Welcome to The Compost, a weekly newsletter on Southern California’s key environmental news. Stay updated by subscribing to our newsletter and receive it directly in your inbox! In today’s edition, we explore innovative designs for climate-friendly homes, the Orange County Sustainability Decathlon, and upcoming events. Missed the first half of the decathlon? No worries, you can catch up on the OCSD23 YouTube channel or check out the highlights on our Instagram page. Visitors have been highly impressed with the student-built homes and the free event thus far. The second half of the festival will feature guided model home tours, an awards ceremony, a job and school fair, a sustainable beer and wine garden, and many other exciting activities. Register on our website to get a free app that provides details about each day’s events.
In other news, concerns have been raised about possible water contamination from Santa Susana, a site that experienced a partial nuclear meltdown decades ago. Local officials assure residents that the water is safe and efforts are being made to address pollution. Vernon residents have complained about odors from a meat processing plant for years, and a recent investigation reveals that the facility partially reopened after being shut down by air quality officials. Edison and T-Mobile are facing a lawsuit from Orange County for their alleged failure to maintain equipment, which led to two major wildfires. Residents of Santa Ana are opposing a proposal to replace natural habitat with a flood control channel. If you want to educate others on Southern California’s smoggy past, check out Patt Morrison’s column in the L.A. Times. Meanwhile, Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner trains are now powered by renewable diesel, significantly reducing their greenhouse gas emissions.
In the regulatory sphere, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law that enables counties in the Inland Empire to work with nonprofits to manage wild burros, which have become a problem in the area. The California Public Utilities Commission is expected to vote on reducing payments to owners of solar panel-equipped apartment buildings for the electricity they generate. In addition, local air quality regulators are considering rules to reduce emissions at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, despite pushback from business groups.
On a more celebratory note, a stretch of Capistrano Beach is open for public use again after sediment erosion was addressed. California experienced one of the wettest water years in history, filling the state’s reservoirs to 128% of their average capacity. Looking for an adventure? Take a short hike along Annie’s Canyon Trail in Solana Beach, which offers stunning views of wetlands, a narrow slot canyon, and the ocean.
For this week’s tip on how to help the environment, Los Angeles residents in disadvantaged communities can soon apply for rebates to replace their lawns with water-efficient landscapes. The Department of Water and Power has received state grants to support this initiative. Keep an eye on your water bill for more details.
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