Voices from the ValleyVoices from the Valley

California oil regulators delay health, safety rules again

Kathleen Ronayne. Published by Associated Press — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 02:04:00 +0000

It’s been a year and a half since California Gov. Gavin Newsom directed oil regulators to consider new health and safety measures to protect people living near oil and gas drilling sites…

In big first, California’s oil and gas regulatory agency denies all 21 Aera Energy fracking permit applications

Dan Bacher. Published by Red Green and Blue — Sun, 11 Jul 2021 04:18:10 +0000

The California Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM), the state’s oil and gas regulatory agency, today announced it has denied all 21 of Aera Energy’s applications for fracking operations in California, citing risks to public health and safety and environmental quality and climate change under regulatory statutes…

State denies Valley fracking permits, citing health and climate concerns

Published by The Business Journal — Sat, 10 Jul 2021 04:33:29 +0000

Valley Edition – July 9, 2021- Vaccine Deserts, Safe Drinking Water, Smoke Pollution

Sat, 10 Jul 2021 04:26:13 +0000

On the next Valley Edition: Rural communities throughout California lack vital healthcare infrastructure: how some local counties are grappling with vaccine deserts.
Plus, the political fight to bring safe drinking water to San Joaquin Valley communities…

Governor Newsom Holds Virtual Discussion with Leading Climate Scientists on State’s Progress Toward Carbon Neutrality

Published by The Office of Governor Gavin Newsom — Sat, 10 Jul 2021 04:21:30 +0000

Governor Gavin Newsom today hosted a virtual meeting with internationally renowned scientists and climate change experts to discuss California’s ambitious climate goals, efforts to protect communities from harmful pollution and climate impacts, and how to accelerate the state’s transition to carbon neutrality…

ETGSA approves proposed groundwater extraction fee

Published by The Porterville Recorder — Sat, 10 Jul 2021 04:19:41 +0000

The Eastern Tule Groundwater Sustainability Agency Board made quick work of approving the agencies proposed extraction fee of $9.08 per acre foot during its meeting on Friday…

The West is caught in a vicious climate change feedback loop

Rachel Ramirez. Published by CNN — Sat, 10 Jul 2021 04:16:01 +0000

After a deadly, climate change-fueled heat wave smothered the Pacific Northwest at the end of June, historic heat threatens records once again, particularly in the drought-stricken Southwest region…

Newsletter: How solar panels on farmland could help California fix its water and power crises

Sammy Roth. Published by Los Angeles Times — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 04:39:12 +0000

To the extent most Californians are thinking about energy right now, they’re probably wondering whether the lights will stay on during the next heat wave…

You can’t drink oil: 1.8 billion gallons of freshwater were used for fracking and drilling in CA since Fall 2018

Dan Bacher — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 03:44:05 +0000

In a new report, Food and Water Research reveals that since Governor Newsom was elected, from Fall 2018 to June 2021, the oil and gas industry used 1,804,566,792 gallons of freshwater, nearly 2 billion gallons, for drilling operations that could otherwise have supplied domestic systems…

A California Town Has No Reliable Running Water During A Heat Wave

Hafsa Fathima, Jan Johnson. Published by NPR — Sun, 04 Jul 2021 03:47:15 +0000

For the last month, Frank Galaviz has wondered when running water will return to his town. The 77-year-old resident of Teviston — a small rural community in Central California — has been forced to depend on stored and bottled water after the pump in the town’s only functioning well broke down in early June…