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"content": "\n\u003cp>Commercial kitchens outfitted with gas-fired appliances can reach temperatures as hot as \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/tag/california\">California’s\u003c/a> Death Valley in the summer and expose workers to harmful gases in excess of health-based guidelines, according to a first-of-its-kind study.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Commercial kitchens where workers cook with all-electric appliances, on the other hand, were much cooler and did not exceed any health guidelines for pollution exposure, the study found.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>The study authors said the research is the first U.S. analysis to compare air quality and heat between gas-burning commercial kitchens and all-electric ones under real-world working conditions. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ In the majority of gas-fired kitchens we measured, the pollution levels exceeded health benchmarks for hours on end,” said Yannai Kashtan, air quality scientist at the nonprofit research institute PSE Healthy Energy, and the study’s first author.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1358\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-2-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001890\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-2-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-2-KQED-160x109.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-2-KQED-768x521.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-2-KQED-1536x1043.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Aeris analyzers, which measure methane, ethane, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide and monoxide, in the air rest at the Jackson Lab at Stanford University on Aug. 27, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>The research was published Tuesday in the journal \u003ca href=\"https://iopscience.iop.org/journal/1748-9326\">\u003cem>Environmental Research Letters\u003c/em>\u003c/a> by scientists at Stanford University, New York University and PSE Healthy Energy. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Kashtan’s team measured nitrogen dioxide, benzene, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane and air temperature in 21 gas kitchens, three propane kitchens and three all-electric kitchens across California, Pennsylvania and New York. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Sampled kitchens included both fine-dining and casual restaurants, catering facilities and institutions serving senior living communities and schools. The researchers measured kitchen air quality with specialized sensors, and tracked gas concentrations and temperature when the spaces were both in service and not. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In about 70% of the gas-fired restaurants sampled, nitrogen dioxide concentrations during work hours exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and World Health Organization one-hour exposure guidelines, the study found. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Exposure to high concentrations of nitrogen dioxide can contribute to the development of asthma and increase susceptibility to respiratory infections, according to the EPA. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The study also found concentrations of carbon monoxide and benzene, a known carcinogen, in concentrations exceeding California’s 1-hour exposure guideline in three and five gas-fired kitchens, respectively. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The three electric kitchens had levels of pollution “pretty close to background levels,” according to Kashtan. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Not zero, but not much higher than you would be breathing just walking around,” Kashtan said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Kashtan said he was surprised to find that roughly two-thirds of gas-powered kitchens measured had higher levels of pollution when they weren’t in service, something he attributed to ventilation fans not operating while the pilot lights of gas ranges continued to sputter.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That means cleaning crews or early arriving staff might be exposed to some of the highest levels of pollution, before the kitchen begins service and cooks turn on ventilation fans.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“One concrete, actionable thing that anybody can do is turn on the ventilation the minute you walk into the kitchen in the morning to flush out everything that’s built up overnight, and that’s going to keep you from breathing in this soup of pollution,” Kashtan said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Restaurants with pilot lights could switch to more modern equipment that uses electronic spark ignition to prevent overnight pollution, said Theresa Pistochini, associate director of the Western Cooling Efficiency Center, although she acknowledged that could be expensive.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-6-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001893\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-6-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-6-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-6-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-6-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Samea Derrick, staff researcher at the Jackson Lab, explains how her team uses the Aeris analyzers to measure greenhouse gases in the air, at Stanford University on Aug. 27, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>“While there is \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2002089/heres-what-all-electric-bay-area-restaurants-have-learned-from-ditching-gas\">debate in the restaurant industry\u003c/a> about whether all-electric cooking can meet the needs of chefs with specific cooking practices, it is safe to say that there is no tangible benefit to pilot lights,” Pistochini said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Industry trade groups like the California Restaurant Association have opposed local governments’ attempts to establish electrification mandates. The group successfully challenged the city of Berkeley’s 2019 ban on natural gas hookups in new construction. The CRA has argued that restaurants would not be able to produce the same quality food with electric appliances as with gas ones.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1995336/heres-what-happened-when-scientists-tested-the-air-with-my-gas-stove-on\">previous studies\u003c/a> have established a link between cooking with gas appliances and increased indoor air pollution in residential settings, commercial kitchens have received much less attention, according to Rob Jackson, professor of earth system science at Stanford University, and a study co-author.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Our study shows that burning gas in a restaurant kitchen is as suspect as burning it in our homes,” Jackson said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>‘Death Valley in the summer’ \u003cbr>\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>Kitchens with gas-fired appliances were also substantially hotter than their electric counterparts. The study found that the temperature in a majority of gas kitchens, 68%, exceeded 90 degrees Fahrenheit, with four exceeding 122 degrees, according to measurements taken just outside a main vent hood. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“That’s Death Valley in the summer,” Kashtan said. “It’s a very extreme environment.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Two of the electric restaurants had the lowest peak temperatures recorded, although the study acknowledged this had “low statistical power” based on the small sample size. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The findings of the study, that using electric appliances instead of gas ones reduces exposure to heat and harmful vapors, “generally align with expectations,” according to Pistochini.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-4-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001892\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-4-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-4-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-4-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-4-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Samea Derrick, staff researcher at the Jackson Lab, holds a thermocouple logger which measures the temperature on ovens, at Stanford University on Aug. 27, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Pistochini noted there was a high variability in gas exposure, something she attributed to differences in cooking practices and the effectiveness of kitchen ventilation systems, “which reinforces the importance of ventilation in commercial kitchens,” Pistochini said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The study falls short of producing a “nationwide population-level exposure study,” Kashtan said, which would quantify the average heat and gas a commercial kitchen worker is exposed to across the country. He said that would require a much larger sample. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Kashtan said areas of further study could focus on heat and gas exposure in dining rooms and places where waitstaff are, or in businesses or residences close to restaurants, such as in mixed-use buildings.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The restaurant and foodservice industry provides 15.7 million jobs nationwide, according to the National Restaurant Association.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We would never expect a software engineer or a teacher to put up with such a harsh workplace, but this is normal for the millions of people who go to work each day in commercial kitchens to make our meals,” said David Lehrer, communications director for the Center for Built Environment at the University of California, Berkeley. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Kashtan said this kind of work shouldn’t require “a bunch of scientists with fancy instruments.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It would be interesting to think about ways to require air quality monitoring in commercial kitchens,” he said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“ In the majority of gas-fired kitchens we measured, the pollution levels exceeded health benchmarks for hours on end,” said Yannai Kashtan, air quality scientist at the nonprofit research institute PSE Healthy Energy, and the study’s first author.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-2-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001890\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-2-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-2-KQED-160x109.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-2-KQED-768x521.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-2-KQED-1536x1043.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Aeris analyzers, which measure methane, ethane, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide and monoxide, in the air rest at the Jackson Lab at Stanford University on Aug. 27, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-2-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001890\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Aeris analyzers, which measure methane, ethane, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide and monoxide, in the air rest at the Jackson Lab at Stanford University on Aug. 27, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The research was published Tuesday in the journal \u003ca href=\"https://iopscience.iop.org/journal/1748-9326\">\u003cem>Environmental Research Letters\u003c/em>\u003c/a> by scientists at Stanford University, New York University and PSE Healthy Energy. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The research was published Tuesday in the journal \u003ca href=\"https://iopscience.iop.org/journal/1748-9326\">\u003cem>Environmental Research Letters\u003c/em>\u003c/a> by scientists at Stanford University, New York University and PSE Healthy Energy. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Kashtan’s team measured nitrogen dioxide, benzene, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane and air temperature in 21 gas kitchens, three propane kitchens and three all-electric kitchens across California, Pennsylvania and New York. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Kashtan’s team measured nitrogen dioxide, benzene, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane and air temperature in 21 gas kitchens, three propane kitchens and three all-electric kitchens across California, Pennsylvania and New York. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Sampled kitchens included both fine-dining and casual restaurants, catering facilities and institutions serving senior living communities and schools. The researchers measured kitchen air quality with specialized sensors, and tracked gas concentrations and temperature when the spaces were both in service and not. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Sampled kitchens included both fine-dining and casual restaurants, catering facilities and institutions serving senior living communities and schools. The researchers measured kitchen air quality with specialized sensors, and tracked gas concentrations and temperature when the spaces were both in service and not. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In about 70% of the gas-fired restaurants sampled, nitrogen dioxide concentrations during work hours exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and World Health Organization one-hour exposure guidelines, the study found. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In about 70% of the gas-fired restaurants sampled, nitrogen dioxide concentrations during work hours exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and World Health Organization one-hour exposure guidelines, the study found. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Exposure to high concentrations of nitrogen dioxide can contribute to the development of asthma and increase susceptibility to respiratory infections, according to the EPA. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The study also found concentrations of carbon monoxide and benzene, a known carcinogen, in concentrations exceeding California’s 1-hour exposure guideline in three and five gas-fired kitchens, respectively. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The study also found concentrations of carbon monoxide and benzene, a known carcinogen, in concentrations exceeding California’s 1-hour exposure guideline in three and five gas-fired kitchens, respectively. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The three electric kitchens had levels of pollution “pretty close to background levels,” according to Kashtan. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The three electric kitchens had levels of pollution “pretty close to background levels,” according to Kashtan. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Not zero, but not much higher than you would be breathing just walking around,” Kashtan said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Kashtan said he was surprised to find that roughly two-thirds of gas-powered kitchens measured had higher levels of pollution when they weren’t in service, something he attributed to ventilation fans not operating while the pilot lights of gas ranges continued to sputter.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Kashtan said he was surprised to find that roughly two-thirds of gas-powered kitchens measured had higher levels of pollution when they weren’t in service, something he attributed to ventilation fans not operating while the pilot lights of gas ranges continued to sputter.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>That means cleaning crews or early arriving staff might be exposed to some of the highest levels of pollution, before the kitchen begins service and cooks turn on ventilation fans.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>That means cleaning crews or early arriving staff might be exposed to some of the highest levels of pollution, before the kitchen begins service and cooks turn on ventilation fans.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“One concrete, actionable thing that anybody can do is turn on the ventilation the minute you walk into the kitchen in the morning to flush out everything that’s built up overnight, and that’s going to keep you from breathing in this soup of pollution,” Kashtan said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“One concrete, actionable thing that anybody can do is turn on the ventilation the minute you walk into the kitchen in the morning to flush out everything that’s built up overnight, and that’s going to keep you from breathing in this soup of pollution,” Kashtan said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Restaurants with pilot lights could switch to more modern equipment that uses electronic spark ignition to prevent overnight pollution, said Theresa Pistochini, associate director of the Western Cooling Efficiency Center, although she acknowledged that could be expensive.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Restaurants with pilot lights could switch to more modern equipment that uses electronic spark ignition to prevent overnight pollution, said Theresa Pistochini, associate director of the Western Cooling Efficiency Center, although she acknowledged that could be expensive.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-6-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001893\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-6-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-6-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-6-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-6-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Samea Derrick, staff researcher at the Jackson Lab, explains how her team uses the Aeris analyzers to measure greenhouse gases in the air, at Stanford University on Aug. 27, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-6-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001893\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Samea Derrick, staff researcher at the Jackson Lab, explains how her team uses the Aeris analyzers to measure greenhouse gases in the air, at Stanford University on Aug. 27, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“While there is \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2002089/heres-what-all-electric-bay-area-restaurants-have-learned-from-ditching-gas\">debate in the restaurant industry\u003c/a> about whether all-electric cooking can meet the needs of chefs with specific cooking practices, it is safe to say that there is no tangible benefit to pilot lights,” Pistochini said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Industry trade groups like the California Restaurant Association have opposed local governments’ attempts to establish electrification mandates. The group successfully challenged the city of Berkeley’s 2019 ban on natural gas hookups in new construction. The CRA has argued that restaurants would not be able to produce the same quality food with electric appliances as with gas ones.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Industry trade groups like the California Restaurant Association have opposed local governments’ attempts to establish electrification mandates. The group successfully challenged the city of Berkeley’s 2019 ban on natural gas hookups in new construction. The CRA has argued that restaurants would not be able to produce the same quality food with electric appliances as with gas ones.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>While \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1995336/heres-what-happened-when-scientists-tested-the-air-with-my-gas-stove-on\">previous studies\u003c/a> have established a link between cooking with gas appliances and increased indoor air pollution in residential settings, commercial kitchens have received much less attention, according to Rob Jackson, professor of earth system science at Stanford University, and a study co-author.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>While \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1995336/heres-what-happened-when-scientists-tested-the-air-with-my-gas-stove-on\">previous studies\u003c/a> have established a link between cooking with gas appliances and increased indoor air pollution in residential settings, commercial kitchens have received much less attention, according to Rob Jackson, professor of earth system science at Stanford University, and a study co-author.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Our study shows that burning gas in a restaurant kitchen is as suspect as burning it in our homes,” Jackson said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>‘Death Valley in the summer’ \u003cbr>\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>Kitchens with gas-fired appliances were also substantially hotter than their electric counterparts. The study found that the temperature in a majority of gas kitchens, 68%, exceeded 90 degrees Fahrenheit, with four exceeding 122 degrees, according to measurements taken just outside a main vent hood. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>‘Death Valley in the summer’ \u003cbr>\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>Kitchens with gas-fired appliances were also substantially hotter than their electric counterparts. The study found that the temperature in a majority of gas kitchens, 68%, exceeded 90 degrees Fahrenheit, with four exceeding 122 degrees, according to measurements taken just outside a main vent hood. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“That’s Death Valley in the summer,” Kashtan said. “It’s a very extreme environment.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Two of the electric restaurants had the lowest peak temperatures recorded, although the study acknowledged this had “low statistical power” based on the small sample size. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Two of the electric restaurants had the lowest peak temperatures recorded, although the study acknowledged this had “low statistical power” based on the small sample size. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The findings of the study, that using electric appliances instead of gas ones reduces exposure to heat and harmful vapors, “generally align with expectations,” according to Pistochini.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-4-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001892\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-4-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-4-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-4-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-4-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Samea Derrick, staff researcher at the Jackson Lab, holds a thermocouple logger which measures the temperature on ovens, at Stanford University on Aug. 27, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-4-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001892\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Samea Derrick, staff researcher at the Jackson Lab, holds a thermocouple logger which measures the temperature on ovens, at Stanford University on Aug. 27, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Pistochini noted there was a high variability in gas exposure, something she attributed to differences in cooking practices and the effectiveness of kitchen ventilation systems, “which reinforces the importance of ventilation in commercial kitchens,” Pistochini said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The study falls short of producing a “nationwide population-level exposure study,” Kashtan said, which would quantify the average heat and gas a commercial kitchen worker is exposed to across the country. He said that would require a much larger sample. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The study falls short of producing a “nationwide population-level exposure study,” Kashtan said, which would quantify the average heat and gas a commercial kitchen worker is exposed to across the country. He said that would require a much larger sample. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Kashtan said areas of further study could focus on heat and gas exposure in dining rooms and places where waitstaff are, or in businesses or residences close to restaurants, such as in mixed-use buildings.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The restaurant and foodservice industry provides 15.7 million jobs nationwide, according to the National Restaurant Association.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We would never expect a software engineer or a teacher to put up with such a harsh workplace, but this is normal for the millions of people who go to work each day in commercial kitchens to make our meals,” said David Lehrer, communications director for the Center for Built Environment at the University of California, Berkeley. \u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "A new study from Bay Area researchers found that gas-powered kitchens can expose workers to dangerous levels of indoor air pollution and heat, while all-electric kitchens are cooler and cleaner. ",
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"title": "Commercial Gas Kitchens Expose Workers to a ‘Soup of Pollution,’ High Heat | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>Commercial kitchens outfitted with gas-fired appliances can reach temperatures as hot as \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/tag/california\">California’s\u003c/a> Death Valley in the summer and expose workers to harmful gases in excess of health-based guidelines, according to a first-of-its-kind study.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Commercial kitchens where workers cook with all-electric appliances, on the other hand, were much cooler and did not exceed any health guidelines for pollution exposure, the study found.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>The study authors said the research is the first U.S. analysis to compare air quality and heat between gas-burning commercial kitchens and all-electric ones under real-world working conditions. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“ In the majority of gas-fired kitchens we measured, the pollution levels exceeded health benchmarks for hours on end,” said Yannai Kashtan, air quality scientist at the nonprofit research institute PSE Healthy Energy, and the study’s first author.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1358\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-2-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001890\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-2-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-2-KQED-160x109.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-2-KQED-768x521.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-2-KQED-1536x1043.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Aeris analyzers, which measure methane, ethane, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide and monoxide, in the air rest at the Jackson Lab at Stanford University on Aug. 27, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>The research was published Tuesday in the journal \u003ca href=\"https://iopscience.iop.org/journal/1748-9326\">\u003cem>Environmental Research Letters\u003c/em>\u003c/a> by scientists at Stanford University, New York University and PSE Healthy Energy. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Kashtan’s team measured nitrogen dioxide, benzene, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane and air temperature in 21 gas kitchens, three propane kitchens and three all-electric kitchens across California, Pennsylvania and New York. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Sampled kitchens included both fine-dining and casual restaurants, catering facilities and institutions serving senior living communities and schools. The researchers measured kitchen air quality with specialized sensors, and tracked gas concentrations and temperature when the spaces were both in service and not. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In about 70% of the gas-fired restaurants sampled, nitrogen dioxide concentrations during work hours exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and World Health Organization one-hour exposure guidelines, the study found. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Exposure to high concentrations of nitrogen dioxide can contribute to the development of asthma and increase susceptibility to respiratory infections, according to the EPA. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The study also found concentrations of carbon monoxide and benzene, a known carcinogen, in concentrations exceeding California’s 1-hour exposure guideline in three and five gas-fired kitchens, respectively. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The three electric kitchens had levels of pollution “pretty close to background levels,” according to Kashtan. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Not zero, but not much higher than you would be breathing just walking around,” Kashtan said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Kashtan said he was surprised to find that roughly two-thirds of gas-powered kitchens measured had higher levels of pollution when they weren’t in service, something he attributed to ventilation fans not operating while the pilot lights of gas ranges continued to sputter.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That means cleaning crews or early arriving staff might be exposed to some of the highest levels of pollution, before the kitchen begins service and cooks turn on ventilation fans.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“One concrete, actionable thing that anybody can do is turn on the ventilation the minute you walk into the kitchen in the morning to flush out everything that’s built up overnight, and that’s going to keep you from breathing in this soup of pollution,” Kashtan said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Restaurants with pilot lights could switch to more modern equipment that uses electronic spark ignition to prevent overnight pollution, said Theresa Pistochini, associate director of the Western Cooling Efficiency Center, although she acknowledged that could be expensive.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-6-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001893\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-6-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-6-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-6-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-6-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Samea Derrick, staff researcher at the Jackson Lab, explains how her team uses the Aeris analyzers to measure greenhouse gases in the air, at Stanford University on Aug. 27, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>“While there is \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2002089/heres-what-all-electric-bay-area-restaurants-have-learned-from-ditching-gas\">debate in the restaurant industry\u003c/a> about whether all-electric cooking can meet the needs of chefs with specific cooking practices, it is safe to say that there is no tangible benefit to pilot lights,” Pistochini said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Industry trade groups like the California Restaurant Association have opposed local governments’ attempts to establish electrification mandates. The group successfully challenged the city of Berkeley’s 2019 ban on natural gas hookups in new construction. The CRA has argued that restaurants would not be able to produce the same quality food with electric appliances as with gas ones.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1995336/heres-what-happened-when-scientists-tested-the-air-with-my-gas-stove-on\">previous studies\u003c/a> have established a link between cooking with gas appliances and increased indoor air pollution in residential settings, commercial kitchens have received much less attention, according to Rob Jackson, professor of earth system science at Stanford University, and a study co-author.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Our study shows that burning gas in a restaurant kitchen is as suspect as burning it in our homes,” Jackson said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>‘Death Valley in the summer’ \u003cbr>\u003c/strong>\u003cbr>Kitchens with gas-fired appliances were also substantially hotter than their electric counterparts. The study found that the temperature in a majority of gas kitchens, 68%, exceeded 90 degrees Fahrenheit, with four exceeding 122 degrees, according to measurements taken just outside a main vent hood. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“That’s Death Valley in the summer,” Kashtan said. “It’s a very extreme environment.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Two of the electric restaurants had the lowest peak temperatures recorded, although the study acknowledged this had “low statistical power” based on the small sample size. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The findings of the study, that using electric appliances instead of gas ones reduces exposure to heat and harmful vapors, “generally align with expectations,” according to Pistochini.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-4-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001892\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-4-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-4-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-4-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/20260827_ElectricKitchens_GC-4-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Samea Derrick, staff researcher at the Jackson Lab, holds a thermocouple logger which measures the temperature on ovens, at Stanford University on Aug. 27, 2026. (Gina Castro for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Pistochini noted there was a high variability in gas exposure, something she attributed to differences in cooking practices and the effectiveness of kitchen ventilation systems, “which reinforces the importance of ventilation in commercial kitchens,” Pistochini said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The study falls short of producing a “nationwide population-level exposure study,” Kashtan said, which would quantify the average heat and gas a commercial kitchen worker is exposed to across the country. He said that would require a much larger sample. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Kashtan said areas of further study could focus on heat and gas exposure in dining rooms and places where waitstaff are, or in businesses or residences close to restaurants, such as in mixed-use buildings.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The restaurant and foodservice industry provides 15.7 million jobs nationwide, according to the National Restaurant Association.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We would never expect a software engineer or a teacher to put up with such a harsh workplace, but this is normal for the millions of people who go to work each day in commercial kitchens to make our meals,” said David Lehrer, communications director for the Center for Built Environment at the University of California, Berkeley. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Kashtan said this kind of work shouldn’t require “a bunch of scientists with fancy instruments.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It would be interesting to think about ways to require air quality monitoring in commercial kitchens,” he said. \u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "east-bay-grief-counselors-strike-to-protest-layoffs-and-protect-the-soul-of-hospice",
"title": "East Bay Grief Counselors Strike to Protest Layoffs and ‘Protect the Soul of Hospice’",
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"headTitle": "East Bay Grief Counselors Strike to Protest Layoffs and ‘Protect the Soul of Hospice’ | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>At 77, Judy Johnson has faced one of the unspoken responsibilities of being the youngest child in the family: shepherding her parents and her three older siblings \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/stateofhealth/364223/beloved-san-francisco-zen-hospice-project-confronts-its-own-end\">through death\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>With her last sister now in hospice care, and no one else left to lean on, Johnson found a lifeline in an emotional support group provided through her sister’s hospice provider, Hospice East Bay. But as the nonprofit’s parent organization prepares to lay off more than 20 staff, including social workers, chaplains and nurses, the support group will be disbanded, and Johnson will have to bear her sister’s death without it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>“\u003c/strong>A key element supporting my emotional well-being will be lost,” Johnson said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The nonprofit Hospice East Bay turned over management of its operations to a Florida-based parent company, Chapters Health System, last year, with the stated goal of expanding services. Instead, music therapy and a children’s grief program have been discontinued, and staff members are facing their second round of layoffs. Their union is staging a seven-day strike starting Monday to protest cuts to their own health benefits and demand a fair contract.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re going on strike to protect the soul of hospice,” said Judy Fleischman, a spiritual care counselor at Hospice East Bay. \u003cstrong>“\u003c/strong>The jobs are being cut, and the caseloads will increase for those who remain. Let’s be clear, that is destroying our ability to care compassionately.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/261005-HOSPICESTRIKE-06-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2002205\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/261005-HOSPICESTRIKE-06-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/261005-HOSPICESTRIKE-06-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/261005-HOSPICESTRIKE-06-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/261005-HOSPICESTRIKE-06-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hospice East Bay workers and supporters picket outside the organization’s Pleasant Hill headquarters on Oct. 5, 2026, during the first day of a seven-day strike over layoffs, health benefits and contract negotiations. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Hospice began as a volunteer-led, grassroots movement in the 1970s, but in recent decades, it has ballooned into a massive industry. In California, \u003ca href=\"https://kffhealthnews.org/aging/hospice-agencies-california-survival-gains-hospital-cms-fraud/\">94% of hospice providers\u003c/a> are now for-profit. Corporate consolidation has been widespread, leading to exploitation and even \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/health/2026/04/hospice-fraud-california-license-medicare/\">fraud\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As a small, independent nonprofit, Hospice East Bay struggled to compete in this environment. Staff say the financial strain of flat government reimbursement rates, coupled with declining patient numbers and money mismanagement, pushed previous executives to affiliate with \u003ca href=\"https://www.chaptershealth.org/\">Chapters Health\u003c/a> last year. By centralizing business operations like human resources, IT, purchasing, and billing, local leaders believed caregivers could focus more on improving clinical services to patients and their families.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Together, we will be able to embrace the challenges of the changing healthcare landscape and create an environment where we have the opportunity to expand our programs and services, strengthening our role as a community leader in quality care,” said Chris Falley, executive director of Hospice East Bay, at the time the partnership agreement was \u003ca href=\"https://www.chaptershealth.org/press-releases/hospice-east-bay-finalizes-agreement-to-join-chapters-health-system/\">finalized in October 2025\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Andrew Molosky, president and CEO of Chapters Health, who earned \u003ca href=\"https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/592264957\">$2.2 million\u003c/a> in total compensation in 2024, visited Hospice East Bay headquarters in Pleasant Hill at the time and, according to staff, he told them he foresaw no cuts to clinical staff and no layoffs of senior leaders for at least a year. Six weeks later, two directors left, allegedly forced into retirement. And now staff are fighting back against the second round of clinical layoffs in a year, eliminating 30 positions total.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Chapters Health did not comment on the layoff decision, but issued a statement from regional director, Tonya Lyons, who said they were “disappointed” by the union’s plan to strike. Care for current hospice patients will continue through the seven-day walkout, she said, with a contingency team of clinicians, administrators, and on-call physicians.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lyons said management is committed to reaching a contract with the union that “will lay the groundwork for long-term sustainability and ensure the ability to grow into the future.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Union members countered that the current job cuts will leave remaining staff stretched long after the strike is over. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Social workers will have to care for 40 patients instead of 30. Chaplains will have 80 patients instead of 50. Two bereavement counselors will be left to help 1,200 patients and family members facing the loss of their loved ones.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The remaining chaplains will have to figure out who will not get spiritual care,” said Claire Eustace, a chaplain who will be laid off this month. “It’s one thing when people say they don’t want spiritual care support, but it’s quite a different thing when we decide that for them, because we just don’t have the time to visit them.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/261005-HospiceStrike-18-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2002210\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/261005-HospiceStrike-18-BL_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/261005-HospiceStrike-18-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/261005-HospiceStrike-18-BL_qed-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/261005-HospiceStrike-18-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Claire Eustace leads hospice workers and supporters in a chant outside Hospice East Bay’s Pleasant Hill headquarters on Oct. 5, 2026, during the first day of a seven-day strike. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The family support group that Judy Johnson attends is run by a social worker who is being laid off. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>With their increased caseloads, the remaining social workers are unlikely to have time to continue it. Johnson wonders what might happen to the care her sister, Maxine, receives. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She’s 88, suffering from Parkinson’s dementia, and bedbound from a recent fall. Johnson said the nurses and aides who visit are all highly professional, caring people.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I look at how the home health aide bathes my sister, the gentleness with which she touches her body. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She doesn’t just grab a limb and begin washing it. She said, ‘Miss Maxine, I’m gonna do your arm now, okay?’” Johnson said. If there are more and more patients to visit in a day, she worries, “my sister’s bath may not be so gentle and life-affirming.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The California attorney general’s office reviewed the affiliation agreement between Hospice East Bay and Chapters Health last summer, and approved it on several conditions, including the creation of a quality advisory committee and the maintenance of programs historically funded by donations rather than government payments, like music therapy and bereavement services for families.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>According to staff, such therapy programs have not been maintained, and with the latest round of cuts to the bereavement team, peer support groups and one-on-one counseling for loved ones left behind will be scaled back. It’s unclear what kind of recourse the attorney general’s office may have. It did not respond to requests for comment.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Social worker Julie Aronowitz, who is also being laid off, compared the staff cuts to a poem about violinist Yitzhak Perlman, who once performed with only three strings on his instrument after one of them broke. He adapted and played with “power and intensity” anyway.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This poem talks about how we make music with what remains,” Aronowitz said. “But how do you make music with just one string left?”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The nonprofit Hospice East Bay turned over management of its operations to a Florida-based parent company, Chapters Health System, last year, with the stated goal of expanding services. Instead, music therapy and a children’s grief program have been discontinued, and staff members are facing their second round of layoffs. Their union is staging a seven-day strike starting Monday to protest cuts to their own health benefits and demand a fair contract.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We’re going on strike to protect the soul of hospice,” said Judy Fleischman, a spiritual care counselor at Hospice East Bay. \u003cstrong>“\u003c/strong>The jobs are being cut, and the caseloads will increase for those who remain. Let’s be clear, that is destroying our ability to care compassionately.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“We’re going on strike to protect the soul of hospice,” said Judy Fleischman, a spiritual care counselor at Hospice East Bay. \u003cstrong>“\u003c/strong>The jobs are being cut, and the caseloads will increase for those who remain. Let’s be clear, that is destroying our ability to care compassionately.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/261005-HOSPICESTRIKE-06-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2002205\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/261005-HOSPICESTRIKE-06-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/261005-HOSPICESTRIKE-06-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/261005-HOSPICESTRIKE-06-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/261005-HOSPICESTRIKE-06-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hospice East Bay workers and supporters picket outside the organization’s Pleasant Hill headquarters on Oct. 5, 2026, during the first day of a seven-day strike over layoffs, health benefits and contract negotiations.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/261005-HOSPICESTRIKE-06-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2002205\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hospice East Bay workers and supporters picket outside the organization’s Pleasant Hill headquarters on Oct. 5, 2026, during the first day of a seven-day strike over layoffs, health benefits and contract negotiations.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Hospice began as a volunteer-led, grassroots movement in the 1970s, but in recent decades, it has ballooned into a massive industry. In California, \u003ca href=\"https://kffhealthnews.org/aging/hospice-agencies-california-survival-gains-hospital-cms-fraud/\">94% of hospice providers\u003c/a> are now for-profit. Corporate consolidation has been widespread, leading to exploitation and even \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/health/2026/04/hospice-fraud-california-license-medicare/\">fraud\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Hospice began as a volunteer-led, grassroots movement in the 1970s, but in recent decades, it has ballooned into a massive industry. In California, \u003ca href=\"https://kffhealthnews.org/aging/hospice-agencies-california-survival-gains-hospital-cms-fraud/\">94% of hospice providers\u003c/a> are now for-profit. Corporate consolidation has been widespread, leading to exploitation and even \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/health/2026/04/hospice-fraud-california-license-medicare/\">fraud\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>As a small, independent nonprofit, Hospice East Bay struggled to compete in this environment. Staff say the financial strain of flat government reimbursement rates, coupled with declining patient numbers and money mismanagement, pushed previous executives to affiliate with \u003ca href=\"https://www.chaptershealth.org/\">Chapters Health\u003c/a> last year. By centralizing business operations like human resources, IT, purchasing, and billing, local leaders believed caregivers could focus more on improving clinical services to patients and their families.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>As a small, independent nonprofit, Hospice East Bay struggled to compete in this environment. Staff say the financial strain of flat government reimbursement rates, coupled with declining patient numbers and money mismanagement, pushed previous executives to affiliate with \u003ca href=\"https://www.chaptershealth.org/\">Chapters Health\u003c/a> last year. By centralizing business operations like human resources, IT, purchasing, and billing, local leaders believed caregivers could focus more on improving clinical services to patients and their families.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Together, we will be able to embrace the challenges of the changing healthcare landscape and create an environment where we have the opportunity to expand our programs and services, strengthening our role as a community leader in quality care,” said Chris Falley, executive director of Hospice East Bay, at the time the partnership agreement was \u003ca href=\"https://www.chaptershealth.org/press-releases/hospice-east-bay-finalizes-agreement-to-join-chapters-health-system/\">finalized in October 2025\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Together, we will be able to embrace the challenges of the changing healthcare landscape and create an environment where we have the opportunity to expand our programs and services, strengthening our role as a community leader in quality care,” said Chris Falley, executive director of Hospice East Bay, at the time the partnership agreement was \u003ca href=\"https://www.chaptershealth.org/press-releases/hospice-east-bay-finalizes-agreement-to-join-chapters-health-system/\">finalized in October 2025\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Andrew Molosky, president and CEO of Chapters Health, who earned \u003ca href=\"https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/592264957\">$2.2 million\u003c/a> in total compensation in 2024, visited Hospice East Bay headquarters in Pleasant Hill at the time and, according to staff, he told them he foresaw no cuts to clinical staff and no layoffs of senior leaders for at least a year. Six weeks later, two directors left, allegedly forced into retirement. And now staff are fighting back against the second round of clinical layoffs in a year, eliminating 30 positions total.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Andrew Molosky, president and CEO of Chapters Health, who earned \u003ca href=\"https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/592264957\">$2.2 million\u003c/a> in total compensation in 2024, visited Hospice East Bay headquarters in Pleasant Hill at the time and, according to staff, he told them he foresaw no cuts to clinical staff and no layoffs of senior leaders for at least a year. Six weeks later, two directors left, allegedly forced into retirement. And now staff are fighting back against the second round of clinical layoffs in a year, eliminating 30 positions total.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Chapters Health did not comment on the layoff decision, but issued a statement from regional director, Tonya Lyons, who said they were “disappointed” by the union’s plan to strike. Care for current hospice patients will continue through the seven-day walkout, she said, with a contingency team of clinicians, administrators, and on-call physicians.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Chapters Health did not comment on the layoff decision, but issued a statement from regional director, Tonya Lyons, who said they were “disappointed” by the union’s plan to strike. Care for current hospice patients will continue through the seven-day walkout, she said, with a contingency team of clinicians, administrators, and on-call physicians.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Lyons said management is committed to reaching a contract with the union that “will lay the groundwork for long-term sustainability and ensure the ability to grow into the future.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Union members countered that the current job cuts will leave remaining staff stretched long after the strike is over. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Social workers will have to care for 40 patients instead of 30. Chaplains will have 80 patients instead of 50. Two bereavement counselors will be left to help 1,200 patients and family members facing the loss of their loved ones.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Social workers will have to care for 40 patients instead of 30. Chaplains will have 80 patients instead of 50. Two bereavement counselors will be left to help 1,200 patients and family members facing the loss of their loved ones.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The remaining chaplains will have to figure out who will not get spiritual care,” said Claire Eustace, a chaplain who will be laid off this month. “It’s one thing when people say they don’t want spiritual care support, but it’s quite a different thing when we decide that for them, because we just don’t have the time to visit them.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“The remaining chaplains will have to figure out who will not get spiritual care,” said Claire Eustace, a chaplain who will be laid off this month. “It’s one thing when people say they don’t want spiritual care support, but it’s quite a different thing when we decide that for them, because we just don’t have the time to visit them.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/261005-HospiceStrike-18-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2002210\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/261005-HospiceStrike-18-BL_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/261005-HospiceStrike-18-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/261005-HospiceStrike-18-BL_qed-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/261005-HospiceStrike-18-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Claire Eustace leads hospice workers and supporters in a chant outside Hospice East Bay’s Pleasant Hill headquarters on Oct. 5, 2026, during the first day of a seven-day strike.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The family support group that Judy Johnson attends is run by a social worker who is being laid off. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>With their increased caseloads, the remaining social workers are unlikely to have time to continue it. Johnson wonders what might happen to the care her sister, Maxine, receives. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>With their increased caseloads, the remaining social workers are unlikely to have time to continue it. Johnson wonders what might happen to the care her sister, Maxine, receives. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>She’s 88, suffering from Parkinson’s dementia, and bedbound from a recent fall. Johnson said the nurses and aides who visit are all highly professional, caring people.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>She’s 88, suffering from Parkinson’s dementia, and bedbound from a recent fall. Johnson said the nurses and aides who visit are all highly professional, caring people.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I look at how the home health aide bathes my sister, the gentleness with which she touches her body. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>She doesn’t just grab a limb and begin washing it. She said, ‘Miss Maxine, I’m gonna do your arm now, okay?’” Johnson said. If there are more and more patients to visit in a day, she worries, “my sister’s bath may not be so gentle and life-affirming.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>She doesn’t just grab a limb and begin washing it. She said, ‘Miss Maxine, I’m gonna do your arm now, okay?’” Johnson said. If there are more and more patients to visit in a day, she worries, “my sister’s bath may not be so gentle and life-affirming.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The California attorney general’s office reviewed the affiliation agreement between Hospice East Bay and Chapters Health last summer, and approved it on several conditions, including the creation of a quality advisory committee and the maintenance of programs historically funded by donations rather than government payments, like music therapy and bereavement services for families.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The California attorney general’s office reviewed the affiliation agreement between Hospice East Bay and Chapters Health last summer, and approved it on several conditions, including the creation of a quality advisory committee and the maintenance of programs historically funded by donations rather than government payments, like music therapy and bereavement services for families.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>According to staff, such therapy programs have not been maintained, and with the latest round of cuts to the bereavement team, peer support groups and one-on-one counseling for loved ones left behind will be scaled back. It’s unclear what kind of recourse the attorney general’s office may have. It did not respond to requests for comment.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>According to staff, such therapy programs have not been maintained, and with the latest round of cuts to the bereavement team, peer support groups and one-on-one counseling for loved ones left behind will be scaled back. It’s unclear what kind of recourse the attorney general’s office may have. It did not respond to requests for comment.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Social worker Julie Aronowitz, who is also being laid off, compared the staff cuts to a poem about violinist Yitzhak Perlman, who once performed with only three strings on his instrument after one of them broke. He adapted and played with “power and intensity” anyway.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Social worker Julie Aronowitz, who is also being laid off, compared the staff cuts to a poem about violinist Yitzhak Perlman, who once performed with only three strings on his instrument after one of them broke. He adapted and played with “power and intensity” anyway.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“This poem talks about how we make music with what remains,” Aronowitz said. “But how do you make music with just one string left?”\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Staff at Hospice East Bay warn that services and care quality will deteriorate under the continued leadership of Florida-based Chapters Health Systems.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>At 77, Judy Johnson has faced one of the unspoken responsibilities of being the youngest child in the family: shepherding her parents and her three older siblings \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/stateofhealth/364223/beloved-san-francisco-zen-hospice-project-confronts-its-own-end\">through death\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>With her last sister now in hospice care, and no one else left to lean on, Johnson found a lifeline in an emotional support group provided through her sister’s hospice provider, Hospice East Bay. But as the nonprofit’s parent organization prepares to lay off more than 20 staff, including social workers, chaplains and nurses, the support group will be disbanded, and Johnson will have to bear her sister’s death without it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>“\u003c/strong>A key element supporting my emotional well-being will be lost,” Johnson said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The nonprofit Hospice East Bay turned over management of its operations to a Florida-based parent company, Chapters Health System, last year, with the stated goal of expanding services. Instead, music therapy and a children’s grief program have been discontinued, and staff members are facing their second round of layoffs. Their union is staging a seven-day strike starting Monday to protest cuts to their own health benefits and demand a fair contract.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re going on strike to protect the soul of hospice,” said Judy Fleischman, a spiritual care counselor at Hospice East Bay. \u003cstrong>“\u003c/strong>The jobs are being cut, and the caseloads will increase for those who remain. Let’s be clear, that is destroying our ability to care compassionately.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/261005-HOSPICESTRIKE-06-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2002205\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/261005-HOSPICESTRIKE-06-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/261005-HOSPICESTRIKE-06-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/261005-HOSPICESTRIKE-06-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/261005-HOSPICESTRIKE-06-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Hospice East Bay workers and supporters picket outside the organization’s Pleasant Hill headquarters on Oct. 5, 2026, during the first day of a seven-day strike over layoffs, health benefits and contract negotiations. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Hospice began as a volunteer-led, grassroots movement in the 1970s, but in recent decades, it has ballooned into a massive industry. In California, \u003ca href=\"https://kffhealthnews.org/aging/hospice-agencies-california-survival-gains-hospital-cms-fraud/\">94% of hospice providers\u003c/a> are now for-profit. Corporate consolidation has been widespread, leading to exploitation and even \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/health/2026/04/hospice-fraud-california-license-medicare/\">fraud\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>As a small, independent nonprofit, Hospice East Bay struggled to compete in this environment. Staff say the financial strain of flat government reimbursement rates, coupled with declining patient numbers and money mismanagement, pushed previous executives to affiliate with \u003ca href=\"https://www.chaptershealth.org/\">Chapters Health\u003c/a> last year. By centralizing business operations like human resources, IT, purchasing, and billing, local leaders believed caregivers could focus more on improving clinical services to patients and their families.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Together, we will be able to embrace the challenges of the changing healthcare landscape and create an environment where we have the opportunity to expand our programs and services, strengthening our role as a community leader in quality care,” said Chris Falley, executive director of Hospice East Bay, at the time the partnership agreement was \u003ca href=\"https://www.chaptershealth.org/press-releases/hospice-east-bay-finalizes-agreement-to-join-chapters-health-system/\">finalized in October 2025\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Andrew Molosky, president and CEO of Chapters Health, who earned \u003ca href=\"https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/592264957\">$2.2 million\u003c/a> in total compensation in 2024, visited Hospice East Bay headquarters in Pleasant Hill at the time and, according to staff, he told them he foresaw no cuts to clinical staff and no layoffs of senior leaders for at least a year. Six weeks later, two directors left, allegedly forced into retirement. And now staff are fighting back against the second round of clinical layoffs in a year, eliminating 30 positions total.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Chapters Health did not comment on the layoff decision, but issued a statement from regional director, Tonya Lyons, who said they were “disappointed” by the union’s plan to strike. Care for current hospice patients will continue through the seven-day walkout, she said, with a contingency team of clinicians, administrators, and on-call physicians.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lyons said management is committed to reaching a contract with the union that “will lay the groundwork for long-term sustainability and ensure the ability to grow into the future.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Union members countered that the current job cuts will leave remaining staff stretched long after the strike is over. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Social workers will have to care for 40 patients instead of 30. Chaplains will have 80 patients instead of 50. Two bereavement counselors will be left to help 1,200 patients and family members facing the loss of their loved ones.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The remaining chaplains will have to figure out who will not get spiritual care,” said Claire Eustace, a chaplain who will be laid off this month. “It’s one thing when people say they don’t want spiritual care support, but it’s quite a different thing when we decide that for them, because we just don’t have the time to visit them.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/261005-HospiceStrike-18-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2002210\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/261005-HospiceStrike-18-BL_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/261005-HospiceStrike-18-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/261005-HospiceStrike-18-BL_qed-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/261005-HospiceStrike-18-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Claire Eustace leads hospice workers and supporters in a chant outside Hospice East Bay’s Pleasant Hill headquarters on Oct. 5, 2026, during the first day of a seven-day strike. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The family support group that Judy Johnson attends is run by a social worker who is being laid off. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>With their increased caseloads, the remaining social workers are unlikely to have time to continue it. Johnson wonders what might happen to the care her sister, Maxine, receives. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She’s 88, suffering from Parkinson’s dementia, and bedbound from a recent fall. Johnson said the nurses and aides who visit are all highly professional, caring people.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I look at how the home health aide bathes my sister, the gentleness with which she touches her body. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She doesn’t just grab a limb and begin washing it. She said, ‘Miss Maxine, I’m gonna do your arm now, okay?’” Johnson said. If there are more and more patients to visit in a day, she worries, “my sister’s bath may not be so gentle and life-affirming.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The California attorney general’s office reviewed the affiliation agreement between Hospice East Bay and Chapters Health last summer, and approved it on several conditions, including the creation of a quality advisory committee and the maintenance of programs historically funded by donations rather than government payments, like music therapy and bereavement services for families.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>According to staff, such therapy programs have not been maintained, and with the latest round of cuts to the bereavement team, peer support groups and one-on-one counseling for loved ones left behind will be scaled back. It’s unclear what kind of recourse the attorney general’s office may have. It did not respond to requests for comment.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Social worker Julie Aronowitz, who is also being laid off, compared the staff cuts to a poem about violinist Yitzhak Perlman, who once performed with only three strings on his instrument after one of them broke. He adapted and played with “power and intensity” anyway.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This poem talks about how we make music with what remains,” Aronowitz said. “But how do you make music with just one string left?”\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "that-rare-mastodon-fossil-found-in-san-mateo-is-now-at-stanford",
