Future for Mexican solar seems bright, even under new administration
HERMOSILLO, Mexico – Several large solar projects in Sonora are soon to come fully online, including one of the largest in Latin America. Much of this expansion came from energy reforms pushed by President Enrique Peña Nieto, but with a new administration in power, will the progress continue?
Officials hopeful ‘fire funding fix’ helps tame brutal wildfire seasons
WASHINGTON – After years of wrangling, Congress last year passed the "fire funding fix" that creates a $2.25 billion emergency fund that federal officials can tap when the cost of fighting wildfires exceeds the budget, as it has done regularly for years now.
Nonprofit shop is a hub for Tempe cycling community – and a recycling project
TEMPE – Bike Saviours, a cooperative in Tempe, not only teaches customers how to fix their bikes, its volunteers help them build bikes from scratch using donated parts.
Food insecurity a challenge for nearly half of college students in the U.S.
SANTA MONICA, Calif. – According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 48 percent of college students in 2016 reported food insecurity. Some universities, including Arizona State University and Santa Monica College in California, have programs to help.
Additional carcinogens prompt changes at groundwater plant at Tucson Superfund site
PHOENIX – The operators of a treatment plant near a Superfund site in Tucson have made some changes after the discovery of perfluorinated chemicals in groundwater. Authorities blame the contamination on manufacturing activities and unlined landfills near the airport decades ago.
With deadline looming, can Arizona Legislature agree to complex drought plan?
PHOENIX – Arizona’s 90 lawmakers have to approve a Drought Contingency Plan by the end of January, but can they digest the complexities and produce a plan that’s equitable for farms and cities?
Save water, drink beer: Camp Verde collaboration swaps corn for barley
CAMP VERDE – A collaboration among Camp Verde farmers, investors and the Nature Conservancy has reduced Verde River water usage by getting farmers to swap our summer corn for winter barley, a key ingredient in beer.
Filling bellies and landfills: Meal prep kits are convenient, but at a cost
LOS ANGELES – Those prepared meal kits delivered to your door offer quick convenience, but they leave a larger environmental footprint than you might think. They also require consumers to think about proper disposal of packaging, particularly plastics.
Tree rings give clues as to how climate change could shift drought in the Sonoran Desert
TUCSON – The tree ring lab at the University of Arizona recently looked at tree rings to make conclusions about shifts in the tropical belt for 800 years.
Profits and flames: Private firefighters an option for the wealthy
BOISE, Idaho – Some insurance companies are including private firefighting as part of coverage.
New houses, built to fire code, burned down anyway in California’s 2017 Thomas Fire
LOS ANGELES – California's building codes are not keeping up with the severe, wind-driven wildfires that are becoming the norm.
Phoenix and some companies offer options for recycling holiday lights
PHOENIX – Phoenix now offers light-recycling services. Residents can drop off lights at one of two transfer stations, starting the day after Christmas.
