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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council on Thursday will consider creating an ad hoc committee to work on a youth sports complex plan, and hold discussions on concealed weapon permits and expanding the Automated License Plate Recognition, which is helping police with leads in criminal cases and with recovering stolen vehicles.
The council will meet beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21.
Because of the county’s shelter in place order, Clearlake City Hall remains closed to the public, however, the virtual meeting will be broadcast live on the city's YouTube channel or the Lake County PEG TV YouTube Channel. Community members also can participate via Zoom.
The agenda can be found here.
Comments and questions can be submitted in writing for City Council consideration by sending them to Administrative Services Director/City Clerk Melissa Swanson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . You can also visit the city’s town hall site and submit written comments at https://www.opentownhall.com/portals/327/forum_home. Identify the subject you wish to comment on in your email’s subject line or in your town hall submission.
To give the council adequate time to review your questions and comments, please submit your written comments prior to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 21.
On Thursday, the council will meet one of January’s adoptable dogs.
Under business, council members will consider creating an ad hoc committee to review the creation of a youth sports complex and confirm Mayor Dirk Slooten’s appointments to the committee.
The center would be located on a 31-acre property the city purchased late last year.
Also on Thursday, Police Chief Andrew White will seek the council’s direction regarding the issuance of concealed weapon permits, a matter Councilman Russell Perdock asked the council to consider.
White said the police department has engaged with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office to handle concealed weapons permitting so that its staff can be dedicated to other primary law enforcement functions.
He said there are 85 permits issued by the sheriff’s office to city residents. White said he and Sheriff Brian Martin have discussed opportunities to make the process more accessible to city residents without the Clearlake Police Department having to take on the entire process.
In other business, White will update the council on the Automated License Plate Recognition Program.
White’s written report explains, “Automated License Plate Recognition technology allows for the automated detection of license plates from video streams placed at fixed locations. It is used to convert data associated with vehicle license plates for official law enforcement purposes, including identifying stolen or wanted vehicles, stolen license plates and missing persons. It may also be used to gather information related to active warrants, homeland security, electronic surveillance, suspect interdiction and stolen property recovery. The International Association of Chiefs of Police estimates that 70 percent of all crimes involve the use of a motor vehicle.”
In September, the department began testing the technology and by December had 14 cameras strategically positioned around the city, White reported.
Since the testing began, White said the police department has recovered 20 stolen vehicles using the technology. “The technology has additionally provided valuable investigative leads, including in a drug related shooting, and resulted in the arrest of a subject wanted on an out of state kidnapping warrant,” White said.
Staff is requesting the council’s permission to add more cameras, not to exceed $60,000 annually.
The council also will consider submitting the recognized obligations payment schedules for both periods of fiscal year 2021-22.
On the meeting's consent agenda – items that are not considered controversial and are usually adopted on a single vote – are warrant registers; minutes of the December meetings; second reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 249-2021, amending Section 18-43.050 of the Clearlake Municipal Code relating to commercial cannabis businesses; approval of the Fair Political Practices Form 806 reporting public official appointments; adopt Resolution No. 2021-04 approving the application for Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Funds; Measure V Oversight Committee Resolution No. OC-2020-01; and consideration of acceptance of the property Located at 16564 4th Ave.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
The council will meet beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21.
Because of the county’s shelter in place order, Clearlake City Hall remains closed to the public, however, the virtual meeting will be broadcast live on the city's YouTube channel or the Lake County PEG TV YouTube Channel. Community members also can participate via Zoom.
The agenda can be found here.
Comments and questions can be submitted in writing for City Council consideration by sending them to Administrative Services Director/City Clerk Melissa Swanson at
To give the council adequate time to review your questions and comments, please submit your written comments prior to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 21.
On Thursday, the council will meet one of January’s adoptable dogs.
Under business, council members will consider creating an ad hoc committee to review the creation of a youth sports complex and confirm Mayor Dirk Slooten’s appointments to the committee.
The center would be located on a 31-acre property the city purchased late last year.
Also on Thursday, Police Chief Andrew White will seek the council’s direction regarding the issuance of concealed weapon permits, a matter Councilman Russell Perdock asked the council to consider.
White said the police department has engaged with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office to handle concealed weapons permitting so that its staff can be dedicated to other primary law enforcement functions.
He said there are 85 permits issued by the sheriff’s office to city residents. White said he and Sheriff Brian Martin have discussed opportunities to make the process more accessible to city residents without the Clearlake Police Department having to take on the entire process.
In other business, White will update the council on the Automated License Plate Recognition Program.
