Even before President Trump took office, California was not meeting its emissions reduction goals.

California environmental leaders are calling on state agencies to prioritize investing in active transportation and public transit, particularly as the new administration works to dismantle environmental protections and discourage the shift to electric vehicles and renewable energy, writes Damien Newton in Streetsblog California.
In a letter to the California Transportation Commission, California Air Resources Board, Caltrans, and the Department of Housing and Community Development, the group of advocates notes that “California still controls how the state spends its own transportation dollars, and thus is responsible for meeting its own Climate goals.”
Regardless of the federal administration in power, California transportation agencies have continued to prioritize highway building and car-centric development at the expense of public transit and multimodal transportation infrastructure.
The letter includes seven suggestions for actions state leaders can take to meet its climate goals and safeguard its environment. These include making a statewide effort to shift investments away from highway expansion, aligning the transportation budget with the state’s climate action plan, and creating a ‘Plan B’ for emissions reduction goals that compensates for potential reductions in federal support.
FULL STORY: Enviro Leaders: EV’s Won’t Save Us, Invest in Transit and Active Transportation

Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

Greening Oakland’s School Grounds
With help from community partners like the Trust for Public Land, Oakland Unified School District is turning barren, asphalt-covered schoolyards into vibrant, green spaces that support outdoor learning, play, and student well-being.

California Governor Suspends CEQA Reviews for Utilities in Fire Areas
Utility restoration efforts in areas affected by the January wildfires in Los Angeles will be exempt from environmental regulations to speed up the rebuilding of essential infrastructure.

Native American Communities Prepare to Lead on Environmental Stewardship
In the face of federal threats to public lands and conservation efforts, indigenous groups continue to model nature-centered conservation efforts.
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