Power companies, racing to meet the state’s ambitious clean-energy goals, are asking lawmakers for some relief from California’s signature environmental protection law so they can upgrade their transmission lines, including at state parks.

The bill’s author, Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia, said to tackle climate change, power companies need to be able to connect solar fields and wind turbines to an upgraded energy grid faster and without as many bureaucratic hurdles.

“Achieving these goals will require unprecedented construction of this infrastructure to provide reliable, renewable energy to electrify our homes, commercial buildings and transportation,” Garcia, a Democrat from Coachella, told the Senate’s Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee, last week. “And that’s going to require some bold moves in the policy space.”

Supporters of Garcia’s Assembly Bill 3238, which is being heard today by the Senate’s Environmental Quality Committee, say streamlining the state permitting process for electrical grid upgrades is sorely needed since California’s sweeping plan to end its dependence on fossil fuels by 2045 would increase electricity consumption by as much as 68%. That would put an immense strain on the state’s already blackout-prone energy grid. As it stands, large-scale grid upgrades regularly take five or more years to plan and build, due to the lengthy environmental review process, they say.

But major environmental groups are fighting the bill to change the California Environmental Quality Act. The debate is an example of a broader tension bedeviling California officials and those across the country as they try to get more clean energy projects up and running amid a climate crisis.

The same rules that helped environmental groups fight development and polluters in the past are now often used to delay energy projects necessary to wean the country – and California – off dirty fossil fuels.

“Efficiencies should not equal weakening core environmental protections.”
— Kim Delfino, lobbyist representing Defenders of Wildlife and the California Native Plant Society

Environmentals fear fast-tracking environmental reviews would lead to power companies trampling fragile landscapes in the rush to make the grid bigger. They’re particularly concerned about state parks that currently have smaller power poles and lines that utilities would like to upgrade into massive, unsightly energy towers.

“We know how imperative it is for our state and planet to transition to clean energy as quickly as possible,” Kim Delfino, a lobbyist representing Defenders of Wildlife and the California Native Plant Society told the committee. “However, efficiencies should not equal weakening core environmental protections.”

Reforming CEQA isn’t easy

The opposition to Garcia’s bill, which has 12 bipartisan co-authors, also illustrates the fierce pushback to even small reforms to the California Environmental Quality Act – something that’s befuddled the Legislature and governors for years.

Former Gov. Jerry Brown once called reforming the act “the Lord’s work,” but he wasn’t able to pass substantial reforms. His successor, Gov. Gavin Newson, has made cutting delays from “green tape” a priority, and he also has tried to tackle CEQA. Last year, his office supported a package of bills and created a “strike team” with a goal of speeding up CEQA.

Advocates for CEQA reform say that since former Gov. Ronald Reagan signed it, the law intended to protect the environment from harmful pollution and large-scale industrial development is now regularly used to kill or delay for years much-needed projects, from affordable housing to green-energy infrastructure.

As it stands, CEQA (pronounced “see-kwa”) requires developers to pay for an environmental impact report that can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and take years to complete.

“If we are truly in a climate crisis, then we need to behave as if we are in one.”
— Erica Martin, San Diego Gas & Electric

The analyses, sometimes thousands of pages of impenetrable legal and scientific jargon, have to consider a number of potential harms to wildlife and people. That includes pollution, construction traffic, noise, urban blight and a project’s impact on recreation. The reports must offer a range of alternatives that would mitigate any possible damage.

If an agency approves a report and moves the project forward, the law allows environmental groups, local organizations and other opponents to then comb through the document looking for flaws that can be used in a lawsuit. Those lawsuits can take years to make their way through the courts.

Garcia’s office said CEQA reviews have become a major barrier to upgrading the state’s energy grid. His office cited one 117-mile Southern California powerline project that took five years for officials to review. It had an 11,000-page impact report that evaluated over 100 project “alternatives.” That same project required 70 permits issued by more than two dozen different agencies.

Are state parks threatened?

