Showing posts with label California. Show all posts
Showing posts with label California. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Monday, October 05, 2026
Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that aimed to boost oversight of California’s High-Speed Rail Authority.
Newsom’s veto comes two weeks after the investigative office released a scathing report in which its auditors found that the high-speed rail authority approved nearly $600,000 in unallowable travel expenses for its consultants. It found they flew first class, took luxury rides and visited a nightclub on taxpayer dollars.
The auditing agency was created in 2022 to conduct independent reviews and investigations of the long-delayed bullet train project. But it has never been fully staffed because it doesn’t have the authority to hire the expert staff necessary for audits, said Inspector General Ben Belnap in recent public hearings.
Thursday, September 24, 2026
very interesting side effect of all the electric cars that Californians have bought, and installed home charging stations for - 140,000 of them, resulted in a power reserve that carried the state through the recent heat wave
It marks the largest residential “virtual power plant” dispatch event on record, supplying enough electricity to power every home in California’s Sacramento County at the same time.
The electricity dispatch happened during a severe heat wave on September 9. It was a late-summer extreme weather event
Millions of air conditioners operating simultaneously created massive demand spikes on the power grid, especially during the late-afternoon and early-evening hours.
Tesla Powerwalls provided 517 MW (via 110,000 devices), while other residential batteries provided 63 MW. Sunrun also dispatched over 30,000 customer batteries made by other manufacturers.
“Sunrun’s distributed home batteries are operating at a scale larger than many peaker power plants combined,” said Sunrun CEO Mary Powell.
State utility regulators requested the push through two crisis programs: the California Energy Commission’s Demand Side Grid Support (DSGS) program and the Public Utilities Commission’s Emergency Load Reduction Program (ELRP).
ntegrating home batteries eases wholesale price surges during extreme heat events and helps prevent rolling blackouts without the need for expensive new transmission lines. Plus, homeowners participating in these initiatives receive direct cash compensation for sharing their stored energy with the grid.
The following evening, on September 10, Southern California Edison called for a separate discharge that pushed another 140 megawatts onto the grid.
I think this makes it clear, that there is no longer enough power generation ability, as you'll probably agree, there is more demand than ever when you factor in more people using more Air Conditioning during more heat waves, and all the other electrical demands, like AI data centers.
it was only a couple years ago that I was reporting on the VERY narrow amount, under one megawatt, that California avoided a blackout, during a heat wave a couple years ago
Also in the news,
Hawaiian Electric installed the first Tesla batteries for Maui’s largest standalone storage system. The utility installed 6 Tesla Megapacks. The full project will have 54 units providing 160 MWh of energy storage strengthening Maui’s grid & supporting more renewable energy.
Saturday, September 19, 2026
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara is moving to stop auto insurers from using marital status when setting rates. I think when this changes (lowers) car insurance rates for the unmarried (50% of drivers) we'll see it change rates across the nation, probably the world, as we've been scammed too long
"The price of your auto insurance should be based on how you drive, not whether you're married," said Insurance Commissioner Lara.
"For 30 years, insurers have been allowed to use marital status when setting rates. Today, we are taking action to end that outdated practice and reinforce a simple principle: insurance rates should be grounded in actual driving risk, not personal circumstances that have nothing to do with how someone behaves behind the wheel."
Unmarried drivers pay about 200 dollars more a year, compared to married drivers
Thursday, September 17, 2026
huh, an audit turns up a lot of dirty business... California high-speed rail consultants flew first-class, visited bars and a nightclub on taxpayers’ money - just $600,000 in unallowable travel reimbursements
California’s High Speed Rail Authority paid nearly $600,000 in unallowable travel expenses to “questionable locations that appear unrelated to state business,” including trips to gyms, a nightclub, an escape room, a tiki bar and a cigar lounge over a two-year period, according to an investigation released Tuesday by the inspector general that oversees the agency.
The report found that the agency routinely reimbursed consultants for trips that were unauthorized or poorly justified. Some consultants flew first-class and were reimbursed without questioning, in violation of contracts and state policies. One consultant flew his private plane from Washington, D.C. to California and was reimbursed for a premium fare.
