stanislaus Wind gusts are expected to be up to 60 mph in the Eastern Bay Area, and around 45 mph in the northwest Sacramento Valley and Salinas Valley foothills.
