The Government of Scotland and the Government of California have signed a joint agreement committing to work together on tackling climate change, an agreement the two governments hope will provide a model for other governments to follow.
The latest California Cap and Trade Annual Report published by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) puts a spotlight on how the money raised by the program has been put to use to combat climate change around the state. This year, the report also includes an interactive map that shows exactly where the various programs are being implemented.
It’s beginning to look like our democracy is actually better defended against strong-man autocracy than I feared.
The constitution, the fourth estate, the rule of law, have all taken massive hits, but remain standing, and are even eking out surprising wins after literally “unpresidented” assaults from the Oval Office.
The Trump Administration gives renewable energy the stinkeye but Los Angeles Air Force Base is forging ahead with new rooftop solar arrays.
The California DMV has apparently changed its mind as regards self-driving vehicle testing without human drivers, following the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s announcement that the computers inside self-driving vehicles could be considered “drivers.”
As a couple of our writers have highlighted this week, there may be a war brewing between California and the US Environmental Protection Agency. If that seems strange to you (knowing that California is super green and the EPA is all about keeping our world green), note that the United States under Donald J. Trump has a dude running the EPA who basically wants to see the EPA destroyed — so, yes, we are living in backwards land at the moment.
We broke the news last April of BYD becoming the top-selling plug-in vehicle brand in the world by volume (which it still is) and subsequently moving into the electric truck category. Now, the company is working to expand its Lancaster, California, plant in support of increasing demand for electrified BYD trucks.
A new bill filed in the California legislature would move the timetable forward for renewable energy forward by several years to 50% by 2025 and 100% by 2045. Both targets are among the most ambitious in the country.
Detailed statistics on Cruise’s (GM’s) self-driving vehicle testing efforts in California, as provided by the company to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, recently came to my attention (tip of the hat to “Qinsp” on the GM-Volt.com forum). The stats give us a bit more insight into the state of this tech at Cruise/GM.
The electric bus wave is upon us and cities are very eager to use them to paint a greener face. Companies such as BYD and Proterra are taking center stage and bitterly fighting for this new lucrative market. In fact, both romanced the city of Long Beach in California (my home base) for some time. The BYD K9 edged out the latter, so we are exploring it in more detail.