White’s written report explains, “Automated License Plate Recognition technology allows for the automated detection of license plates from video streams placed at fixed locations. It is used to convert data associated with vehicle license plates for official law enforcement purposes, including identifying stolen or wanted vehicles, stolen license plates and missing persons. It may also be used to gather information related to active warrants, homeland security, electronic surveillance, suspect interdiction and stolen property recovery. The International Association of Chiefs of Police estimates that 70 percent of all crimes involve the use of a motor vehicle.”
In September, the department began testing the technology and by December had 14 cameras strategically positioned around the city, White reported.
Since the testing began, White said the police department has recovered 20 stolen vehicles using the technology. “The technology has additionally provided valuable investigative leads, including in a drug related shooting, and resulted in the arrest of a subject wanted on an out of state kidnapping warrant,” White said.
Staff is requesting the council’s permission to add more cameras, not to exceed $60,000 annually.
The council also will consider submitting the recognized obligations payment schedules for both periods of fiscal year 2021-22.
On the meeting's consent agenda – items that are not considered controversial and are usually adopted on a single vote – are warrant registers; minutes of the December meetings; second reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 249-2021, amending Section 18-43.050 of the Clearlake Municipal Code relating to commercial cannabis businesses; approval of the Fair Political Practices Form 806 reporting public official appointments; adopt Resolution No. 2021-04 approving the application for Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Funds; Measure V Oversight Committee Resolution No. OC-2020-01; and consideration of acceptance of the property Located at 16564 4th Ave.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
On Thursday, Jan. 21, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) will hold a virtual town hall.
The town hall will take place from 7 to 8 p.m. Pacific Time.
It will be live-streamed on Thompson’s Facebook page.
District residents also can participate via Zoom. Interested participants must email Thompson’s office atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. in order to join, as the platform has a capacity of 500 people. Interested participants will be notified via email with instructions on how to join.
This will be the second virtual town hall of the 117th Congress and the 18nth in a series of virtual town halls since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
This is a general town hall, open to questions on all topics within Thompson’s jurisdiction as a Member of Congress.
All constituents of California’s Fifth Congressional District and members of the press are invited to join.
Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.
The town hall will take place from 7 to 8 p.m. Pacific Time.
It will be live-streamed on Thompson’s Facebook page.
District residents also can participate via Zoom. Interested participants must email Thompson’s office at
This will be the second virtual town hall of the 117th Congress and the 18nth in a series of virtual town halls since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
This is a general town hall, open to questions on all topics within Thompson’s jurisdiction as a Member of Congress.
All constituents of California’s Fifth Congressional District and members of the press are invited to join.
Thompson represents California’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Pacific Gas and Electric Co. said it is developing four temporary microgrids in Lake County designed to provide electricity to shared community resources and neighborhoods using temporary generators during future public safety power shutoff, or PSPS, events.
A temporary microgrid is a grouping of electric lines and infrastructure that PG&E can quickly isolate, or island, from the larger electric grid.
Electricity can be safely provided to customers within the microgrid when the surrounding lines need to be turned off for safety.
Though each temporary microgrid will vary in size and capability, they all include devices that can disconnect the temporary microgrid from the larger electrical grid and a predetermined space and connection equipment for a backup generator.
Two of the Lake County sites, both located in Clearlake, were completed and made operationally ready in November. PG&E said it intends to upgrade these sites in 2021 to allow for faster and more stable connections of temporary generators.
These sites include the Clearlake North temporary microgrid in the parking lot of the PG&E Customer Service Office at 14730 Olympic Drive in Clearlake.
The site will keep the Clearlake Police station, Lake County Fire Protection District’s Station 70, a pharmacy, gas stations, restaurants, markets, dental offices and medical facilities, among other businesses, community services and residences energized during future PSPS events impacting the area.
The Clearlake North temporary microgrid energization area includes approximately 3,200 customers in the communities surrounding Old Highway 53, west of Highway 53.
The Clearlake South temporary microgrid in the parking lot of the Lake County Campus of Woodland College off of the Dam Road Extension will keep Adventist Health Clear Lake Hospital, the Lake County Superior Court’s Clearlake Division, the Lake County Campus of Woodland Community College, restaurants and markets.
The Clearlake South temporary microgrid energization area includes approximately 35 customers in the vicinity of the Dam Road Extension, south of 18th Avenue and east of Highway 53.
Two additional temporary microgrid sites, in Middletown and Lucerne, are currently under construction.
PG&E anticipates completing construction on these two microgrid sites in mid-2021, subject to weather conditions or other factors outside of PG&E’s control.