"title": "That Rare Mastodon Fossil Found in San Mateo Is Now at Stanford",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>The rare fossil found in a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-mateo\">San Mateo County\u003c/a> creek in early September now rests in a cabinet at Stanford’s Geoscience Specimen Collection.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The foot-wide mastodon tooth is stored with over half a million other fossils, minerals, rocks and other specimens.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“These fossils tell a really important story about the environment that they lived in,” said Christine Garcia, curator and manager of the collection.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2026/09/pacific-mastodon-tooth-ice-age-ecosystems-research\">Researchers\u003c/a> plan to analyze the tooth to learn more about the animal’s diet, environment and age. Stanford has also created a 3D scan of the tooth and plans to print replicas for educational outreach. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1545\" data-id=\"2002167\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/Mastodon-Tooth-Rendering-Credit-Haley-Grunloh-2000x1545.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2002167\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/Mastodon-Tooth-Rendering-Credit-Haley-Grunloh-2000x1545.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/Mastodon-Tooth-Rendering-Credit-Haley-Grunloh-160x124.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/Mastodon-Tooth-Rendering-Credit-Haley-Grunloh-768x593.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/Mastodon-Tooth-Rendering-Credit-Haley-Grunloh-1536x1187.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/Mastodon-Tooth-Rendering-Credit-Haley-Grunloh-2048x1583.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rendering of a Mastodon Tooth. (Courtesy of Haley Grunloh via Midpen)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"2002082\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-03-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2002082\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-03-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-03-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-03-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-03-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A fossilized tooth from a Pacific mastodon at Stanford University’s specimen storage facility in Palo Alto on Sept. 25, 2026. The tooth was discovered in a creek bed in San Mateo County. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We wouldn’t want folks to handle the real fossil too much,” Garcia said. “That could cause wear and tear on it. But a 3D copy is a great way to allow anybody to get hands-on with the fossil.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The fossil provides insight into Pleistocene species and the Bay Area near the end of the Ice Age, when lower sea levels allowed large mammals — including mastodons, Columbian mammoths, giant ground sloths, and ancient camels — to roam terrain now submerged underwater. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The fossil was found by Brigid Lynch, a geomorphologist with Balance Hydrologics, while she was surveying a creek in the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space Preserve habitat restoration for threatened California red-legged frogs. “As a geologist, I’ve gone out and seen stuff in the field, but definitely nothing as exciting as this,” said Lynch \u003ca href=\"https://www.openspace.org/about/press/10000-year-old-fossilized-mastodon-tooth-discovered-midpen-preserve\">at the time\u003c/a>.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>The molar was from a Pacific mastodon that roamed the Bay Area thousands of years ago and was almost entirely intact. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lynch’s team contacted Pacific Paleontology after a reverse image search suggested it might be a mastodon tooth. Wayne Thompson, a paleontologist and the group’s CEO, confirmed on site that it was an upper left third molar.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The tooth itself is in immaculate condition,” Thompson said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s the most complete mastodon molar from our area, and the most spectacular mastodon molar that I’ve ever seen.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Measuring nearly a foot long and a foot tall, the fossil retains its crown attached to the roots. Mastodons were large, stocky relatives of modern elephants, slightly smaller than woolly mammoths. Unlike grazing mammoths, mastodons were browsers that used their trunks to strip leaves and shoots from trees and shrubs. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Based on the molar’s wear, Thompson estimates the animal was between 45 and 50 years old when it died. Estimated to be at least 10,000 years old, the fossil will undergo further testing to establish a precise timeframe.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Midpen donated the tooth to Stanford University’s Doerr School of Sustainability. Garcia said that having both the root and crown intact is exceptionally rare, as researchers usually find only fragments. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Because the fossil was found in water, Midpen kept it submerged until Stanford took over its care, gradually drying it in a climate-controlled environment to prevent deterioration.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"2002087\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-12-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2002087\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-12-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-12-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-12-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-12-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Christine Garcia, curator and manager of Stanford University’s Geoscience Specimen Collection, opens a storage area containing fossils at Stanford’s specimen storage facility in Palo Alto on Sept. 25, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"2002084\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-09-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2002084\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-09-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-09-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-09-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-09-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Christine Garcia, curator and manager of Stanford University’s Geoscience Specimen Collection, holds a container of ground fossil material at Stanford’s specimen storage facility in Palo Alto on Sept. 25, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The discovery also offers a reminder about conservation. Because the fossil was uncovered during a project to protect the 4-inch California red-legged frog, Ryan McCauley, a public affairs specialist with Midpen, said: “If a 9-foot mastodon can go extinct, there’s certainly no reason that a 4-inch-long red-legged frog couldn’t go extinct.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Garcia emphasizes that such fossils help scientists track how ancient ecosystems evolved and why species vanished.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We can learn about which animals in which ecosystems thrived right where we are today,” Garcia said. “And we can try to better understand what happened to them and why.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>To protect the site, officials are keeping the exact discovery location private. They would prefer to let any remaining fossils be exposed naturally through erosion rather than excavation.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While Thompson suspects more remains lie nearby, this single tooth offers a window into an ancient Bay Area landscape. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The fossil was found by Brigid Lynch, a geomorphologist with Balance Hydrologics, while she was surveying a creek in the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space Preserve habitat restoration for threatened California red-legged frogs. “As a geologist, I’ve gone out and seen stuff in the field, but definitely nothing as exciting as this,” said Lynch \u003ca href=\"https://www.openspace.org/about/press/10000-year-old-fossilized-mastodon-tooth-discovered-midpen-preserve\">at the time\u003c/a>.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>The molar was from a Pacific mastodon that roamed the Bay Area thousands of years ago and was almost entirely intact. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Lynch’s team contacted Pacific Paleontology after a reverse image search suggested it might be a mastodon tooth. Wayne Thompson, a paleontologist and the group’s CEO, confirmed on site that it was an upper left third molar.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The tooth itself is in immaculate condition,” Thompson said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It’s the most complete mastodon molar from our area, and the most spectacular mastodon molar that I’ve ever seen.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Measuring nearly a foot long and a foot tall, the fossil retains its crown attached to the roots. Mastodons were large, stocky relatives of modern elephants, slightly smaller than woolly mammoths. Unlike grazing mammoths, mastodons were browsers that used their trunks to strip leaves and shoots from trees and shrubs. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Based on the molar’s wear, Thompson estimates the animal was between 45 and 50 years old when it died. Estimated to be at least 10,000 years old, the fossil will undergo further testing to establish a precise timeframe.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Midpen donated the tooth to Stanford University’s Doerr School of Sustainability. Garcia said that having both the root and crown intact is exceptionally rare, as researchers usually find only fragments. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We can learn about which animals in which ecosystems thrived right where we are today,” Garcia said. “And we can try to better understand what happened to them and why.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>The rare fossil found in a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-mateo\">San Mateo County\u003c/a> creek in early September now rests in a cabinet at Stanford’s Geoscience Specimen Collection.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The foot-wide mastodon tooth is stored with over half a million other fossils, minerals, rocks and other specimens.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“These fossils tell a really important story about the environment that they lived in,” said Christine Garcia, curator and manager of the collection.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2026/09/pacific-mastodon-tooth-ice-age-ecosystems-research\">Researchers\u003c/a> plan to analyze the tooth to learn more about the animal’s diet, environment and age. Stanford has also created a 3D scan of the tooth and plans to print replicas for educational outreach. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1545\" data-id=\"2002167\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/Mastodon-Tooth-Rendering-Credit-Haley-Grunloh-2000x1545.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2002167\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/Mastodon-Tooth-Rendering-Credit-Haley-Grunloh-2000x1545.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/Mastodon-Tooth-Rendering-Credit-Haley-Grunloh-160x124.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/Mastodon-Tooth-Rendering-Credit-Haley-Grunloh-768x593.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/Mastodon-Tooth-Rendering-Credit-Haley-Grunloh-1536x1187.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/10/Mastodon-Tooth-Rendering-Credit-Haley-Grunloh-2048x1583.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rendering of a Mastodon Tooth. (Courtesy of Haley Grunloh via Midpen)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"2002082\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-03-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2002082\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-03-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-03-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-03-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-03-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A fossilized tooth from a Pacific mastodon at Stanford University’s specimen storage facility in Palo Alto on Sept. 25, 2026. The tooth was discovered in a creek bed in San Mateo County. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We wouldn’t want folks to handle the real fossil too much,” Garcia said. “That could cause wear and tear on it. But a 3D copy is a great way to allow anybody to get hands-on with the fossil.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The fossil provides insight into Pleistocene species and the Bay Area near the end of the Ice Age, when lower sea levels allowed large mammals — including mastodons, Columbian mammoths, giant ground sloths, and ancient camels — to roam terrain now submerged underwater. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The fossil was found by Brigid Lynch, a geomorphologist with Balance Hydrologics, while she was surveying a creek in the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space Preserve habitat restoration for threatened California red-legged frogs. “As a geologist, I’ve gone out and seen stuff in the field, but definitely nothing as exciting as this,” said Lynch \u003ca href=\"https://www.openspace.org/about/press/10000-year-old-fossilized-mastodon-tooth-discovered-midpen-preserve\">at the time\u003c/a>.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>The molar was from a Pacific mastodon that roamed the Bay Area thousands of years ago and was almost entirely intact. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Lynch’s team contacted Pacific Paleontology after a reverse image search suggested it might be a mastodon tooth. Wayne Thompson, a paleontologist and the group’s CEO, confirmed on site that it was an upper left third molar.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The tooth itself is in immaculate condition,” Thompson said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s the most complete mastodon molar from our area, and the most spectacular mastodon molar that I’ve ever seen.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Measuring nearly a foot long and a foot tall, the fossil retains its crown attached to the roots. Mastodons were large, stocky relatives of modern elephants, slightly smaller than woolly mammoths. Unlike grazing mammoths, mastodons were browsers that used their trunks to strip leaves and shoots from trees and shrubs. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Based on the molar’s wear, Thompson estimates the animal was between 45 and 50 years old when it died. Estimated to be at least 10,000 years old, the fossil will undergo further testing to establish a precise timeframe.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Midpen donated the tooth to Stanford University’s Doerr School of Sustainability. Garcia said that having both the root and crown intact is exceptionally rare, as researchers usually find only fragments. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Because the fossil was found in water, Midpen kept it submerged until Stanford took over its care, gradually drying it in a climate-controlled environment to prevent deterioration.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"2002087\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-12-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2002087\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-12-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-12-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-12-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-12-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Christine Garcia, curator and manager of Stanford University’s Geoscience Specimen Collection, opens a storage area containing fossils at Stanford’s specimen storage facility in Palo Alto on Sept. 25, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"2002084\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-09-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2002084\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-09-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-09-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-09-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260925-RareFossil-09-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Christine Garcia, curator and manager of Stanford University’s Geoscience Specimen Collection, holds a container of ground fossil material at Stanford’s specimen storage facility in Palo Alto on Sept. 25, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The discovery also offers a reminder about conservation. Because the fossil was uncovered during a project to protect the 4-inch California red-legged frog, Ryan McCauley, a public affairs specialist with Midpen, said: “If a 9-foot mastodon can go extinct, there’s certainly no reason that a 4-inch-long red-legged frog couldn’t go extinct.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Garcia emphasizes that such fossils help scientists track how ancient ecosystems evolved and why species vanished.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We can learn about which animals in which ecosystems thrived right where we are today,” Garcia said. “And we can try to better understand what happened to them and why.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>To protect the site, officials are keeping the exact discovery location private. They would prefer to let any remaining fossils be exposed naturally through erosion rather than excavation.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While Thompson suspects more remains lie nearby, this single tooth offers a window into an ancient Bay Area landscape. \u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>Scientists warn that a deep ocean wave driven by \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12100741/a-powerful-el-nino-is-brewing-newsom-wants-california-ready-for-the-worst\">El Niño\u003c/a> conditions could \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2001688/strong-el-nino-may-bring-record-sea-level-and-coastal-flooding-to-bay-area\">raise Bay Area sea levels\u003c/a> by up to a foot by the end of next month. That’s on top of sea levels already about \u003ca href=\"https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/waterlevels.html?id=9414290\">6 inches above predicted levels\u003c/a> because of warm water along the West Coast.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Researchers call it a “Kelvin wave” and said it will deliver even more warm water associated with \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097546/el-nino-could-bring-a-wet-wild-winter-how-can-you-and-your-home-be-ready\">El Niño\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Kelvin waves are a symptom of El Niño,” said Dillon Amaya, a professor at North Carolina State University who studies how climate change affects waters off the U.S. coast. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There’s a 75% chance that this year’s El Niño will become “historic” this fall into winter, according to a \u003ca href=\"https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/ensodisc.shtml\">September outlook\u003c/a> from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>El Niño is marked by warming in the Pacific Ocean’s surface layer. When tropical trade winds weaken or reverse, warm ocean water near Asia can slosh toward the Pacific Coast. That warming has many effects: it can reshape the jet stream and bring \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12087122/el-nino-is-here-heres-what-it-could-mean-for-the-bay-area-this-winter\">stormier weather\u003c/a>, disrupt the ocean’s nutrient-rich upwelling, heat coastal waters, raise sea levels and stress marine life. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Sean Vitousek, a research oceanographer with the U.S. Geological Survey, said it can also cause Kelvin waves to occur deep in the Pacific Ocean.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The energy moves first toward South America, and when it hits land, it then splits and shifts north and south. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1364\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2028/06/GettyImages-1237523373-scaled-e1753215508590.jpg\" alt=\"A man wearing a white bike helmet, yellow jacket and black pants rides through several inches of water on a submerged bike trail. Hills and clouds are in the foreground.\" class=\"wp-image-1982386\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An aerial picture taken Jan. 3, 2022, shows a man riding a bike along a flooded Sausalito/Mill Valley bike path during a king tide in Mill Valley. King tides occur when the Earth, moon and sun align in orbit to produce unusually high water levels and can cause local tidal flooding. Over time, sea level rise is raising the height of tidal systems. (Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A Kelvin wave isn’t a surface wave like a tsunami or a “wall of water that’s moving up the coast or a wave that you can surf or that you’re going to see from the beach or from a boat,” Amaya said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But, rather, it’s “a disturbance inside the ocean” moving up the coastline a little bit like the wave that travels around a sports stadium, said Severine Fournier, an ocean scientist at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>“The wave travels around the stadium, but the people don’t run around,” Fournier said. “The disturbance gets passed to the next person, and that disturbance is the sea level rise deepening the warm layer of the ocean.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>During \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12100741/a-powerful-el-nino-is-brewing-newsom-wants-california-ready-for-the-worst\">an El Niño year\u003c/a>, as many as six Kelvin waves can occur, and the temporarily high seas can last from three to six months. Amaya said a first Kelvin wave moved up the coastline in May and June. A second wave is traveling about 6 miles per hour northward from the Gulf of California. It could reach the Bay Area as soon as mid-October. Amaya said signs suggest a third wave is propagating around the equator. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Researchers worry that the extra push from these Kelvin waves alone will flood coastal areas, worsen erosion, and challenge places like Santa Cruz or Pacifica with old sea walls that wrap along the water’s edge. But if the waves arrive during a high tide or storms, scientists say flooding could occur in low-lying areas like \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1999871/after-king-tides-swamp-marin-san-rafael-weighs-billion-dollar-defenses-against-the-bay\">Marin County\u003c/a> or San Francisco’s downtown.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“As you raise those background states, you are substantially increasing the risk for flooding due to passing storms or astronomically high tides like king tides,” Amaya said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Vitousek said high tides, called spring tides, will push above 6 feet around Oct. 11 and peak on Oct. 27 at 6.68 feet along San Francisco. King tides in late November could rise over 7 feet, and that will be “on top of the Kelvin wave,” Vitousek said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“That can create a situation where water is getting above critical thresholds that can cause more flooding, more cliff erosion, more dune erosion, more beach erosion,” Vitousek said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Amaya said he wants to “temper expectations” and said the Kelvin wave is still weeks away from impacting the region.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I’ve seen some people who are so concerned that they’re like making a run at Costco for water bottles, but that’s not where we’re at yet,” Amaya said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Fournier wants people to understand that this Kelvin wave is a result of El Niño conditions.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Whatever impacts we see in California, they’re a consequence, but El Niño is not coming,” Fournier said. “Sometimes people can’t differentiate the two.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Scientists warn that a deep ocean wave driven by \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12100741/a-powerful-el-nino-is-brewing-newsom-wants-california-ready-for-the-worst\">El Niño\u003c/a> conditions could \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2001688/strong-el-nino-may-bring-record-sea-level-and-coastal-flooding-to-bay-area\">raise Bay Area sea levels\u003c/a> by up to a foot by the end of next month. That’s on top of sea levels already about \u003ca href=\"https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/waterlevels.html?id=9414290\">6 inches above predicted levels\u003c/a> because of warm water along the West Coast.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Scientists warn that a deep ocean wave driven by \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12100741/a-powerful-el-nino-is-brewing-newsom-wants-california-ready-for-the-worst\">El Niño\u003c/a> conditions could \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2001688/strong-el-nino-may-bring-record-sea-level-and-coastal-flooding-to-bay-area\">raise Bay Area sea levels\u003c/a> by up to a foot by the end of next month. That’s on top of sea levels already about \u003ca href=\"https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/waterlevels.html?id=9414290\">6 inches above predicted levels\u003c/a> because of warm water along the West Coast.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Researchers call it a “Kelvin wave” and said it will deliver even more warm water associated with \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097546/el-nino-could-bring-a-wet-wild-winter-how-can-you-and-your-home-be-ready\">El Niño\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Researchers call it a “Kelvin wave” and said it will deliver even more warm water associated with \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097546/el-nino-could-bring-a-wet-wild-winter-how-can-you-and-your-home-be-ready\">El Niño\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Kelvin waves are a symptom of El Niño,” said Dillon Amaya, a professor at North Carolina State University who studies how climate change affects waters off the U.S. coast. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Kelvin waves are a symptom of El Niño,” said Dillon Amaya, a professor at North Carolina State University who studies how climate change affects waters off the U.S. coast. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>There’s a 75% chance that this year’s El Niño will become “historic” this fall into winter, according to a \u003ca href=\"https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/ensodisc.shtml\">September outlook\u003c/a> from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>There’s a 75% chance that this year’s El Niño will become “historic” this fall into winter, according to a \u003ca href=\"https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/ensodisc.shtml\">September outlook\u003c/a> from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>El Niño is marked by warming in the Pacific Ocean’s surface layer. When tropical trade winds weaken or reverse, warm ocean water near Asia can slosh toward the Pacific Coast. That warming has many effects: it can reshape the jet stream and bring \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12087122/el-nino-is-here-heres-what-it-could-mean-for-the-bay-area-this-winter\">stormier weather\u003c/a>, disrupt the ocean’s nutrient-rich upwelling, heat coastal waters, raise sea levels and stress marine life. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>El Niño is marked by warming in the Pacific Ocean’s surface layer. When tropical trade winds weaken or reverse, warm ocean water near Asia can slosh toward the Pacific Coast. That warming has many effects: it can reshape the jet stream and bring \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12087122/el-nino-is-here-heres-what-it-could-mean-for-the-bay-area-this-winter\">stormier weather\u003c/a>, disrupt the ocean’s nutrient-rich upwelling, heat coastal waters, raise sea levels and stress marine life. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Sean Vitousek, a research oceanographer with the U.S. Geological Survey, said it can also cause Kelvin waves to occur deep in the Pacific Ocean.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Sean Vitousek, a research oceanographer with the U.S. Geological Survey, said it can also cause Kelvin waves to occur deep in the Pacific Ocean.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The energy moves first toward South America, and when it hits land, it then splits and shifts north and south. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The energy moves first toward South America, and when it hits land, it then splits and shifts north and south. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2028/06/GettyImages-1237523373-scaled-e1753215508590.jpg\" alt=\"A man wearing a white bike helmet, yellow jacket and black pants rides through several inches of water on a submerged bike trail. Hills and clouds are in the foreground.\" class=\"wp-image-1982386\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An aerial picture taken Jan. 3, 2022, shows a man riding a bike along a flooded Sausalito/Mill Valley bike path during a king tide in Mill Valley. King tides occur when the Earth, moon and sun align in orbit to produce unusually high water levels and can cause local tidal flooding. Over time, sea level rise is raising the height of tidal systems.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2028/06/GettyImages-1237523373-scaled-e1753215508590.jpg\" alt=\"A man wearing a white bike helmet, yellow jacket and black pants rides through several inches of water on a submerged bike trail. Hills and clouds are in the foreground.\" class=\"wp-image-1982386\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An aerial picture taken Jan. 3, 2022, shows a man riding a bike along a flooded Sausalito/Mill Valley bike path during a king tide in Mill Valley. King tides occur when the Earth, moon and sun align in orbit to produce unusually high water levels and can cause local tidal flooding. Over time, sea level rise is raising the height of tidal systems.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>A Kelvin wave isn’t a surface wave like a tsunami or a “wall of water that’s moving up the coast or a wave that you can surf or that you’re going to see from the beach or from a boat,” Amaya said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>A Kelvin wave isn’t a surface wave like a tsunami or a “wall of water that’s moving up the coast or a wave that you can surf or that you’re going to see from the beach or from a boat,” Amaya said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But, rather, it’s “a disturbance inside the ocean” moving up the coastline a little bit like the wave that travels around a sports stadium, said Severine Fournier, an ocean scientist at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>“The wave travels around the stadium, but the people don’t run around,” Fournier said. “The disturbance gets passed to the next person, and that disturbance is the sea level rise deepening the warm layer of the ocean.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>But, rather, it’s “a disturbance inside the ocean” moving up the coastline a little bit like the wave that travels around a sports stadium, said Severine Fournier, an ocean scientist at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>“The wave travels around the stadium, but the people don’t run around,” Fournier said. “The disturbance gets passed to the next person, and that disturbance is the sea level rise deepening the warm layer of the ocean.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>During \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12100741/a-powerful-el-nino-is-brewing-newsom-wants-california-ready-for-the-worst\">an El Niño year\u003c/a>, as many as six Kelvin waves can occur, and the temporarily high seas can last from three to six months. Amaya said a first Kelvin wave moved up the coastline in May and June. A second wave is traveling about 6 miles per hour northward from the Gulf of California. It could reach the Bay Area as soon as mid-October. Amaya said signs suggest a third wave is propagating around the equator. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>During \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12100741/a-powerful-el-nino-is-brewing-newsom-wants-california-ready-for-the-worst\">an El Niño year\u003c/a>, as many as six Kelvin waves can occur, and the temporarily high seas can last from three to six months. Amaya said a first Kelvin wave moved up the coastline in May and June. A second wave is traveling about 6 miles per hour northward from the Gulf of California. It could reach the Bay Area as soon as mid-October. Amaya said signs suggest a third wave is propagating around the equator. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Researchers worry that the extra push from these Kelvin waves alone will flood coastal areas, worsen erosion, and challenge places like Santa Cruz or Pacifica with old sea walls that wrap along the water’s edge. But if the waves arrive during a high tide or storms, scientists say flooding could occur in low-lying areas like \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1999871/after-king-tides-swamp-marin-san-rafael-weighs-billion-dollar-defenses-against-the-bay\">Marin County\u003c/a> or San Francisco’s downtown.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Researchers worry that the extra push from these Kelvin waves alone will flood coastal areas, worsen erosion, and challenge places like Santa Cruz or Pacifica with old sea walls that wrap along the water’s edge. But if the waves arrive during a high tide or storms, scientists say flooding could occur in low-lying areas like \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1999871/after-king-tides-swamp-marin-san-rafael-weighs-billion-dollar-defenses-against-the-bay\">Marin County\u003c/a> or San Francisco’s downtown.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“As you raise those background states, you are substantially increasing the risk for flooding due to passing storms or astronomically high tides like king tides,” Amaya said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“As you raise those background states, you are substantially increasing the risk for flooding due to passing storms or astronomically high tides like king tides,” Amaya said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Vitousek said high tides, called spring tides, will push above 6 feet around Oct. 11 and peak on Oct. 27 at 6.68 feet along San Francisco. King tides in late November could rise over 7 feet, and that will be “on top of the Kelvin wave,” Vitousek said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Vitousek said high tides, called spring tides, will push above 6 feet around Oct. 11 and peak on Oct. 27 at 6.68 feet along San Francisco. King tides in late November could rise over 7 feet, and that will be “on top of the Kelvin wave,” Vitousek said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“That can create a situation where water is getting above critical thresholds that can cause more flooding, more cliff erosion, more dune erosion, more beach erosion,” Vitousek said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“That can create a situation where water is getting above critical thresholds that can cause more flooding, more cliff erosion, more dune erosion, more beach erosion,” Vitousek said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Amaya said he wants to “temper expectations” and said the Kelvin wave is still weeks away from impacting the region.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Amaya said he wants to “temper expectations” and said the Kelvin wave is still weeks away from impacting the region.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I’ve seen some people who are so concerned that they’re like making a run at Costco for water bottles, but that’s not where we’re at yet,” Amaya said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“I’ve seen some people who are so concerned that they’re like making a run at Costco for water bottles, but that’s not where we’re at yet,” Amaya said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Fournier wants people to understand that this Kelvin wave is a result of El Niño conditions.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Fournier wants people to understand that this Kelvin wave is a result of El Niño conditions.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Whatever impacts we see in California, they’re a consequence, but El Niño is not coming,” Fournier said. “Sometimes people can’t differentiate the two.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Whatever impacts we see in California, they’re a consequence, but El Niño is not coming,” Fournier said. “Sometimes people can’t differentiate the two.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"excerpt": "The deep-ocean wave could push Bay Area tides up by a foot in October. ",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>Scientists warn that a deep ocean wave driven by \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12100741/a-powerful-el-nino-is-brewing-newsom-wants-california-ready-for-the-worst\">El Niño\u003c/a> conditions could \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2001688/strong-el-nino-may-bring-record-sea-level-and-coastal-flooding-to-bay-area\">raise Bay Area sea levels\u003c/a> by up to a foot by the end of next month. That’s on top of sea levels already about \u003ca href=\"https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/waterlevels.html?id=9414290\">6 inches above predicted levels\u003c/a> because of warm water along the West Coast.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Researchers call it a “Kelvin wave” and said it will deliver even more warm water associated with \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12097546/el-nino-could-bring-a-wet-wild-winter-how-can-you-and-your-home-be-ready\">El Niño\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Kelvin waves are a symptom of El Niño,” said Dillon Amaya, a professor at North Carolina State University who studies how climate change affects waters off the U.S. coast. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There’s a 75% chance that this year’s El Niño will become “historic” this fall into winter, according to a \u003ca href=\"https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/ensodisc.shtml\">September outlook\u003c/a> from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>El Niño is marked by warming in the Pacific Ocean’s surface layer. When tropical trade winds weaken or reverse, warm ocean water near Asia can slosh toward the Pacific Coast. That warming has many effects: it can reshape the jet stream and bring \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12087122/el-nino-is-here-heres-what-it-could-mean-for-the-bay-area-this-winter\">stormier weather\u003c/a>, disrupt the ocean’s nutrient-rich upwelling, heat coastal waters, raise sea levels and stress marine life. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Sean Vitousek, a research oceanographer with the U.S. Geological Survey, said it can also cause Kelvin waves to occur deep in the Pacific Ocean.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The energy moves first toward South America, and when it hits land, it then splits and shifts north and south. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1364\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2028/06/GettyImages-1237523373-scaled-e1753215508590.jpg\" alt=\"A man wearing a white bike helmet, yellow jacket and black pants rides through several inches of water on a submerged bike trail. Hills and clouds are in the foreground.\" class=\"wp-image-1982386\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">An aerial picture taken Jan. 3, 2022, shows a man riding a bike along a flooded Sausalito/Mill Valley bike path during a king tide in Mill Valley. King tides occur when the Earth, moon and sun align in orbit to produce unusually high water levels and can cause local tidal flooding. Over time, sea level rise is raising the height of tidal systems. (Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>A Kelvin wave isn’t a surface wave like a tsunami or a “wall of water that’s moving up the coast or a wave that you can surf or that you’re going to see from the beach or from a boat,” Amaya said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But, rather, it’s “a disturbance inside the ocean” moving up the coastline a little bit like the wave that travels around a sports stadium, said Severine Fournier, an ocean scientist at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>“The wave travels around the stadium, but the people don’t run around,” Fournier said. “The disturbance gets passed to the next person, and that disturbance is the sea level rise deepening the warm layer of the ocean.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>During \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12100741/a-powerful-el-nino-is-brewing-newsom-wants-california-ready-for-the-worst\">an El Niño year\u003c/a>, as many as six Kelvin waves can occur, and the temporarily high seas can last from three to six months. Amaya said a first Kelvin wave moved up the coastline in May and June. A second wave is traveling about 6 miles per hour northward from the Gulf of California. It could reach the Bay Area as soon as mid-October. Amaya said signs suggest a third wave is propagating around the equator. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Researchers worry that the extra push from these Kelvin waves alone will flood coastal areas, worsen erosion, and challenge places like Santa Cruz or Pacifica with old sea walls that wrap along the water’s edge. But if the waves arrive during a high tide or storms, scientists say flooding could occur in low-lying areas like \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1999871/after-king-tides-swamp-marin-san-rafael-weighs-billion-dollar-defenses-against-the-bay\">Marin County\u003c/a> or San Francisco’s downtown.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“As you raise those background states, you are substantially increasing the risk for flooding due to passing storms or astronomically high tides like king tides,” Amaya said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Vitousek said high tides, called spring tides, will push above 6 feet around Oct. 11 and peak on Oct. 27 at 6.68 feet along San Francisco. King tides in late November could rise over 7 feet, and that will be “on top of the Kelvin wave,” Vitousek said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“That can create a situation where water is getting above critical thresholds that can cause more flooding, more cliff erosion, more dune erosion, more beach erosion,” Vitousek said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Amaya said he wants to “temper expectations” and said the Kelvin wave is still weeks away from impacting the region.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I’ve seen some people who are so concerned that they’re like making a run at Costco for water bottles, but that’s not where we’re at yet,” Amaya said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Fournier wants people to understand that this Kelvin wave is a result of El Niño conditions.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Whatever impacts we see in California, they’re a consequence, but El Niño is not coming,” Fournier said. “Sometimes people can’t differentiate the two.”\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "california-officially-legalizes-balcony-solar-opening-the-market-to-the-new-technology",
"title": "California Officially Legalizes Balcony Solar, Opening the Market to the New Technology",
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"headTitle": "California Officially Legalizes Balcony Solar, Opening the Market to the New Technology | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cem>This story is part of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/flippingtheswitch\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Flipping the Switch\u003c/a>, KQED’s series about California’s transition to clean energy and what it means for you. What works? What doesn’t? And how much does it cost?\u003c/em>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2001842/california-lawmakers-greenlight-solar-panels-you-can-plug-into-the-wall\">legalizing balcony, or “plug-in,” solar\u003c/a> Wednesday.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The device is a twist on rooftop solar: smaller, portable, and relatively inexpensive. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/small-plug-in-solar-panels-gain-traction-as-an-affordable-way-to-cut-electricity-bills\">Balcony solar\u003c/a> kits consist of just a few panels, an inverter that converts solar energy into the kind used in a home, and cables. In places where the technology is popular, like Germany, it can be plugged into a standard wall outlet. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The new law comes as Californians struggle to pay outsized electricity bills, which have risen substantially in recent years. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1997918/forget-rooftops-bay-area-residents-are-plugging-solar-into-the-wall\">Plug-in devices\u003c/a> open the solar market to renters, people with unsuitable roofs, and those without the money to invest in a rooftop system.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“These small, easy-to-use solar panels will give everyone, including renters, the relief they desperately need on our outrageous energy bills,” said state Senator Scott Wiener (D – San Francisco) in a press release. Wiener authored the legislation. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00927_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001784\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00927_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00927_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00927_TV-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00927_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Plug-in solar panels sit on top of an accessory dwelling unit in Agnes Chan’s backyard in Berkeley, California, for KQED on Aug. 23, 2026. (Tâm Vũ for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB868\">bill\u003c/a> received overwhelming bipartisan support from state lawmakers before landing on Newsom’s desk. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Panels can hang from a balcony, out a window, or be tented in the backyard. Existing models range from \u003ca href=\"https://www.brightsaver.org/\">$300\u003c/a> to \u003ca href=\"https://craftstrom.com/\">$2200\u003c/a>, depending on size. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One reason the technology is substantially less expensive than rooftop solar is that it cuts out the costs of installation. Customers themselves set it up, which some have said is \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2001795/these-bay-area-residents-have-had-plug-in-solar-for-a-year-heres-how-its-going\">straightforward and others have found more challenging than advertised\u003c/a>.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>California’s law comes with a wrinkle, however. Plug-in solar panels must be certified by an outside safety organization. Since the technology is new in the U.S., there is just \u003ca href=\"https://www.ul.com/news/ul-solutions-debuts-testing-and-certification-framework-safer-plug-solar-across-united-states\">one existing certification\u003c/a> offered by Underwriters Laboratories. Depending on how manufacturers innovate and roll out products, some may require an electrician’s help to install, while others may be truly “plug and play.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Electrical experts and other advocates of California’s new law are still calling its passage a massive win, and expect the safety certification to evolve and eventually allow the plug-in panels to connect to a standard wall outlet.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We are celebrating,” said Cora Stryker, co-founder of plug-in solar advocacy group Bright Saver. “The market is sending a clear signal to manufacturers that they need to develop a California system.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The new law will exempt plug-in panels from the typical way rooftop solar must be registered with utilities. Instead of paying upwards of a hundred dollars and waiting days to weeks, the new registration process will be free, straightforward, and immediate.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>A handful of states have passed similar legislation within the past 18 months. Utah was the first, with a law passed in March 2025. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ten states now have bills on the books that allow a relatively straightforward process for purchasing and setting up balcony solar systems, including Colorado, Virginia and Maine.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Supporters of the technology include hundreds of environmental and community groups, who argue plug-in solar democratizes access to solar power. They believe adoption by the most populous state would be a boon for the nascent U.S. balcony solar market. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some of the state’s largest investor-owned utilities, including PG&E and SDG&E opposed the legislation, citing safety and a concern that the systems would shift energy costs to people without solar power in any form.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Labor unions representing firefighters and PG&E employees initially opposed the bill, but took a neutral stance once lawmakers included requirements that systems must comply with state and national electrical codes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some Californians have already installed plug-in solar panels, but utilities ask them to complete an interconnection agreement, citing \u003ca href=\"https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/Rule21/\">state rules\u003c/a>. If done through PG&E for example, representatives from the utility said that process would cost between roughly $100 to $800 and take about an hour. Typically, the approval comes through in three days, PG&E staff said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Plug-in solar advocates argued that the interconnection process defeated the plug-and-play goal of the technology, and could double or triple its cost.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Their hope is to make the panels as ubiquitous and easy to install as any off-the-shelf appliance dotting the racks of a Home Depot or Costco. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-13-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1997035\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-13-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-13-KQED-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-13-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-13-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-13-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-13-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-13-KQED-1920x1281.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rupert Mayer installs power inverters on the solar panels at Matthew Milner’s home in Kensington on May 23, 2025. (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Proponents of the technology say it can meet up to 20% of a home’s electricity needs and save as much as $500 annually for a small apartment. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The new law outlines several device requirements. The balcony solar systems must not generate more than 1,200 watts per home — enough energy to power a window air-conditioning unit — and offset a customer’s onsite electricity use. They must be certified by an outside safety organization and have a feature that would prevent electricity from feeding back into the grid if there’s a power outage. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Plug-in solar products currently on the market do not yet meet the outlined requirements, and customers therefore must still register the available systems as though they are rooftop solar. The sale of non-compliant systems will become illegal in 2030.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Groups that sponsored the bill said there are a few companies already developing systems meeting the specific California standards, and they expect these models to hit the market in the spring. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The legislation goes into effect in 2027, and sunsets Jan. 1, 2030, “making it a fight that continues,” said Stryker.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium aligncenter\" style=\"width: 500px;margin: 80px auto 40px\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KQED-membership-your-support-makes-this-work-possible-500x353@2x.png\" alt=\"Your support makes this work possible.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"706\" />\nFrom KQED’s Climate desk, “Flipping the Switch” documents California’s transition to clean energy and what it means for you. What works? What doesn’t? How much does it cost? Help us find these answers and more by donating today.\n\u003ca href=\"https://donate.kqed.org/sojo?ms=W2510EANXXXX26\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"width: 272px;margin: 40px auto\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KQED-membership-support-kqed-journalism-272x57@2x.png\" alt=\"Button: Support KQED journalism\" width=\"544\" height=\"114\" />\u003c/a>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cem>This story is part of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/flippingtheswitch\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Flipping the Switch\u003c/a>, KQED’s series about California’s transition to clean energy and what it means for you. What works? What doesn’t? And how much does it cost?\u003c/em>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00927_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001784\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00927_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00927_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00927_TV-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00927_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Plug-in solar panels sit on top of an accessory dwelling unit in Agnes Chan’s backyard in Berkeley, California, for KQED on Aug. 23, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Tâm Vũ for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00927_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001784\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Plug-in solar panels sit on top of an accessory dwelling unit in Agnes Chan’s backyard in Berkeley, California, for KQED on Aug. 23, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Tâm Vũ for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB868\">bill\u003c/a> received overwhelming bipartisan support from state lawmakers before landing on Newsom’s desk. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB868\">bill\u003c/a> received overwhelming bipartisan support from state lawmakers before landing on Newsom’s desk. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Panels can hang from a balcony, out a window, or be tented in the backyard. Existing models range from \u003ca href=\"https://www.brightsaver.org/\">$300\u003c/a> to \u003ca href=\"https://craftstrom.com/\">$2200\u003c/a>, depending on size. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Panels can hang from a balcony, out a window, or be tented in the backyard. Existing models range from \u003ca href=\"https://www.brightsaver.org/\">$300\u003c/a> to \u003ca href=\"https://craftstrom.com/\">$2200\u003c/a>, depending on size. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>One reason the technology is substantially less expensive than rooftop solar is that it cuts out the costs of installation. Customers themselves set it up, which some have said is \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2001795/these-bay-area-residents-have-had-plug-in-solar-for-a-year-heres-how-its-going\">straightforward and others have found more challenging than advertised\u003c/a>.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>California’s law comes with a wrinkle, however. Plug-in solar panels must be certified by an outside safety organization. Since the technology is new in the U.S., there is just \u003ca href=\"https://www.ul.com/news/ul-solutions-debuts-testing-and-certification-framework-safer-plug-solar-across-united-states\">one existing certification\u003c/a> offered by Underwriters Laboratories. Depending on how manufacturers innovate and roll out products, some may require an electrician’s help to install, while others may be truly “plug and play.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>One reason the technology is substantially less expensive than rooftop solar is that it cuts out the costs of installation. Customers themselves set it up, which some have said is \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2001795/these-bay-area-residents-have-had-plug-in-solar-for-a-year-heres-how-its-going\">straightforward and others have found more challenging than advertised\u003c/a>.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>California’s law comes with a wrinkle, however. Plug-in solar panels must be certified by an outside safety organization. Since the technology is new in the U.S., there is just \u003ca href=\"https://www.ul.com/news/ul-solutions-debuts-testing-and-certification-framework-safer-plug-solar-across-united-states\">one existing certification\u003c/a> offered by Underwriters Laboratories. Depending on how manufacturers innovate and roll out products, some may require an electrician’s help to install, while others may be truly “plug and play.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Electrical experts and other advocates of California’s new law are still calling its passage a massive win, and expect the safety certification to evolve and eventually allow the plug-in panels to connect to a standard wall outlet.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Electrical experts and other advocates of California’s new law are still calling its passage a massive win, and expect the safety certification to evolve and eventually allow the plug-in panels to connect to a standard wall outlet.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We are celebrating,” said Cora Stryker, co-founder of plug-in solar advocacy group Bright Saver. “The market is sending a clear signal to manufacturers that they need to develop a California system.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“We are celebrating,” said Cora Stryker, co-founder of plug-in solar advocacy group Bright Saver. “The market is sending a clear signal to manufacturers that they need to develop a California system.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The new law will exempt plug-in panels from the typical way rooftop solar must be registered with utilities. Instead of paying upwards of a hundred dollars and waiting days to weeks, the new registration process will be free, straightforward, and immediate.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>A handful of states have passed similar legislation within the past 18 months. Utah was the first, with a law passed in March 2025. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The new law will exempt plug-in panels from the typical way rooftop solar must be registered with utilities. Instead of paying upwards of a hundred dollars and waiting days to weeks, the new registration process will be free, straightforward, and immediate.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>A handful of states have passed similar legislation within the past 18 months. Utah was the first, with a law passed in March 2025. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Ten states now have bills on the books that allow a relatively straightforward process for purchasing and setting up balcony solar systems, including Colorado, Virginia and Maine.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Supporters of the technology include hundreds of environmental and community groups, who argue plug-in solar democratizes access to solar power. They believe adoption by the most populous state would be a boon for the nascent U.S. balcony solar market. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Ten states now have bills on the books that allow a relatively straightforward process for purchasing and setting up balcony solar systems, including Colorado, Virginia and Maine.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Supporters of the technology include hundreds of environmental and community groups, who argue plug-in solar democratizes access to solar power. They believe adoption by the most populous state would be a boon for the nascent U.S. balcony solar market. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Some of the state’s largest investor-owned utilities, including PG&E and SDG&E opposed the legislation, citing safety and a concern that the systems would shift energy costs to people without solar power in any form.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Labor unions representing firefighters and PG&E employees initially opposed the bill, but took a neutral stance once lawmakers included requirements that systems must comply with state and national electrical codes. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Some of the state’s largest investor-owned utilities, including PG&E and SDG&E opposed the legislation, citing safety and a concern that the systems would shift energy costs to people without solar power in any form.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Labor unions representing firefighters and PG&E employees initially opposed the bill, but took a neutral stance once lawmakers included requirements that systems must comply with state and national electrical codes. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Some Californians have already installed plug-in solar panels, but utilities ask them to complete an interconnection agreement, citing \u003ca href=\"https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/Rule21/\">state rules\u003c/a>. If done through PG&E for example, representatives from the utility said that process would cost between roughly $100 to $800 and take about an hour. Typically, the approval comes through in three days, PG&E staff said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Some Californians have already installed plug-in solar panels, but utilities ask them to complete an interconnection agreement, citing \u003ca href=\"https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/Rule21/\">state rules\u003c/a>. If done through PG&E for example, representatives from the utility said that process would cost between roughly $100 to $800 and take about an hour. Typically, the approval comes through in three days, PG&E staff said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Plug-in solar advocates argued that the interconnection process defeated the plug-and-play goal of the technology, and could double or triple its cost.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Their hope is to make the panels as ubiquitous and easy to install as any off-the-shelf appliance dotting the racks of a Home Depot or Costco. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Plug-in solar advocates argued that the interconnection process defeated the plug-and-play goal of the technology, and could double or triple its cost.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Their hope is to make the panels as ubiquitous and easy to install as any off-the-shelf appliance dotting the racks of a Home Depot or Costco. \u003c/p>\n"
