California lawmakers are crafting a package of proposed laws that could streamline the building of solar and wind energy projects, according to people familiar with the discussions.

Democratic legislators, who have shared drafts with environmental groups, industry, lobbyists and other interested parties, are negotiating the details with Gov. Gavin Newsom. The talks among staff in the state Senate and Assembly and Newsom’s office are being held behind closed doors and the proposals are not yet public. California’s legislative session ends Aug. 31.

CalMatters obtained draft copies of five energy measures that Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire helped draft. They aim to revamp the way the state approves and supports solar, offshore wind, battery storage and other green energy projects.

Spokespersons for McGuire and Assembly Leader Robert Rivas, a Democrat from Salinas, did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the proposals.

Simultaneously, the Newsom administration is working on a separate proposal that aims to make electric bills more affordable for Californians, two sources told CalMatters. No details were immediately available and a spokesperson for the governor declined to comment.

Electric rates have nearly doubled over the last decade. The state Public Utilities Commission overhauled the rate structure with a controversial new billing system this year.

The renewable energy proposals — a package internally called the “California Made” package — seek to offer incentives for building projects and their components in California. They would create tax credits, streamline local and state permitting and change how environmental reviews are conducted.

California is facing twin challenges: Meeting renewable energy targets mandated by law, as well as dealing with some of the highest energy bills in the country.

Under state law, 60% of California electricity must be generated by clean energy sources by 2030 and 100% by 2045 — a mandate critical to the state’s efforts to combat climate change.

One measure in the renewable energy package would provide a tax credit for certain renewable energy projects.

Another would grant “by right” approval to developers building in areas already zoned for them, eliminating the need for local approvals. Such proposals curtailing local control have proven controversial with city and county officials.

Under another proposal, state officials would conduct a “master” environmental review, which would serve as a comprehensive, umbrella analysis addressing large-scale issues like air emissions and cumulative impacts. Developers then would have to conduct more limited reviews of their specific projects.

Two additional proposals — one specifically for offshore wind projects and one for other renewable energy projects — would consolidate the permitting process by creating a “one stop shop” system that would consolidate applications, hearings and decision-making.

Local opposition and environmental reviews have held up large solar projects and transmission projects for years, and permitting reform was taken up earlier this year by the state Assembly Select Committee on Permitting Reform.

Steven R. Bohlen, an energy expert and senior director for government and external affairs at the Lawrence Livermore National Lab, reviewed the proposed legislation obtained by CalMatters. He said they address many concerns, and are “headed in the right direction.” But he added that timelines should be added.

“Though the legislative proposals create a path for streamlining, there is still no statutory requirement that each agency respond with a certain period of time, or that the overall process be limited to a certain period of time, provided all the appropriate information were submitted by the applicant,” he wrote to CalMatters in an email.

“As written, the streamlined process could still be slow, even though it is being conducted under the ‘streamlined’ process.”

Permitting reform has become a mantra for California’s newest renewable industry — floating offshore wind. The complexities of creating the new industry are enormous: creating an extensive system of ports and greatly expanding power transmission infrastructure.

Each of the five federal projects off the coast of California will have to navigate overlapping jurisdictions and duplicative reviews with a thicket of federal, state, tribal and local agencies. The process, especially with an industry that has never operated in the state before, is slow.

Policymakers use the word “urgency” to describe efforts to expedite offshore wind power, since they are critical for meeting California’s goal to decarbonize the electricity grid.

According to the California Energy Commission,“under current federal, state, and local project review processes, the environmental and permit reviews for offshore wind facilities could take more than 10 years to complete.”

Legislators this year are already trying to tackle the rising costs of electricity.

Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris, a Democrat from Irvine and chair of the Assembly standing committee on utilities and energy, amended a bill to direct state officials to “produce an affordability metric” for future electric rate increases.

Petrie-Norris told Politico in June the goal is to shave $10 off consumers’ bills. The bill passed the Assembly and was amended in the Senate, and is now undergoing more debate. A spokesperson for Petrie-Norris’ office declined to comment.

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CalMatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.

Richard was born in Los Angeles to Richard the first and Marcela Espinoza. He grew up in Baldwin Park, California. He worked at Cal Tech College as a Sheet Metal Journeyman. 

Richard spent the last 40 years in Eureka, Ca.  He worked as a Chain Puller in Korbel, Big Lagoon, Orick, and Brainard until they closed down.  Richard worked at Winco Foods for the last 12 years. 

