Environment
Bechtel family sells scenic South Bay ranch for $24M in latest major conservation deal
The Peninsula Open Space Trust will preserve Mead Ranch as open space.
Sierra Nevada snowpack just 68% of normal after whiplash winter
Dry spells and a few big blizzards so far could mean increased summer fire risk.
Offshore wind triumphs over Trump in court, but future projects face delays
State lawmakers say they still believe in the long-term future of offshore wind.
How refill stores are changing the way we reduce waste
Scores of refill stores have opened customers seek fresh ways to reduce waste.
Supreme Court agrees to hear from oil and gas companies trying to block climate change lawsuits
Governments around the country have sought damages totaling billions of dollars.
Finding Sanctuary: Ranking the most wanted kelp forests
“Kelp is a community resource enjoyed by many, and it will take all of us...
Rep. Panetta hosts roundtable in Monterey on economic impacts of possible offshore oil drilling
“We always have to be prepared to protect not just the coastline, but obviously …...
Big Basin Redwoods State Park to expand with NoraBella property in Boulder Creek
“NoraBella is the gateway into Big Basin and will serve as a world-class entrance to...
Organizers of the Winter Games made clean energy a priority. Here’s how they did it
Researchers say travel and lodging create the toughest emissions problem.
Trump administration eases limits on coal plants for emitting mercury, other toxins
Environmental groups warn the rollback will harm children’s brain development and adult health.
Trump climate health rollback likely to hit poor, minority areas hardest, experts say
A coalition of health and environmental groups sued the EPA over the revocation.
Vonn, Shiffrin and Brignone among the Olympic skiers voicing concern over receding glaciers
The host city is a fitting place for them to be talking about it.
Following Trump’s lead, some GOP states seek to limit environmental regulations
It follows efforts by the Trump administration to roll back rules at the Environmental Protection...
Public health, green groups sue EPA over repeal of rule supporting climate protections
The repeal eliminates all greenhouse gas emissions standards for cars and trucks.
Monterey Bay Aquarium names new CEO
The Monterey Bay Aquarium announced today that Jenny Gray will take the helm as chief...
Trump administration urges nations to call for the withdrawal of a UN climate proposal
It is the latest move by the Trump administration to distance the U.S. from climate...
As electricity costs rise, everyone wants data centers to pick up their tab. But how?
Data centers keep spreading fast, and some use as much electricity as a small city.
Scientific studies calculate climate change as health danger, while Trump calls it a ‘scam’
Again and again, research has found increasing disease and deaths in a warming world.
EPA ends credits for automatic start-stop vehicle ignition, a feature Zeldin says ‘everyone hates’
The technology automatically shuts down a vehicle’s engine when a driver comes to a complete...
Trump’s EPA revokes scientific finding that underpinned US fight against climate change
Environmental groups are certain to challenge the action in court.
Trump EPA set to repeal scientific finding that serves as basis for US climate change policy
The EPA is expected to rescind the declaration known as the endangerment finding.
Olympic town warms up as climate change puts Winter Games on thin ice
Rising temperatures could change when Winter Olympics happen in the future.
The consumer-friendly Energy Star program survived Trump. What about other efficiency efforts?
The program had enough support that it was included in budget legislation signed by Trump.
Oregon, Washington and tribes head back to court after Trump pulls out of deal to recover salmon
It follows the collapse of a landmark agreement with the federal government.
Palo Alto group buys 2,284 acres at Sargent Ranch, ending 10-year battle over proposed quarry on scenic property
$23 million deal secures nearly all of huge open space area in southern Santa Clara...
The Sierra snowpack is dropping fast. Here’s why experts say it’s not as bad as it seems.
Blizzards at Christmas have given way to weeks of sunny, warm weather
EPA plan would begin rolling back ‘good neighbor’ rule on downwind pollution from smokestacks
The affected states are Alabama, Arizona, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico and Tennessee.
Trump administration approves plan backed by Newsom to build largest California reservoir in 50 years
Sites Reservoir would be 8th largest in California, providing water to Bay Area, farms, LA
California sues the Trump administration over plans to restart oil pipelines along the coast
The lawsuit escalates a fight over the president’s efforts to boost U.S. fossil fuel production.
FACT FOCUS: As cold hits, Trump asks, where’s global warming? Scientists say it’s still here
The president Friday questioned how the world can be warming when it is so cold.
Italian expert’s manufactured snow will play big role at the Milan Cortina Games
With climate change affecting winter sports, snowmaking has become essential.
Trump administration scraps multimillion-dollar solar projects in Puerto Rico as grid crumbles
The projects were aimed at helping 30,000 low-income families in rural areas across the territory.
California hits milestone in electric vehicle sales
Through 2025, more than 2.5 million EVs have been sold statewide, with Santa Clara County...