“Paying for travel when it is not necessary or when it exceeds what is allowed by state regulations or the contract terms is waste of public funds and is behavior inconsistent with the Authority’s role as the steward of public resources,” the Office of the Inspector General report reads.
The report found that the agency routinely reimbursed consultants for trips that were unauthorized or poorly justified. Some consultants flew first-class and were reimbursed without questioning, in violation of contracts and state policies. One consultant flew his private plane from Washington, D.C. to California and was reimbursed for a premium fare.
“Paying for travel when it is not necessary or when it exceeds what is allowed by state regulations or the contract terms is waste of public funds and is behavior inconsistent with the Authority’s role as the steward of public resources,” the Office of the Inspector General report reads.
Wednesday, September 09, 2026
California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton says he wants to eliminate the DMV and lower vehicle registration costs (if he's elected) to a flat $73.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton Tuesday unveiled a proposal to abolish the California Department of Motor Vehicles as a stand-alone agency and reduce annual vehicle registration costs to a flat $73.
Hilton announced the proposal while appearing outside a DMV office in West Hollywood Tuesday as part of his "Califordable" campaign platform.
Under the proposal, the DMV would undergo a three-month audit before being eliminated as a stand-alone department. A smaller state operation would remain responsible for driver's licenses, fraud prevention, REAL ID and other records and safety functions, according to Hilton's campaign.
Routine vehicle title, registration and renewal services would be shifted to county offices and certified local service centers. Hilton's campaign said no DMV field office would close until an equivalent or better in- person service option was available nearby.
"California does not need a better DMV line. It needs no DMV line," Hilton said. "This is the miserable symbol of this bloated nanny-state bureaucracy, bossing people around while charging a fortune for the privilege."
Hilton also proposed capping annual vehicle registration costs at $73, which his campaign said would reduce state registration revenue from about $11 billion to $2.7 billion.
Hilton announced the proposal while appearing outside a DMV office in West Hollywood Tuesday as part of his "Califordable" campaign platform.
Under the proposal, the DMV would undergo a three-month audit before being eliminated as a stand-alone department. A smaller state operation would remain responsible for driver's licenses, fraud prevention, REAL ID and other records and safety functions, according to Hilton's campaign.
Routine vehicle title, registration and renewal services would be shifted to county offices and certified local service centers. Hilton's campaign said no DMV field office would close until an equivalent or better in- person service option was available nearby.
"California does not need a better DMV line. It needs no DMV line," Hilton said. "This is the miserable symbol of this bloated nanny-state bureaucracy, bossing people around while charging a fortune for the privilege."
Hilton also proposed capping annual vehicle registration costs at $73, which his campaign said would reduce state registration revenue from about $11 billion to $2.7 billion.
Wednesday, September 02, 2026
Tuesday, September 01, 2026
money specifically from California's motor vehicle account, which drivers pay into through registration fees, has been siphoned to pay for current and former politican's personal security detail (state highway patrol officers)
The State Senate's Republican Vice Chairman of the Budget Committee, Roger Niello, told KCRA 3 in an interview Monday night, the account is forecast to be bankrupt in 2 to 3 years.
"It is in my opinion inappropriate, and it might even be unconstitutional," Niello said.
He noted California already passed a bill allowing campaign funds to be used for security purposes.
"He has a sizable account for his campaign," Niello noted. "As opposed to the people paying their registration fees paying for that."
"It is in my opinion inappropriate, and it might even be unconstitutional," Niello said.
He noted California already passed a bill allowing campaign funds to be used for security purposes.
"He has a sizable account for his campaign," Niello noted. "As opposed to the people paying their registration fees paying for that."
Reminder, that politicians don't pay for vehicle registration, they use the govt fleet vehicles... and they don't pay for gas, they expense account it.
Saturday, August 22, 2026
a significant portion of the tires currently sold in California will now be forbidden starting in 2029 by a California Energy Commission new rule about rolling resistance (not that any paycheck to paycheck blue collar type asked anyone in Sacramento to outlaw cheap tires) (Thank you Doug!)