He made a lot of friends along the way. Our beloved Richard is survived by his wife Rachel being together for 52 years.

He leaves a son Richard Espinoza III, daughter Rachelle and her wife Kathleen Espinoza. He leaves his grandsons Christian Espinoza, Jacob Espinoza, River and Joseph Stinnetti, great grandchildren Alice, Ezekiel, and Malichi Espinoza. 

Also survived by his sister Genevieve Duvall, along with many brothers-in laws, sisters-in-laws, nephews, nieces, cousins, aunts, and uncles.  Richard is pre-deceased by his parents Richard and Marcela Espinoza. 

The memorial will be at the Wharfinger Building located at 1 Marina Way in Eureka, California on Saturday, August 17th from 2:00pm-5:00pm. You may wear Dodgers gear,  Raiders gear, and/or In n Out T shirts.  We will meet to remember him and share memories of him.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Richard Espinoza’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.

Jacob Ryan Osier was born May 6th, 1978, and passed away at home the evening of June 29th, 2024. He was 46 years old. Jake was smart, quick-witted, and a lot of fun. He will be forever missed by his friends and loving family. 

He was born in Arcata, and lived his entire life in Eureka, CA. He was born with dwarfism and was short statured. He attended Lafayette, Zane, and Eureka High School..  

He was a lifelong member of Little People of America and enjoyed the many friendships he made. He was a Star Wars fanatic and a 49er football fan.  He loved a good time. Some of his best days were spent on the family boat on the Klamath River. 

Awok Jake, 

A flame that burned too hot, Wild, Fun and witty; Bigger than life, Infamous, A spirit untamed and gritty. 

Lived in the moment, On the edge he thrived; A descendant of Yurok and Karuk, In his heritage, he was deeply alive. 

Little People of America, He held close to his heart; Eureka lifelong resident, In our town, he played his part. 

He lived to be happy, With smiles, his goal; His big personality, Eclipsing his physical role. 

He is survived by his beloved daughter, Haley Osier, and his parents Jim and Debbie Osier. He will be missed by all including his brother Michael Osier, sister Rachel Bass (Gene), and brother Aaron Osier (Marissa). He has six nephews Ryan, Logan, Mason, and Brandon Bass, and Austin and Isaac Osier. We all loved and will miss Jacob. 

He was preceded in death by grandparents Dick and Ruth Osier (Hoopa and Redding), Duane Powell (Hoopa), Dona Short Stevens (Orleans and Redding) and Great Grandmother Viola Short (Orleans).  Donations can be made in his name to the Betty Kwan Chinn Homeless Foundation.  Rest in peace, Dear Jacob.

A memorial service will be held at the Sanders Funeral Home on August 10th, at 3 pm. 

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Jacob Osier’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.

George “Butch” Buckley passed away Friday, July 28th, 2024, in his home surrounded by family. He was 78 years old.

Butch was born July 3rd, 1946, to Loleta and George Buckley in Eureka, CA. Butch grew up in Loleta, CA with his sister Darlene Buckley on the old Table Bluff Reservation. He spent his younger years on the reservation and near the Pacific Ocean, fishing and eeling.

He moved to San Francisco, CA where he worked for the city health department. He stayed there for 10 years until he returned to Loleta, CA where he lived for the remainder of his life. He worked for his tribe, the Wiyot Tribe, as the water operator for 24 years.

Butch was preceded in death by his parents Loleta and George Buckley. He is survived by his daughters’ Jessica Cantrell of Fort Smith, AR and Mariah Voight-Buckley of Loleta, CA; his sister Darlene Buckley of Loleta, CA; his nieces and nephews Anglea Evenson, Madison Ayala-Flynn, Roxann Dowd, Nikki Dowd, and Guy Dowd; his grandchildren Justin Buckley, Niekoma Cantrell Jr, Eva Cantrell, Layla Powell, Nekwel Karenza Buckley, all of whom he loved dearly.

Butch will be deeply and profoundly missed by his family and friends. If you knew Butch you will remember him sitting on his porch drinking a warm Budweiser enjoying the Humboldt sun or fog. Many will remember the countless games of dominos or cribbage played around his kitchen table. No matter where Butch went, good times were had by all. “Two beers” Buckley will always hold a special and close place in his family and friends’ hearts.

