Award-winning nonprofit media in the public interest, serving San Diego's inland region

Award-winning nonprofit media in the public interest, serving San Diego's inland region

THE ENERGY THAT SAN DIEGO DRINKS

Printer-friendly version  March 16 program to explore link between water use and demand   By Anne Tolch   March 9, 2010 (San Diego) — When we turn on our faucets we use not only water, but all the electricity and natural gas needed to transport, heat, and treat both water and the wastewater. With local supplies insufficient to meet demand,

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FILNER COSPONSORS COMMUNITY COLLEGE ENERGY TRAINING ACT

Printer-friendly version   March 6, 2010 (San Diego) — Congressman Bob Filner is among 111 cosponsors of the Community College Energy Training Act (H.R. 3731), legislation that will support community colleges as they train a new generation of technicians and other workers in America’s renewable energy industry.   “To end our dependence on fossil fuels, we need to start preparing

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COURT RULES COUNTY VIOLATED LAW BY EXEMPTING VEGETATION CLEARING PLAN IN BACK COUNTRY FROM ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS

Printer-friendly version    County argues timely removal of dead trees is needed to prevent devastating wildfires; opponents say plan destroys wildlife habitat with no public review   March 2, 2010 (San Diego) – A Superior Court judge last week issued a preliminary ruling in favor of the California Chaparral Institute, indicating the County of San Diego violated state law by

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FOR THE BIRDS? PROPOSED BAN ON LEAD SHOT IN STATE WILDLIFRE AREAS DRAWS CRITICISM & PRAISE

Printer-friendly version SENATOR HOLLINGSWORTH OPPOSES PLAN February 28, 2010 (Sacramento) –Assemblyman Pedro Nava (D-Ventura) has introduced a bill to ban use of lead shot by hunters of pheasant, quail, and other game birds in California wildlife areas. The measure is modeled after a federal ban enacted in 1991, which prohibits lead shot in hunting of ducks and other waterfowl.   “It has

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NEW CLEAN ENERGY SYSTEMS FOR RESIDENCES AND BUSINESSES: CCSE HOLDS WORKSHOPS ON FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY

Printer-friendly version    February 20, 2010 (San Diego ) – “San Diegans can learn about a new fuel cell technology for home and business applications that supplies clean base and load power 24/7, while reducing grid dependence and lowering carbon dioxide emissions, “ says Chuck Colgan, public relations representative for the California Center for Sustainable Energy (CCSE). CCSE is hosting

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UTILITY-BACKED BALLOT INITIATIVE DRAWS CRITICISM FROM LOCAL LEADERS

Printer-friendly version  Should cities and counties be barred from starting up public power entitities to compete against utility giants such as SDG&E–and offer clean energy options to residents?  Voters to decide.   February 17, 2010 (San Diego) – A June ballot initiative seeks to change California’s constitution to make it harder for cities and counties to give residents alternatives to

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EDITORIAL: MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH BIODIESEL

Printer-friendly version  "The year in which we were supposed to send U.S. and Russian astronauts to Jupiter began with two death blows to the biodiesel industry."–Tyson Gustus, broken-hearted Jezebel admirer/owner   By Tyson Gustus   I love my car. I even named her. Jezebel. Jezebel and I go back a long time. (In today’s disposable society, seven years is a

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WHAT HAPPENED AT THE WIND FARM?

Printer-friendly version  GONE WITH THE WIND:  25 wind turbines damaged; witness saw explosive blue light before Campo-area wind farm went dark   “I saw a huge flash of blue out on the side of the hill where the windmills were. It started in the middle and spread out in all directions.  It lit up the whole hillside the white-out of a snowstorm."–Ken Daubach,

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“NIFTY FIFTY” LIST TAKES GUESSWORK OUT OF DROUGHT TOLERANT LANDSCAPING

Printer-friendly version  San Diego, CA (Feb. 9, 2010)—A full-color plant list with photos, called the Nifty-50: Plants for Water Smart Landscapes, is now available to the public through the Water Conservation Garden and participating nurseries.   The list narrows the diverse selection of plants that thrive in San Diego’s semiarid climate to 50 choices, each of which made the list

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LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS SEEKS NEW BOARD MEMBERS FROM EAST COUNTY

Printer-friendly version    February 6, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – The League of Conservation Voters’ San Diego chapter seeks new board members from the East County area.   “Our goal is electing and monitoring public officials relative to their positions on environmental issues,” says  Nikki Symington, board member of the nonpartisan organization. “We need more representation from the East

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Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting — not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine’s local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

COMBAT VETS LEARN ORGANIC & HYDROPONIC FARMING SKILLS AT ARCHI’S ACRES

Printer-friendly version  By Miriam Raftery   May 9, 2009 (Escondido)—After serving three tours of duty in Iraq, including urban combat zones in Fallujah and Haditha, former Marine Kevin Archipley and his wife, Karen (shown in photo) bought a farm in Escondido and resolved to help returning combat veterans adapt to civilian life.   “What the farm offers veterans is decompression,”

