The Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians is not letting frozen funds derail them from developing a solar-powered microgrid. The project, which was initially funded by a $3.55 million Bureau of Indian Affairs grant through the Inflation Reduction Act, aims to help them gain energy sovereignty on their 44-acre site. Since the money is unavailable while the Trump Administration does a large-scale review of all federally funded projects, the tribe secured a bridge loan with help from clean energy firm 7Skyline to keep the project alive. The Mendocino Voice says ultimately, folks on the reservation will no longer get their electricity from the main power grid since the microgrid will store and produce its own energy.
Legislative staff with the state and environmental advocates flew over the Sierra Nevada to get a close up look at water protection work. The Yuba River Watershed, in the Sierra, supplies drinking water for 80 percent of the state. From the air, California officials say they can see the differences between recovering areas and those still scarred by wildfires. Efforts are ongoing to restore the land include removing invasive plant species, planting native trees, and eliminating debris.
In a split decision, a Mendocino County jury acquitted a 48-year-old man of murder, ruling the killing was a lawful act of self-defense. Pan Jasper Brady stood trial for the July 2024 shooting death of 54-year-old Kevin Taeuffer in Point Arena. However, they convicted Brady yesterday of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The case began after Brady called 911 to report the shooting, claiming it happened during an argument with Taeuffer. When the police arrived, Taeuffer was pronounced dead at the scene. The Mendocino Voice says the defense claimed Brady acted in self-defense, but since he was convicted of a felony back in 2008, he wasn’t legally allowed to own a firearm. He’s set to be sentenced in September.
A multi-million cleanup of a toxic site near Clearlake Oaks is moving forward. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is leading the effort through Jacobs Engineering, the EPA’s lead design contractor. The 160 acre Sulphur Bank Mercury Mine Superfund is polluted by mercury from decades of mining and has been a long-standing environmental issue. The EPA plans to spend around $94 million over the next five years, beginning next year, to remediate the site and they’re doing it in four phases. Mendofever says Jacobs Engineering is hosting a virtual outreach next Wednesday that will point to opportunities for local businesses, which are being encouraged to participate in the multi-phase project.
