Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain for the afternoon. High 59F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch..
Tonight
Showers and thunderstorms. Low 52F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a bill extending the state's cap-and-trade program through 2045. The program sets a declining limit on total planet-warming emissions in the state from major polluters. The new law potentially boosts carbon-removal projects and requires the program to align with California's target of achieving so-called carbon neutrality by 2045. Newsom also signed laws to speed up permitting for oil production in Kern County, refill a fund that covers the cost of wildfire damage when utility equipment sparks a blaze and allow the state's grid operator to partner with a regional group to manage power markets in western states.
After the Palisades and Eaton fires scorched entire neighborhoods, the Army Corps of Engineers set up operations to recycle concrete and metal from mostly fire-damaged homes. Tons of these everyday materials are washed where they're collected, loaded onto trucks, and sent to begin the recycling process. For example, metal is compacted and concrete is crushed, then shipped to recycling facilities before re-entering the supply chain for future uses. In the world of planet-warming emissions, making fresh concrete and steel are major contributors to climate change, and industry experts say recycling is a good way to rebuild more sustainably.
By MICHELLE L. PRICE, SOPHIE AUSTIN and SEUNG MIN KIM Associated Press
President Donald Trump signed a resolution on Thursday that blocks California's first-in-the-nation rule banning the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035. California quickly challenged the move in court. The resolution was approved by Congress last month and aims to quash the country's most aggressive attempt to phase out gas-powered cars. He also signed measures to overturn state policies curbing tailpipe emissions in certain vehicles and smog-forming nitrogen oxide pollution from trucks. Trump called California's regulations "crazy" at a White House ceremony where he was expected to sign the resolutions.
States with aggressive climate goals like Oregon are facing a conundrum. Electric vehicles can help reduce emissions in the transportation sector, the nation's largest source of greenhouse gas emissions; but they also mean less gas tax revenue in government coffers. Revenues from gas taxes paid by drivers at the pump are projected to decrease as more people adopt electric and fuel-efficient cars. That's forcing officials nationwide to look for new ways to fund transportation infrastructure. According to the National Association of Budget Officers, motor fuel taxes are the largest source of transportation revenue for states. But the money they bring in has fallen.