From death trap to lifeline: Coyote Valley’s plan for wildlife crossings
VTA and conservation groups are taking first steps to add wildlife crossings south of San...
Lisa Uttal, Finding Sanctuary: Restoring and conserving Elkhorn Slough through science, resource protection and stewardship
Elkhorn Slough, a coastal wetland visible from the Highway 1 bridge in Moss Landing, CA...
Bay Area researchers hope to unlock the secrets of coastal fog — and understand how it’s affected by climate change and pollution
With a five-year, $3.7 million grant from the Heising-Simon Foundation, the Pacific Coastal Fog Research...
Is California really 100% drought-free?
Drought Monitor report is getting a lot of attention. Experts say to keep the big...
Judge allows a third offshore wind project to resume construction as the industry challenges Trump
It's the third project this week to successfully challenge the Trump administration in court.
Judge hands offshore wind industry another victory against Trump in clearing way for NY project
It’s the second developer to prevail in court against the administration this week.
Trump’s freeze of an offshore wind project faces scrutiny from a judge he appointed
Trump has targeted offshore wind from his first days back in the White House.
How will climate change reshape the Winter Olympics? The list of possible host sites is shrinking
The IOC is considering rotating the Games among locations with sufficient snow and infrastructure.
EPA proposes limiting power of states and tribes to block major projects over water concerns
It's part of Trump's goal of speeding up fossil fuel infrastructure and data centers.
EPA says it will stop calculating health care savings from key air pollution rules
Experts called the agency’s action a dangerous abdication of one of its core missions.
Court says Trump administration illegally blocked $7.6B in clean energy grants to Democratic states
The grants supported hundreds of clean energy projects in 16 states.
Offshore wind developer prevails in court as Trump says the US ‘will not approve any windmills’
Trump said his goal is to prevent any new wind farms, calling them 'losers.'
‘Stand Up, Save Our Coast’ takes stand against Big Oil
There has been no oil drilling off the coast of California in 40 years, but...
Experts say Trump pullout from UN climate fighting will hurt world and leave US out of green surge
Experts say the move isolates America as the world transitions to green energy.
The snow below: New MBARI technology measures ocean carbon like never before
“If we can find ways to more realistically represent these processes in the models, then...
Authorities confirm shark killed swimmer Erica Fox at Lovers Point
The attack marks the first fatal shark incident at Lovers Point in more than 70...
‘Stand Up, Save Our Coast’ addresses risk of offshore oil drilling
Monterey Bay will hold its own People’s Hearing on Friday, ‘Stand Up, Save Our Coast,’...
White House completes plan to curb bedrock environmental law
The action rescinds regulations related to the National Environmental Policy Act.
EPA says it will propose drinking water limit for perchlorate, but only because court ordered it
Perchlorate affects the function of the thyroid and can be particularly damaging to infants.
Santa Cruz was built on surf. Now the waves are at risk.
Surfing generates nearly $200 million a year for Santa Cruz, but a new report warns...
Swimmer who vanished at Lovers Point was wearing a shark deterrent. What science says about what they do — and don’t do
Studies question whether wearable shark deterrents effectively reduce risk.
Scientists are learning how noise affects Bay Area wildlife as they work to conserve wetland birds amid a roaring urban soundscape
The Bay Area is a permanent or temporary home for 250 different species of resident...
Holiday rescues: SPCA Monterey County helps injured eagle, oiled birds
The SPCA Monterey County Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center has recently rescued an injured bald...
‘Trump’s EPA’ in 2025: A fossil fuel-friendly approach to deregulation
Critics argue Trump’s approach abandons the agency's environmental mission.
California Sen. John Laird appointed chair of influential budget committee
California Senate leadership has appointed Sen. John Laird chair of the influential Senate Budget and...
The “surfer’s paradox” is that their boards can harm the oceans they cherish. A new process is helping to change that.
Santa Cruz company Swellcycle is making 3D-printed surfboards from recyclable material.
Virginia offshore wind developer sues over Trump administration order halting projects
The developers of a Virginia offshore wind project are asking a federal judge to block...
Federal judge upholds Hawaii’s new climate change tax on cruise passengers
Officials expect the tax to generate nearly $100 million annually.
Monterey Peninsula’s Seal Team: ‘The Jane Goodalls of harbor seals’
These volunteers work tirelessly to protect one of the region’s most sensitive marine mammals, and...
Peninsula left without power after storms
Over 5,000 customers reported outages in the Del Monte Forest area, according to Pacific Gas...
High school senior discovers link between whale songs and human sonatas
Saratoga High School senior Lucy Zhang presented her research on the link between whale songs...
Commercial Dungeness crab season can start Jan. 5 — with limitations
State officials, fishing fleets agree to a 40 percent reduction in traps
Trump’s push to make oil drilling cheap again squeezes some states more than others
The stakes are highest for New Mexico.
