The Clearlake City Council has said no to joining with Sonoma Clean Power to provide electricity to residents. The council’s 3 to 2 vote means the public utility won’t move into that portion of Lake County–even as it seeks approval to expand in Lakeport and the rest of the County. Supporters argued that SCP would bring power rates lower than PG&E , but the opponents successfully argued that there were more questions than answers about the rates and how residents could opt out. The Lake County Board of Supervisors and the Lakeport City Council will decide on the utility proposal at meetings on October 21st. That could be the last opportunity for SCP for the time being because approval would have to come by November 6th for service to start in May 2027.
California’s fire marshal is warning about a convenient–but potentially dangerous item you probably have nearby. Lithium-ion batteries power almost everything–from smartphones to laptops and from power tools to toys–and if they aren’t used or disposed of properly, they can be household hazards. Fire Marshall Daniel Berlant says fire departments across the state are dealing with more and more fires caused by those rechargeable cells. He says it is important to buy, charge, and recycle those batteries safely. He says lithium-ion batteries can overheat, start fire, or cause explosions that can’t be doused by water alone. Among the precautions you can take, he says you should buy only approved batteries from a reputable source–and avoid cheap knock-offs that seem like a bargain online. How you charge is also important–only use the charger that came with the device, or overcharge just to get a bit more use, and unplug when it is full. And be sure to dispose of the old batteries properly–not with the regular curbside trash but at a safe recycling location that you can find on the website call2recycle.org
Drivers for ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft in California can now join a union and negotiate a contract. Governor Newsom has signed a bill that allows for unionization for those workers, even though they are still considered independent contractors. Supporters say the measure is a good start, but leaves some questions unanswered–like no set minimum wage and what they see as vague language about how algorithms and AI can be used to set compensation. The rideshare companies say they’re willing to work with drivers as they work out together the details of the very first union contracts.
