Residents who live in the area outside Watsonville where a battery storage plant is proposed are arguing against the facility on safety grounds. The company proposing it, however, insists that new technology is safer and more reliable.
Dieter Holger
Dieter Holger is a journalist reporting on business, policy, technology and the environment. His work appears in The Wall Street Journal, MarketWatch, PCWorld and elsewhere. He holds a master’s degree in data journalism from Cardiff University and a bachelor’s in philosophy from University of California, Santa Cruz.
Posted inHousing & Development
Deep-pocketed investors account for a third of home purchases in Santa Cruz County
Since 2021, investors have spent nearly $1.45 billion on purchases of single-family homes in Santa Cruz County, accounting for around 44% of total sales value.
Posted inHousing & Development
Record two in five homes sold for cash in Santa Cruz County in 2023
High interest rates and a declining number of houses for sale helped send the share of homes selling for all cash to record levels in 2023. Homebuyers flush with cash are reaping benefits that are often out of reach for most prospective buyers who need a mortgage.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
An early adopter of electric vehicles, Santa Cruz is falling behind, challenging California’s EV ambitions
Santa Cruz County is falling behind in the adoption of electric vehicles compared to other parts of the state. Higher prices are putting many consumers off, local auto dealers say. Lower-income areas of the county in particular are struggling to afford the upfront costs of an electric car despite thousands of dollars in government rebates and fuel savings.