The first phase would begin in 2029, which would allow the sale of tires with a maximum rolling resistance level of 9.1 newtons per kilonewton (N/kN). In phase 2, the standard lowers to 7.2 (N/kN) starting in 2033. The commission came up with the standards after testing 537 types of tires.
The regulations, the commission says, will also reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2m metric tons per year, equivalent to taking roughly 400,000 gasoline cars off the roads.
The CEC claims Californians could save $79 in four months in gas or electricity costs under phase 1, and about $153 in phase 2 within seven months.
"These regulations are a tool within our authority that can save money for every Californian," said Commissioner Nancy Skinner.
other industry groups and manufacturers objected to the regulations in an April letter, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported, including Goodyear, Yokohama and the California Tire Dealers Association. The letter said the cost of replacement tires would increase by roughly $6 to $10 per tire, with the industry leaders rejecting the state’s arguments that fuel savings would outweigh those costs.
The groups raised concerns about the standards in phase two of the regulations, arguing that the tires mandated under those stricter rules, which would begin in 2033, are “typically priced hundreds of dollars more per set than baseline alternatives”.
The groups raised concerns about the standards in phase two of the regulations, arguing that the tires mandated under those stricter rules, which would begin in 2033, are “typically priced hundreds of dollars more per set than baseline alternatives”.
I'll speculate that this instantly makes soft compound higher traction tires that street racers prefer, illegal in California, and that the sale of these simply transfers to Arizona, Nevada, and Oregon ... because getting them delivered by Summit or Amazon is likely to be a waste of money for anyone who does an annual or semi annual trip to SEMA (who? Me?)
Sure would be interesting if they did something to LOWER the costs of what drivers need.... gas, cars, tires... or FIXED the damn potholes, SMOOTHED the freeways (big grinders that EVEN the surface of the freeways) but UFOs, ghosts, and religions will be proven real, before the city state or federal govt does a single damn thing that pleases a majority of regular people (not the Karens and Carls)
Thursday, July 09, 2026
the Duke of Goodwood, has announced something vague about a Goodwood Road Racing Club of America, starting in California. Here is EVERYTHING ( very little ) that they tell us about it, but, it has 3 founding patrons: Sir Jackie Stewart, Mario Andretti and Richard Petty
https://grrcamerica.com/
after signing up (Hey, I have a keen interest in this!) the reply is
Thanks for your interest in becoming a Founding Member of the Goodwood Road Racing Club of America. We’ll keep you updated.
then I kept scrolling, and found
they have a promo video on https://grrcamerica.com/membership-at-goodwood
So it looks like a private screening at Mann's Chinese Theater, or Willow Springs in July 9th, 2027
Three founding patrons: Sir Jackie Stewart, Mario Andretti and Richard Petty — who have each been central figures at Goodwood events for many years — have been chosen as the embodiment of the spirit that the GRRC of America will embrace.
Monday, June 08, 2026
Thursday, June 04, 2026
California is trying to regulate tire rolling resistance to reduce statewide fuel consumption, and it could limit enthusiast tire choices.
Basically, California is trying to set the performance standard for aftermarket tires, which can change almost everything, especially for enthusiasts who use inefficient but grippy high-performance tires.
the CEC wants all tires to meet or exceed the standards of Original Equipment (OE) tires, which are the tires that come with the car when it's brand new.
Sunday, May 24, 2026
California Governor Newsom is in a spat with Chevron over who is to blame for the state’s high gas prices, and is urging drivers not to fill up at Chevron stations over Memorial Day weekend.
“Pro tip: unbranded gas comes from the same refineries, storage tanks, and pipelines, and it meets the same state standards to keep your engine running clean,” Newsom’s office posted Thursday on X. “Big Oil is already making billions off Trump’s Iran War; don’t let them rip you off even more by overpaying for the brand name.”
Newsom’s office cited an analysis by a group within the state’s energy commission, which oversees the oil and gas industry, that found that Chevron averaged more than 60 to 80 cents per gallon above unbranded alternatives.
https:/ktla.com/news/california/newsom-chevron-gas-prices-california
Newsom’s office cited an analysis by a group within the state’s energy commission, which oversees the oil and gas industry, that found that Chevron averaged more than 60 to 80 cents per gallon above unbranded alternatives.