The Middletown temporary microgrid, located at 21095 Barnes St., will serve medical facilities, schools, banks, restaurants, markets and gas stations.
The Middletown temporary microgrid energization area includes approximately 400 PG&E customers centered around Main Street/Highway 175 and extending from Sacramento Avenue in the west to Jefferson and Douglas Street in the southeast, bounded by Putah Creek to the northwest.
The Lucerne temporary microgrid will be located at 6325 East Highway 20, at the site of the former Lucerne Clubhouse.
It will serve the nearby Lucerne Elementary School, markets, Cal Water, Lake County Special Districts and local businesses.
The Lucerne temporary microgrid energization area includes approximately 900 PG&E customers centered around Highway 20 – between Foothill Drive to the north and 16th Street to the south – and extending to Country Club Drive to the east.
All of the temporary microgrid sites in Lake County were identified and selected through an extensive process involving the analysis of prior and potential future PSPS events, along with community feedback, overall feasibility and other utility work in the region that could reduce PSPS impacts.
“The microgrids in Lake County are among the many sites being developed across PG&E’s service area in 2021 as a part of the company’s comprehensive actions to reduce wildfire risks across our system and minimize the impact of public safety outages on our customers and communities,” said Debbie Powell, interim head, Electric Operations for PG&E.
PG&E currently has six temporary microgrid generation sites ready to use during PSPS events throughout its service area, including both Clearlake sites. Nine additional sites, including those in Lucerne and Middletown, are currently in development.
While performing this critical safety work during the COVID-19 pandemic, PG&E expects crews to maintain proper social distancing recommendations and wear protective equipment when necessary to help safeguard the health and safety of themselves and the general public.
PG&E customers in the vicinity of the construction sites will receive an automated, courtesy phone call from PG&E notifying them of the work taking place.
Customers who are within the temporary microgrid energization areas will receive a separate communication from PG&E, notifying them of their inclusion in the microgrid and informing them of how it will operate during a PSPS event.
While PG&E intends to make every effort to operate these microgrids during a PSPS event, PG&E is not able to guarantee electricity to all customers potentially served by a temporary microgrid during all PSPS conditions or scenarios due to a variety of operational considerations, including hazardous conditions like an ongoing wildfire or weather conditions that could pose a fire risk if lines were energized, a large PSPS event or multiple emergencies happening simultaneously that requires prioritizing generation to critical locations first, and equipment damage or mechanical failure.
List of PG&E temporary microgrid sites
Angwin, Napa County: Operational
Calistoga, Napa County: Operational
Clearlake North, Lake County: Operational
Clearlake South, Lake County: Operational
Placerville, El Dorado County: Operational
Shingletown, Shasta County: Operational
Arnold, Calaveras County: In development
Colfax, Placer County: In development
Foresthill, Placer County: In development
Georgetown, El Dorado County: In development
Groveland, Tuolumne County: In development
Lucerne, Lake County: In development
Magalia, Butte County: In development
Middletown, Lake County: In development
Pollock Pines, El Dorado County: In development
Other PG&E wildfire resiliency efforts
In addition to deploying temporary microgrids, which are primarily designed to keep shared community services energized, PG&E has made a number of improvements to make PSPS events less impactful for customers, including:
– Sectionalizing and grid reconfiguration: Installing more than 600 additional sectionalizing devices in 2020 capable of re-directing power and limiting the size of outages. PG&E also analyzed its grid configuration to ensure as few customers as possible are impacted by future PSPS events.
– Substation microgrids: PG&E’s substation microgrid solution is intended to reduce the impact of transmission-level PSPS events, which is when PG&E must turn off power to higher-voltage transmission lines for safety. Transmission-level shutoffs generally impact a larger number of customers—some in areas that are not directly experiencing the severe weather conditions related to a PSPS event. More than sixty existing substations – including five within Lake County – are now prepared to use mobile generators when needed to help keep power on for safe-to-energize customers nearby. PG&E identified these substations as having a higher likelihood of experiencing future PSPS events based on historical weather data and past PSPS events.
Learn more about PG&E’s wildfire safety efforts by visiting www.pge.com/wildfiresafety.
A temporary microgrid is a grouping of electric lines and infrastructure that PG&E can quickly isolate, or island, from the larger electric grid.
Electricity can be safely provided to customers within the microgrid when the surrounding lines need to be turned off for safety.
Though each temporary microgrid will vary in size and capability, they all include devices that can disconnect the temporary microgrid from the larger electrical grid and a predetermined space and connection equipment for a backup generator.