Garcia’s bill is in response to a settlement reached last year between the state’s three largest investor-owned public utilities – Pacific Gas and Electric, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas and Electric — and some environmentalists and clean-energy groups.

The settlement called for changes to the way the California Public Utilities Commission issues permits for electrical transmission lines. The bill would take the settlement’s recommendation to make the commission the lead CEQA permitting agency for electrical grid infrastructure projects.

The commission would be required to conduct reviews within 270 days, which Garcia’s office says would shave up to two years off the process.

And instead of having other state and local agencies conduct separate CEQA reviews for the entire length of a powerline project, they’d only be obligated to conduct a review for the portion that crosses their jurisdictions. Garcia’s office said that would eliminate up to three years of delays.

Garcia told the committee last week those provisions would eliminate bureaucratic duplication “while still ensuring the opportunity for environmental review.”

But a key sticking point for environmentalists is how the bill would exempt power grid upgrades from CEQA on state owned-lands, particularly at California’s parks.

Garcia’s bill would eliminate CEQA reviews for infrastructure upgrades that require a utility to acquire state lands immediately adjacent to existing “right of way” already used for power lines and other energy infrastructure. His office said the actual construction of new transmission towers and other electrical equipment on state property would still require a CEQA review.

Environmentalists such as Brianna Fordem, executive director of the Anza-Borrego Foundation, worry that the upgrades will destroy huge stretches of state parks.

Fordem told the committee last week that Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in San Diego County alone has “hundreds of miles of existing rights of ways” that will be “the path of least resistance for hundreds of 200-foot towers permanently scarring our campgrounds, our hiking trails, our sacred cultural preserves, endangered wildlife habitat, dark night skies and more.”

“Nothing,” she said, “will be protected.”

Bill sails through, despite opposition

The state’s major utilities companies, however, contend that the bill is critical to meeting the state’s clean-energy goals.

“If we are truly in a climate crisis, then we need to behave as if we are in one,” San Diego Gas & Electric’s Erica Martin told the committee last week. “The existing process for approval to construct electric infrastructure is duplicative, lengthy and costly.”

Those arguments have given the bill momentum, despite environmental opposition.

It sailed through the Assembly this spring with only one lawmaker, San Ramon Democratic Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, voting “no,” according to the Digital Democracy database. She declined to comment, according to her spokesperson.

The Senate utilities and energy committee also passed the bill last week without anyone voting against it. The committee’s Democratic chairperson, Sen. Steven Bradford of Inglewood, said his experience working for a utility informed his vote.

State Sen. Steven Bradford speaks during a Q-and-A session at the State of Black California Tour at Crawford High School in San Diego on June 15, 2024. Photo by Kristian Carreon for CalMatters

He’s a former public affairs manager for Southern California Edison, and he said he saw environmental groups support an energy project only to be “absolutely opposed” to building the transmission lines to make it functional. He said he saw the same thing happen to a San Diego Gas & Electric project.

“Both of those projects were delayed almost five years and added billions of dollars to the cost,” Bradford told the committee. “At the same time, we set all these arbitrary goals of when we’re going to have this renewable power, but we’re failing to build the infrastructure that’s necessary to deliver the power where it’s needed.”

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

Callie Lee Lara was born December 24, 1952, in Hoopa, and she began her spiritual journey on June 30, 2024. As a Hupa and Karuk person, Callie dedicated her life to preserving the philosophy and teachings of her people. At a young age, her grandmothers exposed her to the beauty of ceremony through storytelling, songs, and connection to the natural environment. She identified as Natinixwe, a spiritual being on a human journey from the villages of Tsewelnaldin, Medildin, and Chimikaniinaach. She would often say, “My ancestors from these places live through me. When I speak Hupa, work on ceremonial regalia, gather materials, or engage in ceremony; those ancestors within, come out, and are born again.”