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-13-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1997035\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rupert Mayer installs power inverters on the solar panels at Matthew Milner’s home in Kensington on May 23, 2025.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Proponents of the technology say it can meet up to 20% of a home’s electricity needs and save as much as $500 annually for a small apartment. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Proponents of the technology say it can meet up to 20% of a home’s electricity needs and save as much as $500 annually for a small apartment. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The new law outlines several device requirements. The balcony solar systems must not generate more than 1,200 watts per home — enough energy to power a window air-conditioning unit — and offset a customer’s onsite electricity use. They must be certified by an outside safety organization and have a feature that would prevent electricity from feeding back into the grid if there’s a power outage. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The new law outlines several device requirements. The balcony solar systems must not generate more than 1,200 watts per home — enough energy to power a window air-conditioning unit — and offset a customer’s onsite electricity use. They must be certified by an outside safety organization and have a feature that would prevent electricity from feeding back into the grid if there’s a power outage. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Plug-in solar products currently on the market do not yet meet the outlined requirements, and customers therefore must still register the available systems as though they are rooftop solar. The sale of non-compliant systems will become illegal in 2030.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Plug-in solar products currently on the market do not yet meet the outlined requirements, and customers therefore must still register the available systems as though they are rooftop solar. The sale of non-compliant systems will become illegal in 2030.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Groups that sponsored the bill said there are a few companies already developing systems meeting the specific California standards, and they expect these models to hit the market in the spring. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Groups that sponsored the bill said there are a few companies already developing systems meeting the specific California standards, and they expect these models to hit the market in the spring. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The legislation goes into effect in 2027, and sunsets Jan. 1, 2030, “making it a fight that continues,” said Stryker.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The legislation goes into effect in 2027, and sunsets Jan. 1, 2030, “making it a fight that continues,” said Stryker.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cimg class=\"size-medium aligncenter\" style=\"width: 500px;margin: 80px auto 40px\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KQED-membership-your-support-makes-this-work-possible-500x353@2x.png\" alt=\"Your support makes this work possible.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"706\" />\nFrom KQED’s Climate desk, “Flipping the Switch” documents California’s transition to clean energy and what it means for you. What works? What doesn’t? How much does it cost? Help us find these answers and more by donating today.\n\u003ca href=\"https://donate.kqed.org/sojo?ms=W2510EANXXXX26\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"width: 272px;margin: 40px auto\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KQED-membership-support-kqed-journalism-272x57@2x.png\" alt=\"Button: Support KQED journalism\" width=\"544\" height=\"114\" />\u003c/a>\n",
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"\n\u003cimg class=\"size-medium aligncenter\" style=\"width: 500px;margin: 80px auto 40px\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KQED-membership-your-support-makes-this-work-possible-500x353@2x.png\" alt=\"Your support makes this work possible.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"706\" />\nFrom KQED’s Climate desk, “Flipping the Switch” documents California’s transition to clean energy and what it means for you. What works? What doesn’t? How much does it cost? Help us find these answers and more by donating today.\n\u003ca href=\"https://donate.kqed.org/sojo?ms=W2510EANXXXX26\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"width: 272px;margin: 40px auto\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KQED-membership-support-kqed-journalism-272x57@2x.png\" alt=\"Button: Support KQED journalism\" width=\"544\" height=\"114\" />\u003c/a>\n"
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"excerpt": "Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation to make it simpler for Californians to install plug-in solar panels. Models that meet state standards are expected to be on sale in mid-2027.\n",
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"title": "California Officially Legalizes Balcony Solar, Opening the Market to the New Technology | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cem>This story is part of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/flippingtheswitch\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Flipping the Switch\u003c/a>, KQED’s series about California’s transition to clean energy and what it means for you. What works? What doesn’t? And how much does it cost?\u003c/em>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2001842/california-lawmakers-greenlight-solar-panels-you-can-plug-into-the-wall\">legalizing balcony, or “plug-in,” solar\u003c/a> Wednesday.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The device is a twist on rooftop solar: smaller, portable, and relatively inexpensive. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/small-plug-in-solar-panels-gain-traction-as-an-affordable-way-to-cut-electricity-bills\">Balcony solar\u003c/a> kits consist of just a few panels, an inverter that converts solar energy into the kind used in a home, and cables. In places where the technology is popular, like Germany, it can be plugged into a standard wall outlet. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The new law comes as Californians struggle to pay outsized electricity bills, which have risen substantially in recent years. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1997918/forget-rooftops-bay-area-residents-are-plugging-solar-into-the-wall\">Plug-in devices\u003c/a> open the solar market to renters, people with unsuitable roofs, and those without the money to invest in a rooftop system.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“These small, easy-to-use solar panels will give everyone, including renters, the relief they desperately need on our outrageous energy bills,” said state Senator Scott Wiener (D – San Francisco) in a press release. Wiener authored the legislation. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00927_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001784\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00927_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00927_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00927_TV-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00927_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Plug-in solar panels sit on top of an accessory dwelling unit in Agnes Chan’s backyard in Berkeley, California, for KQED on Aug. 23, 2026. (Tâm Vũ for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB868\">bill\u003c/a> received overwhelming bipartisan support from state lawmakers before landing on Newsom’s desk. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Panels can hang from a balcony, out a window, or be tented in the backyard. Existing models range from \u003ca href=\"https://www.brightsaver.org/\">$300\u003c/a> to \u003ca href=\"https://craftstrom.com/\">$2200\u003c/a>, depending on size. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One reason the technology is substantially less expensive than rooftop solar is that it cuts out the costs of installation. Customers themselves set it up, which some have said is \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2001795/these-bay-area-residents-have-had-plug-in-solar-for-a-year-heres-how-its-going\">straightforward and others have found more challenging than advertised\u003c/a>.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>California’s law comes with a wrinkle, however. Plug-in solar panels must be certified by an outside safety organization. Since the technology is new in the U.S., there is just \u003ca href=\"https://www.ul.com/news/ul-solutions-debuts-testing-and-certification-framework-safer-plug-solar-across-united-states\">one existing certification\u003c/a> offered by Underwriters Laboratories. Depending on how manufacturers innovate and roll out products, some may require an electrician’s help to install, while others may be truly “plug and play.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Electrical experts and other advocates of California’s new law are still calling its passage a massive win, and expect the safety certification to evolve and eventually allow the plug-in panels to connect to a standard wall outlet.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We are celebrating,” said Cora Stryker, co-founder of plug-in solar advocacy group Bright Saver. “The market is sending a clear signal to manufacturers that they need to develop a California system.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The new law will exempt plug-in panels from the typical way rooftop solar must be registered with utilities. Instead of paying upwards of a hundred dollars and waiting days to weeks, the new registration process will be free, straightforward, and immediate.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>A handful of states have passed similar legislation within the past 18 months. Utah was the first, with a law passed in March 2025. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Ten states now have bills on the books that allow a relatively straightforward process for purchasing and setting up balcony solar systems, including Colorado, Virginia and Maine.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Supporters of the technology include hundreds of environmental and community groups, who argue plug-in solar democratizes access to solar power. They believe adoption by the most populous state would be a boon for the nascent U.S. balcony solar market. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some of the state’s largest investor-owned utilities, including PG&E and SDG&E opposed the legislation, citing safety and a concern that the systems would shift energy costs to people without solar power in any form.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Labor unions representing firefighters and PG&E employees initially opposed the bill, but took a neutral stance once lawmakers included requirements that systems must comply with state and national electrical codes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some Californians have already installed plug-in solar panels, but utilities ask them to complete an interconnection agreement, citing \u003ca href=\"https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/Rule21/\">state rules\u003c/a>. If done through PG&E for example, representatives from the utility said that process would cost between roughly $100 to $800 and take about an hour. Typically, the approval comes through in three days, PG&E staff said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Plug-in solar advocates argued that the interconnection process defeated the plug-and-play goal of the technology, and could double or triple its cost.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Their hope is to make the panels as ubiquitous and easy to install as any off-the-shelf appliance dotting the racks of a Home Depot or Costco. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-13-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1997035\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-13-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-13-KQED-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-13-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-13-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-13-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-13-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-13-KQED-1920x1281.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rupert Mayer installs power inverters on the solar panels at Matthew Milner’s home in Kensington on May 23, 2025. (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Proponents of the technology say it can meet up to 20% of a home’s electricity needs and save as much as $500 annually for a small apartment. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The new law outlines several device requirements. The balcony solar systems must not generate more than 1,200 watts per home — enough energy to power a window air-conditioning unit — and offset a customer’s onsite electricity use. They must be certified by an outside safety organization and have a feature that would prevent electricity from feeding back into the grid if there’s a power outage. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Plug-in solar products currently on the market do not yet meet the outlined requirements, and customers therefore must still register the available systems as though they are rooftop solar. The sale of non-compliant systems will become illegal in 2030.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Groups that sponsored the bill said there are a few companies already developing systems meeting the specific California standards, and they expect these models to hit the market in the spring. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The legislation goes into effect in 2027, and sunsets Jan. 1, 2030, “making it a fight that continues,” said Stryker.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium aligncenter\" style=\"width: 500px;margin: 80px auto 40px\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KQED-membership-your-support-makes-this-work-possible-500x353@2x.png\" alt=\"Your support makes this work possible.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"706\" />\nFrom KQED’s Climate desk, “Flipping the Switch” documents California’s transition to clean energy and what it means for you. What works? What doesn’t? How much does it cost? Help us find these answers and more by donating today.\n\u003ca href=\"https://donate.kqed.org/sojo?ms=W2510EANXXXX26\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"width: 272px;margin: 40px auto\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KQED-membership-support-kqed-journalism-272x57@2x.png\" alt=\"Button: Support KQED journalism\" width=\"544\" height=\"114\" />\u003c/a>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "heres-what-california-is-learning-from-solar-panels-built-over-irrigation-canals",
"title": "Here’s What California Is Learning From Solar Panels Built Over Irrigation Canals",
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"headTitle": "Here’s What California Is Learning From Solar Panels Built Over Irrigation Canals | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story is part of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/flippingtheswitch\">Flipping the Switch\u003c/a>, KQED’s series about California’s transition to clean energy and what it means for you. What works? What doesn’t? And how much does it cost? \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Driving from Los Angeles to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco\u003c/a>, Jordan Harris saw the concrete canals that transport water across the state slowly evaporating under the scorching West Coast sun.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Harris said he spent a lot of his life in France, where he noticed how trees lined the canals and protected their precious water from the wind and sun. “And so I started thinking, could we do something similar in California?”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>California’s extensive network of canals and aqueducts is the lifeblood of the state, providing clean water to populous cities and expansive farms that wouldn’t otherwise have it. While the state has long struggled with evaporation, researchers at UC Davis estimate that California’s total water supply could \u003ca href=\"https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/blog/california-risks-billions-economic-losses-without-water-supply-action\">shrink\u003c/a> by up to 25% by 2050, the equivalent of two Lake Shastas. They attribute the decline, in part, to hotter temperatures caused by climate change. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In an effort to limit warming poised to dry out the state, California pledged to shift to 100% clean electricity by 2045. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-27-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001988\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-27-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-27-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-27-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-27-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Solar panels cover part of a Turlock Irrigation District canal as part of Project Nexus in Hickman, California, on Sept. 4, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The state currently generates \u003ca href=\"https://www.energy.ca.gov/data-reports/energy-almanac/california-electricity-data/2024-total-system-electric-generation\">62%\u003c/a> of its electricity from renewable and zero-carbon sources, with the largest percentage of that coming from \u003ca href=\"https://www.energy.ca.gov/data-reports/energy-almanac/california-electricity-data/2024-total-system-electric-generation\">solar\u003c/a>. But meeting California’s energy demand will require an \u003ca href=\"https://www.scienceforconservation.org/assets/downloads/TNC_The_Pace_of_Solar_Progress_Final_Report.pdf\">unprecedented expansion of solar and storage capacity\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Thinking back to the baking concrete canals, Harris pitched an “obvious” solution to his friend Robin Raj: Why not build solar panels on top of California’s 4,000 miles of open canals that transport water across the state? The panels would produce clean energy while limiting evaporation by shading the canal — a win-win. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The duo went on to start Solar Aquagrid, an advocacy firm dedicated to reimagining aging canals, and partnered with the Turlock Irrigation District, UC Merced and the California Department of Water Resources to cover small sections of Turlock’s canals with solar panels. The new “solar canal” provides shade to limit evaporation and generates power all in one neat package. They call it Project Nexus, and it operates at the intersection of the state’s need for clean water and energy. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Project Nexus tests not one, but three different solar canal models. A wide-span canopy rises over one of Turlock’s 115-foot canals, resembling the top of a barn. A more classic set of slanting solar panels sits atop a 20-foot canal. And accordion-like retractable panels are positioned low across the narrow canal, ready to roll up at a moment’s notice. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Raj affectionately called the wide-span canopy his “singular field of dream.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Roger Bales, a professor at UC Merced who co-authored a \u003ca href=\"https://escholarship.org/content/qt8cj5j07p/qt8cj5j07p.pdf\">2021\u003c/a> study that helped convince the state to invest in this pilot, said his initial calculations indicate that putting panels over 100 miles of Turlock’s narrow canals could save enough water for 2,700 households annually. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If the state put panels over 100 miles of the wide canals, it could save 11,000 households’ worth. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He also estimates that the narrow and the wide canal could generate 330 to 1,400 megawatts per hundred miles respectively — enough to power 77,000 to 304,000 households.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The pilot was fully completed and energized last year. Earlier this month, Harris walked alongside the solar panels that arched over a 115-foot canal. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-10-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001982\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-10-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-10-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-10-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-10-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Solar AquaGrid co-founders Jordan Harris (left) and Robin Raj walk alongside solar panels covering part of a Turlock Irrigation District canal in Hickman, California, on Sept. 4, 2026. Solar AquaGrid helped develop Project Nexus, a pilot project testing the use of solar panels over working irrigation canals. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“These are disturbed spaces,” Harris said, pointing to the concrete ditch filled with murky water. “So why not take advantage of the fact that we’ve already done that and help them work harder, be more efficient, produce more and protect what’s around us?”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The research team also found numerous “co-benefits,” or silver linings that make the project more valuable than the sum of its water and power. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Bales said shading the canals led to less algal growth and less fixed aquatic weed growth — reducing maintenance and improving water quality.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Preventing new solar development on natural land benefits both people and planet, Bale added, emphasizing how preserving these lands is essential for maintaining life “as we know it on the Earth.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Acquiring permits to build on undeveloped land can be a major bottleneck for developers, too. Building on open space takes 621 days on average, compared with 110 days for projects on developed land, according to a \u003ca href=\"https://www.scienceforconservation.org/assets/downloads/TNC_The_Pace_of_Solar_Progress_Final_Report.pdf\">study\u003c/a> from The Nature Conservancy.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-25-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001987\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-25-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-25-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-25-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-25-BL-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Turlock Irrigation District canal in Hickman, California, on Sept. 4, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Given the numerous benefits, Bales said the project “just makes sense.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But just because something makes sense does not mean it’s easy to implement. “We often talk about the challenges of getting to the obvious,” Harris said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Projects touching land, water and power often involve coordinating many stakeholders. California’s canals can be managed by state or federal water agencies, as well as municipal governments and local irrigation districts. These operators often do not own the land around the canal, let alone the infrastructure to transmit the power to utilities — one of the most expensive parts of renewable energy projects, according to Harris. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Harris and Raj found their “ideal” partner in Turlock Irrigation District, a 139-year-old irrigation district operating 250 miles of canals that provides both water and power to nearly 5,000 farmers in the Central Valley growing everything from beans to peaches. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It is one of four irrigation districts in California providing both water and retail power, noted Josh Weimer, a spokesperson for Turlock.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Weimer said that the project received little pushback from locals, in part because, while the Irrigation District used some staff time for the project, a $20 million state grant paid for both the research and the infrastructure. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Weimer described the project as a “proof of concept” that generates just 1.7 megawatts of energy, a tiny fraction of the 56 megawatts that they generate with a solar farm in the desert. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But the canal site hosts more than just panels. Bales said they “have instruments out there to measure temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, incoming radiation, outgoing radiation, and a prototype instrument to measure evaporation directly.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When it comes to algae, the panels helped. “Last year when we drained the canal at the end of the irrigation season, there was a physical line on the sun side of the canal that had algae growth and then not algae growth from where the shade was,” Weimer said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Turlock’s solar panels tower above the water because the irrigation district cleans the canals on a regular basis with equipment. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-04-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001981\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-04-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-04-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-04-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-04-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Solar panels cover part of a Turlock Irrigation District canal as part of Project Nexus in Hickman, California, on Sept. 4, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This isn’t gonna be the only way to do it,” Weimer said — describing how they drag a massive anchor chain through the water to rip out weeds. Similar panels in India and Arizona sit low over the canals, leaving little room for the kind of cleaning that Turlock needs to do. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Over in Contra Costa County, the urban landscape makes any kind of solar canal project unrealistic, said Jennifer Allen, a spokesperson for the county’s water district.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Contra Costa Water District manages 48 miles of canals winding from Knightsen to Martinez. The Bureau of Reclamation built the system back in the 1930s when the region was predominantly farmland — much like Turlock. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Today, the canal system runs through backyards and public parks.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Something like Project Nexus wouldn’t work because maintenance workers need to access the canals and have limited space to work alongside them, Allen said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-15-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001984\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-15-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-15-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-15-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-15-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Solar AquaGrid co-founder Robin Raj stands near solar panels covering part of a Turlock Irrigation District canal in Hickman, California, on Sept. 4, 2026. The company helped develop Project Nexus, a pilot project testing solar panels over working irrigation canals. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Even though the canal is fenced in, “we have instances where we have cars go into the canal — we’ll have people go into the canal, and animals go into the canal,” Allen said, describing some of the challenges they faced as an urban water district. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“What Turlock is doing with their projects is very impressive, but we have a different-looking canal system going through our service area,” Allen said. They are looking to put their canals into pipes to avoid evaporation, instead. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Andrew Schwarz, a spokesperson for the state’s Department of Water Resources, said that they are waiting to see the final report before deciding to invest in more projects. “These canals vary widely — from narrow, unlined dirt channels that deliver irrigation water to individual fields, to concrete-lined channels over a hundred feet wide that transport water across California,” Schwarz said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The state remains focused on “evaluation, continued study, potential scaling and lessons learned.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Critical infrastructure change is really hard, and if you don’t have science behind it to justify the expense and be able to quantify the benefits, then you’re not gonna scale,” Harris said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We are fortunate to live in California where this is a priority and where our state agencies are open to this level of examination and exploration,” Raj said. “That can’t be taken for granted.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The final report comes out later this year.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium aligncenter\" style=\"width: 500px;margin: 80px auto 40px\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KQED-membership-your-support-makes-this-work-possible-500x353@2x.png\" alt=\"Your support makes this work possible.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"706\" />\nFrom KQED’s Climate desk, “Flipping the Switch” documents California’s transition to clean energy and what it means for you. What works? What doesn’t? How much does it cost? Help us find these answers and more by donating today.\n\u003ca href=\"https://donate.kqed.org/sojo?ms=W2510EANXXXX26\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"width: 272px;margin: 40px auto\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KQED-membership-support-kqed-journalism-272x57@2x.png\" alt=\"Button: Support KQED journalism\" width=\"544\" height=\"114\" />\u003c/a>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story is part of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/flippingtheswitch\">Flipping the Switch\u003c/a>, KQED’s series about California’s transition to clean energy and what it means for you. What works? What doesn’t? And how much does it cost? \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Driving from Los Angeles to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco\u003c/a>, Jordan Harris saw the concrete canals that transport water across the state slowly evaporating under the scorching West Coast sun.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Driving from Los Angeles to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco\u003c/a>, Jordan Harris saw the concrete canals that transport water across the state slowly evaporating under the scorching West Coast sun.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Harris said he spent a lot of his life in France, where he noticed how trees lined the canals and protected their precious water from the wind and sun. “And so I started thinking, could we do something similar in California?”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Harris said he spent a lot of his life in France, where he noticed how trees lined the canals and protected their precious water from the wind and sun. “And so I started thinking, could we do something similar in California?”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>California’s extensive network of canals and aqueducts is the lifeblood of the state, providing clean water to populous cities and expansive farms that wouldn’t otherwise have it. While the state has long struggled with evaporation, researchers at UC Davis estimate that California’s total water supply could \u003ca href=\"https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/blog/california-risks-billions-economic-losses-without-water-supply-action\">shrink\u003c/a> by up to 25% by 2050, the equivalent of two Lake Shastas. They attribute the decline, in part, to hotter temperatures caused by climate change. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>California’s extensive network of canals and aqueducts is the lifeblood of the state, providing clean water to populous cities and expansive farms that wouldn’t otherwise have it. While the state has long struggled with evaporation, researchers at UC Davis estimate that California’s total water supply could \u003ca href=\"https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/blog/california-risks-billions-economic-losses-without-water-supply-action\">shrink\u003c/a> by up to 25% by 2050, the equivalent of two Lake Shastas. They attribute the decline, in part, to hotter temperatures caused by climate change. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In an effort to limit warming poised to dry out the state, California pledged to shift to 100% clean electricity by 2045. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In an effort to limit warming poised to dry out the state, California pledged to shift to 100% clean electricity by 2045. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-27-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001988\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-27-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-27-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-27-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-27-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Solar panels cover part of a Turlock Irrigation District canal as part of Project Nexus in Hickman, California, on Sept. 4, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-27-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001988\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Solar panels cover part of a Turlock Irrigation District canal as part of Project Nexus in Hickman, California, on Sept. 4, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The state currently generates \u003ca href=\"https://www.energy.ca.gov/data-reports/energy-almanac/california-electricity-data/2024-total-system-electric-generation\">62%\u003c/a> of its electricity from renewable and zero-carbon sources, with the largest percentage of that coming from \u003ca href=\"https://www.energy.ca.gov/data-reports/energy-almanac/california-electricity-data/2024-total-system-electric-generation\">solar\u003c/a>. But meeting California’s energy demand will require an \u003ca href=\"https://www.scienceforconservation.org/assets/downloads/TNC_The_Pace_of_Solar_Progress_Final_Report.pdf\">unprecedented expansion of solar and storage capacity\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The state currently generates \u003ca href=\"https://www.energy.ca.gov/data-reports/energy-almanac/california-electricity-data/2024-total-system-electric-generation\">62%\u003c/a> of its electricity from renewable and zero-carbon sources, with the largest percentage of that coming from \u003ca href=\"https://www.energy.ca.gov/data-reports/energy-almanac/california-electricity-data/2024-total-system-electric-generation\">solar\u003c/a>. But meeting California’s energy demand will require an \u003ca href=\"https://www.scienceforconservation.org/assets/downloads/TNC_The_Pace_of_Solar_Progress_Final_Report.pdf\">unprecedented expansion of solar and storage capacity\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Thinking back to the baking concrete canals, Harris pitched an “obvious” solution to his friend Robin Raj: Why not build solar panels on top of California’s 4,000 miles of open canals that transport water across the state? The panels would produce clean energy while limiting evaporation by shading the canal — a win-win. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Thinking back to the baking concrete canals, Harris pitched an “obvious” solution to his friend Robin Raj: Why not build solar panels on top of California’s 4,000 miles of open canals that transport water across the state? The panels would produce clean energy while limiting evaporation by shading the canal — a win-win. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The duo went on to start Solar Aquagrid, an advocacy firm dedicated to reimagining aging canals, and partnered with the Turlock Irrigation District, UC Merced and the California Department of Water Resources to cover small sections of Turlock’s canals with solar panels. The new “solar canal” provides shade to limit evaporation and generates power all in one neat package. They call it Project Nexus, and it operates at the intersection of the state’s need for clean water and energy. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Project Nexus tests not one, but three different solar canal models. A wide-span canopy rises over one of Turlock’s 115-foot canals, resembling the top of a barn. A more classic set of slanting solar panels sits atop a 20-foot canal. And accordion-like retractable panels are positioned low across the narrow canal, ready to roll up at a moment’s notice. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Project Nexus tests not one, but three different solar canal models. A wide-span canopy rises over one of Turlock’s 115-foot canals, resembling the top of a barn. A more classic set of slanting solar panels sits atop a 20-foot canal. And accordion-like retractable panels are positioned low across the narrow canal, ready to roll up at a moment’s notice. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Raj affectionately called the wide-span canopy his “singular field of dream.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Roger Bales, a professor at UC Merced who co-authored a \u003ca href=\"https://escholarship.org/content/qt8cj5j07p/qt8cj5j07p.pdf\">2021\u003c/a> study that helped convince the state to invest in this pilot, said his initial calculations indicate that putting panels over 100 miles of Turlock’s narrow canals could save enough water for 2,700 households annually. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Roger Bales, a professor at UC Merced who co-authored a \u003ca href=\"https://escholarship.org/content/qt8cj5j07p/qt8cj5j07p.pdf\">2021\u003c/a> study that helped convince the state to invest in this pilot, said his initial calculations indicate that putting panels over 100 miles of Turlock’s narrow canals could save enough water for 2,700 households annually. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If the state put panels over 100 miles of the wide canals, it could save 11,000 households’ worth. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>If the state put panels over 100 miles of the wide canals, it could save 11,000 households’ worth. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>He also estimates that the narrow and the wide canal could generate 330 to 1,400 megawatts per hundred miles respectively — enough to power 77,000 to 304,000 households.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>He also estimates that the narrow and the wide canal could generate 330 to 1,400 megawatts per hundred miles respectively — enough to power 77,000 to 304,000 households.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The pilot was fully completed and energized last year. Earlier this month, Harris walked alongside the solar panels that arched over a 115-foot canal. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The pilot was fully completed and energized last year. Earlier this month, Harris walked alongside the solar panels that arched over a 115-foot canal. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-10-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001982\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-10-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-10-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-10-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-10-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Solar AquaGrid co-founders Jordan Harris (left) and Robin Raj walk alongside solar panels covering part of a Turlock Irrigation District canal in Hickman, California, on Sept. 4, 2026. Solar AquaGrid helped develop Project Nexus, a pilot project testing the use of solar panels over working irrigation canals.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“These are disturbed spaces,” Harris said, pointing to the concrete ditch filled with murky water. “So why not take advantage of the fact that we’ve already done that and help them work harder, be more efficient, produce more and protect what’s around us?”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“These are disturbed spaces,” Harris said, pointing to the concrete ditch filled with murky water. “So why not take advantage of the fact that we’ve already done that and help them work harder, be more efficient, produce more and protect what’s around us?”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The research team also found numerous “co-benefits,” or silver linings that make the project more valuable than the sum of its water and power. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Bales said shading the canals led to less algal growth and less fixed aquatic weed growth — reducing maintenance and improving water quality.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Preventing new solar development on natural land benefits both people and planet, Bale added, emphasizing how preserving these lands is essential for maintaining life “as we know it on the Earth.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Acquiring permits to build on undeveloped land can be a major bottleneck for developers, too. Building on open space takes 621 days on average, compared with 110 days for projects on developed land, according to a \u003ca href=\"https://www.scienceforconservation.org/assets/downloads/TNC_The_Pace_of_Solar_Progress_Final_Report.pdf\">study\u003c/a> from The Nature Conservancy.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-25-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001987\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-25-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-25-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-25-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-25-BL-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Turlock Irrigation District canal in Hickman, California, on Sept. 4, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Given the numerous benefits, Bales said the project “just makes sense.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But just because something makes sense does not mean it’s easy to implement. “We often talk about the challenges of getting to the obvious,” Harris said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Projects touching land, water and power often involve coordinating many stakeholders. California’s canals can be managed by state or federal water agencies, as well as municipal governments and local irrigation districts. These operators often do not own the land around the canal, let alone the infrastructure to transmit the power to utilities — one of the most expensive parts of renewable energy projects, according to Harris. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Harris and Raj found their “ideal” partner in Turlock Irrigation District, a 139-year-old irrigation district operating 250 miles of canals that provides both water and power to nearly 5,000 farmers in the Central Valley growing everything from beans to peaches. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>It is one of four irrigation districts in California providing both water and retail power, noted Josh Weimer, a spokesperson for Turlock.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Weimer said that the project received little pushback from locals, in part because, while the Irrigation District used some staff time for the project, a $20 million state grant paid for both the research and the infrastructure. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Weimer said that the project received little pushback from locals, in part because, while the Irrigation District used some staff time for the project, a $20 million state grant paid for both the research and the infrastructure. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Weimer described the project as a “proof of concept” that generates just 1.7 megawatts of energy, a tiny fraction of the 56 megawatts that they generate with a solar farm in the desert. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Weimer described the project as a “proof of concept” that generates just 1.7 megawatts of energy, a tiny fraction of the 56 megawatts that they generate with a solar farm in the desert. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But the canal site hosts more than just panels. Bales said they “have instruments out there to measure temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, incoming radiation, outgoing radiation, and a prototype instrument to measure evaporation directly.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>But the canal site hosts more than just panels. Bales said they “have instruments out there to measure temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, incoming radiation, outgoing radiation, and a prototype instrument to measure evaporation directly.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>When it comes to algae, the panels helped. “Last year when we drained the canal at the end of the irrigation season, there was a physical line on the sun side of the canal that had algae growth and then not algae growth from where the shade was,” Weimer said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>When it comes to algae, the panels helped. “Last year when we drained the canal at the end of the irrigation season, there was a physical line on the sun side of the canal that had algae growth and then not algae growth from where the shade was,” Weimer said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Turlock’s solar panels tower above the water because the irrigation district cleans the canals on a regular basis with equipment. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-04-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001981\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-04-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-04-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-04-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-04-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Solar panels cover part of a Turlock Irrigation District canal as part of Project Nexus in Hickman, California, on Sept. 4, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-04-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001981\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Solar panels cover part of a Turlock Irrigation District canal as part of Project Nexus in Hickman, California, on Sept. 4, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“This isn’t gonna be the only way to do it,” Weimer said — describing how they drag a massive anchor chain through the water to rip out weeds. Similar panels in India and Arizona sit low over the canals, leaving little room for the kind of cleaning that Turlock needs to do. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“This isn’t gonna be the only way to do it,” Weimer said — describing how they drag a massive anchor chain through the water to rip out weeds. Similar panels in India and Arizona sit low over the canals, leaving little room for the kind of cleaning that Turlock needs to do. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Over in Contra Costa County, the urban landscape makes any kind of solar canal project unrealistic, said Jennifer Allen, a spokesperson for the county’s water district.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Contra Costa Water District manages 48 miles of canals winding from Knightsen to Martinez. The Bureau of Reclamation built the system back in the 1930s when the region was predominantly farmland — much like Turlock. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Something like Project Nexus wouldn’t work because maintenance workers need to access the canals and have limited space to work alongside them, Allen said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-15-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001984\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-15-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-15-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-15-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-15-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\"/>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Solar AquaGrid co-founder Robin Raj stands near solar panels covering part of a Turlock Irrigation District canal in Hickman, California, on Sept. 4, 2026. The company helped develop Project Nexus, a pilot project testing solar panels over working irrigation canals.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Even though the canal is fenced in, “we have instances where we have cars go into the canal — we’ll have people go into the canal, and animals go into the canal,” Allen said, describing some of the challenges they faced as an urban water district. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“What Turlock is doing with their projects is very impressive, but we have a different-looking canal system going through our service area,” Allen said. They are looking to put their canals into pipes to avoid evaporation, instead. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Andrew Schwarz, a spokesperson for the state’s Department of Water Resources, said that they are waiting to see the final report before deciding to invest in more projects. “These canals vary widely — from narrow, unlined dirt channels that deliver irrigation water to individual fields, to concrete-lined channels over a hundred feet wide that transport water across California,” Schwarz said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Andrew Schwarz, a spokesperson for the state’s Department of Water Resources, said that they are waiting to see the final report before deciding to invest in more projects. “These canals vary widely — from narrow, unlined dirt channels that deliver irrigation water to individual fields, to concrete-lined channels over a hundred feet wide that transport water across California,” Schwarz said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The state remains focused on “evaluation, continued study, potential scaling and lessons learned.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Critical infrastructure change is really hard, and if you don’t have science behind it to justify the expense and be able to quantify the benefits, then you’re not gonna scale,” Harris said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We are fortunate to live in California where this is a priority and where our state agencies are open to this level of examination and exploration,” Raj said. “That can’t be taken for granted.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The final report comes out later this year.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cimg class=\"size-medium aligncenter\" style=\"width: 500px;margin: 80px auto 40px\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KQED-membership-your-support-makes-this-work-possible-500x353@2x.png\" alt=\"Your support makes this work possible.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"706\" />\nFrom KQED’s Climate desk, “Flipping the Switch” documents California’s transition to clean energy and what it means for you. What works? What doesn’t? How much does it cost? Help us find these answers and more by donating today.\n\u003ca href=\"https://donate.kqed.org/sojo?ms=W2510EANXXXX26\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"width: 272px;margin: 40px auto\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KQED-membership-support-kqed-journalism-272x57@2x.png\" alt=\"Button: Support KQED journalism\" width=\"544\" height=\"114\" />\u003c/a>\n",
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"\n\u003cimg class=\"size-medium aligncenter\" style=\"width: 500px;margin: 80px auto 40px\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KQED-membership-your-support-makes-this-work-possible-500x353@2x.png\" alt=\"Your support makes this work possible.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"706\" />\nFrom KQED’s Climate desk, “Flipping the Switch” documents California’s transition to clean energy and what it means for you. What works? What doesn’t? How much does it cost? Help us find these answers and more by donating today.\n\u003ca href=\"https://donate.kqed.org/sojo?ms=W2510EANXXXX26\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"width: 272px;margin: 40px auto\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KQED-membership-support-kqed-journalism-272x57@2x.png\" alt=\"Button: Support KQED journalism\" width=\"544\" height=\"114\" />\u003c/a>\n"
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"excerpt": "California solar panels tower over canals in Turlock, proving to save water, produce clean energy and improve local water quality.",