As of Friday, the average price of a gallon of regular gas in California stood at $6.13, the only state in the U.S. charging more than $6 a gallon and the highest in the nation by more than 30 cents, according to the American Automobile Association.
Saturday, May 09, 2026
that is one huge water tower, 75,000 gallons, a city water tower. Steve and 49er Badger individually looked it up, Sunset Beach California, built in 1892 from redwood and fir
In 1940, the Santa Fe Tank & Pipe Co. rebuilt the tank, with it now being able to contain 75,000 US gal (280,000 L), making it the largest water tower ever on the West Coast at the time
Used by Pacific Electric until 1945, then from 1945 until 1974 it stored water that was pumped from an artesian well from Bolsa Chica bluffs.
Deemed too expensive to rehabilitate, it due to be torn down in the 1980s, but a public outcry saved it and it was converted into a house that you can visit today.
87 feet tall, (9 stories in terms of typical buildings)
When the water tower became obsolete and several architects intervened and converted the tower into the house it is today. The house was converted by a math professor at Long Beach City College who had once bought another water tower. The conversion was finished in 1984.
I've been surprised to have posted about water towers, who built them, how, and where... and this one is bigger than most city water towers I've seen.
It's not the largest, I used to live next to the million gallon tower in North Park https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2021/03/thats-famous-north-park-water-tower-in.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anderson_Street_Water_Tower
You have GOT to watch this video... but keep in mind, as rich and successful as this guy is, he has no clue how much water weighs per gallon. It's not 6 pounds, as he states. It's 8.3 pounds a gallon> How did I know? I crewed on subs, and buoyancy, ballast, displacement etc are just everyday facts to submariners. Sea water is 8.55
Thank you Steve! Thank you 49er Badger!
Saturday, May 02, 2026
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
to comply with the Real ID Act, which set requirements for accepting state identification in federal facilities like airports, California has to renege on the promise to illegal aliens to hide their immigration status from the federal govt.
if state officials don’t turn over the data, the Department of Homeland Security may refuse to accept California licenses and IDs at airports
The state plans to provide the information to the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, a nonprofit organization whose governing board is made up of DMV officials from across the country.
The information given to the association will go into the group’s State-to-State Verification system and its platform, known as SPEXS, which allows DMVs and contractors that work with them to verify if someone has more than one license issued in their name.
If/when federal immigration officials gain bulk access to the data they can use the fact that a person doesn’t have a Social Security number signals that they’re deportable.
Because California recorded their social security numbers as 999-99-9999 it's simple and easy to pull all the names and addresses of everyone without a real social security number.
The information given to the association will go into the group’s State-to-State Verification system and its platform, known as SPEXS, which allows DMVs and contractors that work with them to verify if someone has more than one license issued in their name.
If/when federal immigration officials gain bulk access to the data they can use the fact that a person doesn’t have a Social Security number signals that they’re deportable.
Saturday, April 11, 2026
Sunday, March 29, 2026
The Great Redwood Trail will connect the San Francisco Bay to the Humboldt Bay via a 300-mile multi-use trail.
The plan is to build a 300-mile trail along the route of the disused Northwestern Pacific Railroad, stretching from the San Francisco Bay in the south to the Humboldt Bay in the north. It will be designed for non-motorized uses like walking, cycling, and horseback riding.
Saturday, March 14, 2026
It turns out, there are plenty of idiots in the California state legislature, and they were sure that they could force drivers to go electric car by 2035
and push the issue by making a law that would require no internal combustion engine vehicles would be sold in California after 2035.
This is exactly the same idiocy that passed a law that would require that only 40 or 50 mpg cars could be sold in California after 2008.
Yes, nearly 20 years ago the green morons had passed a law that was obviously decades before it's time, and had to be thrown in the dumpster when reality could no longer be avoided.
Now the federal DOT is taking California to court to get that 2035 law thrown out, based on their point of view that no state gets to set fuel economy standards.
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