Callie understood the formulas of an ancient people, who had survived colonization, and shared lessons to revitalize ceremony and to keep us connected to the natural environment, to our ancestors, and to each other. She was a dancer, a singer, and was among many contributors of ceremonial prayer items. She brought life to countless men’s and women’s ceremonial regalia. Often, a ceremony is filled entirely with pieces that she created. She has shared these skills of gathering and regalia-making with numerous young women throughout the community and was an instructor and life-long student of the Hupa language and often resorted to language for a deeper meaning of life. She was a writer who often expressed her cultural understanding through poetry and story.

Callie attempted to walk softly about the world, and although she was a gentle person, she was instrumental in monumental changes to bring our people back into balance with the world and lay a foundation for future generations. Yet, her most impactful influences may have been as a devout mother, grandmother, aunt, wife, and friend. Callie lived in partnership with her husband of 50+ years, Walt Lara Sr. Their home was known as a “safe place” for their children, grandchildren, and nieces/nephews. They welcomed family members (and even a few non-family members) with open arms for both short and extended stays when needed. Callie knew that it was important to keep family together so she would travel miles to Palm Springs, Idaho, and Arizona to ensure that her children were connected with their siblings and cousins. She was an exceptionally hard worker who spent many joyous days with family surfishing on the beach, stripping salmon, gathering seaweed, smoking sturgeon, gardening, and canning.

Callie managed to break cycles of trauma and reintroduced bonding through love, kindness, and respect. Further, through her experiences, working for the Child and Family Services Department at United Indian Health Services, the Hupa Culture, Language and Education program at the Hoopa Valley Tribe, and for the Department of Health and Human Services, Callie acquired many skills while also shifting the paradigm to nurture space for Indigenous knowledge. As “a human being on a spiritual journey”, Callie’s impacts continue to be tremendous. Now that she has begun her spiritual journey, she wanted to remind her husband, children, grand-children, nieces, and nephews that she will continue to live within them. Whenever they engage in ceremonial activity, walk the trails in the forest, weave baskets, or speak their language, she will come out and will be born again. Me che nai kiwil dichiwin il, “those within come out and are born again.”

Callie is preceded in death by her father, Richard McClellan; second father, Byron Hostler; mother, Patricia Tsewelnaldin; grandparents, Nancy Nixon, Henry McClellan, Ella Johnson, Emma Norton, and Jack Norton Sr.; daughter, Wakatunyia Nancy Lara; nephew and her “boy” Mikyo Jackson; nephew/grandson, Byron Hostler III; and niece, Lacey Mae Jackson.

She is survived by her husband, Walter Lara Sr.; her children, Kishan and Sammy Cooper, Keduescha and Everett Colegrove, Roberta Lara, Elizabeth and Greg O’Rourke, Lorraine Lara, Willie Lara, and Walter and Joy Lara; her grandchildren, Walter III, Kipoon, Jasper, Lucinda, Lau-Lei, Ernie Jr., Chucheesh, Charlene, Kisdyante, Louis “Mussie”, Princess Jintcon, Everett “Bronc”, Nijonda, Teh-sa’a:n-xwe, Tasahce Se:wenah, and Eco-cate’; her great grandchildren, Keyoh, Moreck Walt IV, Keechpooh, Ellie Su, Millie Lu, Caleb, Eli, Isaac, Albert, Louis, and Aurora; siblings, Richard and Kathy McClellan, Holly and Malcolm Frederick, Patricia Joseph, Byron Steve Hostler, and Cheri Buck; special friends, Kendall Allen, Sandy Schwenk, and Wanda Lincoln; and numerous nieces, nephews, family and friends.

The family would like to thank Teresina Obie, Snickles Perry, Dr. Martinez, and Susan Welsh for their dedicated assistance to her care.

On July 3, a viewing will be held at Paul’s Chapel in Arcata from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. At 2 p.m., a graveside service will be held at the Marks Family Cemetery in Oosamich. A reception will follow at Sumeg Village.

Services will be officiated by her nephew, Thomas Joseph Jr. Pall Bearers are her nephews, Jasper Hostler, Andrew Lara, Jimmy Eller, Mah-vic Masten, Justin Woods, Michael Lawrence, Floyd Moore and Tino Luna.