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"title": "Here’s What California Is Learning From Solar Panels Built Over Irrigation Canals | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story is part of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/flippingtheswitch\">Flipping the Switch\u003c/a>, KQED’s series about California’s transition to clean energy and what it means for you. What works? What doesn’t? And how much does it cost? \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Driving from Los Angeles to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/san-francisco\">San Francisco\u003c/a>, Jordan Harris saw the concrete canals that transport water across the state slowly evaporating under the scorching West Coast sun.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Harris said he spent a lot of his life in France, where he noticed how trees lined the canals and protected their precious water from the wind and sun. “And so I started thinking, could we do something similar in California?”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>California’s extensive network of canals and aqueducts is the lifeblood of the state, providing clean water to populous cities and expansive farms that wouldn’t otherwise have it. While the state has long struggled with evaporation, researchers at UC Davis estimate that California’s total water supply could \u003ca href=\"https://www.ucdavis.edu/climate/blog/california-risks-billions-economic-losses-without-water-supply-action\">shrink\u003c/a> by up to 25% by 2050, the equivalent of two Lake Shastas. They attribute the decline, in part, to hotter temperatures caused by climate change. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In an effort to limit warming poised to dry out the state, California pledged to shift to 100% clean electricity by 2045. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-27-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001988\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-27-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-27-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-27-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-27-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Solar panels cover part of a Turlock Irrigation District canal as part of Project Nexus in Hickman, California, on Sept. 4, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The state currently generates \u003ca href=\"https://www.energy.ca.gov/data-reports/energy-almanac/california-electricity-data/2024-total-system-electric-generation\">62%\u003c/a> of its electricity from renewable and zero-carbon sources, with the largest percentage of that coming from \u003ca href=\"https://www.energy.ca.gov/data-reports/energy-almanac/california-electricity-data/2024-total-system-electric-generation\">solar\u003c/a>. But meeting California’s energy demand will require an \u003ca href=\"https://www.scienceforconservation.org/assets/downloads/TNC_The_Pace_of_Solar_Progress_Final_Report.pdf\">unprecedented expansion of solar and storage capacity\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Thinking back to the baking concrete canals, Harris pitched an “obvious” solution to his friend Robin Raj: Why not build solar panels on top of California’s 4,000 miles of open canals that transport water across the state? The panels would produce clean energy while limiting evaporation by shading the canal — a win-win. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The duo went on to start Solar Aquagrid, an advocacy firm dedicated to reimagining aging canals, and partnered with the Turlock Irrigation District, UC Merced and the California Department of Water Resources to cover small sections of Turlock’s canals with solar panels. The new “solar canal” provides shade to limit evaporation and generates power all in one neat package. They call it Project Nexus, and it operates at the intersection of the state’s need for clean water and energy. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Project Nexus tests not one, but three different solar canal models. A wide-span canopy rises over one of Turlock’s 115-foot canals, resembling the top of a barn. A more classic set of slanting solar panels sits atop a 20-foot canal. And accordion-like retractable panels are positioned low across the narrow canal, ready to roll up at a moment’s notice. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Raj affectionately called the wide-span canopy his “singular field of dream.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Roger Bales, a professor at UC Merced who co-authored a \u003ca href=\"https://escholarship.org/content/qt8cj5j07p/qt8cj5j07p.pdf\">2021\u003c/a> study that helped convince the state to invest in this pilot, said his initial calculations indicate that putting panels over 100 miles of Turlock’s narrow canals could save enough water for 2,700 households annually. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If the state put panels over 100 miles of the wide canals, it could save 11,000 households’ worth. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He also estimates that the narrow and the wide canal could generate 330 to 1,400 megawatts per hundred miles respectively — enough to power 77,000 to 304,000 households.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The pilot was fully completed and energized last year. Earlier this month, Harris walked alongside the solar panels that arched over a 115-foot canal. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-10-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001982\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-10-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-10-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-10-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-10-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Solar AquaGrid co-founders Jordan Harris (left) and Robin Raj walk alongside solar panels covering part of a Turlock Irrigation District canal in Hickman, California, on Sept. 4, 2026. Solar AquaGrid helped develop Project Nexus, a pilot project testing the use of solar panels over working irrigation canals. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“These are disturbed spaces,” Harris said, pointing to the concrete ditch filled with murky water. “So why not take advantage of the fact that we’ve already done that and help them work harder, be more efficient, produce more and protect what’s around us?”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The research team also found numerous “co-benefits,” or silver linings that make the project more valuable than the sum of its water and power. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Bales said shading the canals led to less algal growth and less fixed aquatic weed growth — reducing maintenance and improving water quality.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Preventing new solar development on natural land benefits both people and planet, Bale added, emphasizing how preserving these lands is essential for maintaining life “as we know it on the Earth.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Acquiring permits to build on undeveloped land can be a major bottleneck for developers, too. Building on open space takes 621 days on average, compared with 110 days for projects on developed land, according to a \u003ca href=\"https://www.scienceforconservation.org/assets/downloads/TNC_The_Pace_of_Solar_Progress_Final_Report.pdf\">study\u003c/a> from The Nature Conservancy.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-25-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001987\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-25-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-25-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-25-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-25-BL-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Turlock Irrigation District canal in Hickman, California, on Sept. 4, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Given the numerous benefits, Bales said the project “just makes sense.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But just because something makes sense does not mean it’s easy to implement. “We often talk about the challenges of getting to the obvious,” Harris said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Projects touching land, water and power often involve coordinating many stakeholders. California’s canals can be managed by state or federal water agencies, as well as municipal governments and local irrigation districts. These operators often do not own the land around the canal, let alone the infrastructure to transmit the power to utilities — one of the most expensive parts of renewable energy projects, according to Harris. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Harris and Raj found their “ideal” partner in Turlock Irrigation District, a 139-year-old irrigation district operating 250 miles of canals that provides both water and power to nearly 5,000 farmers in the Central Valley growing everything from beans to peaches. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>It is one of four irrigation districts in California providing both water and retail power, noted Josh Weimer, a spokesperson for Turlock.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Weimer said that the project received little pushback from locals, in part because, while the Irrigation District used some staff time for the project, a $20 million state grant paid for both the research and the infrastructure. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Weimer described the project as a “proof of concept” that generates just 1.7 megawatts of energy, a tiny fraction of the 56 megawatts that they generate with a solar farm in the desert. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But the canal site hosts more than just panels. Bales said they “have instruments out there to measure temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, incoming radiation, outgoing radiation, and a prototype instrument to measure evaporation directly.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When it comes to algae, the panels helped. “Last year when we drained the canal at the end of the irrigation season, there was a physical line on the sun side of the canal that had algae growth and then not algae growth from where the shade was,” Weimer said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Turlock’s solar panels tower above the water because the irrigation district cleans the canals on a regular basis with equipment. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-04-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001981\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-04-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-04-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-04-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-04-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Solar panels cover part of a Turlock Irrigation District canal as part of Project Nexus in Hickman, California, on Sept. 4, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This isn’t gonna be the only way to do it,” Weimer said — describing how they drag a massive anchor chain through the water to rip out weeds. Similar panels in India and Arizona sit low over the canals, leaving little room for the kind of cleaning that Turlock needs to do. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Over in Contra Costa County, the urban landscape makes any kind of solar canal project unrealistic, said Jennifer Allen, a spokesperson for the county’s water district.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Contra Costa Water District manages 48 miles of canals winding from Knightsen to Martinez. The Bureau of Reclamation built the system back in the 1930s when the region was predominantly farmland — much like Turlock. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Today, the canal system runs through backyards and public parks.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Something like Project Nexus wouldn’t work because maintenance workers need to access the canals and have limited space to work alongside them, Allen said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-15-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001984\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-15-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-15-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-15-BL-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/260904-ClimateSolutionsSolarCanal-15-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Solar AquaGrid co-founder Robin Raj stands near solar panels covering part of a Turlock Irrigation District canal in Hickman, California, on Sept. 4, 2026. The company helped develop Project Nexus, a pilot project testing solar panels over working irrigation canals. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Even though the canal is fenced in, “we have instances where we have cars go into the canal — we’ll have people go into the canal, and animals go into the canal,” Allen said, describing some of the challenges they faced as an urban water district. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“What Turlock is doing with their projects is very impressive, but we have a different-looking canal system going through our service area,” Allen said. They are looking to put their canals into pipes to avoid evaporation, instead. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Andrew Schwarz, a spokesperson for the state’s Department of Water Resources, said that they are waiting to see the final report before deciding to invest in more projects. “These canals vary widely — from narrow, unlined dirt channels that deliver irrigation water to individual fields, to concrete-lined channels over a hundred feet wide that transport water across California,” Schwarz said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The state remains focused on “evaluation, continued study, potential scaling and lessons learned.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Critical infrastructure change is really hard, and if you don’t have science behind it to justify the expense and be able to quantify the benefits, then you’re not gonna scale,” Harris said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We are fortunate to live in California where this is a priority and where our state agencies are open to this level of examination and exploration,” Raj said. “That can’t be taken for granted.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The final report comes out later this year.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium aligncenter\" style=\"width: 500px;margin: 80px auto 40px\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KQED-membership-your-support-makes-this-work-possible-500x353@2x.png\" alt=\"Your support makes this work possible.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"706\" />\nFrom KQED’s Climate desk, “Flipping the Switch” documents California’s transition to clean energy and what it means for you. What works? What doesn’t? How much does it cost? Help us find these answers and more by donating today.\n\u003ca href=\"https://donate.kqed.org/sojo?ms=W2510EANXXXX26\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"width: 272px;margin: 40px auto\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KQED-membership-support-kqed-journalism-272x57@2x.png\" alt=\"Button: Support KQED journalism\" width=\"544\" height=\"114\" />\u003c/a>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "newsoms-bay-delta-plan-thrown-into-confusion-after-rebuke-from-trump-administration",
"title": "Newsom’s Bay-Delta Plan Thrown Into Confusion After Rebuke From Trump Administration",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a>’s current plan for making sure the water flowing through the San Francisco Bay-Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is clean and abundant enough to protect threatened and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1983312/what-happened-to-californias-salmon-season-this-year\">endangered wildlife\u003c/a> is \u003ca href=\"https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5163\">old and not working\u003c/a>. This nexus of waterways, so crucial to the functioning of the state, has been long fought over and will be fought over long into the future.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At the moment, however, the fight However, looks particularly chaotic. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Gov. Gavin Newsom first proposed major changes to rules governing the Bay-Delta \u003ca href=\"https://wwd.ca.gov/wwd-newsletter/voluntary-agreements-an-opportunity-to-improve-conservation-through-collaboration/\">in 2020\u003c/a>, arguing his proposal strikes a balance for use of the water for cities, growers and fish. The framework for managing the Sacramento River was last meaningfully updated in 1995, despite the fact that it is supposed to be reviewed and updated if needed every three years. The regulations were refined over years and backed by \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/environment/2025/07/sacramento-river-delta-report/\">$1.5 billion in state funds\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The state water board announced the release of its final draft update to the document known as the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan in late August. It is now in the public comment period. Written comments are due Sept. 18. Oral comments will be accepted during an upcoming public meeting in Sacramento on Oct. 28 and 29. After that, the board is supposed to consider input, alter as needed and adopt the plan by the end of the month. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/09/Delta-e1757533440936.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1998447\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Sacramento River in December 2019, in Clarksburg. The area is near a potential site for a new single tunnel beneath the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta that will help move Northern California water south to cities and farms, state water officials say. (Santiago Mejia/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Gov. Newsom pressed for an approach that stressed collaboration between water agencies and funding for fish-habitat restoration, instead of imposing strict limits on how much water can be pulled from the delta system for cities and farms. The goal was to use more water more flexibly, but to do it in a way that did not unduly harm threatened and endangered species. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Newsom’s approach, however, does not appear to have the federal buy-in it needs.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Bureau of Reclamation said it had “serious concern[s]” with the plan as written, in a comment \u003ca href=\"https://www.usbr.gov/mp/docs/cgb-actingcommissioner-letter-statewaterresourcescontrolborad-reclamationconcerns-20260904.pdf\">posted on its website\u003c/a>. Both it and the Westlands Water District, the Central Valley’s largest irrigation district, have threatened to walk away without major revisions. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If officials at the state water board need to significantly rewrite its plan, that could make its completion by January, when Newsom will be termed out, unlikely.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>California must cooperate with the federal government; they each operate one of the state’s two main water projects — a system of dams, reservoirs, pumping stations and canals to deliver clean water to cities and farms. The water system is connected, so they have to work together to avoid taking each other’s water. Plus, the state relies on federal funding.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Despite the challenges, California water officials are maintaining an upbeat tone. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re confident we can move forward,” Wade Crowfoot, California’s secretary of natural resources, said in an interview with KQED.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Many environmental, fishing and tribal groups have opposed these voluntary agreements because they believe they inadequately protect fish. The federal government and the Westlands Water District also oppose them — but effectively for the opposite reason. They think the approach does not guarantee enough water for users, such as cities and farms. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I think all agree that environmental conditions need to improve for fish and wildlife, water quality, and just broadly the environmental health of those systems,” Crowfoot said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/11/WadeCrowfootGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1999275\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/11/WadeCrowfootGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/11/WadeCrowfootGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/11/WadeCrowfootGetty-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/11/WadeCrowfootGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">California Secretary for Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot speaks during a San Onofre lease agreement celebration at Trail 6 in San Onofre State Park on April 21, 2025. (Leonard Ortiz/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I understand there are folks that don’t feel [this] is an appropriate pathway,” Crowfoot said, addressing the plan’s critics. “I can tell you, though, we are confident in the ability to implement [this program] and achieve improved environmental outcomes.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Back in 2022, the Bureau of Reclamation, under the leadership of the Biden administration, signed an agreement with the state that expressed an intent to collaborate on the voluntary agreements. But it was not binding. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The state water board, in its August update, said, in effect, if baseline environmental protections were undermined, water users would have to come up with a plan to replace the lost water to keep the ecosystem intact. This is to prevent the backsliding of standards. It was enough, however, for the federal government and water contractors to remove support.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We have been saying for years that the Trump administration was a bad partner and would not implement the voluntary agreements,” said Barry Nelson, senior policy adviser and founding board member for the Golden State Salmon Association. “As bad as [the agreements] are, they’re not bad enough for the Trump administration.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Nelson points to a pattern of the administration undermining environmental protections, as has been \u003ca href=\"https://insideclimatenews.org/news/01092026/trump-epa-clean-air-water-retreat/\">extensively\u003c/a> documented by news organizations. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/SacramentoDelta-17_qed-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1996801\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/SacramentoDelta-17_qed-1.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/SacramentoDelta-17_qed-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/SacramentoDelta-17_qed-1-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/SacramentoDelta-17_qed-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/SacramentoDelta-17_qed-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/SacramentoDelta-17_qed-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/SacramentoDelta-17_qed-1-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Rio Vista Bridge spanning the Sacramento River in California on Sept. 10, 2021. The area is part of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, which is the hub of California’s water supply, supplying fresh water to two-thirds of the state’s population and millions of acres of farmland. (Joyce Tsai/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Nelson said he sees four possible paths for the next few months. One, the water board could just adopt its current plan, ignoring the bureau’s comments and setting up a legal fight. Two, they could try to quickly rewrite the plan and put it out again in a month. Three, they sit down with federal agencies and try to negotiate a new agreement before January. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The last option “would be extraordinarily hard to do, and there’s simply no time to get it done legally,” said Nelson, referring to the required environmental analysis and public comment period. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Crowfoot said he believes the water board would be careful to ensure anything it adopts has undergone full environmental review. “The board will no doubt have to consider that as a need as it considers input from all these different stakeholders,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Option four, as Nelson sees it, is that the problem gets handed to the next state administration, headed by either Xavier Becerra, the Democrat candidate for California’s governor, or Steve Hilton, his Republican opponent. While Hilton has signaled he favors decreased regulations and environmental protections, frontrunner Becerra has not yet spoken extensively about California Bay-Delta issues. That could soon change. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Jennifer Pierre, general manager of the State Water Contractors, an association of 27 of the public water agencies in California, said in a statement to KQED she believes the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes program “can be the best path for California water if we can address the remaining key issues.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“California deserves a water management system that works, and the proposed combination of environmental flows, significant habitat, funding, and science, if adopted, is our best chance to get things right,” she added.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a>’s current plan for making sure the water flowing through the San Francisco Bay-Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is clean and abundant enough to protect threatened and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1983312/what-happened-to-californias-salmon-season-this-year\">endangered wildlife\u003c/a> is \u003ca href=\"https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5163\">old and not working\u003c/a>. This nexus of waterways, so crucial to the functioning of the state, has been long fought over and will be fought over long into the future.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a>’s current plan for making sure the water flowing through the San Francisco Bay-Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is clean and abundant enough to protect threatened and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1983312/what-happened-to-californias-salmon-season-this-year\">endangered wildlife\u003c/a> is \u003ca href=\"https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5163\">old and not working\u003c/a>. This nexus of waterways, so crucial to the functioning of the state, has been long fought over and will be fought over long into the future.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>At the moment, however, the fight However, looks particularly chaotic. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Gov. Gavin Newsom first proposed major changes to rules governing the Bay-Delta \u003ca href=\"https://wwd.ca.gov/wwd-newsletter/voluntary-agreements-an-opportunity-to-improve-conservation-through-collaboration/\">in 2020\u003c/a>, arguing his proposal strikes a balance for use of the water for cities, growers and fish. The framework for managing the Sacramento River was last meaningfully updated in 1995, despite the fact that it is supposed to be reviewed and updated if needed every three years. The regulations were refined over years and backed by \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/environment/2025/07/sacramento-river-delta-report/\">$1.5 billion in state funds\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Gov. Gavin Newsom first proposed major changes to rules governing the Bay-Delta \u003ca href=\"https://wwd.ca.gov/wwd-newsletter/voluntary-agreements-an-opportunity-to-improve-conservation-through-collaboration/\">in 2020\u003c/a>, arguing his proposal strikes a balance for use of the water for cities, growers and fish. The framework for managing the Sacramento River was last meaningfully updated in 1995, despite the fact that it is supposed to be reviewed and updated if needed every three years. The regulations were refined over years and backed by \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/environment/2025/07/sacramento-river-delta-report/\">$1.5 billion in state funds\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The state water board announced the release of its final draft update to the document known as the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan in late August. It is now in the public comment period. Written comments are due Sept. 18. Oral comments will be accepted during an upcoming public meeting in Sacramento on Oct. 28 and 29. After that, the board is supposed to consider input, alter as needed and adopt the plan by the end of the month. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The state water board announced the release of its final draft update to the document known as the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan in late August. It is now in the public comment period. Written comments are due Sept. 18. Oral comments will be accepted during an upcoming public meeting in Sacramento on Oct. 28 and 29. After that, the board is supposed to consider input, alter as needed and adopt the plan by the end of the month. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/09/Delta-e1757533440936.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1998447\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Sacramento River in December 2019, in Clarksburg. The area is near a potential site for a new single tunnel beneath the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta that will help move Northern California water south to cities and farms, state water officials say.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Santiago Mejia/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/09/Delta-e1757533440936.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1998447\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Sacramento River in December 2019, in Clarksburg. The area is near a potential site for a new single tunnel beneath the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta that will help move Northern California water south to cities and farms, state water officials say.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Santiago Mejia/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Gov. Newsom pressed for an approach that stressed collaboration between water agencies and funding for fish-habitat restoration, instead of imposing strict limits on how much water can be pulled from the delta system for cities and farms. The goal was to use more water more flexibly, but to do it in a way that did not unduly harm threatened and endangered species. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Gov. Newsom pressed for an approach that stressed collaboration between water agencies and funding for fish-habitat restoration, instead of imposing strict limits on how much water can be pulled from the delta system for cities and farms. The goal was to use more water more flexibly, but to do it in a way that did not unduly harm threatened and endangered species. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Newsom’s approach, however, does not appear to have the federal buy-in it needs.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The Bureau of Reclamation said it had “serious concern[s]” with the plan as written, in a comment \u003ca href=\"https://www.usbr.gov/mp/docs/cgb-actingcommissioner-letter-statewaterresourcescontrolborad-reclamationconcerns-20260904.pdf\">posted on its website\u003c/a>. Both it and the Westlands Water District, the Central Valley’s largest irrigation district, have threatened to walk away without major revisions. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The Bureau of Reclamation said it had “serious concern[s]” with the plan as written, in a comment \u003ca href=\"https://www.usbr.gov/mp/docs/cgb-actingcommissioner-letter-statewaterresourcescontrolborad-reclamationconcerns-20260904.pdf\">posted on its website\u003c/a>. Both it and the Westlands Water District, the Central Valley’s largest irrigation district, have threatened to walk away without major revisions. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If officials at the state water board need to significantly rewrite its plan, that could make its completion by January, when Newsom will be termed out, unlikely.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>California must cooperate with the federal government; they each operate one of the state’s two main water projects — a system of dams, reservoirs, pumping stations and canals to deliver clean water to cities and farms. The water system is connected, so they have to work together to avoid taking each other’s water. Plus, the state relies on federal funding.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>California must cooperate with the federal government; they each operate one of the state’s two main water projects — a system of dams, reservoirs, pumping stations and canals to deliver clean water to cities and farms. The water system is connected, so they have to work together to avoid taking each other’s water. Plus, the state relies on federal funding.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Despite the challenges, California water officials are maintaining an upbeat tone. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We’re confident we can move forward,” Wade Crowfoot, California’s secretary of natural resources, said in an interview with KQED.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“We’re confident we can move forward,” Wade Crowfoot, California’s secretary of natural resources, said in an interview with KQED.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Many environmental, fishing and tribal groups have opposed these voluntary agreements because they believe they inadequately protect fish. The federal government and the Westlands Water District also oppose them — but effectively for the opposite reason. They think the approach does not guarantee enough water for users, such as cities and farms. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Many environmental, fishing and tribal groups have opposed these voluntary agreements because they believe they inadequately protect fish. The federal government and the Westlands Water District also oppose them — but effectively for the opposite reason. They think the approach does not guarantee enough water for users, such as cities and farms. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I think all agree that environmental conditions need to improve for fish and wildlife, water quality, and just broadly the environmental health of those systems,” Crowfoot said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“I think all agree that environmental conditions need to improve for fish and wildlife, water quality, and just broadly the environmental health of those systems,” Crowfoot said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/11/WadeCrowfootGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1999275\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/11/WadeCrowfootGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/11/WadeCrowfootGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/11/WadeCrowfootGetty-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/11/WadeCrowfootGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">California Secretary for Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot speaks during a San Onofre lease agreement celebration at Trail 6 in San Onofre State Park on April 21, 2025. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Leonard Ortiz/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/11/WadeCrowfootGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1999275\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">California Secretary for Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot speaks during a San Onofre lease agreement celebration at Trail 6 in San Onofre State Park on April 21, 2025. \u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Leonard Ortiz/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I understand there are folks that don’t feel [this] is an appropriate pathway,” Crowfoot said, addressing the plan’s critics. “I can tell you, though, we are confident in the ability to implement [this program] and achieve improved environmental outcomes.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“I understand there are folks that don’t feel [this] is an appropriate pathway,” Crowfoot said, addressing the plan’s critics. “I can tell you, though, we are confident in the ability to implement [this program] and achieve improved environmental outcomes.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Back in 2022, the Bureau of Reclamation, under the leadership of the Biden administration, signed an agreement with the state that expressed an intent to collaborate on the voluntary agreements. But it was not binding. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Back in 2022, the Bureau of Reclamation, under the leadership of the Biden administration, signed an agreement with the state that expressed an intent to collaborate on the voluntary agreements. But it was not binding. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The state water board, in its August update, said, in effect, if baseline environmental protections were undermined, water users would have to come up with a plan to replace the lost water to keep the ecosystem intact. This is to prevent the backsliding of standards. It was enough, however, for the federal government and water contractors to remove support.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The state water board, in its August update, said, in effect, if baseline environmental protections were undermined, water users would have to come up with a plan to replace the lost water to keep the ecosystem intact. This is to prevent the backsliding of standards. It was enough, however, for the federal government and water contractors to remove support.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We have been saying for years that the Trump administration was a bad partner and would not implement the voluntary agreements,” said Barry Nelson, senior policy adviser and founding board member for the Golden State Salmon Association. “As bad as [the agreements] are, they’re not bad enough for the Trump administration.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“We have been saying for years that the Trump administration was a bad partner and would not implement the voluntary agreements,” said Barry Nelson, senior policy adviser and founding board member for the Golden State Salmon Association. “As bad as [the agreements] are, they’re not bad enough for the Trump administration.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Nelson points to a pattern of the administration undermining environmental protections, as has been \u003ca href=\"https://insideclimatenews.org/news/01092026/trump-epa-clean-air-water-retreat/\">extensively\u003c/a> documented by news organizations. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/SacramentoDelta-17_qed-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1996801\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/SacramentoDelta-17_qed-1.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/SacramentoDelta-17_qed-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/SacramentoDelta-17_qed-1-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/SacramentoDelta-17_qed-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/SacramentoDelta-17_qed-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/SacramentoDelta-17_qed-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/SacramentoDelta-17_qed-1-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Rio Vista Bridge spanning the Sacramento River in California on Sept. 10, 2021. The area is part of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, which is the hub of California’s water supply, supplying fresh water to two-thirds of the state’s population and millions of acres of farmland.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Joyce Tsai/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Nelson said he sees four possible paths for the next few months. One, the water board could just adopt its current plan, ignoring the bureau’s comments and setting up a legal fight. Two, they could try to quickly rewrite the plan and put it out again in a month. Three, they sit down with federal agencies and try to negotiate a new agreement before January. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Nelson said he sees four possible paths for the next few months. One, the water board could just adopt its current plan, ignoring the bureau’s comments and setting up a legal fight. Two, they could try to quickly rewrite the plan and put it out again in a month. Three, they sit down with federal agencies and try to negotiate a new agreement before January. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The last option “would be extraordinarily hard to do, and there’s simply no time to get it done legally,” said Nelson, referring to the required environmental analysis and public comment period. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Crowfoot said he believes the water board would be careful to ensure anything it adopts has undergone full environmental review. “The board will no doubt have to consider that as a need as it considers input from all these different stakeholders,” he said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Option four, as Nelson sees it, is that the problem gets handed to the next state administration, headed by either Xavier Becerra, the Democrat candidate for California’s governor, or Steve Hilton, his Republican opponent. While Hilton has signaled he favors decreased regulations and environmental protections, frontrunner Becerra has not yet spoken extensively about California Bay-Delta issues. That could soon change. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Jennifer Pierre, general manager of the State Water Contractors, an association of 27 of the public water agencies in California, said in a statement to KQED she believes the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes program “can be the best path for California water if we can address the remaining key issues.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“California deserves a water management system that works, and the proposed combination of environmental flows, significant habitat, funding, and science, if adopted, is our best chance to get things right,” she added.\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Written comments are due by the close of this week for a major rewrite of plan to keep the Bay-Delta ecosystem healthy. \n",
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"title": "Newsom’s Bay-Delta Plan Thrown Into Confusion After Rebuke From Trump Administration | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a>’s current plan for making sure the water flowing through the San Francisco Bay-Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is clean and abundant enough to protect threatened and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1983312/what-happened-to-californias-salmon-season-this-year\">endangered wildlife\u003c/a> is \u003ca href=\"https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5163\">old and not working\u003c/a>. This nexus of waterways, so crucial to the functioning of the state, has been long fought over and will be fought over long into the future.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At the moment, however, the fight However, looks particularly chaotic. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Gov. Gavin Newsom first proposed major changes to rules governing the Bay-Delta \u003ca href=\"https://wwd.ca.gov/wwd-newsletter/voluntary-agreements-an-opportunity-to-improve-conservation-through-collaboration/\">in 2020\u003c/a>, arguing his proposal strikes a balance for use of the water for cities, growers and fish. The framework for managing the Sacramento River was last meaningfully updated in 1995, despite the fact that it is supposed to be reviewed and updated if needed every three years. The regulations were refined over years and backed by \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/environment/2025/07/sacramento-river-delta-report/\">$1.5 billion in state funds\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The state water board announced the release of its final draft update to the document known as the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan in late August. It is now in the public comment period. Written comments are due Sept. 18. Oral comments will be accepted during an upcoming public meeting in Sacramento on Oct. 28 and 29. After that, the board is supposed to consider input, alter as needed and adopt the plan by the end of the month. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/09/Delta-e1757533440936.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1998447\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Sacramento River in December 2019, in Clarksburg. The area is near a potential site for a new single tunnel beneath the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta that will help move Northern California water south to cities and farms, state water officials say. (Santiago Mejia/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Gov. Newsom pressed for an approach that stressed collaboration between water agencies and funding for fish-habitat restoration, instead of imposing strict limits on how much water can be pulled from the delta system for cities and farms. The goal was to use more water more flexibly, but to do it in a way that did not unduly harm threatened and endangered species. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Newsom’s approach, however, does not appear to have the federal buy-in it needs.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The Bureau of Reclamation said it had “serious concern[s]” with the plan as written, in a comment \u003ca href=\"https://www.usbr.gov/mp/docs/cgb-actingcommissioner-letter-statewaterresourcescontrolborad-reclamationconcerns-20260904.pdf\">posted on its website\u003c/a>. Both it and the Westlands Water District, the Central Valley’s largest irrigation district, have threatened to walk away without major revisions. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If officials at the state water board need to significantly rewrite its plan, that could make its completion by January, when Newsom will be termed out, unlikely.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>California must cooperate with the federal government; they each operate one of the state’s two main water projects — a system of dams, reservoirs, pumping stations and canals to deliver clean water to cities and farms. The water system is connected, so they have to work together to avoid taking each other’s water. Plus, the state relies on federal funding.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Despite the challenges, California water officials are maintaining an upbeat tone. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re confident we can move forward,” Wade Crowfoot, California’s secretary of natural resources, said in an interview with KQED.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Many environmental, fishing and tribal groups have opposed these voluntary agreements because they believe they inadequately protect fish. The federal government and the Westlands Water District also oppose them — but effectively for the opposite reason. They think the approach does not guarantee enough water for users, such as cities and farms. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I think all agree that environmental conditions need to improve for fish and wildlife, water quality, and just broadly the environmental health of those systems,” Crowfoot said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/11/WadeCrowfootGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1999275\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/11/WadeCrowfootGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/11/WadeCrowfootGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/11/WadeCrowfootGetty-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/11/WadeCrowfootGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">California Secretary for Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot speaks during a San Onofre lease agreement celebration at Trail 6 in San Onofre State Park on April 21, 2025. (Leonard Ortiz/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I understand there are folks that don’t feel [this] is an appropriate pathway,” Crowfoot said, addressing the plan’s critics. “I can tell you, though, we are confident in the ability to implement [this program] and achieve improved environmental outcomes.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Back in 2022, the Bureau of Reclamation, under the leadership of the Biden administration, signed an agreement with the state that expressed an intent to collaborate on the voluntary agreements. But it was not binding. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The state water board, in its August update, said, in effect, if baseline environmental protections were undermined, water users would have to come up with a plan to replace the lost water to keep the ecosystem intact. This is to prevent the backsliding of standards. It was enough, however, for the federal government and water contractors to remove support.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We have been saying for years that the Trump administration was a bad partner and would not implement the voluntary agreements,” said Barry Nelson, senior policy adviser and founding board member for the Golden State Salmon Association. “As bad as [the agreements] are, they’re not bad enough for the Trump administration.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Nelson points to a pattern of the administration undermining environmental protections, as has been \u003ca href=\"https://insideclimatenews.org/news/01092026/trump-epa-clean-air-water-retreat/\">extensively\u003c/a> documented by news organizations. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/SacramentoDelta-17_qed-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1996801\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/SacramentoDelta-17_qed-1.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/SacramentoDelta-17_qed-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/SacramentoDelta-17_qed-1-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/SacramentoDelta-17_qed-1-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/SacramentoDelta-17_qed-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/SacramentoDelta-17_qed-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/SacramentoDelta-17_qed-1-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Rio Vista Bridge spanning the Sacramento River in California on Sept. 10, 2021. The area is part of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, which is the hub of California’s water supply, supplying fresh water to two-thirds of the state’s population and millions of acres of farmland. (Joyce Tsai/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Nelson said he sees four possible paths for the next few months. One, the water board could just adopt its current plan, ignoring the bureau’s comments and setting up a legal fight. Two, they could try to quickly rewrite the plan and put it out again in a month. Three, they sit down with federal agencies and try to negotiate a new agreement before January. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The last option “would be extraordinarily hard to do, and there’s simply no time to get it done legally,” said Nelson, referring to the required environmental analysis and public comment period. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Crowfoot said he believes the water board would be careful to ensure anything it adopts has undergone full environmental review. “The board will no doubt have to consider that as a need as it considers input from all these different stakeholders,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Option four, as Nelson sees it, is that the problem gets handed to the next state administration, headed by either Xavier Becerra, the Democrat candidate for California’s governor, or Steve Hilton, his Republican opponent. While Hilton has signaled he favors decreased regulations and environmental protections, frontrunner Becerra has not yet spoken extensively about California Bay-Delta issues. That could soon change. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Jennifer Pierre, general manager of the State Water Contractors, an association of 27 of the public water agencies in California, said in a statement to KQED she believes the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes program “can be the best path for California water if we can address the remaining key issues.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“California deserves a water management system that works, and the proposed combination of environmental flows, significant habitat, funding, and science, if adopted, is our best chance to get things right,” she added.\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "newsom-signs-new-law-to-clear-confusion-around-smoke-damage",
"title": "Newsom Signs New Law to Clear Confusion Around Smoke Damage",
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"headTitle": "Newsom Signs New Law to Clear Confusion Around Smoke Damage | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>One of the paradoxes facing people whose homes survive a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/wildfires\">wildfire\u003c/a> is that they are often still victims of it. Sometimes, they have the least help for restoring their home to how it was. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>How insurance ought to address the damage caused by heat and smoke, even if the building never caught on fire, has been unclear, leaving survivors fighting to prove their homes were unsafe and to have their claims covered — until now. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This week, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a package of legislation into law that establishes the nation’s first enforceable standards for testing and fixing smoke-damaged homes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“For future fire survivors, they will have peace of mind as well as safety,” said Joy Chen, executive director of the advocacy group Every Fire Survivor’s Network. Her home suffered smoke damage during the Eaton Fire in Los Angeles. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Ideally we’ll get some settled science on the question, ‘Is my house safe?’” Chen said. “‘What needs to be done to make it safe?”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/10/240109-CAWindStorm-076_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1998770\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/10/240109-CAWindStorm-076_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/10/240109-CAWindStorm-076_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/10/240109-CAWindStorm-076_qed-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/10/240109-CAWindStorm-076_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The remains of a house in Altadena, California, after the Eaton Fire swept through the area northeast of Los Angeles on Jan. 9, 2025. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Survivors of the 2025 Los Angeles firestorm were among the strongest advocates for changes. More than a quarter of all insurance claims stemming from the fires were for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12047275/6-months-after-januarys-fires-recovery-is-just-beginning-for-many\">smoke damage\u003c/a> to homes that didn’t burn, according to estimates from the California Department of Insurance. Smoke-damaged homes can be polluted with lead, asbestos, benzene and other toxic substances. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“California will not leave survivors to navigate recovery alone,” Newsom said in a press release. “These new protections will make insurer obligations clearer and give homeowners more financial flexibility when they need it most.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1795\">bill\u003c/a>, AB 1795, was authored by Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Los Angeles) and sponsored by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“For too many wildfire survivors, the end of the fire has never meant the end of the disaster. Families have spent months, and sometimes years, fighting over whether their homes were safe while navigating confusing and inconsistent insurance claims,” Lara said in a statement. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This law closes a dangerous gap that left wildfire survivors without clear standards, clear answers, and often a clear path home.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Under the new law, the California Air Resources Board and the Department of Toxic Substances Control will develop standards for testing, remediating and restoring the lead and asbestos contamination that can come from wildfire smoke. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Insurance companies will have to assume that smoke damage from a wildfire impact zone came from the fire — meaning homeowners will not have to find a way to prove the cause — and will have to pay for the necessary testing, remediation and the living expenses of the household until the home is fixed and safe. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Policyholders will still have the right to select the restoration contractors of their choice. Insurance adjusters will get specialized training for handling smoke-damage claims. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Insurance broker Karl Susman, who lives in Southern California, said what he observed wasn’t so much the problem of claims getting denied, “they just were getting paid so inconsistently.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“You might have one company that says, ‘We’re going to come in there, clean it all up, and we’re going to pay for you to live somewhere while we’re doing it.’ Another company would come in and say, ‘Yeah, just get a vacuum and you should be good.’” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Other companies, he noted, might say the damage was so bad that everything in the house, including drywall, needed replacing. Each company is following interpretations of their own policies, he said, “but clearly a different outcome.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some industry groups opposed the bill, saying in part that it would increase costs for policy holders. A request for comment to the Personal Insurance Federation of California, one of the registered opponents of the bill, was not responded to by deadline. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Survivors of the LA fires were among the strongest advocates for the new law. The bill is not retroactive, however, so survivors will not in general be able to take care of the newfound clarity around insurance company’s responsibilities. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Still, the consumer protection win was celebrated by advocates, including Amy Bach, executive director of San Francisco-based advocacy group United Policyholders. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The organization “has been fighting for over a decade to get insurers to routinely test and thoroughly restore wildfire-damaged homes and not mislead residents that their homes are safe to move back into when they aren’t,” Bach said in a statement. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The Governor’s signature on AB 1795 paves the way for better outcomes and fewer disputes going forward. We commend the Commissioner’s team for the countless hours spent with survivors, insurers, scientists, and professionals to craft these protections.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>One of the paradoxes facing people whose homes survive a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/wildfires\">wildfire\u003c/a> is that they are often still victims of it. Sometimes, they have the least help for restoring their home to how it was. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>One of the paradoxes facing people whose homes survive a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/wildfires\">wildfire\u003c/a> is that they are often still victims of it. Sometimes, they have the least help for restoring their home to how it was. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>How insurance ought to address the damage caused by heat and smoke, even if the building never caught on fire, has been unclear, leaving survivors fighting to prove their homes were unsafe and to have their claims covered — until now. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>How insurance ought to address the damage caused by heat and smoke, even if the building never caught on fire, has been unclear, leaving survivors fighting to prove their homes were unsafe and to have their claims covered — until now. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This week, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a package of legislation into law that establishes the nation’s first enforceable standards for testing and fixing smoke-damaged homes. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“For future fire survivors, they will have peace of mind as well as safety,” said Joy Chen, executive director of the advocacy group Every Fire Survivor’s Network. Her home suffered smoke damage during the Eaton Fire in Los Angeles. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“For future fire survivors, they will have peace of mind as well as safety,” said Joy Chen, executive director of the advocacy group Every Fire Survivor’s Network. Her home suffered smoke damage during the Eaton Fire in Los Angeles. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Ideally we’ll get some settled science on the question, ‘Is my house safe?’” Chen said. “‘What needs to be done to make it safe?”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/10/240109-CAWindStorm-076_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1998770\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/10/240109-CAWindStorm-076_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/10/240109-CAWindStorm-076_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/10/240109-CAWindStorm-076_qed-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/10/240109-CAWindStorm-076_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The remains of a house in Altadena, California, after the Eaton Fire swept through the area northeast of Los Angeles on Jan. 9, 2025.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/10/240109-CAWindStorm-076_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1998770\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The remains of a house in Altadena, California, after the Eaton Fire swept through the area northeast of Los Angeles on Jan. 9, 2025.