If you would like to celebrate Butch’s life his celebration of life will be Saturday August 3rd, 2024 from 1pm-3pm at the Table Bluff Tribe Center, 1000 Wiyot Way Loleta, CA. The celebration will be potluck style if you wish to join us, bring a dish if you like.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of George “Butch” Buckley’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On June 27, 2024 at about 3:27 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the 900 block of Tish Tang Rd., Hoopa for the report of a possible homicide attempt involving a firearm. 

The 17-year-old victim sustained a life-threatening injury and was flown out of the area for treatment. The victim is currently in stable condition. A 16-year-old suspect has been arrested on charges of attempted murder (PC 664 /187(a)) and felon in possession of a firearm (PC 29800(a)(1)) in connection with the attempted homicide. The suspect remains in custody at the Humboldt County Juvenile Hall.

The victim and suspect are known to each other and there are no other suspects outstanding at this time. Names are being withheld due to the ages of the parties involved.

This case is still under investigation.

Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.

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Mere weeks after John “Punk” Nylander and his nephew Ryan Nylander halted operations at Redwood Meat Co., citing rising utility and insurance costs, John’s three children have filed a lawsuit against the pair, accusing them of grossly mismanaging the family company through fraud, embezzlement, tax evasion and document shredding.

The three litigants — Stephanie Nylander, Rachel Nylander Flores and Russel Nylander — only recently learned that they are minority shareholders of Redwood Meat Co., the only USDA-certified slaughterhouse, processing and delivery service for nearly 200 miles.

Russel Nylander worked at Redwood Meat Co. for more than 30 years, starting when he was just a teenager. In a declaration submitted to the court on Monday, he says that shortly before he learned that the business might close down, his cousin Ryan, who is the company’s secretary and chief financial officer, instructed him to throw away about 80 bankers boxes full of documents.

“Those boxes were thrown into a dumpster and disposed of,” Russel says in his declaration. “Two women who worked in the front office of RMC also shredded documents for a week, which I witnessed. These records appear to be RMC financial records.”

His testimony continues adds that Redwood Meat Co. has apparently racked up about $900,000 in debt to the IRS that’s “believed to be for unpaid payroll taxes,” and Ryan sold a house belonging to the company for $600,000 without notifying shareholders. The proceeds are unaccounted for.

“I have no information about the whereabouts of the monies paid in this transaction despite requests,” the declaration says.

Now, according to Russel and his sisters, their dad and cousin are trying to complete a short sale of the slaughterhouse property at 3114 Myrtle Avenue in Eureka without proper notification and involvement of shareholders.

“The sale of this real property would completely decimate RMC and would make it entirely impossible for the company to be saved from total closure,” Russel says in his declaration.

The lawsuit filed this week accuses John and Ryan Nylander of breach of fiduciary duty, corporate waste and unjust enrichment, and a temporary restraining order was requested to prevent them from selling the company headquarters and destroying any more financial records.

Appearing before Humboldt County Superior Court Judge Timothy Canning Wednesday afternoon, attorney Cyndy Day-Wilson, representing the plaintiffs, said time is of the essence, given the possibility of the business being sold out from under her clients.

“Thus the emergency to come in and see you, Your Honor, to stop that sale … to put it on hold to find out what’s going on,” Day-Wilson said.

Neither John Nylander (who’s listed as the company CEO) nor Ryan Nylander showed up for Wednesday’s hearing, and neither did an attorney to represent them. But after confirming that they’d been legally served with notification of the proceedings, Judge Canning granted Day-Wilson’s motion for a temporary restraining order, which prevents the company’s executives from closing the pending property sale or liquidating any assets. A preliminary injunction hearing has been scheduled for later this month.

Calls to Redwood Meat Co. this week have not been answered.

As outlined in an Outpost story last month, Redwood Meat Co. has served the needs of local ranchers, farmers, retailers and deli counter butchers for more than 70 years, offering government-sanctioned kill facilities, packaging and distribution of cattle, lamb, goats, hogs and more. One Humboldt County farmer described the company as “critical infrastructure for local beef,” and its closure has upended operations for many local meat producers, forcing them to transport livestock to the Central Valley, Siskiyou County or beyond for processing.

In the hallway after Wednesday’s hearing, Day-Wilson declined to talk to the Outpost about the case, saying she can’t discuss pending litigation. She did not reply to a subsequent email asking to be put in touch with her clients.

In arguing for the motion in court, Day-Wilson said she and her clients have been trying since May or earlier to get copies of Redwood Meat Co.’s corporate records, but they haven’t gotten much.

