Environment California requires new homes to have solar panels. Should wildfire victims get a break? April 15, 2024 A California Republican’s bill would exempt low and middle income wildfire victims from solar panels requirements on rebuilt homes that didn’t have them when they burned down.
State Government 350,000 Californians are now on the FAIR Plan, the last resort for fire insurance. Now what? January 24, 2024 As the FAIR Plan writes more fire-insurance policies, homeowners complain about poor service, rising costs and threats of getting kicked off.
Environment As US wildfires pollute the skies, a loophole is obscuring the impact. Can it be fixed? October 18, 2023 Everyone agrees it’s time to change the Clean Air Act's exceptional events rule, but has different solutions. Listen / download audio Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
Environment What is the exceptional events rule? The loophole letting US regulators wipe air pollution from the record October 16, 2023 First pushed through by the Republican senator and climate denier Jim Inhofe, the rule has become a ‘regulatory escape hatch’ for states that want to meet federal air-quality standards.
Environment Revealed: how a little-known pollution rule keeps the air dirty for millions of Americans October 16, 2023 Major investigation shows local governments are increasingly exploiting a loophole in the Clean Air Act, leaving more than 21 million Americans with air that’s dirtier than they realize.
Environment Northern California could get help with wildfires, smoke from early atmospheric river September 25, 2023 | Manola Secaira This early-in-the-season storm could help fight fires along the California-Oregon border and has the potential to "dramatically improve air quality."
Environment Can this plan fix California’s insurance crisis? What you need to know September 22, 2023 Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara unveils a plan to shore up the California insurance market for homeowners. Insurers would return to wildfire zones, but would have an easier path to rate increases.
Environment Why do firefighters experience higher risks for cancer? A California researcher plans to find out. September 5, 2023 | Manola Secaira Experts say new research is necessary to understand the longer-term human health impacts of regular exposure to smoke. Listen / download audio Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
Environment Climate change makes wildfires in California more explosive August 30, 2023 A new study pins about 25% of the extra risk on human-caused climate change.
Environment Sacramento region could see smoke from northern wildfires as winds pick up August 29, 2023 | Chris Hagan Strong northerly winds could push smoke from wildfires burning near the California-Oregon border into the Sacramento Valley this week, impacting air quality.