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Survivors of the 2025 Los Angeles firestorm were among the strongest advocates for changes. More than a quarter of all insurance claims stemming from the fires were for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12047275/6-months-after-januarys-fires-recovery-is-just-beginning-for-many\">smoke damage\u003c/a> to homes that didn’t burn, according to estimates from the California Department of Insurance. Smoke-damaged homes can be polluted with lead, asbestos, benzene and other toxic substances. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Survivors of the 2025 Los Angeles firestorm were among the strongest advocates for changes. More than a quarter of all insurance claims stemming from the fires were for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12047275/6-months-after-januarys-fires-recovery-is-just-beginning-for-many\">smoke damage\u003c/a> to homes that didn’t burn, according to estimates from the California Department of Insurance. Smoke-damaged homes can be polluted with lead, asbestos, benzene and other toxic substances. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“California will not leave survivors to navigate recovery alone,” Newsom said in a press release. “These new protections will make insurer obligations clearer and give homeowners more financial flexibility when they need it most.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1795\">bill\u003c/a>, AB 1795, was authored by Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Los Angeles) and sponsored by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“For too many wildfire survivors, the end of the fire has never meant the end of the disaster. Families have spent months, and sometimes years, fighting over whether their homes were safe while navigating confusing and inconsistent insurance claims,” Lara said in a statement. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“This law closes a dangerous gap that left wildfire survivors without clear standards, clear answers, and often a clear path home.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Under the new law, the California Air Resources Board and the Department of Toxic Substances Control will develop standards for testing, remediating and restoring the lead and asbestos contamination that can come from wildfire smoke. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Under the new law, the California Air Resources Board and the Department of Toxic Substances Control will develop standards for testing, remediating and restoring the lead and asbestos contamination that can come from wildfire smoke. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Insurance companies will have to assume that smoke damage from a wildfire impact zone came from the fire — meaning homeowners will not have to find a way to prove the cause — and will have to pay for the necessary testing, remediation and the living expenses of the household until the home is fixed and safe. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Insurance companies will have to assume that smoke damage from a wildfire impact zone came from the fire — meaning homeowners will not have to find a way to prove the cause — and will have to pay for the necessary testing, remediation and the living expenses of the household until the home is fixed and safe. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Policyholders will still have the right to select the restoration contractors of their choice. Insurance adjusters will get specialized training for handling smoke-damage claims. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Insurance broker Karl Susman, who lives in Southern California, said what he observed wasn’t so much the problem of claims getting denied, “they just were getting paid so inconsistently.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“You might have one company that says, ‘We’re going to come in there, clean it all up, and we’re going to pay for you to live somewhere while we’re doing it.’ Another company would come in and say, ‘Yeah, just get a vacuum and you should be good.’” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Other companies, he noted, might say the damage was so bad that everything in the house, including drywall, needed replacing. Each company is following interpretations of their own policies, he said, “but clearly a different outcome.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Other companies, he noted, might say the damage was so bad that everything in the house, including drywall, needed replacing. Each company is following interpretations of their own policies, he said, “but clearly a different outcome.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Some industry groups opposed the bill, saying in part that it would increase costs for policy holders. A request for comment to the Personal Insurance Federation of California, one of the registered opponents of the bill, was not responded to by deadline. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Some industry groups opposed the bill, saying in part that it would increase costs for policy holders. A request for comment to the Personal Insurance Federation of California, one of the registered opponents of the bill, was not responded to by deadline. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Survivors of the LA fires were among the strongest advocates for the new law. The bill is not retroactive, however, so survivors will not in general be able to take care of the newfound clarity around insurance company’s responsibilities. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Still, the consumer protection win was celebrated by advocates, including Amy Bach, executive director of San Francisco-based advocacy group United Policyholders. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The organization “has been fighting for over a decade to get insurers to routinely test and thoroughly restore wildfire-damaged homes and not mislead residents that their homes are safe to move back into when they aren’t,” Bach said in a statement. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The Governor’s signature on AB 1795 paves the way for better outcomes and fewer disputes going forward. We commend the Commissioner’s team for the countless hours spent with survivors, insurers, scientists, and professionals to craft these protections.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>One of the paradoxes facing people whose homes survive a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/wildfires\">wildfire\u003c/a> is that they are often still victims of it. Sometimes, they have the least help for restoring their home to how it was. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>How insurance ought to address the damage caused by heat and smoke, even if the building never caught on fire, has been unclear, leaving survivors fighting to prove their homes were unsafe and to have their claims covered — until now. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This week, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a package of legislation into law that establishes the nation’s first enforceable standards for testing and fixing smoke-damaged homes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“For future fire survivors, they will have peace of mind as well as safety,” said Joy Chen, executive director of the advocacy group Every Fire Survivor’s Network. Her home suffered smoke damage during the Eaton Fire in Los Angeles. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Ideally we’ll get some settled science on the question, ‘Is my house safe?’” Chen said. “‘What needs to be done to make it safe?”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/10/240109-CAWindStorm-076_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1998770\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/10/240109-CAWindStorm-076_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/10/240109-CAWindStorm-076_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/10/240109-CAWindStorm-076_qed-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/10/240109-CAWindStorm-076_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The remains of a house in Altadena, California, after the Eaton Fire swept through the area northeast of Los Angeles on Jan. 9, 2025. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Survivors of the 2025 Los Angeles firestorm were among the strongest advocates for changes. More than a quarter of all insurance claims stemming from the fires were for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12047275/6-months-after-januarys-fires-recovery-is-just-beginning-for-many\">smoke damage\u003c/a> to homes that didn’t burn, according to estimates from the California Department of Insurance. Smoke-damaged homes can be polluted with lead, asbestos, benzene and other toxic substances. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“California will not leave survivors to navigate recovery alone,” Newsom said in a press release. “These new protections will make insurer obligations clearer and give homeowners more financial flexibility when they need it most.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1795\">bill\u003c/a>, AB 1795, was authored by Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Los Angeles) and sponsored by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“For too many wildfire survivors, the end of the fire has never meant the end of the disaster. Families have spent months, and sometimes years, fighting over whether their homes were safe while navigating confusing and inconsistent insurance claims,” Lara said in a statement. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“This law closes a dangerous gap that left wildfire survivors without clear standards, clear answers, and often a clear path home.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Under the new law, the California Air Resources Board and the Department of Toxic Substances Control will develop standards for testing, remediating and restoring the lead and asbestos contamination that can come from wildfire smoke. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Insurance companies will have to assume that smoke damage from a wildfire impact zone came from the fire — meaning homeowners will not have to find a way to prove the cause — and will have to pay for the necessary testing, remediation and the living expenses of the household until the home is fixed and safe. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Policyholders will still have the right to select the restoration contractors of their choice. Insurance adjusters will get specialized training for handling smoke-damage claims. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Insurance broker Karl Susman, who lives in Southern California, said what he observed wasn’t so much the problem of claims getting denied, “they just were getting paid so inconsistently.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“You might have one company that says, ‘We’re going to come in there, clean it all up, and we’re going to pay for you to live somewhere while we’re doing it.’ Another company would come in and say, ‘Yeah, just get a vacuum and you should be good.’” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Other companies, he noted, might say the damage was so bad that everything in the house, including drywall, needed replacing. Each company is following interpretations of their own policies, he said, “but clearly a different outcome.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some industry groups opposed the bill, saying in part that it would increase costs for policy holders. A request for comment to the Personal Insurance Federation of California, one of the registered opponents of the bill, was not responded to by deadline. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Survivors of the LA fires were among the strongest advocates for the new law. The bill is not retroactive, however, so survivors will not in general be able to take care of the newfound clarity around insurance company’s responsibilities. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Still, the consumer protection win was celebrated by advocates, including Amy Bach, executive director of San Francisco-based advocacy group United Policyholders. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The organization “has been fighting for over a decade to get insurers to routinely test and thoroughly restore wildfire-damaged homes and not mislead residents that their homes are safe to move back into when they aren’t,” Bach said in a statement. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The Governor’s signature on AB 1795 paves the way for better outcomes and fewer disputes going forward. We commend the Commissioner’s team for the countless hours spent with survivors, insurers, scientists, and professionals to craft these protections.”\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "these-bay-area-residents-have-had-plug-in-solar-for-a-year-heres-how-its-going",
"title": "These Bay Area Residents Have Had Balcony Solar for a Year. Here’s How It’s Going",
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"headTitle": "These Bay Area Residents Have Had Balcony Solar for a Year. Here’s How It’s Going | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>California is transitioning to clean energy. KQED is reporting on what that means for you. What works? What doesn’t? How much does it cost? Help us find these answers and more by \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"http://donate.kqed.org/sojo?ms=W2510EANXXXX22\">\u003cem>donating today\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Each winter, retired teacher Agnes Chan would prepare for her utility bills to skyrocket, and the draft in her hundred-year-old \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/berkeley\">Berkeley\u003c/a> home to chill her to the bone. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She’d tape long, thin pillows to the bottoms of her doors to stop airflow, ready her warmest belongings, and set her thermostat to 60.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I would be so stingy with my usage that I would take one blanket, another blanket, a sleeping bag to sit in my room, which is no fun,” Chan said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She upgraded her windows and doors to be double-paned years ago, but she worried that insulating her craftsman home could cause rot. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00824_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001781\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00824_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00824_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00824_TV-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00824_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A cord connected to solar panels plugs into an outlet in Agnes Chan’s backyard in Berkeley, California, on Aug. 23, 2026. (Tâm Vũ for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Living alone and on a fixed income, Chan would “make myself suffer,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Chan had long wanted to defray the costs of her bills, which would rise to almost $300 a month in the winter, by installing rooftop solar. But the price was prohibitive, in the tens of thousands of dollars.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So Chan turned to something else: \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1997918/forget-rooftops-bay-area-residents-are-plugging-solar-into-the-wall\">plug-in solar\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Plug-in, or balcony, solar is a kit consisting of a few solar panels, an inverter and cables. The devices can be hung from balconies or windows, tented in a backyard or placed on a roof. Their small size generates enough electricity to offset just a portion of someone’s energy use, but can meaningfully decrease monthly bills. Systems already being sold in California range in price from $300 to $2,200, depending on size. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>California lawmakers \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2001842/california-lawmakers-greenlight-solar-panels-you-can-plug-into-the-wall\">passed a bill \u003c/a>to formally legalize plug-in solar, which previously existed in a legal gray area. \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB868\">That bill\u003c/a> now awaits Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00883_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001782\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00883_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00883_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00883_TV-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00883_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Plug-in solar panels sit on top of an accessory dwelling unit in Agnes Chan’s backyard in Berkeley, California, on Aug. 23, 2026. (Tâm Vũ for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>If signed, it would take effect in January, and products will likely hit the California market in the spring, said Erik Mebust, communications director for Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), the bill’s author. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The policy would exempt plug-in solar devices that meet safety and technical standards from the costly registration process required for rooftop solar arrays. That exemption would sunset in 2030, and advocates of the technology are already gearing up for a fight to see that date extended or erased. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>By then, plug-in solar products sold would be required to meet standards outlined by independent safety organizations like Underwriters Laboratories. For now, any product already on the market can continue to be sold, but utilities say customers must register them.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Given California’s huge market, sunny weather and high electricity costs, supporters of the technology believe it will take off in the state in the coming years. Many of those who jumped on the plug-in solar bandwagon early have been happy with their purchases, while others offer some cautionary words about a market in its infancy.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Chan, for one, is very pleased with her system. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She purchased her kit through the plug-in solar nonprofit \u003ca href=\"https://www.brightsaver.org/\">Bright Saver\u003c/a>. It consists of two panels, an inverter, and cables that plug right into her existing 120-volt outdoor outlet. All told, she paid $400. The Bright Saver team installed her panels for free, something they typically do not do, since Chan is in her 80s and asked for assistance. It took less than an hour. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I am getting a lot of energy on a sunny day. And even on half-foggy days, I’m still getting some. So, I’m pretty happy with that,” Chan said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>What’s more, Chan shed her frugal approach and winter sleeping bag get-up. Now, she pads around her one-story home in normal clothes with an electric heater in tow, which she feels is a luxury. Her average monthly bill is down to $200, a price that reflects what she called “comfort and warmth.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Chan’s panels are on top of the accessory dwelling unit in her backyard, and recently, she added a small backup battery. It’s a simple plug-in unit, a large metallic rectangle, about the size of two laptops stacked atop one another. Chan said her battery is fully charged each night, from the excess solar she does not use during the day. She estimated the battery then powers her fridge and internet for the next few hours. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Other early adopters have run into roadblocks. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Misha Rashkin lives in Hayward and had wanted solar for years. He thought plug-in solar would be a great option to avoid being the first in his homeowners association to forge the path for approval for rooftop solar. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00927_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001784\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00927_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00927_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00927_TV-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00927_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Plug-in solar panels sit on top of an accessory dwelling unit in Agnes Chan’s backyard in Berkeley, California. (Tâm Vũ for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-5 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"2001789\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-01110_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001789\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-01110_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-01110_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-01110_TV-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-01110_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A space heater in Agnes Chan’s home in Berkeley, California. (Tâm Vũ for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"2001786\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-01049_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001786\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-01049_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-01049_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-01049_TV-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-01049_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A draft stopper, which prevents air from traveling through door cracks, is taped to the bottom of a door in Agnes Chan’s home. (Tâm Vũ for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I have a balcony, and it seemed like the perfect fit for me,” Rashkin said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Rashkin paid around $2,200 for what the manufacturer billed as a “plug-and-play solar” system, and sunk an additional $1,200 to install a new circuit and plug for it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When it arrived, Rashkin attempted to put it together but was quickly overwhelmed, he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He enlisted a handyman’s help for about $600. Once installation was complete, and his panels were plugged in, Rashkin said he was unable to sync the system’s various parts since it is a smart technology.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s just absolutely the opposite of what I need from a product that is called ‘plug and play,’” Rashkin said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00906_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001783\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00906_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00906_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00906_TV-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00906_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Agnes Chan uses an app to monitor how much energy she uses at her home in Berkeley, California, on Aug. 23, 2026. (Tâm Vũ for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-6 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"2001788\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-01100_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001788\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-01100_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-01100_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-01100_TV-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-01100_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Agnes Chan lifts the curtains she uses to keep drafts from circulating in her home. (Tâm Vũ for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"2001787\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-01058_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001787\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-01058_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-01058_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-01058_TV-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-01058_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Draft stoppers, which prevent air from traveling through door cracks, are placed around the perimeter of a door in Agnes Chan’s home to keep the house warm. (Tâm Vũ for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After several attempts to fix the issues with his system through replacement parts, Rashkin grew frustrated, packaged up the bulky panels and returned the product to the manufacturer, \u003ca href=\"https://craftstrom.com/\">Craftstrom\u003c/a>, who refunded the purchase. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Stephan Scherer, Craftstrom’s CEO and founder, said he understood the criticism about the system being a little less user-friendly than people expect. Germany was an early adopter of the technology, and he said people there can literally buy a system and plug it in. He said safety and code requirements in the U.S. necessitate some additional steps. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For Craftstrom’s product, that means installing a small black cube called a power meter in a customer’s breaker box. The meter prevents electricity from feeding back into the grid, ensures circuits don’t get overloaded with power and calibrates how much power the panels produce to what is needed in the home.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Scherer said a lot of his customers install all the components themselves, but, for those who don’t feel comfortable doing it, his team recommends hiring an electrician for the power meter. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We are actually innovating and trying to figure out ways to make this even more plug and play,” Scherer said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This is especially important as Scherer has noticed customers are shifting. Many of the early adopters were older people with more time on their hands, or people with engineering backgrounds. Now, customers are younger and less tech-savvy, Scherer said.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Balcony solar “is a young industry,” he continued. “We’re all learning, and we’re learning with our customers.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Other Bay Area residents have had luck with the same company. Joe Tenenbaum installed four Craftstrom solar panels at his family’s Orinda home last year, and hopes to add a battery. He estimated they’re saving $60 to $70 on their monthly electricity bills. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The panels have also changed his family’s behavior around when they use their appliances. When it comes to laundry, he said, “I’m actually trying to use the electricity when the sun is out.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Tenenbaum noted, agreeingly: “A lot of people have said this is a gateway drug. I definitely want more.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Berkeley resident Matthew Milner was one of Bright Saver’s first customers in May 2025. He’d wanted rooftop solar, but the upfront costs were staggering.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>“This allows us to dip our toe in a little bit without having a huge financial cost and see how it works for us,” Milner said in an interview last summer. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>More than a year later, he said: “They’ve worked like a charm, no real complaints, no real issues.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Milner hopes to add more solar panels to those angled against his backyard fence, and install a battery, too. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He said it’s not quite as simple as plug and play. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s not that level yet, you have to have some basic understanding of electricity and everything else,” Milner said. “It’s not idiot-proof, let’s put it that way.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium aligncenter\" style=\"width: 500px;margin: 80px auto 40px\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KQED-membership-your-support-makes-this-work-possible-500x353@2x.png\" alt=\"Your support makes this work possible.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"706\" />\nFrom KQED’s Climate desk, “Flipping the Switch” documents California’s transition to clean energy and what it means for you. What works? What doesn’t? How much does it cost? Help us find these answers and more by donating today.\n\u003ca href=\"https://donate.kqed.org/sojo?ms=W2510EANXXXX26\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"width: 272px;margin: 40px auto\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KQED-membership-support-kqed-journalism-272x57@2x.png\" alt=\"Button: Support KQED journalism\" width=\"544\" height=\"114\" />\u003c/a>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00824_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001781\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00824_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00824_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00824_TV-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00824_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A cord connected to solar panels plugs into an outlet in Agnes Chan’s backyard in Berkeley, California, on Aug. 23, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Tâm Vũ for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Living alone and on a fixed income, Chan would “make myself suffer,” she said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Chan had long wanted to defray the costs of her bills, which would rise to almost $300 a month in the winter, by installing rooftop solar. But the price was prohibitive, in the tens of thousands of dollars.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Chan had long wanted to defray the costs of her bills, which would rise to almost $300 a month in the winter, by installing rooftop solar. But the price was prohibitive, in the tens of thousands of dollars.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>So Chan turned to something else: \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1997918/forget-rooftops-bay-area-residents-are-plugging-solar-into-the-wall\">plug-in solar\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>So Chan turned to something else: \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1997918/forget-rooftops-bay-area-residents-are-plugging-solar-into-the-wall\">plug-in solar\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Plug-in, or balcony, solar is a kit consisting of a few solar panels, an inverter and cables. The devices can be hung from balconies or windows, tented in a backyard or placed on a roof. Their small size generates enough electricity to offset just a portion of someone’s energy use, but can meaningfully decrease monthly bills. Systems already being sold in California range in price from $300 to $2,200, depending on size. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Plug-in, or balcony, solar is a kit consisting of a few solar panels, an inverter and cables. The devices can be hung from balconies or windows, tented in a backyard or placed on a roof. Their small size generates enough electricity to offset just a portion of someone’s energy use, but can meaningfully decrease monthly bills. Systems already being sold in California range in price from $300 to $2,200, depending on size. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>California lawmakers \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2001842/california-lawmakers-greenlight-solar-panels-you-can-plug-into-the-wall\">passed a bill \u003c/a>to formally legalize plug-in solar, which previously existed in a legal gray area. \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB868\">That bill\u003c/a> now awaits Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>California lawmakers \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2001842/california-lawmakers-greenlight-solar-panels-you-can-plug-into-the-wall\">passed a bill \u003c/a>to formally legalize plug-in solar, which previously existed in a legal gray area. \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB868\">That bill\u003c/a> now awaits Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00883_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001782\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00883_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00883_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00883_TV-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00883_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Plug-in solar panels sit on top of an accessory dwelling unit in Agnes Chan’s backyard in Berkeley, California, on Aug. 23, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Tâm Vũ for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00883_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001782\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Plug-in solar panels sit on top of an accessory dwelling unit in Agnes Chan’s backyard in Berkeley, California, on Aug. 23, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Tâm Vũ for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If signed, it would take effect in January, and products will likely hit the California market in the spring, said Erik Mebust, communications director for Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), the bill’s author. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>If signed, it would take effect in January, and products will likely hit the California market in the spring, said Erik Mebust, communications director for Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), the bill’s author. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The policy would exempt plug-in solar devices that meet safety and technical standards from the costly registration process required for rooftop solar arrays. That exemption would sunset in 2030, and advocates of the technology are already gearing up for a fight to see that date extended or erased. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The policy would exempt plug-in solar devices that meet safety and technical standards from the costly registration process required for rooftop solar arrays. That exemption would sunset in 2030, and advocates of the technology are already gearing up for a fight to see that date extended or erased. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>By then, plug-in solar products sold would be required to meet standards outlined by independent safety organizations like Underwriters Laboratories. For now, any product already on the market can continue to be sold, but utilities say customers must register them.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>By then, plug-in solar products sold would be required to meet standards outlined by independent safety organizations like Underwriters Laboratories. For now, any product already on the market can continue to be sold, but utilities say customers must register them.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Given California’s huge market, sunny weather and high electricity costs, supporters of the technology believe it will take off in the state in the coming years. Many of those who jumped on the plug-in solar bandwagon early have been happy with their purchases, while others offer some cautionary words about a market in its infancy.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Given California’s huge market, sunny weather and high electricity costs, supporters of the technology believe it will take off in the state in the coming years. Many of those who jumped on the plug-in solar bandwagon early have been happy with their purchases, while others offer some cautionary words about a market in its infancy.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Chan, for one, is very pleased with her system. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Chan, for one, is very pleased with her system. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>She purchased her kit through the plug-in solar nonprofit \u003ca href=\"https://www.brightsaver.org/\">Bright Saver\u003c/a>. It consists of two panels, an inverter, and cables that plug right into her existing 120-volt outdoor outlet. All told, she paid $400. The Bright Saver team installed her panels for free, something they typically do not do, since Chan is in her 80s and asked for assistance. It took less than an hour. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>She purchased her kit through the plug-in solar nonprofit \u003ca href=\"https://www.brightsaver.org/\">Bright Saver\u003c/a>. It consists of two panels, an inverter, and cables that plug right into her existing 120-volt outdoor outlet. All told, she paid $400. The Bright Saver team installed her panels for free, something they typically do not do, since Chan is in her 80s and asked for assistance. It took less than an hour. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I am getting a lot of energy on a sunny day. And even on half-foggy days, I’m still getting some. So, I’m pretty happy with that,” Chan said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“I am getting a lot of energy on a sunny day. And even on half-foggy days, I’m still getting some. So, I’m pretty happy with that,” Chan said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>What’s more, Chan shed her frugal approach and winter sleeping bag get-up. Now, she pads around her one-story home in normal clothes with an electric heater in tow, which she feels is a luxury. Her average monthly bill is down to $200, a price that reflects what she called “comfort and warmth.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>What’s more, Chan shed her frugal approach and winter sleeping bag get-up. Now, she pads around her one-story home in normal clothes with an electric heater in tow, which she feels is a luxury. Her average monthly bill is down to $200, a price that reflects what she called “comfort and warmth.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Chan’s panels are on top of the accessory dwelling unit in her backyard, and recently, she added a small backup battery. It’s a simple plug-in unit, a large metallic rectangle, about the size of two laptops stacked atop one another. Chan said her battery is fully charged each night, from the excess solar she does not use during the day. She estimated the battery then powers her fridge and internet for the next few hours. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Chan’s panels are on top of the accessory dwelling unit in her backyard, and recently, she added a small backup battery. It’s a simple plug-in unit, a large metallic rectangle, about the size of two laptops stacked atop one another. Chan said her battery is fully charged each night, from the excess solar she does not use during the day. She estimated the battery then powers her fridge and internet for the next few hours. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Other early adopters have run into roadblocks. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Misha Rashkin lives in Hayward and had wanted solar for years. He thought plug-in solar would be a great option to avoid being the first in his homeowners association to forge the path for approval for rooftop solar. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Misha Rashkin lives in Hayward and had wanted solar for years. He thought plug-in solar would be a great option to avoid being the first in his homeowners association to forge the path for approval for rooftop solar. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“I have a balcony, and it seemed like the perfect fit for me,” Rashkin said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Rashkin paid around $2,200 for what the manufacturer billed as a “plug-and-play solar” system, and sunk an additional $1,200 to install a new circuit and plug for it.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>When it arrived, Rashkin attempted to put it together but was quickly overwhelmed, he said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>He enlisted a handyman’s help for about $600. Once installation was complete, and his panels were plugged in, Rashkin said he was unable to sync the system’s various parts since it is a smart technology.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It’s just absolutely the opposite of what I need from a product that is called ‘plug and play,’” Rashkin said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>After several attempts to fix the issues with his system through replacement parts, Rashkin grew frustrated, packaged up the bulky panels and returned the product to the manufacturer, \u003ca href=\"https://craftstrom.com/\">Craftstrom\u003c/a>, who refunded the purchase. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Stephan Scherer, Craftstrom’s CEO and founder, said he understood the criticism about the system being a little less user-friendly than people expect. Germany was an early adopter of the technology, and he said people there can literally buy a system and plug it in. He said safety and code requirements in the U.S. necessitate some additional steps. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For Craftstrom’s product, that means installing a small black cube called a power meter in a customer’s breaker box. The meter prevents electricity from feeding back into the grid, ensures circuits don’t get overloaded with power and calibrates how much power the panels produce to what is needed in the home.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Scherer said a lot of his customers install all the components themselves, but, for those who don’t feel comfortable doing it, his team recommends hiring an electrician for the power meter. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We are actually innovating and trying to figure out ways to make this even more plug and play,” Scherer said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This is especially important as Scherer has noticed customers are shifting. Many of the early adopters were older people with more time on their hands, or people with engineering backgrounds. Now, customers are younger and less tech-savvy, Scherer said.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Balcony solar “is a young industry,” he continued. “We’re all learning, and we’re learning with our customers.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Other Bay Area residents have had luck with the same company. Joe Tenenbaum installed four Craftstrom solar panels at his family’s Orinda home last year, and hopes to add a battery. He estimated they’re saving $60 to $70 on their monthly electricity bills. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The panels have also changed his family’s behavior around when they use their appliances. When it comes to laundry, he said, “I’m actually trying to use the electricity when the sun is out.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Berkeley resident Matthew Milner was one of Bright Saver’s first customers in May 2025. He’d wanted rooftop solar, but the upfront costs were staggering.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>“This allows us to dip our toe in a little bit without having a huge financial cost and see how it works for us,” Milner said in an interview last summer. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Milner hopes to add more solar panels to those angled against his backyard fence, and install a battery, too. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It’s not that level yet, you have to have some basic understanding of electricity and everything else,” Milner said. “It’s not idiot-proof, let’s put it that way.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“It’s not that level yet, you have to have some basic understanding of electricity and everything else,” Milner said. “It’s not idiot-proof, let’s put it that way.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cimg class=\"size-medium aligncenter\" style=\"width: 500px;margin: 80px auto 40px\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KQED-membership-your-support-makes-this-work-possible-500x353@2x.png\" alt=\"Your support makes this work possible.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"706\" />\nFrom KQED’s Climate desk, “Flipping the Switch” documents California’s transition to clean energy and what it means for you. What works? What doesn’t? How much does it cost? Help us find these answers and more by donating today.\n\u003ca href=\"https://donate.kqed.org/sojo?ms=W2510EANXXXX26\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"width: 272px;margin: 40px auto\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KQED-membership-support-kqed-journalism-272x57@2x.png\" alt=\"Button: Support KQED journalism\" width=\"544\" height=\"114\" />\u003c/a>\n",
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"\n\u003cimg class=\"size-medium aligncenter\" style=\"width: 500px;margin: 80px auto 40px\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KQED-membership-your-support-makes-this-work-possible-500x353@2x.png\" alt=\"Your support makes this work possible.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"706\" />\nFrom KQED’s Climate desk, “Flipping the Switch” documents California’s transition to clean energy and what it means for you. What works? What doesn’t? How much does it cost? Help us find these answers and more by donating today.\n\u003ca href=\"https://donate.kqed.org/sojo?ms=W2510EANXXXX26\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"width: 272px;margin: 40px auto\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KQED-membership-support-kqed-journalism-272x57@2x.png\" alt=\"Button: Support KQED journalism\" width=\"544\" height=\"114\" />\u003c/a>\n"
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"excerpt": "State legislators passed a bill to make plug-in solar simpler to install, and it’s on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk. Here’s what Bay Area residents who already have it are saying. ",
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"title": "These Bay Area Residents Have Had Balcony Solar for a Year. Here’s How It’s Going | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>California is transitioning to clean energy. KQED is reporting on what that means for you. What works? What doesn’t? How much does it cost? Help us find these answers and more by \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"http://donate.kqed.org/sojo?ms=W2510EANXXXX22\">\u003cem>donating today\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Each winter, retired teacher Agnes Chan would prepare for her utility bills to skyrocket, and the draft in her hundred-year-old \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/berkeley\">Berkeley\u003c/a> home to chill her to the bone. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She’d tape long, thin pillows to the bottoms of her doors to stop airflow, ready her warmest belongings, and set her thermostat to 60.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I would be so stingy with my usage that I would take one blanket, another blanket, a sleeping bag to sit in my room, which is no fun,” Chan said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She upgraded her windows and doors to be double-paned years ago, but she worried that insulating her craftsman home could cause rot. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00824_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001781\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00824_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00824_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00824_TV-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00824_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A cord connected to solar panels plugs into an outlet in Agnes Chan’s backyard in Berkeley, California, on Aug. 23, 2026. (Tâm Vũ for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>Living alone and on a fixed income, Chan would “make myself suffer,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Chan had long wanted to defray the costs of her bills, which would rise to almost $300 a month in the winter, by installing rooftop solar. But the price was prohibitive, in the tens of thousands of dollars.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>So Chan turned to something else: \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1997918/forget-rooftops-bay-area-residents-are-plugging-solar-into-the-wall\">plug-in solar\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Plug-in, or balcony, solar is a kit consisting of a few solar panels, an inverter and cables. The devices can be hung from balconies or windows, tented in a backyard or placed on a roof. Their small size generates enough electricity to offset just a portion of someone’s energy use, but can meaningfully decrease monthly bills. Systems already being sold in California range in price from $300 to $2,200, depending on size. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>California lawmakers \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2001842/california-lawmakers-greenlight-solar-panels-you-can-plug-into-the-wall\">passed a bill \u003c/a>to formally legalize plug-in solar, which previously existed in a legal gray area. \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB868\">That bill\u003c/a> now awaits Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00883_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001782\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00883_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00883_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00883_TV-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00883_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Plug-in solar panels sit on top of an accessory dwelling unit in Agnes Chan’s backyard in Berkeley, California, on Aug. 23, 2026. (Tâm Vũ for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cp>If signed, it would take effect in January, and products will likely hit the California market in the spring, said Erik Mebust, communications director for Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), the bill’s author. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The policy would exempt plug-in solar devices that meet safety and technical standards from the costly registration process required for rooftop solar arrays. That exemption would sunset in 2030, and advocates of the technology are already gearing up for a fight to see that date extended or erased. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>By then, plug-in solar products sold would be required to meet standards outlined by independent safety organizations like Underwriters Laboratories. For now, any product already on the market can continue to be sold, but utilities say customers must register them.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Given California’s huge market, sunny weather and high electricity costs, supporters of the technology believe it will take off in the state in the coming years. Many of those who jumped on the plug-in solar bandwagon early have been happy with their purchases, while others offer some cautionary words about a market in its infancy.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Chan, for one, is very pleased with her system. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>She purchased her kit through the plug-in solar nonprofit \u003ca href=\"https://www.brightsaver.org/\">Bright Saver\u003c/a>. It consists of two panels, an inverter, and cables that plug right into her existing 120-volt outdoor outlet. All told, she paid $400. The Bright Saver team installed her panels for free, something they typically do not do, since Chan is in her 80s and asked for assistance. It took less than an hour. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I am getting a lot of energy on a sunny day. And even on half-foggy days, I’m still getting some. So, I’m pretty happy with that,” Chan said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>What’s more, Chan shed her frugal approach and winter sleeping bag get-up. Now, she pads around her one-story home in normal clothes with an electric heater in tow, which she feels is a luxury. Her average monthly bill is down to $200, a price that reflects what she called “comfort and warmth.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Chan’s panels are on top of the accessory dwelling unit in her backyard, and recently, she added a small backup battery. It’s a simple plug-in unit, a large metallic rectangle, about the size of two laptops stacked atop one another. Chan said her battery is fully charged each night, from the excess solar she does not use during the day. She estimated the battery then powers her fridge and internet for the next few hours. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Other early adopters have run into roadblocks. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Misha Rashkin lives in Hayward and had wanted solar for years. He thought plug-in solar would be a great option to avoid being the first in his homeowners association to forge the path for approval for rooftop solar. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00927_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001784\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00927_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00927_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00927_TV-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00927_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Plug-in solar panels sit on top of an accessory dwelling unit in Agnes Chan’s backyard in Berkeley, California. (Tâm Vũ for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-5 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"2001789\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-01110_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001789\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-01110_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-01110_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-01110_TV-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-01110_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A space heater in Agnes Chan’s home in Berkeley, California. (Tâm Vũ for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"2001786\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-01049_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001786\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-01049_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-01049_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-01049_TV-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-01049_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A draft stopper, which prevents air from traveling through door cracks, is taped to the bottom of a door in Agnes Chan’s home. (Tâm Vũ for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“I have a balcony, and it seemed like the perfect fit for me,” Rashkin said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Rashkin paid around $2,200 for what the manufacturer billed as a “plug-and-play solar” system, and sunk an additional $1,200 to install a new circuit and plug for it.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>When it arrived, Rashkin attempted to put it together but was quickly overwhelmed, he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He enlisted a handyman’s help for about $600. Once installation was complete, and his panels were plugged in, Rashkin said he was unable to sync the system’s various parts since it is a smart technology.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s just absolutely the opposite of what I need from a product that is called ‘plug and play,’” Rashkin said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\u003cdiv class=\"wp-block-image\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"aligncenter size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00906_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001783\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00906_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00906_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00906_TV-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00906_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Agnes Chan uses an app to monitor how much energy she uses at her home in Berkeley, California, on Aug. 23, 2026. (Tâm Vũ for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/div>\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-6 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"2001788\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-01100_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001788\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-01100_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-01100_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-01100_TV-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-01100_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Agnes Chan lifts the curtains she uses to keep drafts from circulating in her home. (Tâm Vũ for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-id=\"2001787\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-01058_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001787\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-01058_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-01058_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-01058_TV-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-01058_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Draft stoppers, which prevent air from traveling through door cracks, are placed around the perimeter of a door in Agnes Chan’s home to keep the house warm. (Tâm Vũ for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>After several attempts to fix the issues with his system through replacement parts, Rashkin grew frustrated, packaged up the bulky panels and returned the product to the manufacturer, \u003ca href=\"https://craftstrom.com/\">Craftstrom\u003c/a>, who refunded the purchase. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Stephan Scherer, Craftstrom’s CEO and founder, said he understood the criticism about the system being a little less user-friendly than people expect. Germany was an early adopter of the technology, and he said people there can literally buy a system and plug it in. He said safety and code requirements in the U.S. necessitate some additional steps. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For Craftstrom’s product, that means installing a small black cube called a power meter in a customer’s breaker box. The meter prevents electricity from feeding back into the grid, ensures circuits don’t get overloaded with power and calibrates how much power the panels produce to what is needed in the home.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Scherer said a lot of his customers install all the components themselves, but, for those who don’t feel comfortable doing it, his team recommends hiring an electrician for the power meter. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We are actually innovating and trying to figure out ways to make this even more plug and play,” Scherer said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This is especially important as Scherer has noticed customers are shifting. Many of the early adopters were older people with more time on their hands, or people with engineering backgrounds. Now, customers are younger and less tech-savvy, Scherer said.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Balcony solar “is a young industry,” he continued. “We’re all learning, and we’re learning with our customers.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Other Bay Area residents have had luck with the same company. Joe Tenenbaum installed four Craftstrom solar panels at his family’s Orinda home last year, and hopes to add a battery. He estimated they’re saving $60 to $70 on their monthly electricity bills. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The panels have also changed his family’s behavior around when they use their appliances. When it comes to laundry, he said, “I’m actually trying to use the electricity when the sun is out.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Tenenbaum noted, agreeingly: “A lot of people have said this is a gateway drug. I definitely want more.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Berkeley resident Matthew Milner was one of Bright Saver’s first customers in May 2025. He’d wanted rooftop solar, but the upfront costs were staggering.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>“This allows us to dip our toe in a little bit without having a huge financial cost and see how it works for us,” Milner said in an interview last summer. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>More than a year later, he said: “They’ve worked like a charm, no real complaints, no real issues.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Milner hopes to add more solar panels to those angled against his backyard fence, and install a battery, too. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>He said it’s not quite as simple as plug and play. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s not that level yet, you have to have some basic understanding of electricity and everything else,” Milner said. “It’s not idiot-proof, let’s put it that way.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium aligncenter\" style=\"width: 500px;margin: 80px auto 40px\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KQED-membership-your-support-makes-this-work-possible-500x353@2x.png\" alt=\"Your support makes this work possible.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"706\" />\nFrom KQED’s Climate desk, “Flipping the Switch” documents California’s transition to clean energy and what it means for you. What works? What doesn’t? How much does it cost? Help us find these answers and more by donating today.\n\u003ca href=\"https://donate.kqed.org/sojo?ms=W2510EANXXXX26\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"width: 272px;margin: 40px auto\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KQED-membership-support-kqed-journalism-272x57@2x.png\" alt=\"Button: Support KQED journalism\" width=\"544\" height=\"114\" />\u003c/a>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "what-will-it-take-for-california-to-meet-its-100-green-energy-goal",
"title": "What Will It Take for California to Meet Its 100% Green Energy Goal?",