“[B]asically, the corporate records stopped in 1994,” she said. “Since 1994 there have been no board meetings, no notice of sales, purchases, anything like that.”

The lawsuit says that the defendants have apparently been using corporate funds to pay for insurance policies on their personal residences, logging activity at their own properties, personal phone bills and more.

“It also appears that Defendants have taken out loans purportedly for the business, which have then been used for their own personal expenses, or have conversely used RMC funds to pay off personal loans,” the suit alleges. “Plaintiffs believe that payments have been purposefully miscategorized in RMC’s books to appear like they are for business expenses … to banks that, to Plaintiffs’ knowledge, Redwood Meat Co. does not have loans with.”

There are other discrepancies in the books, too, including the tally of outstanding shares of the corporation and the record of how those shares have been allotted, transferred and redeemed, the suit says.

“I recently learned that my name is listed on the statement of information as a director [of Redwood Meat Co.],” Russel says in his declaration. “I was never informed of this nor do I consent to it.”

Per the company bylaws, on file with the Secretary of State, Redwood Meat Co. shall have three directors, to be elected an annual shareholder meetings, but there hasn’t been a shareholder meeting in the last three decades, the suit says. 

An agreement from 1984 indicates that Stephanie and Rachel each held 18 shares of company stock, while John and his late brother (Ryan’s dad, Allen “Butch” Nylander) held 405 shares apiece. Russel appears to have inherited 18 shares sometime thereafter. There have been deaths, divorces and family disputes in the intervening 40 years, and with scarce corporate records it’s unclear how many outstanding shares there are, and who owns them, according to the lawsuit.

Despite Russel’s status as a director, neither he nor his shareholder siblings were ever sent notices of board meetings, requests for approval of corporate business decisions or records of sales of company property, according to the suit.

After a series of unfulfilled requests for more detailed records, the plaintiffs and their attorney went directly to the company’s headquarters on May 30 and spoke with Ryan Nylander’s wife, Molly.

“Molly Nylander, who to the minority shareholders’ knowledge is not a shareholder, director, or officer, indicated a stack of files and records that purported to be the corporate records,” the lawsuit reads. “When asked if there were other documents, Molly responded that what was being shown to the minority shareholders and their counsel was the extent of RMC’s corporate records.”

With the company in such dire financial straits and a community of longstanding customers invested in its survival, many have hoped that Redwood Meat Co. could be sold to someone else who can keep it in operation.

“The minority shareholders are informed that multiple offers to purchase RMC have been received, but that Ryan and/or John have refused to provide the books and accounts to potential buyers,” the lawsuit says.

On July 16, Day-Wilson sent a list of questions to John and Ryan Nylander, asking for bank statements, tax returns, board meeting minutes, a list of company assets and explanations of various financial mysteries.

“To date, no response to these questions has been received,” she wrote in the suit.

Ferndale’s Foggy Bottoms Boys recently wrote in a Facebook post about how the absence of Redwood Meat Co.’s services has left a gap in the local food system, forcing them and countless other ranchers to alter their operations in numerous ways.

Russel says in his declaration that he and his sisters would like to preserve Redwood Meat Co. for the sake of such farmers and ranchers who have come to rely on it.

“Saving RMC from closure is imperative to both the company itself and the local community,” he writes.

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Since opening in January, a unique new lounge has claimed a spot on the Arcata roster of places to gather, drink and watch sports.

Sitting atop the lavender building on G Street in Northtown, the deck of the Summitt offers outdoor seating, a fireplace and a beautiful view of Cal Poly’s campus stretching up the forested hillside while a peaked roof, flatscreens and mobile/rearrangeable furniture on the interior give cozy clubhouse vibes. 

“I think it’s one of the best seats in the house,” said founder/owner/operator Trey Cartier in a sit-down with the Outpost.

Through August, the Summitt will be showing the Olympics (with a schedule that strongly prioritizes the women’s events). But “sports bar” couldn’t hope to capture the establishment in its entirety. Doubling as a digital art and film gallery, tripling as a queer speakeasy and quadrupling as a creative workspace, the Summitt combines varied, distinct elements that Cartier hopes will “make sense together in an unknowable way.”

The Summitt concept began coming together in 2021. As the Covid-19 pandemic’s robbery of social interaction stretched on, Cartier said she found herself and her community craving gathering spaces lost.

While she initially secured the G Street penthouse as a studio/workspace, Cartier said the property’s commercial zoning kept her ideas of a “sanctuary, supportive vibe” congregation spot humming in the background.