Honorary Pall Bearers are Everett Colegrove Jr., Greg O’Rourke, Sammy Cooper, Kenneth “Bombie” Hurtado, Dr. George “Pordie” Blake, Raymond McQuillen, Jesse James, Jim McQuillen, Tyke Billings, Willie Pink, and Victor Bjelacac.

“May you walk gently about the world”- Callie Lara

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

The Hoopa Fire Department is currently battling an estimated two-acre blaze near the Hoopa Airport that has already claimed two vehicles. They are asking that area residents prepare for further instructions, should the need for them arise. 

“We kindly request all residents to stay vigilant and follow the instructions of the emergency services personnel,” HFD said in a Facebook post Tuesday evening. “If you have any relevant information about the fire, please immediately contact the Hoopa Wildland Fire team.”

Read the entire HFD post below:

Attention, Hoopa Community! We have just been informed about a fire incident at the Hoopa Airport. The fire has already spread over an area of 2 acres and involves 2 cars. Unfortunately, it is now heading towards the River Bar area.

In these critical moments, we want to assure you that the Hoopa Wildland Fire team is actively working to contain and control the fire. Our dedicated team is doing everything possible to ensure the safety of our community.

We understand that this news may be concerning, but we want to emphasize that your safety is our top priority. We will provide regular updates as we receive them from the Hoopa Wildland Fire team.
We kindly request all residents to stay vigilant and follow the instructions of the emergency services personnel. If you have any relevant information about the fire, please immediately contact the Hoopa Wildland Fire team.

Let’s come together as a community and support each other during this challenging time. Stay safe, Hoopa! 

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

In December of 1987 the 70-foot commercial fishing vessel “Midnight Sun” capsized while attempting to enter Humboldt Bay during a storm. The skipper of the vessel survived, one of his crew members drowned and his body was recovered. Two other crew members, including Milton Leon Pellegrini Jr, went missing and have never been found. On 02-09-1991 the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) responded to Houda Point (near Trinidad) for a report of human remains being found. A human mandible was recovered after a search of the area. Missing persons cases stay open until solved.  

A DNA sample was obtained from the mandible and entered into both the California Missing Person DNA Database and National Unidentified Person DNA index. The DNA profile was searched against profiles from both missing persons and other human remains in the Combined Index System. No match was ever made. 

In December of 2022 the HCSO partnered with Othram, a private company, to determine if advanced forensic DNA testing could help identify a back log of unidentified recovered human remains. A DNA extract from the mandible was sent to Othram.  Othram scientists used forensic Genome sequencing to build a comprehensive DNA profile for the unknown remains. Once the profile was built, Othram’s in-house genealogy team used forensic genetic genealogy to produce investigative leads. In mid-April of 2024 the HCSO received the Othram report indicating the DNA profile may belong to Milton Pellegrini. The report included genetic relatives, including a possible brother named Paul from the Eureka area. Investigators were able to contact Paul who confirmed his brother, Milton, was lost at sea. A DNA sample was obtained from Paul and compared to the DNA from the Mandible which came back as a match.  

The HCSO would like to thank Othram, and the California Department of Justice DNA lab for assisting in solving this case.  The HCSO is continuing to work with Othram on several other unidentified remains investigations utilizing the latest DNA technology.  If you have any information regarding a missing person, or cold homicide please contact Investigator Mike Fridley at 707-441-3024 

It’s an interesting time to be an American! It’s an even more interesting time to be a proud American, some might wager, but if that’s you, you’re in luck. Just about every major municipality in Humboldt is hosting some kind of Independence Day celebration this week, should you find yourself feeling patriotic (or just hungry). 

See below a list of the larger celebrations that will honor this fine country as its founders intended (that is: by consuming highly processed carnivorous foods and craning your neck to gape at deafening light shows). 

At a glance, ALL of these events will have food and music, and you can see fireworks in Fortuna, Benbow and Eureka. If you are looking for something a little more intimate to do, check out the Lowdown for more happenings.