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"headTitle": "What Will It Take for California to Meet Its 100% Green Energy Goal? | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>California is transitioning to clean energy. KQED is reporting on what that means for you. What works? What doesn’t? How much does it cost? Help us find these answers and more by \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"http://donate.kqed.org/sojo?ms=W2510EANXXXX22\">\u003cem>donating today\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a>’s transition away from fossil fuels is no longer just about building more solar panels and batteries. The state is also changing how Californians heat their homes, drive their cars and power their businesses. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>California set a goal of achieving 100% clean energy by 2045, as part of its broader effort to reach carbon neutrality. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That transition is already underway, but it’s happening at different speeds across the state’s energy systems. And while cleaner technologies are becoming more common, Californians are also facing high electricity bills, expensive home upgrades and questions about how low-income communities that can’t afford to go fully electric will be affected.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On a recent \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101914754/flipping-the-switch-what-will-it-take-for-california-to-meet-its-100-green-energy-goal\">episode of KQED Forum,\u003c/a> state and local leaders discussed where California is making real progress toward its green energy goal and where it’s falling short. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What does California’s energy transition actually involve?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>California is midway through a transition away from its old fossil-fuel system, which remains substantial, while building a new future powered by a clean energy system that is still growing. Experts call it “midtransition.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>California Energy Commission Vice Chair Siva Gunda said the state is essentially trying to coordinate three transitions at once: cleaning up the electric grid, reducing petroleum use and beginning to reduce natural gas use. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“You have the electric system and petroleum entering midtransition. And natural gas hasn’t really come into midtransition yet. So how do you harmonize the timing of those three systems?” he asked. “And that’s the complexity we face.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-13-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1997035\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-13-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-13-KQED-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-13-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-13-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-13-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-13-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-13-KQED-1920x1281.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rupert Mayer installs power inverters on the solar panels at Matthew Milner’s home in Kensington, California, on May 23, 2025. (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Electricity generation is one sector that is furthest along this bridge. But it is also happening in vehicle transportation and the heating and cooling of buildings. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>More Californians are driving electric vehicles, while homes and businesses are increasingly switching from gas furnaces and water heaters to electric heat pumps.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Gasoline sales have declined, while natural gas use has fallen about 12% over the past five years, said Merrian Borgeson, the California climate and energy policy director for the Natural Resources Defense Council. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Are Californians actually using less fossil fuel?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Borgeson said California is running gas power plants less frequently as clean energy resources expand and the state becomes more connected to neighboring electricity markets. Some older gas plants could eventually be retired, she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Meanwhile, electrification is reshaping homes. Heat pumps can both heat and cool a home without burning fuel. In the first quarter of 2026, about 70% of new California homes were being built with electric space and water heating, Borgeson said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00906_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001783\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00906_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00906_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00906_TV-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00906_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Agnes Chan uses an app to monitor how much energy she uses at her home in Berkeley, California, on Aug. 23, 2026. (Tâm Vũ for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Electric vehicle adoption is also growing. In San José, more than 10% of cars are electric, according to Lori Mitchell, director of San José Clean Energy, and more than half of new car sales in recent years have been electric.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>San José has moved particularly quickly on clean energy. Through San José Clean Energy, its community choice energy provider, it now offers electricity that is more than 90% carbon-free, Mitchell said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But getting people to adopt these technologies depends on more than functionality. It also depends on whether people can afford them.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Does going electric actually save people money?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This is one of the biggest questions facing Californians as the state asks households to switch from fossil fuels to electricity. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Electricity rates have risen substantially in recent years, in part because utilities are spending more on wildfire prevention, including vegetation management and, in some areas, paying to put power lines underground. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At the same time, the economics of electrification vary depending on households’ existing appliances, energy use and income. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/ElectricGridGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001907\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/ElectricGridGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/ElectricGridGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/ElectricGridGetty-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/ElectricGridGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Electrical power lines and pylons in California. (Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>State programs tracking tens of thousands of heat-pump installations have found that many households save money after switching, Borgeson said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For people who are replacing an existing air conditioner and gas furnace with a heat pump, the average savings are about $300 a year. Households without air conditioning that add a heat pump may instead save an average of about $80 a year. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But even when a technology saves money over time, the up-front cost can be difficult to afford.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In San José, a heat pump water heater typically costs about $6,500 to $8,500, Mitchell said. Rebates from community choice energy programs and the state can help \u003ca href=\"https://sanjosecleanenergy.org/ecohome-rebate/\">offset\u003c/a> that expense.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who gets left behind?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Affordability is one of the biggest equity challenges in California’s energy transition. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The California Energy Commission’s Gunda recalled visiting a household in Imperial Valley where someone earning $1,200 a month was spending $500 on energy. “That is not an example we want to create in California,” the vice chair said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/09/ElectricCars_AW_06.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1931178\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/09/ElectricCars_AW_06.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/09/ElectricCars_AW_06-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/09/ElectricCars_AW_06-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/09/ElectricCars_AW_06-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/09/ElectricCars_AW_06-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/09/ElectricCars_AW_06-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/09/ElectricCars_AW_06-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/09/ElectricCars_AW_06-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/09/ElectricCars_AW_06-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/09/ElectricCars_AW_06-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/09/ElectricCars_AW_06-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Electric cars are growing in the Bay Area but are only 6% of new vehicle sales statewide. (Anne Wernikoff/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Not everyone can transition at the same pace. A homeowner with money to spend can install solar panels, buy an electric vehicle and replace a gas furnace with a heat pump. A renter may not be able to make those decisions at all. And a lower-income household may not have thousands of dollars available for an appliance upgrade.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mitchell said San José has tried to address that gap with larger incentives for lower-income residents, as well as discounts through the state’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/industries-and-topics/electrical-energy/electric-costs/care-fera-program\">utility programs\u003c/a> that help reduce monthly energy costs for income-qualified households.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The goal is to ensure customers can afford both the new technology and the electricity required to operate it. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What happens to the natural gas system as people electrify? \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There is another, less visible problem that could become increasingly important: What happens to California’s natural gas infrastructure as fewer people use it?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Gas utilities continue to maintain and replace pipelines that serve homes and businesses. But if more customers leave the gas system, those costs could increasingly fall on a smaller group of remaining customers.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Borgeson gave an example from her own home. Her gas utility was preparing to replace the service line to her house while her family was in the process of electrifying their home. “What happened with me is, they redid our pipe,” she said. “And now, next month, I’m leaving the gas system. And every other customer is left holding the bag.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/250509-BeniciaRefinery-30-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001913\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/250509-BeniciaRefinery-30-BL_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/250509-BeniciaRefinery-30-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/250509-BeniciaRefinery-30-BL_qed-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/250509-BeniciaRefinery-30-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Valero Benicia Refinery in Benicia on May 8, 2025, which processes up to 170,000 barrels of oil a day, making gasoline, diesel and other fuels for California. Valero plans to shut down the Benicia refinery by April 2026, citing high costs and strict environmental rules. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Utilities can spend $15,000 to $20,000 replacing a gas service line, she said, with those costs ultimately shared among customers.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Her concern was that the investment would become unnecessary almost immediately if a household switches entirely to electricity. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Gunda said this illustrates why California’s energy transition needs to be better coordinated.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>“Much of our early work was very gadget-by-gadget replacement. But now the work is more integrated across energy systems, and it has to be really well coordinated,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What options do people have if they can’t afford a major upgrade? \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Electrification doesn’t always require a person to renovate their house. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Smaller heat-pump units can help people who rarely turn on their gas furnaces to heat their homes. They can cost substantially less than installing a central system, and some can be installed in a window or through a wall to heat a single room. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/06/2026_06_11_HEAT_PUMP_00200-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001321\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/06/2026_06_11_HEAT_PUMP_00200-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/06/2026_06_11_HEAT_PUMP_00200-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/06/2026_06_11_HEAT_PUMP_00200-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/06/2026_06_11_HEAT_PUMP_00200-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The heat-pump unit outside Maria Franco’s home in Van Nuys, California. (Jules Hotz for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Renters face another challenge because they generally can’t install rooftop solar or replace major appliances themselves.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One potential solution is plug-in or balcony solar, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2001842/california-lawmakers-greenlight-solar-panels-you-can-plug-into-the-wall\">which lawmakers just voted to formally legalize in California\u003c/a>. Plug-in solar connects to a standard electrical outlet. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Community choice aggregators can also provide assistance. These local agencies purchase electricity and often offer rebates and technical assistance to help residents electrify.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can California make the transition affordable and reliable?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Gunda is cautiously optimistic about the grid’s ability to support the transition. But electricity demand is expected to grow as more vehicles, buildings and other parts of the economy become electrified. Large new electricity users, including data centers, could add another challenge. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Gunda said California needs to make sure the costs of that new demand don’t fall unfairly on existing ratepayers.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The state’s clean energy system has been decades in the making. California has built it while trying to keep energy reliable, affordable and accessible to people who don’t have the same resources to make the switch.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium aligncenter\" style=\"width: 500px;margin: 80px auto 40px\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KQED-membership-your-support-makes-this-work-possible-500x353@2x.png\" alt=\"Your support makes this work possible.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"706\" />\nFrom KQED’s Climate desk, “Flipping the Switch” documents California’s transition to clean energy and what it means for you. What works? What doesn’t? How much does it cost? Help us find these answers and more by donating today.\n\u003ca href=\"https://donate.kqed.org/sojo?ms=W2510EANXXXX26\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"width: 272px;margin: 40px auto\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KQED-membership-support-kqed-journalism-272x57@2x.png\" alt=\"Button: Support KQED journalism\" width=\"544\" height=\"114\" />\u003c/a>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>California is transitioning to clean energy. KQED is reporting on what that means for you. What works? What doesn’t? How much does it cost? Help us find these answers and more by \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"http://donate.kqed.org/sojo?ms=W2510EANXXXX22\">\u003cem>donating today\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003cem>California is transitioning to clean energy. KQED is reporting on what that means for you. What works? What doesn’t? How much does it cost? Help us find these answers and more by \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"http://donate.kqed.org/sojo?ms=W2510EANXXXX22\">\u003cem>donating today\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a>’s transition away from fossil fuels is no longer just about building more solar panels and batteries. The state is also changing how Californians heat their homes, drive their cars and power their businesses. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a>’s transition away from fossil fuels is no longer just about building more solar panels and batteries. The state is also changing how Californians heat their homes, drive their cars and power their businesses. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>California set a goal of achieving 100% clean energy by 2045, as part of its broader effort to reach carbon neutrality. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>California set a goal of achieving 100% clean energy by 2045, as part of its broader effort to reach carbon neutrality. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>That transition is already underway, but it’s happening at different speeds across the state’s energy systems. And while cleaner technologies are becoming more common, Californians are also facing high electricity bills, expensive home upgrades and questions about how low-income communities that can’t afford to go fully electric will be affected.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>That transition is already underway, but it’s happening at different speeds across the state’s energy systems. And while cleaner technologies are becoming more common, Californians are also facing high electricity bills, expensive home upgrades and questions about how low-income communities that can’t afford to go fully electric will be affected.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>On a recent \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101914754/flipping-the-switch-what-will-it-take-for-california-to-meet-its-100-green-energy-goal\">episode of KQED Forum,\u003c/a> state and local leaders discussed where California is making real progress toward its green energy goal and where it’s falling short. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>On a recent \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101914754/flipping-the-switch-what-will-it-take-for-california-to-meet-its-100-green-energy-goal\">episode of KQED Forum,\u003c/a> state and local leaders discussed where California is making real progress toward its green energy goal and where it’s falling short. \u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "What does California’s energy transition actually involve?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>California is midway through a transition away from its old fossil-fuel system, which remains substantial, while building a new future powered by a clean energy system that is still growing. Experts call it “midtransition.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>California is midway through a transition away from its old fossil-fuel system, which remains substantial, while building a new future powered by a clean energy system that is still growing. Experts call it “midtransition.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>California Energy Commission Vice Chair Siva Gunda said the state is essentially trying to coordinate three transitions at once: cleaning up the electric grid, reducing petroleum use and beginning to reduce natural gas use. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>California Energy Commission Vice Chair Siva Gunda said the state is essentially trying to coordinate three transitions at once: cleaning up the electric grid, reducing petroleum use and beginning to reduce natural gas use. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“You have the electric system and petroleum entering midtransition. And natural gas hasn’t really come into midtransition yet. So how do you harmonize the timing of those three systems?” he asked. “And that’s the complexity we face.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“You have the electric system and petroleum entering midtransition. And natural gas hasn’t really come into midtransition yet. So how do you harmonize the timing of those three systems?” he asked. “And that’s the complexity we face.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-13-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1997035\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-13-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-13-KQED-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-13-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-13-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-13-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-13-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-13-KQED-1920x1281.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rupert Mayer installs power inverters on the solar panels at Matthew Milner’s home in Kensington, California, on May 23, 2025.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-13-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1997035\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rupert Mayer installs power inverters on the solar panels at Matthew Milner’s home in Kensington, California, on May 23, 2025.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Electricity generation is one sector that is furthest along this bridge. But it is also happening in vehicle transportation and the heating and cooling of buildings. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Electricity generation is one sector that is furthest along this bridge. But it is also happening in vehicle transportation and the heating and cooling of buildings. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>More Californians are driving electric vehicles, while homes and businesses are increasingly switching from gas furnaces and water heaters to electric heat pumps.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>More Californians are driving electric vehicles, while homes and businesses are increasingly switching from gas furnaces and water heaters to electric heat pumps.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Gasoline sales have declined, while natural gas use has fallen about 12% over the past five years, said Merrian Borgeson, the California climate and energy policy director for the Natural Resources Defense Council. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Gasoline sales have declined, while natural gas use has fallen about 12% over the past five years, said Merrian Borgeson, the California climate and energy policy director for the Natural Resources Defense Council. \u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "Are Californians actually using less fossil fuel?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Borgeson said California is running gas power plants less frequently as clean energy resources expand and the state becomes more connected to neighboring electricity markets. Some older gas plants could eventually be retired, she said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Borgeson said California is running gas power plants less frequently as clean energy resources expand and the state becomes more connected to neighboring electricity markets. Some older gas plants could eventually be retired, she said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Meanwhile, electrification is reshaping homes. Heat pumps can both heat and cool a home without burning fuel. In the first quarter of 2026, about 70% of new California homes were being built with electric space and water heating, Borgeson said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Meanwhile, electrification is reshaping homes. Heat pumps can both heat and cool a home without burning fuel. In the first quarter of 2026, about 70% of new California homes were being built with electric space and water heating, Borgeson said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00906_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001783\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00906_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00906_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00906_TV-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00906_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Agnes Chan uses an app to monitor how much energy she uses at her home in Berkeley, California, on Aug. 23, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Tâm Vũ for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00906_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001783\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Agnes Chan uses an app to monitor how much energy she uses at her home in Berkeley, California, on Aug. 23, 2026.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Tâm Vũ for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Electric vehicle adoption is also growing. In San José, more than 10% of cars are electric, according to Lori Mitchell, director of San José Clean Energy, and more than half of new car sales in recent years have been electric.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Electric vehicle adoption is also growing. In San José, more than 10% of cars are electric, according to Lori Mitchell, director of San José Clean Energy, and more than half of new car sales in recent years have been electric.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>San José has moved particularly quickly on clean energy. Through San José Clean Energy, its community choice energy provider, it now offers electricity that is more than 90% carbon-free, Mitchell said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>San José has moved particularly quickly on clean energy. Through San José Clean Energy, its community choice energy provider, it now offers electricity that is more than 90% carbon-free, Mitchell said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But getting people to adopt these technologies depends on more than functionality. It also depends on whether people can afford them.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>But getting people to adopt these technologies depends on more than functionality. It also depends on whether people can afford them.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "Does going electric actually save people money?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Does going electric actually save people money?\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This is one of the biggest questions facing Californians as the state asks households to switch from fossil fuels to electricity. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>This is one of the biggest questions facing Californians as the state asks households to switch from fossil fuels to electricity. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Electricity rates have risen substantially in recent years, in part because utilities are spending more on wildfire prevention, including vegetation management and, in some areas, paying to put power lines underground. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Electricity rates have risen substantially in recent years, in part because utilities are spending more on wildfire prevention, including vegetation management and, in some areas, paying to put power lines underground. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>At the same time, the economics of electrification vary depending on households’ existing appliances, energy use and income. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>At the same time, the economics of electrification vary depending on households’ existing appliances, energy use and income. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/ElectricGridGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001907\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/ElectricGridGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/ElectricGridGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/ElectricGridGetty-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/ElectricGridGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Electrical power lines and pylons in California.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/ElectricGridGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001907\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Electrical power lines and pylons in California.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>State programs tracking tens of thousands of heat-pump installations have found that many households save money after switching, Borgeson said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>State programs tracking tens of thousands of heat-pump installations have found that many households save money after switching, Borgeson said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For people who are replacing an existing air conditioner and gas furnace with a heat pump, the average savings are about $300 a year. Households without air conditioning that add a heat pump may instead save an average of about $80 a year. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>For people who are replacing an existing air conditioner and gas furnace with a heat pump, the average savings are about $300 a year. Households without air conditioning that add a heat pump may instead save an average of about $80 a year. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But even when a technology saves money over time, the up-front cost can be difficult to afford.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>But even when a technology saves money over time, the up-front cost can be difficult to afford.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In San José, a heat pump water heater typically costs about $6,500 to $8,500, Mitchell said. Rebates from community choice energy programs and the state can help \u003ca href=\"https://sanjosecleanenergy.org/ecohome-rebate/\">offset\u003c/a> that expense.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In San José, a heat pump water heater typically costs about $6,500 to $8,500, Mitchell said. Rebates from community choice energy programs and the state can help \u003ca href=\"https://sanjosecleanenergy.org/ecohome-rebate/\">offset\u003c/a> that expense.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "Who gets left behind?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who gets left behind?\u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who gets left behind?\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Affordability is one of the biggest equity challenges in California’s energy transition. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Affordability is one of the biggest equity challenges in California’s energy transition. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The California Energy Commission’s Gunda recalled visiting a household in Imperial Valley where someone earning $1,200 a month was spending $500 on energy. “That is not an example we want to create in California,” the vice chair said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The California Energy Commission’s Gunda recalled visiting a household in Imperial Valley where someone earning $1,200 a month was spending $500 on energy. “That is not an example we want to create in California,” the vice chair said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/09/ElectricCars_AW_06.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1931178\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/09/ElectricCars_AW_06.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/09/ElectricCars_AW_06-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/09/ElectricCars_AW_06-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/09/ElectricCars_AW_06-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/09/ElectricCars_AW_06-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/09/ElectricCars_AW_06-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/09/ElectricCars_AW_06-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/09/ElectricCars_AW_06-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/09/ElectricCars_AW_06-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/09/ElectricCars_AW_06-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/09/ElectricCars_AW_06-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Electric cars are growing in the Bay Area but are only 6% of new vehicle sales statewide.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Anne Wernikoff/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/09/ElectricCars_AW_06.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1931178\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Electric cars are growing in the Bay Area but are only 6% of new vehicle sales statewide.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Anne Wernikoff/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Not everyone can transition at the same pace. A homeowner with money to spend can install solar panels, buy an electric vehicle and replace a gas furnace with a heat pump. A renter may not be able to make those decisions at all. And a lower-income household may not have thousands of dollars available for an appliance upgrade.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Not everyone can transition at the same pace. A homeowner with money to spend can install solar panels, buy an electric vehicle and replace a gas furnace with a heat pump. A renter may not be able to make those decisions at all. And a lower-income household may not have thousands of dollars available for an appliance upgrade.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Mitchell said San José has tried to address that gap with larger incentives for lower-income residents, as well as discounts through the state’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/industries-and-topics/electrical-energy/electric-costs/care-fera-program\">utility programs\u003c/a> that help reduce monthly energy costs for income-qualified households.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Mitchell said San José has tried to address that gap with larger incentives for lower-income residents, as well as discounts through the state’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/industries-and-topics/electrical-energy/electric-costs/care-fera-program\">utility programs\u003c/a> that help reduce monthly energy costs for income-qualified households.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The goal is to ensure customers can afford both the new technology and the electricity required to operate it. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The goal is to ensure customers can afford both the new technology and the electricity required to operate it. \u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "What happens to the natural gas system as people electrify? ",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What happens to the natural gas system as people electrify? \u003c/h2>\n",
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"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What happens to the natural gas system as people electrify? \u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>There is another, less visible problem that could become increasingly important: What happens to California’s natural gas infrastructure as fewer people use it?\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>There is another, less visible problem that could become increasingly important: What happens to California’s natural gas infrastructure as fewer people use it?\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Gas utilities continue to maintain and replace pipelines that serve homes and businesses. But if more customers leave the gas system, those costs could increasingly fall on a smaller group of remaining customers.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Gas utilities continue to maintain and replace pipelines that serve homes and businesses. But if more customers leave the gas system, those costs could increasingly fall on a smaller group of remaining customers.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Borgeson gave an example from her own home. Her gas utility was preparing to replace the service line to her house while her family was in the process of electrifying their home. “What happened with me is, they redid our pipe,” she said. “And now, next month, I’m leaving the gas system. And every other customer is left holding the bag.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Borgeson gave an example from her own home. Her gas utility was preparing to replace the service line to her house while her family was in the process of electrifying their home. “What happened with me is, they redid our pipe,” she said. “And now, next month, I’m leaving the gas system. And every other customer is left holding the bag.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/250509-BeniciaRefinery-30-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001913\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/250509-BeniciaRefinery-30-BL_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/250509-BeniciaRefinery-30-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/250509-BeniciaRefinery-30-BL_qed-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/250509-BeniciaRefinery-30-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Valero Benicia Refinery in Benicia on May 8, 2025, which processes up to 170,000 barrels of oil a day, making gasoline, diesel and other fuels for California. Valero plans to shut down the Benicia refinery by April 2026, citing high costs and strict environmental rules.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/250509-BeniciaRefinery-30-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001913\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Valero Benicia Refinery in Benicia on May 8, 2025, which processes up to 170,000 barrels of oil a day, making gasoline, diesel and other fuels for California. Valero plans to shut down the Benicia refinery by April 2026, citing high costs and strict environmental rules.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Utilities can spend $15,000 to $20,000 replacing a gas service line, she said, with those costs ultimately shared among customers.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Utilities can spend $15,000 to $20,000 replacing a gas service line, she said, with those costs ultimately shared among customers.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Her concern was that the investment would become unnecessary almost immediately if a household switches entirely to electricity. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Her concern was that the investment would become unnecessary almost immediately if a household switches entirely to electricity. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Gunda said this illustrates why California’s energy transition needs to be better coordinated.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>“Much of our early work was very gadget-by-gadget replacement. But now the work is more integrated across energy systems, and it has to be really well coordinated,” he said.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Gunda said this illustrates why California’s energy transition needs to be better coordinated.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>“Much of our early work was very gadget-by-gadget replacement. But now the work is more integrated across energy systems, and it has to be really well coordinated,” he said.\u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "What options do people have if they can’t afford a major upgrade? ",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Electrification doesn’t always require a person to renovate their house. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Smaller heat-pump units can help people who rarely turn on their gas furnaces to heat their homes. They can cost substantially less than installing a central system, and some can be installed in a window or through a wall to heat a single room. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Smaller heat-pump units can help people who rarely turn on their gas furnaces to heat their homes. They can cost substantially less than installing a central system, and some can be installed in a window or through a wall to heat a single room. \u003c/p>\n"
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/06/2026_06_11_HEAT_PUMP_00200-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001321\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The heat-pump unit outside Maria Franco’s home in Van Nuys, California.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Jules Hotz for KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Renters face another challenge because they generally can’t install rooftop solar or replace major appliances themselves.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>One potential solution is plug-in or balcony solar, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2001842/california-lawmakers-greenlight-solar-panels-you-can-plug-into-the-wall\">which lawmakers just voted to formally legalize in California\u003c/a>. Plug-in solar connects to a standard electrical outlet. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>One potential solution is plug-in or balcony solar, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2001842/california-lawmakers-greenlight-solar-panels-you-can-plug-into-the-wall\">which lawmakers just voted to formally legalize in California\u003c/a>. Plug-in solar connects to a standard electrical outlet. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Community choice aggregators can also provide assistance. These local agencies purchase electricity and often offer rebates and technical assistance to help residents electrify.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Community choice aggregators can also provide assistance. These local agencies purchase electricity and often offer rebates and technical assistance to help residents electrify.\u003c/p>\n"
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"text": "Can California make the transition affordable and reliable?",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can California make the transition affordable and reliable?\u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Gunda is cautiously optimistic about the grid’s ability to support the transition. But electricity demand is expected to grow as more vehicles, buildings and other parts of the economy become electrified. Large new electricity users, including data centers, could add another challenge. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Gunda is cautiously optimistic about the grid’s ability to support the transition. But electricity demand is expected to grow as more vehicles, buildings and other parts of the economy become electrified. Large new electricity users, including data centers, could add another challenge. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Gunda said California needs to make sure the costs of that new demand don’t fall unfairly on existing ratepayers.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Gunda said California needs to make sure the costs of that new demand don’t fall unfairly on existing ratepayers.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The state’s clean energy system has been decades in the making. California has built it while trying to keep energy reliable, affordable and accessible to people who don’t have the same resources to make the switch.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The state’s clean energy system has been decades in the making. California has built it while trying to keep energy reliable, affordable and accessible to people who don’t have the same resources to make the switch.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cimg class=\"size-medium aligncenter\" style=\"width: 500px;margin: 80px auto 40px\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KQED-membership-your-support-makes-this-work-possible-500x353@2x.png\" alt=\"Your support makes this work possible.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"706\" />\nFrom KQED’s Climate desk, “Flipping the Switch” documents California’s transition to clean energy and what it means for you. What works? What doesn’t? How much does it cost? Help us find these answers and more by donating today.\n\u003ca href=\"https://donate.kqed.org/sojo?ms=W2510EANXXXX26\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"width: 272px;margin: 40px auto\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KQED-membership-support-kqed-journalism-272x57@2x.png\" alt=\"Button: Support KQED journalism\" width=\"544\" height=\"114\" />\u003c/a>\n",
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"\n\u003cimg class=\"size-medium aligncenter\" style=\"width: 500px;margin: 80px auto 40px\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KQED-membership-your-support-makes-this-work-possible-500x353@2x.png\" alt=\"Your support makes this work possible.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"706\" />\nFrom KQED’s Climate desk, “Flipping the Switch” documents California’s transition to clean energy and what it means for you. What works? What doesn’t? How much does it cost? Help us find these answers and more by donating today.\n\u003ca href=\"https://donate.kqed.org/sojo?ms=W2510EANXXXX26\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003cimg class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"width: 272px;margin: 40px auto\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KQED-membership-support-kqed-journalism-272x57@2x.png\" alt=\"Button: Support KQED journalism\" width=\"544\" height=\"114\" />\u003c/a>\n"
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"excerpt": "Where is California making real progress toward its green energy goal, and where is it falling short?",
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"title": "What Will It Take for California to Meet Its 100% Green Energy Goal? | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>California is transitioning to clean energy. KQED is reporting on what that means for you. What works? What doesn’t? How much does it cost? Help us find these answers and more by \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"http://donate.kqed.org/sojo?ms=W2510EANXXXX22\">\u003cem>donating today\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/california\">California\u003c/a>’s transition away from fossil fuels is no longer just about building more solar panels and batteries. The state is also changing how Californians heat their homes, drive their cars and power their businesses. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>California set a goal of achieving 100% clean energy by 2045, as part of its broader effort to reach carbon neutrality. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That transition is already underway, but it’s happening at different speeds across the state’s energy systems. And while cleaner technologies are becoming more common, Californians are also facing high electricity bills, expensive home upgrades and questions about how low-income communities that can’t afford to go fully electric will be affected.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>On a recent \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101914754/flipping-the-switch-what-will-it-take-for-california-to-meet-its-100-green-energy-goal\">episode of KQED Forum,\u003c/a> state and local leaders discussed where California is making real progress toward its green energy goal and where it’s falling short. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What does California’s energy transition actually involve?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>California is midway through a transition away from its old fossil-fuel system, which remains substantial, while building a new future powered by a clean energy system that is still growing. Experts call it “midtransition.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>California Energy Commission Vice Chair Siva Gunda said the state is essentially trying to coordinate three transitions at once: cleaning up the electric grid, reducing petroleum use and beginning to reduce natural gas use. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“You have the electric system and petroleum entering midtransition. And natural gas hasn’t really come into midtransition yet. So how do you harmonize the timing of those three systems?” he asked. “And that’s the complexity we face.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-13-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1997035\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-13-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-13-KQED-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-13-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-13-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-13-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-13-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-13-KQED-1920x1281.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rupert Mayer installs power inverters on the solar panels at Matthew Milner’s home in Kensington, California, on May 23, 2025. (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Electricity generation is one sector that is furthest along this bridge. But it is also happening in vehicle transportation and the heating and cooling of buildings. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>More Californians are driving electric vehicles, while homes and businesses are increasingly switching from gas furnaces and water heaters to electric heat pumps.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Gasoline sales have declined, while natural gas use has fallen about 12% over the past five years, said Merrian Borgeson, the California climate and energy policy director for the Natural Resources Defense Council. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Are Californians actually using less fossil fuel?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Borgeson said California is running gas power plants less frequently as clean energy resources expand and the state becomes more connected to neighboring electricity markets. Some older gas plants could eventually be retired, she said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Meanwhile, electrification is reshaping homes. Heat pumps can both heat and cool a home without burning fuel. In the first quarter of 2026, about 70% of new California homes were being built with electric space and water heating, Borgeson said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00906_TV-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001783\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00906_TV-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00906_TV-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00906_TV-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260823-PLUGINSOLARFOLO-00906_TV-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Agnes Chan uses an app to monitor how much energy she uses at her home in Berkeley, California, on Aug. 23, 2026. (Tâm Vũ for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Electric vehicle adoption is also growing. In San José, more than 10% of cars are electric, according to Lori Mitchell, director of San José Clean Energy, and more than half of new car sales in recent years have been electric.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>San José has moved particularly quickly on clean energy. Through San José Clean Energy, its community choice energy provider, it now offers electricity that is more than 90% carbon-free, Mitchell said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But getting people to adopt these technologies depends on more than functionality. It also depends on whether people can afford them.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Does going electric actually save people money?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This is one of the biggest questions facing Californians as the state asks households to switch from fossil fuels to electricity. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Electricity rates have risen substantially in recent years, in part because utilities are spending more on wildfire prevention, including vegetation management and, in some areas, paying to put power lines underground. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>At the same time, the economics of electrification vary depending on households’ existing appliances, energy use and income. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/ElectricGridGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001907\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/ElectricGridGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/ElectricGridGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/ElectricGridGetty-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/ElectricGridGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Electrical power lines and pylons in California. (Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>State programs tracking tens of thousands of heat-pump installations have found that many households save money after switching, Borgeson said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For people who are replacing an existing air conditioner and gas furnace with a heat pump, the average savings are about $300 a year. Households without air conditioning that add a heat pump may instead save an average of about $80 a year. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But even when a technology saves money over time, the up-front cost can be difficult to afford.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In San José, a heat pump water heater typically costs about $6,500 to $8,500, Mitchell said. Rebates from community choice energy programs and the state can help \u003ca href=\"https://sanjosecleanenergy.org/ecohome-rebate/\">offset\u003c/a> that expense.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who gets left behind?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Affordability is one of the biggest equity challenges in California’s energy transition. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The California Energy Commission’s Gunda recalled visiting a household in Imperial Valley where someone earning $1,200 a month was spending $500 on energy. “That is not an example we want to create in California,” the vice chair said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/09/ElectricCars_AW_06.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1931178\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/09/ElectricCars_AW_06.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/09/ElectricCars_AW_06-160x90.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/09/ElectricCars_AW_06-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/09/ElectricCars_AW_06-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/09/ElectricCars_AW_06-1020x574.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/09/ElectricCars_AW_06-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/09/ElectricCars_AW_06-1180x664.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/09/ElectricCars_AW_06-960x540.jpg 960w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/09/ElectricCars_AW_06-240x135.jpg 240w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/09/ElectricCars_AW_06-375x211.jpg 375w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2018/09/ElectricCars_AW_06-520x293.jpg 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Electric cars are growing in the Bay Area but are only 6% of new vehicle sales statewide. (Anne Wernikoff/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Not everyone can transition at the same pace. A homeowner with money to spend can install solar panels, buy an electric vehicle and replace a gas furnace with a heat pump. A renter may not be able to make those decisions at all. And a lower-income household may not have thousands of dollars available for an appliance upgrade.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Mitchell said San José has tried to address that gap with larger incentives for lower-income residents, as well as discounts through the state’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/industries-and-topics/electrical-energy/electric-costs/care-fera-program\">utility programs\u003c/a> that help reduce monthly energy costs for income-qualified households.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The goal is to ensure customers can afford both the new technology and the electricity required to operate it. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What happens to the natural gas system as people electrify? \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>There is another, less visible problem that could become increasingly important: What happens to California’s natural gas infrastructure as fewer people use it?\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Gas utilities continue to maintain and replace pipelines that serve homes and businesses. But if more customers leave the gas system, those costs could increasingly fall on a smaller group of remaining customers.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Borgeson gave an example from her own home. Her gas utility was preparing to replace the service line to her house while her family was in the process of electrifying their home. “What happened with me is, they redid our pipe,” she said. “And now, next month, I’m leaving the gas system. And every other customer is left holding the bag.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/250509-BeniciaRefinery-30-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001913\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/250509-BeniciaRefinery-30-BL_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/250509-BeniciaRefinery-30-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/250509-BeniciaRefinery-30-BL_qed-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/09/250509-BeniciaRefinery-30-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Valero Benicia Refinery in Benicia on May 8, 2025, which processes up to 170,000 barrels of oil a day, making gasoline, diesel and other fuels for California. Valero plans to shut down the Benicia refinery by April 2026, citing high costs and strict environmental rules. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Utilities can spend $15,000 to $20,000 replacing a gas service line, she said, with those costs ultimately shared among customers.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Her concern was that the investment would become unnecessary almost immediately if a household switches entirely to electricity. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Gunda said this illustrates why California’s energy transition needs to be better coordinated.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>“Much of our early work was very gadget-by-gadget replacement. But now the work is more integrated across energy systems, and it has to be really well coordinated,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What options do people have if they can’t afford a major upgrade? \u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Electrification doesn’t always require a person to renovate their house. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Smaller heat-pump units can help people who rarely turn on their gas furnaces to heat their homes. They can cost substantially less than installing a central system, and some can be installed in a window or through a wall to heat a single room. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/06/2026_06_11_HEAT_PUMP_00200-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001321\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/06/2026_06_11_HEAT_PUMP_00200-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/06/2026_06_11_HEAT_PUMP_00200-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/06/2026_06_11_HEAT_PUMP_00200-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/06/2026_06_11_HEAT_PUMP_00200-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The heat-pump unit outside Maria Franco’s home in Van Nuys, California. (Jules Hotz for KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Renters face another challenge because they generally can’t install rooftop solar or replace major appliances themselves.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One potential solution is plug-in or balcony solar, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2001842/california-lawmakers-greenlight-solar-panels-you-can-plug-into-the-wall\">which lawmakers just voted to formally legalize in California\u003c/a>. Plug-in solar connects to a standard electrical outlet. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Community choice aggregators can also provide assistance. These local agencies purchase electricity and often offer rebates and technical assistance to help residents electrify.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can California make the transition affordable and reliable?\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Gunda is cautiously optimistic about the grid’s ability to support the transition. But electricity demand is expected to grow as more vehicles, buildings and other parts of the economy become electrified. Large new electricity users, including data centers, could add another challenge. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Gunda said California needs to make sure the costs of that new demand don’t fall unfairly on existing ratepayers.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The state’s clean energy system has been decades in the making. California has built it while trying to keep energy reliable, affordable and accessible to people who don’t have the same resources to make the switch.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium aligncenter\" style=\"width: 500px;margin: 80px auto 40px\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KQED-membership-your-support-makes-this-work-possible-500x353@2x.png\" alt=\"Your support makes this work possible.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"706\" />\nFrom KQED’s Climate desk, “Flipping the Switch” documents California’s transition to clean energy and what it means for you. What works? What doesn’t? How much does it cost? Help us find these answers and more by donating today.\n\u003ca href=\"https://donate.kqed.org/sojo?ms=W2510EANXXXX26\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"width: 272px;margin: 40px auto\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KQED-membership-support-kqed-journalism-272x57@2x.png\" alt=\"Button: Support KQED journalism\" width=\"544\" height=\"114\" />\u003c/a>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "california-lawmakers-greenlight-solar-panels-you-can-plug-into-the-wall",