Energy Department watchdog will audit Trump’s cuts of nearly $8B in clean energy grants
All 16 targeted states supported former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.
Trump administration moves to dissolve national climate research lab in Colorado
The lab supports research to predict, prepare for and respond to severe weather and other...
16 states sue Trump administration again over billions in withheld electric vehicle charging funds
Tuesday's separate lawsuit addresses the withholding of funding obligations for two other programs.
Residents near Moss Landing fire provide samples to measure health impact
Some community residents remain unsatisfied with the lack of human sampling conducted given the strange...
Western monarch migratory count numbers remain low
The Xerces Society, an international conservation group, will publish a statewide 2025 count in January.
Trump administration delays decision on federal protections for monarch butterflies
It comes despite years of warnings from conservationists that populations are shrinking.
EPA eliminates mention of fossil fuels in website on warming’s causes. Scientists call it misleading
EPA altered some but not all of its climate change webpages.
DOJ ends monitoring of illegal dumping in Houston in retreat from environmental justice
The Houston agreement aimed to address illegal dumping of trash and waste in certain neighborhoods.
Federal judge throws out Trump order blocking development of wind energy
The judge ruled in favor of a coalition of state attorneys general from 17 states...
Plans for huge new oceanfront battery storage plant are withdrawn following disastrous Moss Landing fire
January fire cost Texas company $400 million and stiffened opposition to the projects, which are...
Local officials sound alarm amid ongoing spike in death cap poisonings
With wild mushroom hunting season in full swing, local officials and experts are warning that...
FACT FOCUS: Trump said weaker gas mileage rules will mean cheaper cars. Experts say don’t bet on it
Experts say cutting mileage standards is unlikely to lead to cheaper cars anytime soon.
5.9 earthquake alert Thursday morning was a false alarm, USGS says
ShakeAlert early warning system lit up more than 600,000 phones up across Northern California at...
Study: Moss Landing battery fire dumped 55,000 pounds of toxic metals into wildlife-rich marshes
San Jose State University research sheds new light on impacts from disastrous January fire
Trump plans to weaken vehicle mileage rules that limit air pollution
The proposal would significantly reduce fuel economy requirements through the 2031 model years.
California’s popular EV carpool lane decal program ends Monday: $490 tickets for violators
That "Clean Air Vehicle" sticker on electric vehicles has expired, and along with it a...
What the air you breathe may be doing to your brain
Studies increasingly find links between higher concentrations of certain pollutants and the prevalence of dementia.
Trump administration announces plan for new oil drilling off the coasts of California and Florida
Critics say the project could harm coastal communities and ecosystems.
Kelp restoration film reveals extent of crisis, hope for recovery
“Monterey has a deep connection to kelp.”
Trump administration revives rollbacks of species protections from first term
The proposals come as extinctions have accelerated globally because of habitat loss and other pressures.
Appeals court pauses California law requiring companies to report climate-related financial risk
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce says the laws violate the companies' First Amendment rights.
EPA moves to limit scope of clean water law to reduce amount of wetlands it covers
The new rule builds on a Supreme Court decision removing federal protections for significant areas.
Monterey Peninsula water customers dramatically reduce use
The general manager of the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District, cited four primary reasons for...
Into the fog: Researching the coastal staple
Dawson thinks the Fog Research project could be used to answer questions about the impact...
Business groups ask Supreme Court to pause California climate reporting laws in emergency appeal
Business groups argued in an emergency appeal that they violate free-speech rights.
New ballot measure push aims to overhaul California’s landmark environmental law
Chamber of Commerce seeks to cut red tape, environmental groups vow to fight.
San Lorenzo River mouth surf spot approved as California Historic Landmark
For years, the San Lorenzo River mouth surf break in Santa Cruz has been celebrated...
Forest makeover boosts Pebble Beach fire defense
“There are so many benefits. It benefits public safety, firefighter safety. Overall, the program makes...
Why is the government dropping millions of flies?
Meet a scientist fighting the invasive pest that threatens billions of dollars in agricultural damage.
Monterey Bay Half Marathon goes the distance for sustainability
“You wouldn’t think it would be so much fun to sort trash, but we really...
It rained a lot in October. Is fire season over now?
Most of the state received more than average precipitation in October -- twice normal in...
Daylight saving time ends Sunday — and Stanford study suggests it should go away for good
Researchers say the current protocol to both "fall back" and "spring forward" is the worst...
New butterfly website hopes to inform, inspire
“We put this website together because monarchs depend on all of us to be helping.”
Solving a sea otter mystery: Researchers track down origin of deadly disease
The latest research adds a dimension of clarity to sea otter health. So do new...