And finally, for the love of America, remember that it’s going to be fucking scorching this weekend. If you plan to set off your own fireworks, Cal Fire asks you to please be mindful of the serious risks associated with that choice. See their full message below.

Okay! Here’s the list:

Fortuna  

Fortuna Fireworks Festival
July 3 / 5:30-10:30 p.m. / Newburg Park / Fireworks at dark
Kid-oriented, bring your own fireworks
This looks like the busiest and most ambitious of the 4th of July gatherings, and it’s not even on the 4th of July! You MAY bring your own fireworks to set off in the parking lot behind the event, if that sounds fun to you. It will also be any true American child’s absolute dreamscape: A $10 wristband will buy “three hours of unlimited fun” including but not limited to bounce houses, mechanical bulls and a petting zoo. After that, you can see fire dancers, and then you can dance, and then, at dark, you can see more fireworks.

Arcata

4th of July Jubilee
July 4 / 11:00- 4:00 p.m. / Arcata Plaza 
Weirdest attractions
Arcata is bringing it. There will be a dunk tank. There will be aerial silks performances. What more do you need to know?

Eureka

4th of July Festival
July 4 / 10-5 p.m. / Old Town / Fireworks at 10:00 p.m.
Music festival energy! There are TWO stages at this one.
This looks like Friday Night Market on steroids. Eureka Main Street tells us that in addition to pursuing the many vendors, “attendees can also enjoy fire trucks, police cars, horse & carriage rides, speeder car rides, Madaket Bay Cruises, and more.” Cute!

Ferndale

4th of July Barbeque, 4th of July Parade
July 4 / 11-2 p.m. / Ferndale Memorial Veterans Hall
The most classic of the gatherings
Here, folks will find a traditional picnic atmosphere. Bring your blanket, spread out on the lawn, eat some BBQ and, at noon, watch a charming parade of firetrucks and other patriotic floats roll down Main Street.

Garberville

Fireworks at Benbow State Park
July 4 / 1-7 p.m. / Benbow State Recreation Area / Fireworks at dusk
In nature
After a four-year hiatus, Humboldt’s southernmost 4th of July bash is back. It’s got what all the other celebrations have got – music, vendors, food – but in the boondocks.

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Release from Cal Fire Humboldt: 

With the 4th of July just a few days away, it is important to consider the dangers of fireworks. CAL FIRE Humboldt – Del Norte Unit Chief Kurt McCray would like to remind everyone that very hot and dry weather will increase the risk of wildfire this week and to use extra caution during outdoor activities.

Every year fires are caused by illegal and unsafe use of legal fireworks. This puts members of the public, first responders, and property at risk. Those responsible for starting a fire due to illegal use of fireworks can be held financially and criminally responsible. Possession of illegal fireworks could lead to fines and jail time. Some illegal fireworks are considered a destructive device, and possession constitutes a felony.
The use and sale of Safe and Sane fireworks is decided by local governments. Permitted Safe and Sane fireworks will bear a seal from the Office of the State Marshal. Be sure to check for specific restrictions in your area and take all precautions when using Safe and Sane fireworks if they are permitted.
Fireworks Safety Tips:
• Use only State Fire Marshal approved fireworks
• Local ordinances should be verified before purchasing and/or using fireworks
• Always read directions
• Always have an adult present
• Only use fireworks outdoors
• Never use fireworks near dry grass or other flammable materials
• Light one firework at a time
• Have a bucket of water and a hose nearby
CAL FIRE encourages celebrating by viewing a professionally licensed firework show. For those using their own fireworks, we urge only the use of Safe and Sane fireworks in a manner that provides for the best safety of persons and minimizes the risk of fire.

Press release from the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services:

In response to the extreme heat forecast for the coming days, Humboldt County is opening cooling centers at the Hoopa, Willow Creek and Garberville library branches. These centers will provide a safe and cool environment for residents seeking relief from high temperatures that are expected to reach into the 100s in some locations.