"title": "California Lawmakers Greenlight Solar Panels You Can Plug Into the Wall",
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"headTitle": "California Lawmakers Greenlight Solar Panels You Can Plug Into the Wall | KQED",
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"content": "\n\u003cp>\u003cem>California is transitioning to clean energy. KQED is reporting on what that means for you. What works? What doesn’t? How much does it cost? Help us find these answers and more by \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"http://donate.kqed.org/sojo?ms=W2510EANXXXX22\">\u003cem>donating today\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In as little as a year, lowering your electricity bill could be as simple as \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1997918/forget-rooftops-bay-area-residents-are-plugging-solar-into-the-wall\">buying a kit\u003c/a> with a few solar panels and accessories, completing a quick online registration form, and plugging it into a standard outlet. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>California lawmakers passed a bill on Wednesday night to formally legalize \u003ca href=\"https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/small-plug-in-solar-panels-gain-traction-as-an-affordable-way-to-cut-electricity-bills\">plug-in\u003c/a>, or balcony, solar: small, portable and relatively inexpensive systems that do not require rewiring or the costly installation fees that often come with rooftop solar.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>The legislation, \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB868\">SB 868\u003c/a>, sailed through the state assembly and senate with bipartisan support. The bill now moves to the governor’s desk for signature.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The devices can be tented in a backyard, hung off a balcony or placed on a roof. Models range from as low as \u003ca href=\"https://www.brightsaver.org/\">$300\u003c/a> to \u003ca href=\"https://craftstrom.com/\">$2200\u003c/a>, depending on size. The bill would open the solar market to people who were previously left out: renters, people with unsuitable roofs, and those lacking the capital to build out a rooftop system, which can cost in the tens of thousands of dollars. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1331\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/014_Berkeley_SolarHomeGranholmLee_08202021_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001854\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/014_Berkeley_SolarHomeGranholmLee_08202021_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/014_Berkeley_SolarHomeGranholmLee_08202021_qed-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/014_Berkeley_SolarHomeGranholmLee_08202021_qed-768x511.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/014_Berkeley_SolarHomeGranholmLee_08202021_qed-1536x1022.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Bernadette Del Chiaro, executive director of California Solar & Storage Association, speaks during a press conference with Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm during a visit to a solar-powered Berkeley home on Aug. 20, 2021. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“There’s no question SB 868 is the most exciting clean energy and energy affordability bill right now up for consideration in California,” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, senior vice president at the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit that co-sponsored the bill. “You never get to pass a big controversial bill in one year. We’re poised to do that. It is a huge win.”\u003cbr>\u003cbr>A wave of state legislation over the past 18 months is making balcony solar — a nascent technology in the U.S. — within reach of everyday Americans. Utah pioneered a law passed in March 2025, and others quickly followed. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Eight states now have bills on the books that allow a relatively straightforward process for purchasing and setting up balcony solar systems, including Colorado, Virginia and Maine. Bills in New York and New Jersey are awaiting the governors’ signatures, like California.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Advocates believe California’s market has massive potential. They’re motivated by Germany, where millions of solar panels dot balconies across the country.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some of the state’s largest investor-owned utilities, however, opposed the legislation, citing safety and a concern that the systems would shift energy costs to people without solar power. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>PG&E initially said it supported the bill if it were amended, but opposed the final version. Spokesperson Paul Doherty said the utility is concerned that certain safety and certification requirements on some systems would not be enforced until 2030. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But he said that the company “supports plug-in solar and the opportunities it could create for customers, particularly renters and others who have not had easy access to traditional rooftop solar.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>San Diego Gas & Electric also opposed the legislation, citing concerns that even if balcony solar is designed to prevent feeding power back to the grid, systems may malfunction and endanger workers or customers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Southern California Edison originally opposed the bill but later took a neutral stance after bill authors updated safety standards and how people notify their utility of their systems, spokesperson David Eisenhauer said.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Notably, labor unions representing firefighters and PG&E employees dropped their opposition and took a neutral stance on the bill after lawmakers amended it to explicitly comply with state and national electrical codes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If signed into law by Newsom, the legislation would exempt plug-in solar devices from what critics say is a cumbersome and expensive interconnection application process, and replace registration with a free and straightforward online form. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1337\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/01/GavinNewsomStateoftheState2026AP.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1999772\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/01/GavinNewsomStateoftheState2026AP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/01/GavinNewsomStateoftheState2026AP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/01/GavinNewsomStateoftheState2026AP-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/01/GavinNewsomStateoftheState2026AP-1536x1027.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during his last State of the State address on Jan. 8, 2026, in Sacramento, California. (Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP Photo)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some Californians have already installed plug-in solar panels, but utilities ask them to complete an interconnection agreement, citing \u003ca href=\"https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/Rule21/\">state rules\u003c/a>. If done through PG&E, for example, representatives from the utility said that process would cost roughly $100 to $800 and take about an hour. Typically, the approval comes through in three days, PG&E staff said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But plug-in solar advocates argued that the interconnection process defeats the plug-and-play nature of the technology, and could double or triple its cost.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Their goal is to make the panels as ubiquitous and easy to install as any off-the-shelf appliance dotting the racks of a Home Depot or Costco. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The newly passed bill outlines several device requirements. The balcony solar systems must be capped at generating 1,200 watts per home, plug into a standard outlet, offset a customer’s onsite electricity use and meet state and national electrical codes. They also must be certified by an outside safety organization like Underwriters Laboratories and have a feature that would prevent electricity from feeding back into the grid if there’s a power outage. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/06/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-12_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001208\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/06/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-12_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/06/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-12_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/06/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-12_qed-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/06/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-12_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rupert Mayer installs power inverters on the solar panels at Matthew Milner’s home in Kensington on May 23, 2025. (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Current plug-in solar models do not yet meet the outlined requirements, and customers therefore must still register their systems as though they are rooftop solar. Del Chiaro said there are already a few companies developing devices that will meet the standards in the new California legislation.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The bill is meant to help reduce the cost of power for Californians and “eliminates red tape, so that people in California can actually use plug-in solar right now,” bill author and state Sen. Scott Wiener said during an Assembly hearing in June.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Del Chiaro estimated that just one 400-watt solar panel would cover about 14% of a typical renter’s apartment’s annual electricity bill and translate to energy-bill savings of roughly $250 a year. That system would provide enough juice to run a refrigerator, modem and Wi-Fi. A larger, 1,200-watt system would generate enough energy to power a window air conditioning unit, “enabling families, especially in our hotter regions, to afford to cool their home on increasingly hot days,” Del Chiaro said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Dozens of environmental and community groups and a few cities supported the bill. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Plug-in solar advocacy group and nonprofit Bright Saver tentatively celebrated the action. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-11-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1997031\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-11-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-11-KQED-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-11-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-11-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-11-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-11-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-11-KQED-1920x1281.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rupert Mayer monitors the power produced by the newly installed solar panels at Milner’s home in Kensington on May 23, 2025. (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s a clear statement that the biggest state in the union wants this,” said Cora Stryker, the group’s co-founder, although she said she was not happy with an amendment sunsetting the legislation in 2030 and other provisions that could slow down the market for balcony solar. \u003cbr>\u003cbr>“The devil in the details makes it not a home run. It makes it a fight that continues,” she said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Fiscal analysis of the bill estimates implementation will cost the state between $200,000 and $500,000 annually to fund program administrator positions.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If Newsom signs, staff in Wiener’s office estimated that people would be able to buy compatible plug-in solar kits in the spring of 2027.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>From KQED’s Climate desk, “Flipping the Switch” documents California’s transition to clean energy and what it means for you. What works? What doesn’t? How much does it cost? Help us find these answers and more by donating today.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium aligncenter\" style=\"width: 500px;margin: 80px auto 40px\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KQED-membership-your-support-makes-this-work-possible-500x353@2x.png\" alt=\"Your support makes this work possible.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"706\" />\n\nFrom KQED’s Climate desk, “Flipping the Switch” documents California’s transition to clean energy and what it means for you. What works? What doesn’t? How much does it cost? Help us find these answers and more by donating today.\n\n\u003ca href=\"https://donate.kqed.org/sojo?ms=W2510EANXXXX26\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"width: 272px;margin: 40px auto\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KQED-membership-support-kqed-journalism-272x57@2x.png\" alt=\"Button: Support KQED journalism\" width=\"544\" height=\"114\" />\u003c/a>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In as little as a year, lowering your electricity bill could be as simple as \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1997918/forget-rooftops-bay-area-residents-are-plugging-solar-into-the-wall\">buying a kit\u003c/a> with a few solar panels and accessories, completing a quick online registration form, and plugging it into a standard outlet. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In as little as a year, lowering your electricity bill could be as simple as \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1997918/forget-rooftops-bay-area-residents-are-plugging-solar-into-the-wall\">buying a kit\u003c/a> with a few solar panels and accessories, completing a quick online registration form, and plugging it into a standard outlet. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>California lawmakers passed a bill on Wednesday night to formally legalize \u003ca href=\"https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/small-plug-in-solar-panels-gain-traction-as-an-affordable-way-to-cut-electricity-bills\">plug-in\u003c/a>, or balcony, solar: small, portable and relatively inexpensive systems that do not require rewiring or the costly installation fees that often come with rooftop solar.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>The legislation, \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB868\">SB 868\u003c/a>, sailed through the state assembly and senate with bipartisan support. The bill now moves to the governor’s desk for signature.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>California lawmakers passed a bill on Wednesday night to formally legalize \u003ca href=\"https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/small-plug-in-solar-panels-gain-traction-as-an-affordable-way-to-cut-electricity-bills\">plug-in\u003c/a>, or balcony, solar: small, portable and relatively inexpensive systems that do not require rewiring or the costly installation fees that often come with rooftop solar.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>The legislation, \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB868\">SB 868\u003c/a>, sailed through the state assembly and senate with bipartisan support. The bill now moves to the governor’s desk for signature.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The devices can be tented in a backyard, hung off a balcony or placed on a roof. Models range from as low as \u003ca href=\"https://www.brightsaver.org/\">$300\u003c/a> to \u003ca href=\"https://craftstrom.com/\">$2200\u003c/a>, depending on size. The bill would open the solar market to people who were previously left out: renters, people with unsuitable roofs, and those lacking the capital to build out a rooftop system, which can cost in the tens of thousands of dollars. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The devices can be tented in a backyard, hung off a balcony or placed on a roof. Models range from as low as \u003ca href=\"https://www.brightsaver.org/\">$300\u003c/a> to \u003ca href=\"https://craftstrom.com/\">$2200\u003c/a>, depending on size. The bill would open the solar market to people who were previously left out: renters, people with unsuitable roofs, and those lacking the capital to build out a rooftop system, which can cost in the tens of thousands of dollars. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/014_Berkeley_SolarHomeGranholmLee_08202021_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001854\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/014_Berkeley_SolarHomeGranholmLee_08202021_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/014_Berkeley_SolarHomeGranholmLee_08202021_qed-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/014_Berkeley_SolarHomeGranholmLee_08202021_qed-768x511.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/014_Berkeley_SolarHomeGranholmLee_08202021_qed-1536x1022.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Bernadette Del Chiaro, executive director of California Solar & Storage Association, speaks during a press conference with Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm during a visit to a solar-powered Berkeley home on Aug. 20, 2021.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/014_Berkeley_SolarHomeGranholmLee_08202021_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001854\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Bernadette Del Chiaro, executive director of California Solar & Storage Association, speaks during a press conference with Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm during a visit to a solar-powered Berkeley home on Aug. 20, 2021.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“There’s no question SB 868 is the most exciting clean energy and energy affordability bill right now up for consideration in California,” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, senior vice president at the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit that co-sponsored the bill. “You never get to pass a big controversial bill in one year. We’re poised to do that. It is a huge win.”\u003cbr>\u003cbr>A wave of state legislation over the past 18 months is making balcony solar — a nascent technology in the U.S. — within reach of everyday Americans. Utah pioneered a law passed in March 2025, and others quickly followed. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“There’s no question SB 868 is the most exciting clean energy and energy affordability bill right now up for consideration in California,” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, senior vice president at the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit that co-sponsored the bill. “You never get to pass a big controversial bill in one year. We’re poised to do that. It is a huge win.”\u003cbr>\u003cbr>A wave of state legislation over the past 18 months is making balcony solar — a nascent technology in the U.S. — within reach of everyday Americans. Utah pioneered a law passed in March 2025, and others quickly followed. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Eight states now have bills on the books that allow a relatively straightforward process for purchasing and setting up balcony solar systems, including Colorado, Virginia and Maine. Bills in New York and New Jersey are awaiting the governors’ signatures, like California.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Advocates believe California’s market has massive potential. They’re motivated by Germany, where millions of solar panels dot balconies across the country.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Eight states now have bills on the books that allow a relatively straightforward process for purchasing and setting up balcony solar systems, including Colorado, Virginia and Maine. Bills in New York and New Jersey are awaiting the governors’ signatures, like California.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Advocates believe California’s market has massive potential. They’re motivated by Germany, where millions of solar panels dot balconies across the country.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Some of the state’s largest investor-owned utilities, however, opposed the legislation, citing safety and a concern that the systems would shift energy costs to people without solar power. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>PG&E initially said it supported the bill if it were amended, but opposed the final version. Spokesperson Paul Doherty said the utility is concerned that certain safety and certification requirements on some systems would not be enforced until 2030. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>PG&E initially said it supported the bill if it were amended, but opposed the final version. Spokesperson Paul Doherty said the utility is concerned that certain safety and certification requirements on some systems would not be enforced until 2030. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But he said that the company “supports plug-in solar and the opportunities it could create for customers, particularly renters and others who have not had easy access to traditional rooftop solar.” \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>San Diego Gas & Electric also opposed the legislation, citing concerns that even if balcony solar is designed to prevent feeding power back to the grid, systems may malfunction and endanger workers or customers. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>San Diego Gas & Electric also opposed the legislation, citing concerns that even if balcony solar is designed to prevent feeding power back to the grid, systems may malfunction and endanger workers or customers. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Southern California Edison originally opposed the bill but later took a neutral stance after bill authors updated safety standards and how people notify their utility of their systems, spokesperson David Eisenhauer said.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Notably, labor unions representing firefighters and PG&E employees dropped their opposition and took a neutral stance on the bill after lawmakers amended it to explicitly comply with state and national electrical codes. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Southern California Edison originally opposed the bill but later took a neutral stance after bill authors updated safety standards and how people notify their utility of their systems, spokesperson David Eisenhauer said.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Notably, labor unions representing firefighters and PG&E employees dropped their opposition and took a neutral stance on the bill after lawmakers amended it to explicitly comply with state and national electrical codes. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If signed into law by Newsom, the legislation would exempt plug-in solar devices from what critics say is a cumbersome and expensive interconnection application process, and replace registration with a free and straightforward online form. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>If signed into law by Newsom, the legislation would exempt plug-in solar devices from what critics say is a cumbersome and expensive interconnection application process, and replace registration with a free and straightforward online form. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/01/GavinNewsomStateoftheState2026AP.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1999772\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/01/GavinNewsomStateoftheState2026AP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/01/GavinNewsomStateoftheState2026AP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/01/GavinNewsomStateoftheState2026AP-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/01/GavinNewsomStateoftheState2026AP-1536x1027.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during his last State of the State address on Jan. 8, 2026, in Sacramento, California.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Some Californians have already installed plug-in solar panels, but utilities ask them to complete an interconnection agreement, citing \u003ca href=\"https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/Rule21/\">state rules\u003c/a>. If done through PG&E, for example, representatives from the utility said that process would cost roughly $100 to $800 and take about an hour. Typically, the approval comes through in three days, PG&E staff said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Some Californians have already installed plug-in solar panels, but utilities ask them to complete an interconnection agreement, citing \u003ca href=\"https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/Rule21/\">state rules\u003c/a>. If done through PG&E, for example, representatives from the utility said that process would cost roughly $100 to $800 and take about an hour. Typically, the approval comes through in three days, PG&E staff said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>But plug-in solar advocates argued that the interconnection process defeats the plug-and-play nature of the technology, and could double or triple its cost.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Their goal is to make the panels as ubiquitous and easy to install as any off-the-shelf appliance dotting the racks of a Home Depot or Costco. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The newly passed bill outlines several device requirements. The balcony solar systems must be capped at generating 1,200 watts per home, plug into a standard outlet, offset a customer’s onsite electricity use and meet state and national electrical codes. They also must be certified by an outside safety organization like Underwriters Laboratories and have a feature that would prevent electricity from feeding back into the grid if there’s a power outage. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The newly passed bill outlines several device requirements. The balcony solar systems must be capped at generating 1,200 watts per home, plug into a standard outlet, offset a customer’s onsite electricity use and meet state and national electrical codes. They also must be certified by an outside safety organization like Underwriters Laboratories and have a feature that would prevent electricity from feeding back into the grid if there’s a power outage. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/06/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-12_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001208\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/06/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-12_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/06/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-12_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/06/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-12_qed-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/06/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-12_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rupert Mayer installs power inverters on the solar panels at Matthew Milner’s home in Kensington on May 23, 2025.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/06/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-12_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001208\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rupert Mayer installs power inverters on the solar panels at Matthew Milner’s home in Kensington on May 23, 2025.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Current plug-in solar models do not yet meet the outlined requirements, and customers therefore must still register their systems as though they are rooftop solar. Del Chiaro said there are already a few companies developing devices that will meet the standards in the new California legislation.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Current plug-in solar models do not yet meet the outlined requirements, and customers therefore must still register their systems as though they are rooftop solar. Del Chiaro said there are already a few companies developing devices that will meet the standards in the new California legislation.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The bill is meant to help reduce the cost of power for Californians and “eliminates red tape, so that people in California can actually use plug-in solar right now,” bill author and state Sen. Scott Wiener said during an Assembly hearing in June.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The bill is meant to help reduce the cost of power for Californians and “eliminates red tape, so that people in California can actually use plug-in solar right now,” bill author and state Sen. Scott Wiener said during an Assembly hearing in June.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Del Chiaro estimated that just one 400-watt solar panel would cover about 14% of a typical renter’s apartment’s annual electricity bill and translate to energy-bill savings of roughly $250 a year. That system would provide enough juice to run a refrigerator, modem and Wi-Fi. A larger, 1,200-watt system would generate enough energy to power a window air conditioning unit, “enabling families, especially in our hotter regions, to afford to cool their home on increasingly hot days,” Del Chiaro said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Del Chiaro estimated that just one 400-watt solar panel would cover about 14% of a typical renter’s apartment’s annual electricity bill and translate to energy-bill savings of roughly $250 a year. That system would provide enough juice to run a refrigerator, modem and Wi-Fi. A larger, 1,200-watt system would generate enough energy to power a window air conditioning unit, “enabling families, especially in our hotter regions, to afford to cool their home on increasingly hot days,” Del Chiaro said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Dozens of environmental and community groups and a few cities supported the bill. \u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Plug-in solar advocacy group and nonprofit Bright Saver tentatively celebrated the action. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-11-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1997031\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rupert Mayer monitors the power produced by the newly installed solar panels at Milner’s home in Kensington on May 23, 2025.\u003ccite class=\"wp-inline-image-credit\"> (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It’s a clear statement that the biggest state in the union wants this,” said Cora Stryker, the group’s co-founder, although she said she was not happy with an amendment sunsetting the legislation in 2030 and other provisions that could slow down the market for balcony solar. \u003cbr>\u003cbr>“The devil in the details makes it not a home run. It makes it a fight that continues,” she said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“It’s a clear statement that the biggest state in the union wants this,” said Cora Stryker, the group’s co-founder, although she said she was not happy with an amendment sunsetting the legislation in 2030 and other provisions that could slow down the market for balcony solar. \u003cbr>\u003cbr>“The devil in the details makes it not a home run. It makes it a fight that continues,” she said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Fiscal analysis of the bill estimates implementation will cost the state between $200,000 and $500,000 annually to fund program administrator positions.\u003c/p>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>If Newsom signs, staff in Wiener’s office estimated that people would be able to buy compatible plug-in solar kits in the spring of 2027.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>If Newsom signs, staff in Wiener’s office estimated that people would be able to buy compatible plug-in solar kits in the spring of 2027.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>From KQED’s Climate desk, “Flipping the Switch” documents California’s transition to clean energy and what it means for you. What works? What doesn’t? How much does it cost? Help us find these answers and more by donating today.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>From KQED’s Climate desk, “Flipping the Switch” documents California’s transition to clean energy and what it means for you. What works? What doesn’t? How much does it cost? Help us find these answers and more by donating today.\u003c/p>\n"
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"excerpt": "Legislation to make it easy for Californians to install plug-in solar panels is headed to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk.",
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"title": "California Lawmakers Greenlight Solar Panels You Can Plug Into the Wall | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>California is transitioning to clean energy. KQED is reporting on what that means for you. What works? What doesn’t? How much does it cost? Help us find these answers and more by \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"http://donate.kqed.org/sojo?ms=W2510EANXXXX22\">\u003cem>donating today\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In as little as a year, lowering your electricity bill could be as simple as \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1997918/forget-rooftops-bay-area-residents-are-plugging-solar-into-the-wall\">buying a kit\u003c/a> with a few solar panels and accessories, completing a quick online registration form, and plugging it into a standard outlet. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>California lawmakers passed a bill on Wednesday night to formally legalize \u003ca href=\"https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/small-plug-in-solar-panels-gain-traction-as-an-affordable-way-to-cut-electricity-bills\">plug-in\u003c/a>, or balcony, solar: small, portable and relatively inexpensive systems that do not require rewiring or the costly installation fees that often come with rooftop solar.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>The legislation, \u003ca href=\"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB868\">SB 868\u003c/a>, sailed through the state assembly and senate with bipartisan support. The bill now moves to the governor’s desk for signature.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The devices can be tented in a backyard, hung off a balcony or placed on a roof. Models range from as low as \u003ca href=\"https://www.brightsaver.org/\">$300\u003c/a> to \u003ca href=\"https://craftstrom.com/\">$2200\u003c/a>, depending on size. The bill would open the solar market to people who were previously left out: renters, people with unsuitable roofs, and those lacking the capital to build out a rooftop system, which can cost in the tens of thousands of dollars. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1331\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/014_Berkeley_SolarHomeGranholmLee_08202021_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001854\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/014_Berkeley_SolarHomeGranholmLee_08202021_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/014_Berkeley_SolarHomeGranholmLee_08202021_qed-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/014_Berkeley_SolarHomeGranholmLee_08202021_qed-768x511.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/014_Berkeley_SolarHomeGranholmLee_08202021_qed-1536x1022.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Bernadette Del Chiaro, executive director of California Solar & Storage Association, speaks during a press conference with Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm during a visit to a solar-powered Berkeley home on Aug. 20, 2021. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“There’s no question SB 868 is the most exciting clean energy and energy affordability bill right now up for consideration in California,” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, senior vice president at the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit that co-sponsored the bill. “You never get to pass a big controversial bill in one year. We’re poised to do that. It is a huge win.”\u003cbr>\u003cbr>A wave of state legislation over the past 18 months is making balcony solar — a nascent technology in the U.S. — within reach of everyday Americans. Utah pioneered a law passed in March 2025, and others quickly followed. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Eight states now have bills on the books that allow a relatively straightforward process for purchasing and setting up balcony solar systems, including Colorado, Virginia and Maine. Bills in New York and New Jersey are awaiting the governors’ signatures, like California.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Advocates believe California’s market has massive potential. They’re motivated by Germany, where millions of solar panels dot balconies across the country.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some of the state’s largest investor-owned utilities, however, opposed the legislation, citing safety and a concern that the systems would shift energy costs to people without solar power. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>PG&E initially said it supported the bill if it were amended, but opposed the final version. Spokesperson Paul Doherty said the utility is concerned that certain safety and certification requirements on some systems would not be enforced until 2030. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But he said that the company “supports plug-in solar and the opportunities it could create for customers, particularly renters and others who have not had easy access to traditional rooftop solar.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>San Diego Gas & Electric also opposed the legislation, citing concerns that even if balcony solar is designed to prevent feeding power back to the grid, systems may malfunction and endanger workers or customers. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Southern California Edison originally opposed the bill but later took a neutral stance after bill authors updated safety standards and how people notify their utility of their systems, spokesperson David Eisenhauer said.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Notably, labor unions representing firefighters and PG&E employees dropped their opposition and took a neutral stance on the bill after lawmakers amended it to explicitly comply with state and national electrical codes. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If signed into law by Newsom, the legislation would exempt plug-in solar devices from what critics say is a cumbersome and expensive interconnection application process, and replace registration with a free and straightforward online form. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1337\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/01/GavinNewsomStateoftheState2026AP.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1999772\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/01/GavinNewsomStateoftheState2026AP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/01/GavinNewsomStateoftheState2026AP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/01/GavinNewsomStateoftheState2026AP-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/01/GavinNewsomStateoftheState2026AP-1536x1027.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during his last State of the State address on Jan. 8, 2026, in Sacramento, California. (Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP Photo)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Some Californians have already installed plug-in solar panels, but utilities ask them to complete an interconnection agreement, citing \u003ca href=\"https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/Rule21/\">state rules\u003c/a>. If done through PG&E, for example, representatives from the utility said that process would cost roughly $100 to $800 and take about an hour. Typically, the approval comes through in three days, PG&E staff said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>But plug-in solar advocates argued that the interconnection process defeats the plug-and-play nature of the technology, and could double or triple its cost.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Their goal is to make the panels as ubiquitous and easy to install as any off-the-shelf appliance dotting the racks of a Home Depot or Costco. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The newly passed bill outlines several device requirements. The balcony solar systems must be capped at generating 1,200 watts per home, plug into a standard outlet, offset a customer’s onsite electricity use and meet state and national electrical codes. They also must be certified by an outside safety organization like Underwriters Laboratories and have a feature that would prevent electricity from feeding back into the grid if there’s a power outage. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/06/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-12_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001208\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/06/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-12_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/06/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-12_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/06/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-12_qed-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/06/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-12_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rupert Mayer installs power inverters on the solar panels at Matthew Milner’s home in Kensington on May 23, 2025. (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Current plug-in solar models do not yet meet the outlined requirements, and customers therefore must still register their systems as though they are rooftop solar. Del Chiaro said there are already a few companies developing devices that will meet the standards in the new California legislation.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The bill is meant to help reduce the cost of power for Californians and “eliminates red tape, so that people in California can actually use plug-in solar right now,” bill author and state Sen. Scott Wiener said during an Assembly hearing in June.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Del Chiaro estimated that just one 400-watt solar panel would cover about 14% of a typical renter’s apartment’s annual electricity bill and translate to energy-bill savings of roughly $250 a year. That system would provide enough juice to run a refrigerator, modem and Wi-Fi. A larger, 1,200-watt system would generate enough energy to power a window air conditioning unit, “enabling families, especially in our hotter regions, to afford to cool their home on increasingly hot days,” Del Chiaro said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Dozens of environmental and community groups and a few cities supported the bill. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Plug-in solar advocacy group and nonprofit Bright Saver tentatively celebrated the action. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-11-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1997031\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-11-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-11-KQED-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-11-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-11-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-11-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-11-KQED-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/05/250523-SOLAR-BALCONY-MD-11-KQED-1920x1281.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rupert Mayer monitors the power produced by the newly installed solar panels at Milner’s home in Kensington on May 23, 2025. (Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It’s a clear statement that the biggest state in the union wants this,” said Cora Stryker, the group’s co-founder, although she said she was not happy with an amendment sunsetting the legislation in 2030 and other provisions that could slow down the market for balcony solar. \u003cbr>\u003cbr>“The devil in the details makes it not a home run. It makes it a fight that continues,” she said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Fiscal analysis of the bill estimates implementation will cost the state between $200,000 and $500,000 annually to fund program administrator positions.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>If Newsom signs, staff in Wiener’s office estimated that people would be able to buy compatible plug-in solar kits in the spring of 2027.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>From KQED’s Climate desk, “Flipping the Switch” documents California’s transition to clean energy and what it means for you. What works? What doesn’t? How much does it cost? Help us find these answers and more by donating today.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium aligncenter\" style=\"width: 500px;margin: 80px auto 40px\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KQED-membership-your-support-makes-this-work-possible-500x353@2x.png\" alt=\"Your support makes this work possible.\" width=\"1000\" height=\"706\" />\n\nFrom KQED’s Climate desk, “Flipping the Switch” documents California’s transition to clean energy and what it means for you. What works? What doesn’t? How much does it cost? Help us find these answers and more by donating today.\n\n\u003ca href=\"https://donate.kqed.org/sojo?ms=W2510EANXXXX26\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"width: 272px;margin: 40px auto\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/KQED-membership-support-kqed-journalism-272x57@2x.png\" alt=\"Button: Support KQED journalism\" width=\"544\" height=\"114\" />\u003c/a>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "strong-el-nino-may-bring-record-sea-level-and-coastal-flooding-to-bay-area",
"title": "Strong El Niño May Bring Record Sea Level and Coastal Flooding to Bay Area",
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"headTitle": "Strong El Niño May Bring Record Sea Level and Coastal Flooding to Bay Area | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>Derek Bentley’s San Rafael karate studio \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1999871/after-king-tides-swamp-marin-san-rafael-weighs-billion-dollar-defenses-against-the-bay\">flooded\u003c/a> in January, when a heavy storm hit during one of the highest tides of the year.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Several inches of water rose from under the foundation and filled the building from the inside, soaking the karate mats so thoroughly that they squirted water when Bentley stepped across them.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We were closed for about a week after the flood,” Bentley said. “Then we opened, but we used air dryers and some of the mats were still wet, and we had no carpet for a couple months.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Now he fears a bout of déjà vu could be in his future if very strong \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12087122/el-nino-is-here-heres-what-it-could-mean-for-the-bay-area-this-winter\">El Niño\u003c/a> conditions steer strong storms toward the Bay Area and once again flood his dojo.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260721-ELNINOWORST-NG-77-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001559\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260721-ELNINOWORST-NG-77-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260721-ELNINOWORST-NG-77-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260721-ELNINOWORST-NG-77-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260721-ELNINOWORST-NG-77-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kristina Hill, professor of landscape architecture and environmental planning and urban design at UC Berkeley, looks out at the South Richmond Marshes in Richmond on July 21, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“My fear is we will lose this place because it’ll just be too much water,” Bentley said. He runs Taylor’s House of Karate a few yards away from a marina on San Rafael Creek in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12068644/marin-county-looked-like-a-lagoon-after-king-tides-heavy-rain\">Marin County\u003c/a>. “I’ve never seen us beat water around here.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California is no stranger to the impacts of periodic warming of water in the tropical Pacific. These conditions, what researchers call El Niño, have been associated with some of California’s most powerful and punishing storms. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For many months, weather experts have warned of what could be one of the strongest El Niño events on record. Federal scientists \u003ca href=\"https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/ensodisc.shtml\">forecast \u003c/a>a greater than 90% % chance of a very strong El Niño this fall and winter. The forecast raises the possibility of a worst-case flooding scenario that Bay Area officials and climate scientists have long been concerned about — in part because warm water expands, raising sea levels.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In terms of emergency planning, you can think of it as the coastal flooding equivalent of “the Big One”, when the highest tides, biggest storms and largest waves all coincide on top of the elevated sea levels. That superimposition is possible in any given year, but warm water from El Niño will temporarily elevate sea levels this year.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260807-El-Nino-Worst-01-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001619\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260807-El-Nino-Worst-01-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260807-El-Nino-Worst-01-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260807-El-Nino-Worst-01-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260807-El-Nino-Worst-01-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Water floods the Embarcadero in San Francisco on March 17, 2026. (Courtesy of The Exploratorium)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re expecting likely the highest sea levels ever recorded on the California coast,” said Mark Merrifield, director of the Scripps Center for Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation, in a recent \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmmXUkRp6-g\">virtual town hall\u003c/a> focused on El Niño. “As a sort of unlucky coincidence, the tidal cycle is also gonna be at a peak around the end of this year.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>El Niño forms when tropical trade winds weaken or reverse, allowing warm ocean water near Asia to slosh toward the Pacific Coast. That warming can reshape the jet stream and bring stormier weather while \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2001047/scientists-worry-el-nino-could-supercharge-marine-heat-wave-roiling-coastal-california\">disrupting the ocean’s nutrient-rich upwelling\u003c/a>, heating coastal waters, raising sea levels and stressing marine life.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While El Niño is a natural cycle, human-caused climate change is \u003ca href=\"https://science.nasa.gov/earth/explore/the-ocean-and-climate-change/\">warming oceans\u003c/a>, with large-scale ramifications, including long-term changes in weather and rising seas. This monthslong window into higher tides offers a glimpse of the Bay Area’s climate-altered future.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“El Niño is a good opportunity to see where our vulnerabilities are throughout the state,” Merrifield said. “It also is a sobering look at what we could expect with climate change.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">‘The worst coastal flooding on record’\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Melissa Lunden, a climate scientist-in-residence at the Exploratorium in San Francisco, is building an exhibit at Pier 15 that features a chart showing how the bay’s water level has risen since 1890. Every few years there’s a really large spike. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“During El Niño years the water levels are often higher,” Lunden said. Not every El Niño results in higher-than-average water levels. “But overall, the trend is increasing over the decades.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The temporary rise researchers anticipate this year may come from several forces stacking together. First, the water levels in San Francisco Bay have risen about 8 inches \u003ca href=\"https://url.us.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/0yfSCjRnyNIDGV2niWfAjhmEaue?domain=tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov\">since the 1890s\u003c/a>. State scientists project another foot or more by 2050.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1069\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/FS_F.02.01_SeaLevelCylinder_v12-scaled.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001620\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/FS_F.02.01_SeaLevelCylinder_v12-scaled.png 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/FS_F.02.01_SeaLevelCylinder_v12-2000x835.png 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/FS_F.02.01_SeaLevelCylinder_v12-160x67.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/FS_F.02.01_SeaLevelCylinder_v12-768x321.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/FS_F.02.01_SeaLevelCylinder_v12-1536x641.png 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/FS_F.02.01_SeaLevelCylinder_v12-2048x855.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sea levels have risen by around 8 inches since the 1800s in the Bay Area, but scientists expect human-caused climate change to raise them by as much as 6 feet by the end of the century. This graph showcases monthly tide levels over time, and the peaks often represent El Niño events. (Courtesy of The Exploratorium)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Second, warm water piling up in the Pacific expands, raising sea levels by several inches. As that water slowly sloshes east, it eventually smacks into South America and forces “local ocean water to push against the coast instead of flowing westward,” flattening out into the Pacific, said Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with UC Agriculture and Natural Resources. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>These Kelvin waves are the delivery system for warm water associated with El Niño, and Swain said this process can cause up to 9 inches or more of additional temporary sea level rise along the coast and San Francisco Bay over days or weeks. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That rise will be “felt all the way inland into the Delta and Stockton,” Swain said. This El Niño “now appears to be most likely to become the singularly strongest on record and so I think there’s a decent chance we actually break historical records.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Add natural king tides, which will be among the highest on record in December, changes in pressure, storm surge and back-to-back storms, and some places could experience as much as 5-to-6 feet of temporary inundation above historical high tide levels, Swain said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We could get all of those stacked at once,” Swain said, noting that flooding could occur even if only a few of the potential impacts occur in tandem. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This short-term flooding “could be comparable to, or greater than, the worst coastal flooding on record in the San Francisco Bay region,” Swain said. “I foresee this being a major problem for the Bay Area this year.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The high water anomaly has already begun. The tide gauge near the Golden Gate Bridge is running about \u003ca href=\"https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/waterlevels.html?id=9414290\">6 inches higher\u003c/a> than where it typically is for this time of year, “and that’s partially because of El Niño,” said Sean Vitousek, a research oceanographer at the U.S. Geological Survey.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Water levels are here to stay,” Vitousek said. “They will probably get larger in the winter as El Niño ramps up and we get more storm surge, waves and atmospheric pressure effects.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">‘Do the prep work’\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In preparation, the California Department of Water Resources is staging more than 200 shipping containers filled with flood-response supplies across the state. Officials have stockpiled 4.3 million sandbags, 55,000 super sacks that can be filled with rocks or sand, and 400,000 tons of rock for emergencies such as levee repairs.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We preposition materials around the state to make it faster to have them deployed,” said Michael Anderson, the state climatologist. The department is also working with the Army Corps of Engineers to have pumps ready and has partnered with NOAA and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography on a \u003ca href=\"https://cw3e.ucsd.edu/aqpi/\">system of radar units\u003c/a> to help detect hazardous weather events. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260724-ELNINOWORST-NG-57-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001571\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260724-ELNINOWORST-NG-57-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260724-ELNINOWORST-NG-57-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260724-ELNINOWORST-NG-57-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260724-ELNINOWORST-NG-57-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A tide gauge in between Piers 15 and 17 next to the Exploratorium in San Francisco on July 24, 2026. The water level reached around 8 feet in January 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“That can really help communities know where the heavy rains are coming,” Anderson said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Around the Bay Area, cities are also gearing up ahead of the year’s highest tides, which fall right around Thanksgiving and Christmas. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>San Rafael, where high tides already flood streets and pumps weren’t designed for saltwater, is coordinating with critical agencies to improve communication so that roads can be closed quickly when it floods. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“That unfortunately doesn’t reduce the risk that those roads flood or those facilities are impacted,” said Kate Hagemann, a climate adaptation resilience planner with San Rafael.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Parts of Alameda, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2000377/for-this-bay-area-island-city-water-is-coming-from-all-sides\">a low-lying island city\u003c/a> with a shallow water table, often floods during high tides and storms. The city is preparing barricades and sandbags, readying pumps and clearing storm drains.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We have a vacuum truck that’s able to quickly dislodge material that may prevent stormwater from flowing,” said Erin Smith, public works director for the City of Alameda. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260724-ELNINOWORST-NG-39-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001569\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260724-ELNINOWORST-NG-39-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260724-ELNINOWORST-NG-39-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260724-ELNINOWORST-NG-39-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260724-ELNINOWORST-NG-39-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Piers 15 and 17 in San Francisco on July 24, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1997729/oysters-snails-and-a-wall-that-protects-against-climate-change-one-tile-at-a-time\">Port of San Francisco\u003c/a> is taking similar steps: clearing drains, planning traffic detours and staging pumps.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“King tides and these El Niño events are a glimpse into the future,” said Brad Benson, waterfront resilience program director for the Port. “In some of these areas, we have very important assets for the functioning of the city.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One of Benson’s biggest concerns is the low-lying Muni tunnel entrance near the Ferry Building. About 60% of the city’s light rail fleet passes through it each night to reach the maintenance yard, making it critical to protect.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Californians can sign up for emergency alerts and create disaster plans by visiting the state’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.listoscalifornia.org/\">Ready California\u003c/a> site. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Do the prep work,” said Nate Ortiz, assistant director for planning and preparedness with the California Office of Emergency Services. He suggested creating a go bag with documents, cash, food, water, medication and clothing. “Even if you can just get it started and incrementally build that out, it’s a great way to be a bit more prepared\u003cem>.\u003c/em>”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">‘We’ve been trying to fill the cracks in the bathtub’\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The dangerous conditions may expose the weaknesses in flood protections across Bay Area cities, said Kristina Hill, a professor in the College of Environmental Design at UC Berkeley who studies \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101912604/as-sea-levels-rise-what-will-it-take-to-protect-the-bay-area-from-flooding\">sea level rise\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Many cities, including San Francisco, have treated their waterfronts like “a medieval town with a wall around them,” Hill said. Others, like San Rafael, have a patchwork of private levees. This winter will likely put those barriers to the test.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’ve been trying to fill the cracks in the bathtub by putting out little informal levees, and then occasionally a very big project like the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12018103/king-tides-foreshadow-far-wetter-future-sf-shoreline\">San Francisco seawall\u003c/a>,” Hill said. “We may see some of those informal things fail in surprising and important ways.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260721-ELNINOWORST-NG-221-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001566\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260721-ELNINOWORST-NG-221-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260721-ELNINOWORST-NG-221-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260721-ELNINOWORST-NG-221-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260721-ELNINOWORST-NG-221-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kristina Hill, professor of Landscape Architecture & Environmental Planning and Urban Design at UC Berkeley, poses for a photo at the San Rafael Yacht Harbor in San Rafael on July 21, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Depending on the level of flooding, Hill said, it could show the region that it’s time “to do business differently” by building with more imagination and constructing buildings that are ready for higher seas. She dreams of floating buildings along the bay, like the Ferry Building, or entire blocks of housing as a way to live on the water. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The things we’ve done in the past to prevent coastal flooding won’t work when that water doesn’t go back down again,” Hill said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Bentley said that future — where the water doesn’t recede and daily tides inundate shorelines — is something he worries about at the dojo in San Rafael. From inside his practice, Bentley has a front-row view of the boats in the marina as they move up and down with the tide. He can tell when the water is rising. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It was kind of crazy to drive in here and see the boats above you,” Bentley said. “Over the last three years I’ve noticed the boats are getting higher and higher and higher.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And every time it rains, Bentley remembers the memory of the January flood that nearly shut down his practice.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“As someone who has lived and worked near water, I’ve only seen flooding get worse,” Bentley said. “We should just start preparing for it versus crossing our fingers.”\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Derek Bentley’s San Rafael karate studio \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1999871/after-king-tides-swamp-marin-san-rafael-weighs-billion-dollar-defenses-against-the-bay\">flooded\u003c/a> in January, when a heavy storm hit during one of the highest tides of the year.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Derek Bentley’s San Rafael karate studio \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1999871/after-king-tides-swamp-marin-san-rafael-weighs-billion-dollar-defenses-against-the-bay\">flooded\u003c/a> in January, when a heavy storm hit during one of the highest tides of the year.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Several inches of water rose from under the foundation and filled the building from the inside, soaking the karate mats so thoroughly that they squirted water when Bentley stepped across them.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Several inches of water rose from under the foundation and filled the building from the inside, soaking the karate mats so thoroughly that they squirted water when Bentley stepped across them.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We were closed for about a week after the flood,” Bentley said. “Then we opened, but we used air dryers and some of the mats were still wet, and we had no carpet for a couple months.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“We were closed for about a week after the flood,” Bentley said. “Then we opened, but we used air dryers and some of the mats were still wet, and we had no carpet for a couple months.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Now he fears a bout of déjà vu could be in his future if very strong \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12087122/el-nino-is-here-heres-what-it-could-mean-for-the-bay-area-this-winter\">El Niño\u003c/a> conditions steer strong storms toward the Bay Area and once again flood his dojo.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Now he fears a bout of déjà vu could be in his future if very strong \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12087122/el-nino-is-here-heres-what-it-could-mean-for-the-bay-area-this-winter\">El Niño\u003c/a> conditions steer strong storms toward the Bay Area and once again flood his dojo.\u003c/p>\n"
