California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s $200 million proposal to revive the state’s electric vehicle market would reach only a fraction of buyers, raising fresh questions about who should benefit and whether limited incentives can meaningfully move a slowing market.
Environment
Posted inLatest News
Ask Lookout: Why are beach hazards more frequent and dangerous in winter?
Storms in the North Pacific Ocean deliver sneaker waves, rip currents and longshore currents to Santa Cruz County’s shores in winter, making it a dangerous time for beachgoers.
Posted inCapitola & Soquel
Capitola library to cut ribbon on long-awaited solar and battery storage project
A ribbon-cutting is scheduled for Saturday at the Capitola Branch Library to celebrate a solar and battery storage project years in the making.
Posted inLatest News
One year after massive fire at Moss Landing battery storage facility, nearby residents have more questions than answers
People who live near Moss Landing still have more questions than answers about the massive fire that started Jan. 16, 2025, at the world’s second-largest battery storage facility.
Posted inLatest News
In a warming world, freshwater production is moving deep beneath the sea
A Southern California company is planning a facility that would use natural ocean pressure to power reverse osmosis — a process that forces seawater through membranes to filter out salt and impurities — and produce up to 60 million gallons of freshwater daily.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Exploring hidden light: Steven Haddock brings ocean’s radiant secrets to life
In “The Radiant Sea,” scientists from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute bring together a lifetime of research and photography of deep-sea creatures. A book event Friday will dive into the role of light in the ocean’s depths with a presentation, demonstration, videos and a Q&A session.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Santa Cruz County doubles down on opposition to federal offshore drilling plan
Santa Cruz County made its opposition to offshore drilling official, with a letter to the Interior Department and pleas to the public to get involved to stop the Trump administration’s move to drill off the coast of California.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Don’t risk our coast again: Say no to offshore drilling in Monterey Bay
OPINION: California learned the hard way that oil drilling and healthy oceans don’t mix, writes Dennis Kelso, a former UC Santa Cruz environmental studies professor who served as Alaska commissioner of environmental conservation during the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Supervisors move battery storage rules forward to environmental review; some residents are disappointed
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to approve new regulations for battery storage facilities, despite opposition from residents who want a more stringent ordinance. The rules will now undergo environmental review.
Posted inHousing & Development
Santa Cruz County opens seasonal groundwater testing window
Santa Cruz County has opened its annual groundwater monitoring period for properties that rely on on-site wastewater treatment systems. The testing period runs through Jan. 31.