Health & Human Services Director Connie Beck said ensuring the safety and well-being of our community during extreme weather conditions is a high priority. “We encourage everyone, especially those most vulnerable to heat, to take advantage of these cooling centers and get some relief from the unusually hot weather.”

Cooling centers will be opened at the following locations and times:

Kim Yerton Memorial Library (Hoopa)
370 Loop Road, Hoopa

Hours of Operation
Tuesday, July 2: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m.
Wednesday, July 3: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 8 p.m.
Thursday, July 4: Closed for the holiday.
Friday, July 5: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m.
Saturday, July 6: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m.

Phone: 530-625-5082

Willow Creek Library
39 Mayfair St. (at Highway 299 & 96), Willow Creek

Hours of Operation
Tuesday, July 2: Closed
Wednesday, July 3: noon to 5 p.m.
Thursday, July 4: Closed for the holiday.
Friday, July 5: noon to 4 p.m.
Saturday, July 6: noon to 4 p.m.

Phone: 530-629-2146

Garberville Library
715 Cedar St., Ste. A, Garberville

Hours of Operation
Tuesday, July 2: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Wednesday, July 3: noon to 7 p.m.
Thursday, July 4: Closed for the holiday.
Friday, July 5: noon to 6 p.m.
Saturday, July 6: noon to 4 p.m.

Phone: 707-923-2230

Karuk Natural Resource Center (Orleans)
39051 Highway 96, Orleans

Hours of Operation
Thursday, July 4: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday, July 5: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

These cooling centers will be equipped with air conditioning, water, seating and reading materials to ensure a comfortable and relaxing environment. Library staff will be on hand to assist visitors and provide information on staying safe during extreme heat.

Residents are reminded to take precautions during high temperatures, including staying hydrated, wearing light clothing and avoiding strenuous activities during peak heat hours. Special attention should be given to children, the elderly and pets, who are more susceptible to heat-related illness.

For more information about the cooling centers or tips on staying safe during extreme heat, please visit humboldtgov.org/emergency or contact the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) at 707-268-2500.

Cal Poly Humboldt press release:

Cal Poly Humboldt and College of the Redwoods are excited to announce the launch of a new men’s and women’s rodeo program, set to launch in Fall 2024. This innovative collaboration will provide students exceptional opportunities to engage in rodeo activities while pursuing their degree at both institutions.

CR’s rodeo program will begin as a club sport with plans to transition to a full intercollegiate athletic team. The rodeo program at Cal Poly Humboldt will launch as a competitive sports club. In preparation for the program’s debuts, both CR and Cal Poly Humboldt plan to search for rodeo coaches and leaders. These coaches will play a pivotal role in training and mentoring student-athletes, as well as overseeing the overall management of the program.

The rodeo programs will benefit from a strategic partnership with Ferndale Fairgrounds, where both teams will practice and call home. These collaborations will provide students with access to top-notch facilities and resources, enriching their training and competitive experiences, while the pathway for students from CR to Humboldt will be seamless. This collaboration will also deepen the partnership between both institutions and the community, while offering significant advantages to local student-athletes. To ensure the financial sustainability of both the men’s and women’s programs, a fundraising initiative has begun and will be expanded.

This rodeo program underscores the broader commitment by CR and Cal Poly Humboldt to expand academic and extracurricular offerings and to provide diverse opportunities to students.

Cal Poly Humboldt President Tom Jackson, Jr. says, “Since 2019, our two institutions have been strategizing about the implementation of a rodeo program that provides a home for our local students to compete in a championship environment. That time has come, and we are excited about the future of collegiate rodeo in Humboldt County.”
College of the Redwoods President Keith Flamer is very excited to partner with Cal Poly Humboldt to bring collegiate rodeo to the area:

“I am very proud of our partnership with Cal Poly Humboldt to create these rodeo programs. This collaboration offers a wonderful opportunity to elevate college rodeo in our area and create new pathways for student-athletes to pursue their academic and rodeo dreams.”