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"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260721-ELNINOWORST-NG-77-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260721-ELNINOWORST-NG-77-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260721-ELNINOWORST-NG-77-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260721-ELNINOWORST-NG-77-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260721-ELNINOWORST-NG-77-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001559\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260721-ELNINOWORST-NG-77-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260721-ELNINOWORST-NG-77-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260721-ELNINOWORST-NG-77-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260721-ELNINOWORST-NG-77-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kristina Hill, professor of landscape architecture and environmental planning and urban design at UC Berkeley, looks out at the South Richmond Marshes in Richmond on July 21, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260721-ELNINOWORST-NG-77-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001559\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kristina Hill, professor of landscape architecture and environmental planning and urban design at UC Berkeley, looks out at the South Richmond Marshes in Richmond on July 21, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“My fear is we will lose this place because it’ll just be too much water,” Bentley said. He runs Taylor’s House of Karate a few yards away from a marina on San Rafael Creek in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12068644/marin-county-looked-like-a-lagoon-after-king-tides-heavy-rain\">Marin County\u003c/a>. “I’ve never seen us beat water around here.” \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“My fear is we will lose this place because it’ll just be too much water,” Bentley said. He runs Taylor’s House of Karate a few yards away from a marina on San Rafael Creek in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12068644/marin-county-looked-like-a-lagoon-after-king-tides-heavy-rain\">Marin County\u003c/a>. “I’ve never seen us beat water around here.” \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>California is no stranger to the impacts of periodic warming of water in the tropical Pacific. These conditions, what researchers call El Niño, have been associated with some of California’s most powerful and punishing storms. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>California is no stranger to the impacts of periodic warming of water in the tropical Pacific. These conditions, what researchers call El Niño, have been associated with some of California’s most powerful and punishing storms. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>For many months, weather experts have warned of what could be one of the strongest El Niño events on record. Federal scientists \u003ca href=\"https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/ensodisc.shtml\">forecast \u003c/a>a greater than 90% % chance of a very strong El Niño this fall and winter. The forecast raises the possibility of a worst-case flooding scenario that Bay Area officials and climate scientists have long been concerned about — in part because warm water expands, raising sea levels.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>For many months, weather experts have warned of what could be one of the strongest El Niño events on record. Federal scientists \u003ca href=\"https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/ensodisc.shtml\">forecast \u003c/a>a greater than 90% % chance of a very strong El Niño this fall and winter. The forecast raises the possibility of a worst-case flooding scenario that Bay Area officials and climate scientists have long been concerned about — in part because warm water expands, raising sea levels.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In terms of emergency planning, you can think of it as the coastal flooding equivalent of “the Big One”, when the highest tides, biggest storms and largest waves all coincide on top of the elevated sea levels. That superimposition is possible in any given year, but warm water from El Niño will temporarily elevate sea levels this year.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>In terms of emergency planning, you can think of it as the coastal flooding equivalent of “the Big One”, when the highest tides, biggest storms and largest waves all coincide on top of the elevated sea levels. That superimposition is possible in any given year, but warm water from El Niño will temporarily elevate sea levels this year.\u003c/p>\n"
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"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260807-El-Nino-Worst-01-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260807-El-Nino-Worst-01-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260807-El-Nino-Worst-01-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260807-El-Nino-Worst-01-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260807-El-Nino-Worst-01-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001619\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260807-El-Nino-Worst-01-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260807-El-Nino-Worst-01-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260807-El-Nino-Worst-01-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260807-El-Nino-Worst-01-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Water floods the Embarcadero in San Francisco on March 17, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260807-El-Nino-Worst-01-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001619\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Water floods the Embarcadero in San Francisco on March 17, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We’re expecting likely the highest sea levels ever recorded on the California coast,” said Mark Merrifield, director of the Scripps Center for Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation, in a recent \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmmXUkRp6-g\">virtual town hall\u003c/a> focused on El Niño. “As a sort of unlucky coincidence, the tidal cycle is also gonna be at a peak around the end of this year.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“We’re expecting likely the highest sea levels ever recorded on the California coast,” said Mark Merrifield, director of the Scripps Center for Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation, in a recent \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmmXUkRp6-g\">virtual town hall\u003c/a> focused on El Niño. “As a sort of unlucky coincidence, the tidal cycle is also gonna be at a peak around the end of this year.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>El Niño forms when tropical trade winds weaken or reverse, allowing warm ocean water near Asia to slosh toward the Pacific Coast. That warming can reshape the jet stream and bring stormier weather while \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2001047/scientists-worry-el-nino-could-supercharge-marine-heat-wave-roiling-coastal-california\">disrupting the ocean’s nutrient-rich upwelling\u003c/a>, heating coastal waters, raising sea levels and stressing marine life.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>El Niño forms when tropical trade winds weaken or reverse, allowing warm ocean water near Asia to slosh toward the Pacific Coast. That warming can reshape the jet stream and bring stormier weather while \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2001047/scientists-worry-el-nino-could-supercharge-marine-heat-wave-roiling-coastal-california\">disrupting the ocean’s nutrient-rich upwelling\u003c/a>, heating coastal waters, raising sea levels and stressing marine life.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
"attrs": [],
"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>While El Niño is a natural cycle, human-caused climate change is \u003ca href=\"https://science.nasa.gov/earth/explore/the-ocean-and-climate-change/\">warming oceans\u003c/a>, with large-scale ramifications, including long-term changes in weather and rising seas. This monthslong window into higher tides offers a glimpse of the Bay Area’s climate-altered future.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>While El Niño is a natural cycle, human-caused climate change is \u003ca href=\"https://science.nasa.gov/earth/explore/the-ocean-and-climate-change/\">warming oceans\u003c/a>, with large-scale ramifications, including long-term changes in weather and rising seas. This monthslong window into higher tides offers a glimpse of the Bay Area’s climate-altered future.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“El Niño is a good opportunity to see where our vulnerabilities are throughout the state,” Merrifield said. “It also is a sobering look at what we could expect with climate change.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“El Niño is a good opportunity to see where our vulnerabilities are throughout the state,” Merrifield said. “It also is a sobering look at what we could expect with climate change.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"attrs": {
"text": "‘The worst coastal flooding on record’",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">‘The worst coastal flooding on record’\u003c/h2>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">‘The worst coastal flooding on record’\u003c/h2>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Melissa Lunden, a climate scientist-in-residence at the Exploratorium in San Francisco, is building an exhibit at Pier 15 that features a chart showing how the bay’s water level has risen since 1890. Every few years there’s a really large spike. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Melissa Lunden, a climate scientist-in-residence at the Exploratorium in San Francisco, is building an exhibit at Pier 15 that features a chart showing how the bay’s water level has risen since 1890. Every few years there’s a really large spike. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“During El Niño years the water levels are often higher,” Lunden said. Not every El Niño results in higher-than-average water levels. “But overall, the trend is increasing over the decades.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“During El Niño years the water levels are often higher,” Lunden said. Not every El Niño results in higher-than-average water levels. “But overall, the trend is increasing over the decades.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The temporary rise researchers anticipate this year may come from several forces stacking together. First, the water levels in San Francisco Bay have risen about 8 inches \u003ca href=\"https://url.us.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/0yfSCjRnyNIDGV2niWfAjhmEaue?domain=tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov\">since the 1890s\u003c/a>. State scientists project another foot or more by 2050.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>The temporary rise researchers anticipate this year may come from several forces stacking together. First, the water levels in San Francisco Bay have risen about 8 inches \u003ca href=\"https://url.us.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/0yfSCjRnyNIDGV2niWfAjhmEaue?domain=tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov\">since the 1890s\u003c/a>. State scientists project another foot or more by 2050.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/FS_F.02.01_SeaLevelCylinder_v12-scaled.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001620\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/FS_F.02.01_SeaLevelCylinder_v12-scaled.png 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/FS_F.02.01_SeaLevelCylinder_v12-2000x835.png 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/FS_F.02.01_SeaLevelCylinder_v12-160x67.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/FS_F.02.01_SeaLevelCylinder_v12-768x321.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/FS_F.02.01_SeaLevelCylinder_v12-1536x641.png 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/FS_F.02.01_SeaLevelCylinder_v12-2048x855.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sea levels have risen by around 8 inches since the 1800s in the Bay Area, but scientists expect human-caused climate change to raise them by as much as 6 feet by the end of the century. This graph showcases monthly tide levels over time, and the peaks often represent El Niño events.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/FS_F.02.01_SeaLevelCylinder_v12-scaled.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001620\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sea levels have risen by around 8 inches since the 1800s in the Bay Area, but scientists expect human-caused climate change to raise them by as much as 6 feet by the end of the century. This graph showcases monthly tide levels over time, and the peaks often represent El Niño events.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Second, warm water piling up in the Pacific expands, raising sea levels by several inches. As that water slowly sloshes east, it eventually smacks into South America and forces “local ocean water to push against the coast instead of flowing westward,” flattening out into the Pacific, said Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with UC Agriculture and Natural Resources. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Second, warm water piling up in the Pacific expands, raising sea levels by several inches. As that water slowly sloshes east, it eventually smacks into South America and forces “local ocean water to push against the coast instead of flowing westward,” flattening out into the Pacific, said Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with UC Agriculture and Natural Resources. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>These Kelvin waves are the delivery system for warm water associated with El Niño, and Swain said this process can cause up to 9 inches or more of additional temporary sea level rise along the coast and San Francisco Bay over days or weeks. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>These Kelvin waves are the delivery system for warm water associated with El Niño, and Swain said this process can cause up to 9 inches or more of additional temporary sea level rise along the coast and San Francisco Bay over days or weeks. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>That rise will be “felt all the way inland into the Delta and Stockton,” Swain said. This El Niño “now appears to be most likely to become the singularly strongest on record and so I think there’s a decent chance we actually break historical records.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>That rise will be “felt all the way inland into the Delta and Stockton,” Swain said. This El Niño “now appears to be most likely to become the singularly strongest on record and so I think there’s a decent chance we actually break historical records.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Add natural king tides, which will be among the highest on record in December, changes in pressure, storm surge and back-to-back storms, and some places could experience as much as 5-to-6 feet of temporary inundation above historical high tide levels, Swain said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Add natural king tides, which will be among the highest on record in December, changes in pressure, storm surge and back-to-back storms, and some places could experience as much as 5-to-6 feet of temporary inundation above historical high tide levels, Swain said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We could get all of those stacked at once,” Swain said, noting that flooding could occur even if only a few of the potential impacts occur in tandem. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“We could get all of those stacked at once,” Swain said, noting that flooding could occur even if only a few of the potential impacts occur in tandem. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>This short-term flooding “could be comparable to, or greater than, the worst coastal flooding on record in the San Francisco Bay region,” Swain said. “I foresee this being a major problem for the Bay Area this year.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>This short-term flooding “could be comparable to, or greater than, the worst coastal flooding on record in the San Francisco Bay region,” Swain said. “I foresee this being a major problem for the Bay Area this year.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The high water anomaly has already begun. The tide gauge near the Golden Gate Bridge is running about \u003ca href=\"https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/waterlevels.html?id=9414290\">6 inches higher\u003c/a> than where it typically is for this time of year, “and that’s partially because of El Niño,” said Sean Vitousek, a research oceanographer at the U.S. Geological Survey.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The high water anomaly has already begun. The tide gauge near the Golden Gate Bridge is running about \u003ca href=\"https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/waterlevels.html?id=9414290\">6 inches higher\u003c/a> than where it typically is for this time of year, “and that’s partially because of El Niño,” said Sean Vitousek, a research oceanographer at the U.S. Geological Survey.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Water levels are here to stay,” Vitousek said. “They will probably get larger in the winter as El Niño ramps up and we get more storm surge, waves and atmospheric pressure effects.”\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“Water levels are here to stay,” Vitousek said. “They will probably get larger in the winter as El Niño ramps up and we get more storm surge, waves and atmospheric pressure effects.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"attrs": {
"text": "‘Do the prep work’",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">‘Do the prep work’\u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>In preparation, the California Department of Water Resources is staging more than 200 shipping containers filled with flood-response supplies across the state. Officials have stockpiled 4.3 million sandbags, 55,000 super sacks that can be filled with rocks or sand, and 400,000 tons of rock for emergencies such as levee repairs.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>In preparation, the California Department of Water Resources is staging more than 200 shipping containers filled with flood-response supplies across the state. Officials have stockpiled 4.3 million sandbags, 55,000 super sacks that can be filled with rocks or sand, and 400,000 tons of rock for emergencies such as levee repairs.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We preposition materials around the state to make it faster to have them deployed,” said Michael Anderson, the state climatologist. The department is also working with the Army Corps of Engineers to have pumps ready and has partnered with NOAA and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography on a \u003ca href=\"https://cw3e.ucsd.edu/aqpi/\">system of radar units\u003c/a> to help detect hazardous weather events. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“We preposition materials around the state to make it faster to have them deployed,” said Michael Anderson, the state climatologist. The department is also working with the Army Corps of Engineers to have pumps ready and has partnered with NOAA and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography on a \u003ca href=\"https://cw3e.ucsd.edu/aqpi/\">system of radar units\u003c/a> to help detect hazardous weather events. \u003c/p>\n"
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"srcset": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260724-ELNINOWORST-NG-57-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260724-ELNINOWORST-NG-57-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260724-ELNINOWORST-NG-57-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260724-ELNINOWORST-NG-57-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260724-ELNINOWORST-NG-57-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001571\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260724-ELNINOWORST-NG-57-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260724-ELNINOWORST-NG-57-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260724-ELNINOWORST-NG-57-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260724-ELNINOWORST-NG-57-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A tide gauge in between Piers 15 and 17 next to the Exploratorium in San Francisco on July 24, 2026. The water level reached around 8 feet in January 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260724-ELNINOWORST-NG-57-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001571\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A tide gauge in between Piers 15 and 17 next to the Exploratorium in San Francisco on July 24, 2026. The water level reached around 8 feet in January 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“That can really help communities know where the heavy rains are coming,” Anderson said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“That can really help communities know where the heavy rains are coming,” Anderson said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Around the Bay Area, cities are also gearing up ahead of the year’s highest tides, which fall right around Thanksgiving and Christmas. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Around the Bay Area, cities are also gearing up ahead of the year’s highest tides, which fall right around Thanksgiving and Christmas. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>San Rafael, where high tides already flood streets and pumps weren’t designed for saltwater, is coordinating with critical agencies to improve communication so that roads can be closed quickly when it floods. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>San Rafael, where high tides already flood streets and pumps weren’t designed for saltwater, is coordinating with critical agencies to improve communication so that roads can be closed quickly when it floods. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“That unfortunately doesn’t reduce the risk that those roads flood or those facilities are impacted,” said Kate Hagemann, a climate adaptation resilience planner with San Rafael.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“That unfortunately doesn’t reduce the risk that those roads flood or those facilities are impacted,” said Kate Hagemann, a climate adaptation resilience planner with San Rafael.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Parts of Alameda, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2000377/for-this-bay-area-island-city-water-is-coming-from-all-sides\">a low-lying island city\u003c/a> with a shallow water table, often floods during high tides and storms. The city is preparing barricades and sandbags, readying pumps and clearing storm drains.\u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>Parts of Alameda, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2000377/for-this-bay-area-island-city-water-is-coming-from-all-sides\">a low-lying island city\u003c/a> with a shallow water table, often floods during high tides and storms. The city is preparing barricades and sandbags, readying pumps and clearing storm drains.\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/paragraph",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We have a vacuum truck that’s able to quickly dislodge material that may prevent stormwater from flowing,” said Erin Smith, public works director for the City of Alameda. \u003c/p>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cp>“We have a vacuum truck that’s able to quickly dislodge material that may prevent stormwater from flowing,” said Erin Smith, public works director for the City of Alameda. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260724-ELNINOWORST-NG-39-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001569\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260724-ELNINOWORST-NG-39-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260724-ELNINOWORST-NG-39-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260724-ELNINOWORST-NG-39-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260724-ELNINOWORST-NG-39-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Piers 15 and 17 in San Francisco on July 24, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
"innerContent": [
"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260724-ELNINOWORST-NG-39-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001569\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Piers 15 and 17 in San Francisco on July 24, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1997729/oysters-snails-and-a-wall-that-protects-against-climate-change-one-tile-at-a-time\">Port of San Francisco\u003c/a> is taking similar steps: clearing drains, planning traffic detours and staging pumps.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1997729/oysters-snails-and-a-wall-that-protects-against-climate-change-one-tile-at-a-time\">Port of San Francisco\u003c/a> is taking similar steps: clearing drains, planning traffic detours and staging pumps.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“King tides and these El Niño events are a glimpse into the future,” said Brad Benson, waterfront resilience program director for the Port. “In some of these areas, we have very important assets for the functioning of the city.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“King tides and these El Niño events are a glimpse into the future,” said Brad Benson, waterfront resilience program director for the Port. “In some of these areas, we have very important assets for the functioning of the city.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>One of Benson’s biggest concerns is the low-lying Muni tunnel entrance near the Ferry Building. About 60% of the city’s light rail fleet passes through it each night to reach the maintenance yard, making it critical to protect.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Californians can sign up for emergency alerts and create disaster plans by visiting the state’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.listoscalifornia.org/\">Ready California\u003c/a> site. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>One of Benson’s biggest concerns is the low-lying Muni tunnel entrance near the Ferry Building. About 60% of the city’s light rail fleet passes through it each night to reach the maintenance yard, making it critical to protect.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Californians can sign up for emergency alerts and create disaster plans by visiting the state’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.listoscalifornia.org/\">Ready California\u003c/a> site. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“Do the prep work,” said Nate Ortiz, assistant director for planning and preparedness with the California Office of Emergency Services. He suggested creating a go bag with documents, cash, food, water, medication and clothing. “Even if you can just get it started and incrementally build that out, it’s a great way to be a bit more prepared\u003cem>.\u003c/em>”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“Do the prep work,” said Nate Ortiz, assistant director for planning and preparedness with the California Office of Emergency Services. He suggested creating a go bag with documents, cash, food, water, medication and clothing. “Even if you can just get it started and incrementally build that out, it’s a great way to be a bit more prepared\u003cem>.\u003c/em>”\u003c/p>\n"
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"blockName": "core/heading",
"attrs": {
"text": "‘We’ve been trying to fill the cracks in the bathtub’",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">‘We’ve been trying to fill the cracks in the bathtub’\u003c/h2>\n",
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>The dangerous conditions may expose the weaknesses in flood protections across Bay Area cities, said Kristina Hill, a professor in the College of Environmental Design at UC Berkeley who studies \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101912604/as-sea-levels-rise-what-will-it-take-to-protect-the-bay-area-from-flooding\">sea level rise\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>The dangerous conditions may expose the weaknesses in flood protections across Bay Area cities, said Kristina Hill, a professor in the College of Environmental Design at UC Berkeley who studies \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101912604/as-sea-levels-rise-what-will-it-take-to-protect-the-bay-area-from-flooding\">sea level rise\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Many cities, including San Francisco, have treated their waterfronts like “a medieval town with a wall around them,” Hill said. Others, like San Rafael, have a patchwork of private levees. This winter will likely put those barriers to the test.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Many cities, including San Francisco, have treated their waterfronts like “a medieval town with a wall around them,” Hill said. Others, like San Rafael, have a patchwork of private levees. This winter will likely put those barriers to the test.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“We’ve been trying to fill the cracks in the bathtub by putting out little informal levees, and then occasionally a very big project like the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12018103/king-tides-foreshadow-far-wetter-future-sf-shoreline\">San Francisco seawall\u003c/a>,” Hill said. “We may see some of those informal things fail in surprising and important ways.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“We’ve been trying to fill the cracks in the bathtub by putting out little informal levees, and then occasionally a very big project like the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12018103/king-tides-foreshadow-far-wetter-future-sf-shoreline\">San Francisco seawall\u003c/a>,” Hill said. “We may see some of those informal things fail in surprising and important ways.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260721-ELNINOWORST-NG-221-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001566\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260721-ELNINOWORST-NG-221-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260721-ELNINOWORST-NG-221-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260721-ELNINOWORST-NG-221-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260721-ELNINOWORST-NG-221-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 992px) min(100vw, 1536px), (min-width: 768px) min(100vw, 1280px), min(100vw, 1020px)\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kristina Hill, professor of Landscape Architecture & Environmental Planning and Urban Design at UC Berkeley, poses for a photo at the San Rafael Yacht Harbor in San Rafael on July 21, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n",
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"\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260721-ELNINOWORST-NG-221-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001566\" />\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kristina Hill, professor of Landscape Architecture & Environmental Planning and Urban Design at UC Berkeley, poses for a photo at the San Rafael Yacht Harbor in San Rafael on July 21, 2026.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Depending on the level of flooding, Hill said, it could show the region that it’s time “to do business differently” by building with more imagination and constructing buildings that are ready for higher seas. She dreams of floating buildings along the bay, like the Ferry Building, or entire blocks of housing as a way to live on the water. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Depending on the level of flooding, Hill said, it could show the region that it’s time “to do business differently” by building with more imagination and constructing buildings that are ready for higher seas. She dreams of floating buildings along the bay, like the Ferry Building, or entire blocks of housing as a way to live on the water. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“The things we’ve done in the past to prevent coastal flooding won’t work when that water doesn’t go back down again,” Hill said. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“The things we’ve done in the past to prevent coastal flooding won’t work when that water doesn’t go back down again,” Hill said. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>Bentley said that future — where the water doesn’t recede and daily tides inundate shorelines — is something he worries about at the dojo in San Rafael. From inside his practice, Bentley has a front-row view of the boats in the marina as they move up and down with the tide. He can tell when the water is rising. \u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>Bentley said that future — where the water doesn’t recede and daily tides inundate shorelines — is something he worries about at the dojo in San Rafael. From inside his practice, Bentley has a front-row view of the boats in the marina as they move up and down with the tide. He can tell when the water is rising. \u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“It was kind of crazy to drive in here and see the boats above you,” Bentley said. “Over the last three years I’ve noticed the boats are getting higher and higher and higher.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“It was kind of crazy to drive in here and see the boats above you,” Bentley said. “Over the last three years I’ve noticed the boats are getting higher and higher and higher.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>And every time it rains, Bentley remembers the memory of the January flood that nearly shut down his practice.\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>And every time it rains, Bentley remembers the memory of the January flood that nearly shut down his practice.\u003c/p>\n"
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"innerHTML": "\n\u003cp>“As someone who has lived and worked near water, I’ve only seen flooding get worse,” Bentley said. “We should just start preparing for it versus crossing our fingers.”\u003c/p>\n",
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"\n\u003cp>“As someone who has lived and worked near water, I’ve only seen flooding get worse,” Bentley said. “We should just start preparing for it versus crossing our fingers.”\u003c/p>\n"
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"excerpt": "El Niño conditions temporarily layer tomorrow’s Bay Area sea levels onto today’s and offer a glimpse of a wetter future. ",
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"title": "Strong El Niño May Bring Record Sea Level and Coastal Flooding to Bay Area | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Derek Bentley’s San Rafael karate studio \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1999871/after-king-tides-swamp-marin-san-rafael-weighs-billion-dollar-defenses-against-the-bay\">flooded\u003c/a> in January, when a heavy storm hit during one of the highest tides of the year.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Several inches of water rose from under the foundation and filled the building from the inside, soaking the karate mats so thoroughly that they squirted water when Bentley stepped across them.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We were closed for about a week after the flood,” Bentley said. “Then we opened, but we used air dryers and some of the mats were still wet, and we had no carpet for a couple months.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Now he fears a bout of déjà vu could be in his future if very strong \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12087122/el-nino-is-here-heres-what-it-could-mean-for-the-bay-area-this-winter\">El Niño\u003c/a> conditions steer strong storms toward the Bay Area and once again flood his dojo.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260721-ELNINOWORST-NG-77-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001559\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260721-ELNINOWORST-NG-77-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260721-ELNINOWORST-NG-77-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260721-ELNINOWORST-NG-77-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260721-ELNINOWORST-NG-77-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kristina Hill, professor of landscape architecture and environmental planning and urban design at UC Berkeley, looks out at the South Richmond Marshes in Richmond on July 21, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“My fear is we will lose this place because it’ll just be too much water,” Bentley said. He runs Taylor’s House of Karate a few yards away from a marina on San Rafael Creek in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12068644/marin-county-looked-like-a-lagoon-after-king-tides-heavy-rain\">Marin County\u003c/a>. “I’ve never seen us beat water around here.” \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California is no stranger to the impacts of periodic warming of water in the tropical Pacific. These conditions, what researchers call El Niño, have been associated with some of California’s most powerful and punishing storms. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>For many months, weather experts have warned of what could be one of the strongest El Niño events on record. Federal scientists \u003ca href=\"https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/ensodisc.shtml\">forecast \u003c/a>a greater than 90% % chance of a very strong El Niño this fall and winter. The forecast raises the possibility of a worst-case flooding scenario that Bay Area officials and climate scientists have long been concerned about — in part because warm water expands, raising sea levels.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In terms of emergency planning, you can think of it as the coastal flooding equivalent of “the Big One”, when the highest tides, biggest storms and largest waves all coincide on top of the elevated sea levels. That superimposition is possible in any given year, but warm water from El Niño will temporarily elevate sea levels this year.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260807-El-Nino-Worst-01-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001619\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260807-El-Nino-Worst-01-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260807-El-Nino-Worst-01-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260807-El-Nino-Worst-01-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/260807-El-Nino-Worst-01-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Water floods the Embarcadero in San Francisco on March 17, 2026. (Courtesy of The Exploratorium)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’re expecting likely the highest sea levels ever recorded on the California coast,” said Mark Merrifield, director of the Scripps Center for Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation, in a recent \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmmXUkRp6-g\">virtual town hall\u003c/a> focused on El Niño. “As a sort of unlucky coincidence, the tidal cycle is also gonna be at a peak around the end of this year.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>El Niño forms when tropical trade winds weaken or reverse, allowing warm ocean water near Asia to slosh toward the Pacific Coast. That warming can reshape the jet stream and bring stormier weather while \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2001047/scientists-worry-el-nino-could-supercharge-marine-heat-wave-roiling-coastal-california\">disrupting the ocean’s nutrient-rich upwelling\u003c/a>, heating coastal waters, raising sea levels and stressing marine life.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>While El Niño is a natural cycle, human-caused climate change is \u003ca href=\"https://science.nasa.gov/earth/explore/the-ocean-and-climate-change/\">warming oceans\u003c/a>, with large-scale ramifications, including long-term changes in weather and rising seas. This monthslong window into higher tides offers a glimpse of the Bay Area’s climate-altered future.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“El Niño is a good opportunity to see where our vulnerabilities are throughout the state,” Merrifield said. “It also is a sobering look at what we could expect with climate change.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">‘The worst coastal flooding on record’\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Melissa Lunden, a climate scientist-in-residence at the Exploratorium in San Francisco, is building an exhibit at Pier 15 that features a chart showing how the bay’s water level has risen since 1890. Every few years there’s a really large spike. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“During El Niño years the water levels are often higher,” Lunden said. Not every El Niño results in higher-than-average water levels. “But overall, the trend is increasing over the decades.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The temporary rise researchers anticipate this year may come from several forces stacking together. First, the water levels in San Francisco Bay have risen about 8 inches \u003ca href=\"https://url.us.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/0yfSCjRnyNIDGV2niWfAjhmEaue?domain=tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov\">since the 1890s\u003c/a>. State scientists project another foot or more by 2050.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1069\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/FS_F.02.01_SeaLevelCylinder_v12-scaled.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001620\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/FS_F.02.01_SeaLevelCylinder_v12-scaled.png 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/FS_F.02.01_SeaLevelCylinder_v12-2000x835.png 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/FS_F.02.01_SeaLevelCylinder_v12-160x67.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/FS_F.02.01_SeaLevelCylinder_v12-768x321.png 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/FS_F.02.01_SeaLevelCylinder_v12-1536x641.png 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/08/FS_F.02.01_SeaLevelCylinder_v12-2048x855.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sea levels have risen by around 8 inches since the 1800s in the Bay Area, but scientists expect human-caused climate change to raise them by as much as 6 feet by the end of the century. This graph showcases monthly tide levels over time, and the peaks often represent El Niño events. (Courtesy of The Exploratorium)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Second, warm water piling up in the Pacific expands, raising sea levels by several inches. As that water slowly sloshes east, it eventually smacks into South America and forces “local ocean water to push against the coast instead of flowing westward,” flattening out into the Pacific, said Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with UC Agriculture and Natural Resources. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>These Kelvin waves are the delivery system for warm water associated with El Niño, and Swain said this process can cause up to 9 inches or more of additional temporary sea level rise along the coast and San Francisco Bay over days or weeks. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>That rise will be “felt all the way inland into the Delta and Stockton,” Swain said. This El Niño “now appears to be most likely to become the singularly strongest on record and so I think there’s a decent chance we actually break historical records.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Add natural king tides, which will be among the highest on record in December, changes in pressure, storm surge and back-to-back storms, and some places could experience as much as 5-to-6 feet of temporary inundation above historical high tide levels, Swain said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We could get all of those stacked at once,” Swain said, noting that flooding could occur even if only a few of the potential impacts occur in tandem. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>This short-term flooding “could be comparable to, or greater than, the worst coastal flooding on record in the San Francisco Bay region,” Swain said. “I foresee this being a major problem for the Bay Area this year.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The high water anomaly has already begun. The tide gauge near the Golden Gate Bridge is running about \u003ca href=\"https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/waterlevels.html?id=9414290\">6 inches higher\u003c/a> than where it typically is for this time of year, “and that’s partially because of El Niño,” said Sean Vitousek, a research oceanographer at the U.S. Geological Survey.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Water levels are here to stay,” Vitousek said. “They will probably get larger in the winter as El Niño ramps up and we get more storm surge, waves and atmospheric pressure effects.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">‘Do the prep work’\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>In preparation, the California Department of Water Resources is staging more than 200 shipping containers filled with flood-response supplies across the state. Officials have stockpiled 4.3 million sandbags, 55,000 super sacks that can be filled with rocks or sand, and 400,000 tons of rock for emergencies such as levee repairs.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We preposition materials around the state to make it faster to have them deployed,” said Michael Anderson, the state climatologist. The department is also working with the Army Corps of Engineers to have pumps ready and has partnered with NOAA and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography on a \u003ca href=\"https://cw3e.ucsd.edu/aqpi/\">system of radar units\u003c/a> to help detect hazardous weather events. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260724-ELNINOWORST-NG-57-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001571\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260724-ELNINOWORST-NG-57-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260724-ELNINOWORST-NG-57-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260724-ELNINOWORST-NG-57-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260724-ELNINOWORST-NG-57-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A tide gauge in between Piers 15 and 17 next to the Exploratorium in San Francisco on July 24, 2026. The water level reached around 8 feet in January 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“That can really help communities know where the heavy rains are coming,” Anderson said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Around the Bay Area, cities are also gearing up ahead of the year’s highest tides, which fall right around Thanksgiving and Christmas. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>San Rafael, where high tides already flood streets and pumps weren’t designed for saltwater, is coordinating with critical agencies to improve communication so that roads can be closed quickly when it floods. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“That unfortunately doesn’t reduce the risk that those roads flood or those facilities are impacted,” said Kate Hagemann, a climate adaptation resilience planner with San Rafael.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Parts of Alameda, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/2000377/for-this-bay-area-island-city-water-is-coming-from-all-sides\">a low-lying island city\u003c/a> with a shallow water table, often floods during high tides and storms. The city is preparing barricades and sandbags, readying pumps and clearing storm drains.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We have a vacuum truck that’s able to quickly dislodge material that may prevent stormwater from flowing,” said Erin Smith, public works director for the City of Alameda. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260724-ELNINOWORST-NG-39-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001569\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260724-ELNINOWORST-NG-39-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260724-ELNINOWORST-NG-39-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260724-ELNINOWORST-NG-39-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260724-ELNINOWORST-NG-39-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Piers 15 and 17 in San Francisco on July 24, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1997729/oysters-snails-and-a-wall-that-protects-against-climate-change-one-tile-at-a-time\">Port of San Francisco\u003c/a> is taking similar steps: clearing drains, planning traffic detours and staging pumps.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“King tides and these El Niño events are a glimpse into the future,” said Brad Benson, waterfront resilience program director for the Port. “In some of these areas, we have very important assets for the functioning of the city.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>One of Benson’s biggest concerns is the low-lying Muni tunnel entrance near the Ferry Building. About 60% of the city’s light rail fleet passes through it each night to reach the maintenance yard, making it critical to protect.\u003cbr>\u003cbr>Californians can sign up for emergency alerts and create disaster plans by visiting the state’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.listoscalifornia.org/\">Ready California\u003c/a> site. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“Do the prep work,” said Nate Ortiz, assistant director for planning and preparedness with the California Office of Emergency Services. He suggested creating a go bag with documents, cash, food, water, medication and clothing. “Even if you can just get it started and incrementally build that out, it’s a great way to be a bit more prepared\u003cem>.\u003c/em>”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">‘We’ve been trying to fill the cracks in the bathtub’\u003c/h2>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>The dangerous conditions may expose the weaknesses in flood protections across Bay Area cities, said Kristina Hill, a professor in the College of Environmental Design at UC Berkeley who studies \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101912604/as-sea-levels-rise-what-will-it-take-to-protect-the-bay-area-from-flooding\">sea level rise\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Many cities, including San Francisco, have treated their waterfronts like “a medieval town with a wall around them,” Hill said. Others, like San Rafael, have a patchwork of private levees. This winter will likely put those barriers to the test.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“We’ve been trying to fill the cracks in the bathtub by putting out little informal levees, and then occasionally a very big project like the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12018103/king-tides-foreshadow-far-wetter-future-sf-shoreline\">San Francisco seawall\u003c/a>,” Hill said. “We may see some of those informal things fail in surprising and important ways.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260721-ELNINOWORST-NG-221-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2001566\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260721-ELNINOWORST-NG-221-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260721-ELNINOWORST-NG-221-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260721-ELNINOWORST-NG-221-KQED-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2026/07/260721-ELNINOWORST-NG-221-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kristina Hill, professor of Landscape Architecture & Environmental Planning and Urban Design at UC Berkeley, poses for a photo at the San Rafael Yacht Harbor in San Rafael on July 21, 2026. (Nina Glick/KQED)\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Depending on the level of flooding, Hill said, it could show the region that it’s time “to do business differently” by building with more imagination and constructing buildings that are ready for higher seas. She dreams of floating buildings along the bay, like the Ferry Building, or entire blocks of housing as a way to live on the water. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“The things we’ve done in the past to prevent coastal flooding won’t work when that water doesn’t go back down again,” Hill said. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>Bentley said that future — where the water doesn’t recede and daily tides inundate shorelines — is something he worries about at the dojo in San Rafael. From inside his practice, Bentley has a front-row view of the boats in the marina as they move up and down with the tide. He can tell when the water is rising. \u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>“It was kind of crazy to drive in here and see the boats above you,” Bentley said. “Over the last three years I’ve noticed the boats are getting higher and higher and higher.”\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>And every time it rains, Bentley remembers the memory of the January flood that nearly shut down his practice.\u003c/p>\n\n\n\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"info": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown brings listeners the wisdom of the former Governor, Mayor, and presidential candidate. Scott Shafer interviewed Brown for more than 40 hours, covering the former governor's life and half-century in the political game and Brown has some lessons he'd like to share. ",
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"info": "The MindShift podcast explores the innovations in education that are shaping how kids learn. Hosts Ki Sung and Katrina Schwartz introduce listeners to educators, researchers, parents and students who are developing effective ways to improve how kids learn. We cover topics like how fed-up administrators are developing surprising tactics to deal with classroom disruptions; how listening to podcasts are helping kids develop reading skills; the consequences of overparenting; and why interdisciplinary learning can engage students on all ends of the traditional achievement spectrum. This podcast is part of the MindShift education site, a division of KQED News. KQED is an NPR/PBS member station based in San Francisco. You can also visit the MindShift website for episodes and supplemental blog posts or tweet us \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/MindShiftKQED\">@MindShiftKQED\u003c/a> or visit us at \u003ca href=\"/mindshift\">MindShift.KQED.org\u003c/a>",
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"info": "For decades, the process for how police police themselves has been inconsistent – if not opaque. In some states, like California, these proceedings were completely hidden. After a new police transparency law unsealed scores of internal affairs files, our reporters set out to examine these cases and the shadow world of police discipline. On Our Watch brings listeners into the rooms where officers are questioned and witnesses are interrogated to find out who this system is really protecting. Is it the officers, or the public they've sworn to serve?",
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"info": "Political Breakdown is a new series that explores the political intersection of California and the nation. Each week hosts Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos are joined with a new special guest to unpack politics -- with personality — and offer an insider’s glimpse at how politics happens.",
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"possible": {
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"info": "Possible is hosted by entrepreneur Reid Hoffman and writer Aria Finger. Together in Possible, Hoffman and Finger lead enlightening discussions about building a brighter collective future. The show features interviews with visionary guests like Trevor Noah, Sam Altman and Janette Sadik-Khan. Possible paints an optimistic portrait of the world we can create through science, policy, business, art and our shared humanity. It asks: What if everything goes right for once? How can we get there? Each episode also includes a short fiction story generated by advanced AI GPT-4, serving as a thought-provoking springboard to speculate how humanity could leverage technology for good.",
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"radiolab": {
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},
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"title": "Rightnowish",
"tagline": "Art is where you find it",
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"tagline": "Real stories with killer beats",
"info": "The Snap Judgment radio show and podcast mixes real stories with killer beats to produce cinematic, dramatic radio. Snap's musical brand of storytelling dares listeners to see the world through the eyes of another. This is storytelling... with a BEAT!! Snap first aired on public radio stations nationwide in July 2010. Today, Snap Judgment airs on over 450 public radio stations and is brought to the airwaves by KQED & PRX.",
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"soldout": {
"id": "soldout",
"title": "SOLD OUT: Rethinking Housing in America",
"tagline": "A new future for housing",
"info": "Sold Out: Rethinking Housing in America",
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