And already, the Summitt is becoming a sanctuary for some. abby hamburg, a regular in the lounge, said that after experiencing harassment in other local drinking establishments as a trans man, he’s grateful for an environment in which everyone is “committed to a safe space.”

“Not wanting to re-perpetuate that [harassment] for others, it’s really nice to have a place where I know I can bring my queer friends or my friends of color or, you know, anyone of any minority community, and not have to worry,” hamburg told the Outpost over the phone.

The name “Summitt” pays homage to former Olympian and women’s college basketball coach Pat Summitt, who had the most career wins in college basketball history at the time of her retirement. The nod – and the eccentric dual focus on art and sport – represents a celebration of the diverse ways in which humans strive and achieve new heights, according to Cartier (who also lectures in film studies and production at the university). 

“The whole essence is to celebrate tenacity and amplify love,” she said.

Artists and athletes share much in common in Cartier’s eyes: they embody essential humanness in an age of artificiality, live to the utmost of what’s possible, drive toward successes not yet seen, raise the bar on human potential, connect others through inspiration and avoid cheating.

“We’re not trying to cheat at finding the right words when we’re doing poetry and we’re not trying to cheat the game when we’re training to do our best,” she said. “It’s figurative, but it’s significant.”

And so, interspersed with televisions airing the hottest women’s sports of the weekend, you will find art adorning the Summitt walls: stills extracted from experimental, conceptual and documentary films as well as other mixed media work. Full films are available through framed QR codes or on the lounge’s website (with membership). 

“It’s almost like an in-person Instagram,” said Cartier, adding that all tips to staff (she is the entirety of “staff” currently) are divvied up for the artists showing work.

You may also roll up to find a special event – queer mixer, silent disco … pop punk queer skate mixer (Aug. 9) – going down.

hamburg, who Cartier described as a “strong co-conspirator of the space” and an involved Summitt event planner, recalled a Pride mixer he recently threw. 

“By the end of it, I think it was just like four or five trans and non-binary folks sitting around talking about, like, top surgery doctors … who’s a good doctor, what’s the process, where to go,” hamburg said. “The natural community support [that] came out of that first event was so inspiring for me that I just was like, ‘Okay, what’s next? How can we do more of this? How can we keep these conversations happening?’”

Anyone uninterested in sports, art, mixing or discoing but who seeks reliable internet, charging stations and a chill space to work, perhaps with a craft beer in hand, can pop in and be “introverted in an extroverted space” (in Cartier’s words). 

Besides the unusual combination of offerings, the Summitt also operates differently than a typical drink-serving enterprise. 

“We’re just trying to be self-sustainable,” Cartier said, adding that the aim is to create a “safe space” with good energy and an unusual mix of people – art geeks, sports fans and all others in between and beyond – rather than turn a profit.

hamburg, who works in suicide prevention locally and is organizing a team for the Summitt at Arcata’s Sept. 8 Out of the Darkness Community Walk, said that being able to access a communal space without the pressure of buying something can be “healing” – especially for members of the queer community, who attempt suicide at higher rates. 

“When people are going through a heavy depression, there can often be fiscal limits and boundaries, and so they feel like they can’t go out and do anything,” hamburg said. “Come and sit in the sun and get a little bit of social interaction without the pressure of anything. Come and listen to other people and just be present with other folks in the space, not even necessarily engaging or contributing.” 

“To me, that’s what suicide prevention looks like,” he concluded.

The deck. Photo: Gillen Tener Martin.

For those who are looking to purchase, the Summitt offers beer, wine, prosecco and non-alcoholic beverages, and patrons are welcome to bring in outside food. 

“We had a whole crew bring in some pizza on Saturday for the women’s soccer game,” Cartier said. “There’s so many great local businesses around … scoop something up, bring it over.”

All (over 21) are welcome during operating hours, and monthly passes and membership offer discounts and perks for those looking to make the Summitt a regular haunt – including free use of the space for private events. hamburg shared that he’s hosted his book club in the lounge since becoming a member.

Membership is offered on a sliding scale, with trans and women athletes as well as queer community members offered lower rates in an attempt to be creative on how to “give space back and really center certain people that don’t usually have space,” Cartier explained. She said that memberships are intended to symbolize “co-creation” in what the Summitt is becoming rather than exclusivity, and that she hopes members feel the Summitt is a place they can count on. 

“It really is an open space,” hamburg said.