By Lake County Record-Bee |
March 11, 2022 at 6:06 a.m.
LAKE AND MENDOCINO COUNTIES
Redwood Empire Food Bank receives $25,000 donation through Bank of America's booster shot program
Bank of America employees continue to help their communities end hunger around the U.S. Locally, Bank of America found a creative way to support Redwood Empire Food Bank – serving Sonoma, Lake, Mendocino, Humboldt, and Del Norte counties – as food banks across the country experience critical shortages of supplies and volunteers brought on by the pandemic. Most recently, the bank's North Bay market donated $25,000 to Redwood Empire Food Bank in conjunction with a unique, national, new program that encouraged teammates to get their Covid-19 booster shots.
Bank of America donated $100, plus a supplemental grant, to Redwood Empire Food Bank for each bank employee in the region who received a booster shot by the end of January. The resulting $25,000 will provide 100,000 meals to those in need, and the check was presented to the food bank by Bank of America North Bay president Jason Foster. Since the pandemic began, Bank of America has awarded $240,000 in grants to local nonprofits addressing food insecurity.
"As the pandemic continues to impact the North Bay region, food banks and hunger relief organizations are still experiencing significant demand, higher costs, and labor shortages to meet the community's needs," Foster said. "The bank remains committed to help strengthen neighborhoods throughout California and is calling on others to support their area food banks."
Gov. Newsom statement on Biden administration's restoration of California's clean car waiver
Gov. Gavin Newsom released the below statement today following the U.S. EPA's restoration of California's Clean Air Act waiver. The move remedies the previous administration's groundless ​attack on a critical program that is based on California​'s decades ​of experience setting emissions standards​ as authorized by law. With today's action, California can continue its groundbreaking leadership in forging a clean transportation future as momentum for the zero-emission vehicle transition grows around the nation and world.
"I thank the Biden Administration for righting the reckless wrongs of the Trump Administration and recognizing our decades-old authority to protect Californians and our planet," said Governor Newsom. "The restoration of our state's Clean Air Act waiver is a major victory for the environment, our economy, and the health of families across the country that comes at a pivotal moment underscoring the need to end our reliance on fossil fuels. California looks forward to partnering with the Biden Administration to make a zero-emission future a reality for all Americans."
California will continue to set the pace with innovative policies and partnerships with states that have chosen to adopt its pioneering standards and move us away from fossil fuels. Governor Newsom has advanced bold investments to accelerate the state's zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) goals, including the California Blueprint's proposed $10 billion ZEV package, that will deliver good jobs, spur innovation and help to clean the air. Together with the $5 billion investment in ZEV charging from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, these historic investments will help make ZEVs more affordable and convenient for all Californians, while building out clean transportation infrastructure and charging stations, especially in low-income communities.
California is committed to providing immediate relief to help working Californians face the realities of the moment with rising gas prices across the world. Governor Newsom in January proposed to pause the gas tax increase and during his State of the State address, announced that the administration is developing a tax rebate proposal to put money directly in the pockets of Californians.
PG&E microgrid update
Deanna Contreras Pacific Gas & Electric Marketing and Communications representative recently gave an update on the planned microgrid projects for Lake County in advance of this year's fire season.
"We anticipate a total of 13 distribution microgrids across PG&E's service territory that will be operationally ready to use by the end of 2022, with three of them in Lake County: (9 total were operationally ready in 2021), noted Contreras. The location of the microgrids are:
Middletown (located at a Hwy 175 and Barnes Street) was completed and operational in 2021 .
Clearlake North (located at the PG&E yard on Olympic Drive) is expected to complete construction by end of second quarter and be ready to operate by end of third quarter.
Lucerne (location at Waterfront Park) is expected to complete construction by end of quarter 2 and be ready to operate by end of the third quarter.
Lake County Record-Bee