Energy and Technology

Wondering why your energy bill has gone up recently? It is not because of Sonoma Clean Power. In some cases, the spike is due to increased seasonal use of gas or electricity for space heating. Any increases on the gas side of the bill have nothing to do with Sonoma Clean Power because it is involved only in electricity generation.

With temperatures expected to drop to the 20s throughout parts of Northern and Central California this week, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is urging customers to take safety precautions when heating their homes.

I spent the first part of last weekend feeling depressed about recent headlines.

However, over the weekend I was reminded of the many committed and powerful people who surround us by way of a conversation with a friend about an ecology project she did with her daughters. This person has led many efforts to help tomorrow’s leaders gain a reverence for this planet and an appreciation of what it takes to protect it – from bee-saving gardens to backpacking trips.

I spent the first part of last weekend feeling depressed about recent headlines.

However, over the weekend I was reminded of the many committed and powerful people who surround us by way of a conversation with a friend about an ecology project she did with her daughters. This person has led many efforts to help tomorrow’s leaders gain a reverence for this planet and an appreciation of what it takes to protect it – from bee-saving gardens to backpacking trips.

Mobile-friendly, Online Bill Pay and More Opportunity for Feedback Lead Site Changes

Residents of Sebastopol may now pay water and sewer bills online, find out how to apply for a business license from a smartphone, and get a preview of the agenda for the next City Council Meeting from a tablet.  The City of Sebastopol just launched a newly redesigned website, www.cityofsebastopol.org, bringing a cleaner, more modern look and enhanced features to Sebastopol residents and visitors.

In conjunction with the Sonoma County Library, the Sonoma County Energy and Sustainability Division, the Sonoma County Water Agency and Sonoma Clean Power are introducing “Do It Yourself” (DIY) Energy and Water Savings Toolkits as part of a pilot program promoting energy and water efficiency.

The rural community of Occidental in western Sonoma County is set to receive reliable, affordable, fiber-to-the-home high-speed broadband Internet.

On Thursday August 18th the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) unanimously approved a grant for construction of the Race Communications Gigafy Occidental Project for fiber-to-the-home, high-speed broadband Internet to the unserved area west of the town of Occidental. The grant is funded by the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF), and administered and managed by the CPUC.

Charles Dudley Warner, the nineteenth-century American writer, coined two memorable quips: “Everybody complains about the weather, but nobody does anything about it; and “Politics makes strange bedfellows.” Campaigns, causes, elections and parties bring together individuals who wouldn’t normally be together. 

Join us for Dr. Jane Nielson’s explanation of the origin of our geologic hazards, why we always have to account for their effects, and how best to protect yourself and your family.

Knowledge is power and being informed of the realities of living in Sonoma County is essential, as our communities rapidly grow and expand

A net-zero energy building (NZEB) is a building with zero net energy consumption, meaning the total amount of energy used by the building annually is roughly equal to the amount of renewable energy created on the site. Under California’s Building code, Title 24, all new residential construction is to be Zero Net Energy by 2020 with all new commercial buildings achieving this goal by 2030. In a sense, all California building owners are already somewhere on the path to Net Zero Energy, even if they are only at the beginning.