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BLOSSOM VALLEY CONSERVATION DAY MAY 30 OFFERS ENERGY& WATER SAVING TIPS

Printer-friendly versionMay 27, 2009 (Blossom Valley) — The Blossom Valley Water Task Force announces it will host an Energy & Water Conservation Day on Saturday, May 30th from 1 to 4 p.m.   "If you haven’t heard by now, water deliveries will be cut to local agencies by 8 percent and a level 2 drought alert condition has been declared,"

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ECO-FURNISHING LINE LAUNCHED IN SAN DIEGO

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery May 3, 2009 (San Diego)—Now your home can be beautiful—and green! San Diego designer Laura Birns, ASID, LEED AP, has launched LauraBirdsDesignEco-Furnishings. Named among the “Top 10 Green Gurus” by Innovative Home Magazine, the nationally published designer is a Certified Green Build Professional, USGBC,and Sustainable Furnishings Council member. Now she has created home and commercial furnishings

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SAN DIEGO AREA POISED TO BE A LEADER IN BUILDING GREEN ECONOMY, SAYS NATIONAL EXPERT: AREA APT TO GET $100 MILLION IN FUNDS FOR GOING GREEN

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery May 1, 2009 (San Diego)—“We are in a moment of historic change,” Phoebe Ellis-Lamkins, chief executive officer of Green for All, said in a program yesterday in San Diego titled “Green Jobs: Fighting Poverty and Pollution.” Sponsored by the Center for Policy Initiatives, the event drew a full house of community leaders, environmentalists and labor union

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WATER CONSERVATION GARDEN CELEBRATES 10th BIRTHDAY

Printer-friendly versionApril 28, 2009 (El Cajon)–The Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College celebrated its tenth birthday on Saturday, April 25. Garden Executive Director Marty Eberhardt commented on the remarkable timing of the event. “Just two days ago, the San Diego County Water Authority Board of Directors declared a Level 2 Drought Alert, which means that retail agencies will soon be

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FLOOD OF RATEPAYER PROTESTS PROMPTS HELIX WATER TO HOLD EMERGENCY MEETING MONDAY, APRIL 27 AT 2 PM; CRITICS CONTEND DISTRICT PLAN IS UNFAIR TO BIG FAMILIES & LARGE LOT OWNERS

Printer-friendly version  Update April 28: Despite strong public protest, Helix Water District approved eliminating agricultural meters for 900 customers and accepted other staff recommendations. Watch for details soon.   By Miriam Raftery April 26, 2009 (La Mesa)—Deluged by hundreds of calls from residents irate about steep rate increases for heavy water use, and by many seeking irrigation meters to qualify

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HELIX WATER DISTRICT PROPOSES HEFTY WATER RATE INCREASE

Printer-friendly versionNew rates start metering May 1, Public Hearing May 27 By Kristin Hobbs Kjaero and Rachel Ford Hutman The Proposal (Rachel Ford Hutman) April 21, 2009 (La Mesa) – If you are one of the 260,000 residents in the Helix Water District, you may soon be paying a minimum increase of 20% more for your water—and for some heavy

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SAN DIEGO’S CARBON FOOTPRINT IS BIGGER THAN LA’S: LOCAL POLICIES TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE ARE LAGGING, CPI REPORT FINDS

Printer-friendly versionApril 22, 2009 (San Diego)–The carbon footprint of the average San Diegan–including residential energy use and transportation–is larger than that of the average resident of Los Angeles, a review of available data shows. San Diego also lags behind LA in policies and programs to reduce energy use, according to Climate Change Performance and Policy: San Diego versus Los Angeles,

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SAGE & SONGBIRDS GARDEN TOUR: RAPTOR REHAB FACILITY INCLUDED ON THIS YEAR’S TOUR MAY 1-3

Printer-friendly versionApril 20, 2009( Alpine)–Are you looking for ideas to “spruce up” your garden or yard? The Sage & Songbirds Garden Tour has a wealth of ideas for creating beautiful gardens that also provide wildlife-friendly habitat. The 12th annual event, set for May 1-3, spotlights five unique gardens, chock-full of plants, waterscapes, pathways, structures and other very interesting features. Lisa

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SPRING GARDEN FESTIVAL’S “CONSERVATION IN BLOOM” HIGHLIGHTS WATER CONSERVATION, CULTURAL CONSERVATION, AND CUYAMACA COLLEGE’S BIGGEST PLANT SALE OF THE YEAR

Printer-friendly versionDrawing to win a High-Efficiency Clothes Washer or Home Landscape Re-design April 18, 2009 (RANCHO SAN DIEGO)—On Saturday, April 25, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m,, Cuyamaca College’s campus will bloom with activity as three of its on-campus venues—the Ornamental Horticulture Department, the Water Conservation Garden,and the Heritage of the Americas Museum—invite the public to celebrate spring at their sixteenth annual

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Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting — not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine’s local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.