Two of the Lake County sites, both located in Clearlake, were completed and made operationally ready in November. PG&E said it intends to upgrade these sites in 2021 to allow for faster and more stable connections of temporary generators.
These sites include the Clearlake North temporary microgrid in the parking lot of the PG&E Customer Service Office at 14730 Olympic Drive in Clearlake.
The site will keep the Clearlake Police station, Lake County Fire Protection District’s Station 70, a pharmacy, gas stations, restaurants, markets, dental offices and medical facilities, among other businesses, community services and residences energized during future PSPS events impacting the area.
The Clearlake North temporary microgrid energization area includes approximately 3,200 customers in the communities surrounding Old Highway 53, west of Highway 53.
The Clearlake South temporary microgrid in the parking lot of the Lake County Campus of Woodland College off of the Dam Road Extension will keep Adventist Health Clear Lake Hospital, the Lake County Superior Court’s Clearlake Division, the Lake County Campus of Woodland Community College, restaurants and markets.
The Clearlake South temporary microgrid energization area includes approximately 35 customers in the vicinity of the Dam Road Extension, south of 18th Avenue and east of Highway 53.
Two additional temporary microgrid sites, in Middletown and Lucerne, are currently under construction.
PG&E anticipates completing construction on these two microgrid sites in mid-2021, subject to weather conditions or other factors outside of PG&E’s control.
The Middletown temporary microgrid, located at 21095 Barnes St., will serve medical facilities, schools, banks, restaurants, markets and gas stations.
The Middletown temporary microgrid energization area includes approximately 400 PG&E customers centered around Main Street/Highway 175 and extending from Sacramento Avenue in the west to Jefferson and Douglas Street in the southeast, bounded by Putah Creek to the northwest.
The Lucerne temporary microgrid will be located at 6325 East Highway 20, at the site of the former Lucerne Clubhouse.
It will serve the nearby Lucerne Elementary School, markets, Cal Water, Lake County Special Districts and local businesses.
The Lucerne temporary microgrid energization area includes approximately 900 PG&E customers centered around Highway 20 – between Foothill Drive to the north and 16th Street to the south – and extending to Country Club Drive to the east.
All of the temporary microgrid sites in Lake County were identified and selected through an extensive process involving the analysis of prior and potential future PSPS events, along with community feedback, overall feasibility and other utility work in the region that could reduce PSPS impacts.
“The microgrids in Lake County are among the many sites being developed across PG&E’s service area in 2021 as a part of the company’s comprehensive actions to reduce wildfire risks across our system and minimize the impact of public safety outages on our customers and communities,” said Debbie Powell, interim head, Electric Operations for PG&E.
PG&E currently has six temporary microgrid generation sites ready to use during PSPS events throughout its service area, including both Clearlake sites. Nine additional sites, including those in Lucerne and Middletown, are currently in development.
While performing this critical safety work during the COVID-19 pandemic, PG&E expects crews to maintain proper social distancing recommendations and wear protective equipment when necessary to help safeguard the health and safety of themselves and the general public.
PG&E customers in the vicinity of the construction sites will receive an automated, courtesy phone call from PG&E notifying them of the work taking place.
Customers who are within the temporary microgrid energization areas will receive a separate communication from PG&E, notifying them of their inclusion in the microgrid and informing them of how it will operate during a PSPS event.
While PG&E intends to make every effort to operate these microgrids during a PSPS event, PG&E is not able to guarantee electricity to all customers potentially served by a temporary microgrid during all PSPS conditions or scenarios due to a variety of operational considerations, including hazardous conditions like an ongoing wildfire or weather conditions that could pose a fire risk if lines were energized, a large PSPS event or multiple emergencies happening simultaneously that requires prioritizing generation to critical locations first, and equipment damage or mechanical failure.
List of PG&E temporary microgrid sites
Angwin, Napa County: Operational
Calistoga, Napa County: Operational
Clearlake North, Lake County: Operational
Clearlake South, Lake County: Operational
Placerville, El Dorado County: Operational
Shingletown, Shasta County: Operational
Arnold, Calaveras County: In development
Colfax, Placer County: In development
Foresthill, Placer County: In development
Georgetown, El Dorado County: In development
Groveland, Tuolumne County: In development
Lucerne, Lake County: In development
Magalia, Butte County: In development
Middletown, Lake County: In development
Pollock Pines, El Dorado County: In development
Other PG&E wildfire resiliency efforts
In addition to deploying temporary microgrids, which are primarily designed to keep shared community services energized, PG&E has made a number of improvements to make PSPS events less impactful for customers, including:
– Sectionalizing and grid reconfiguration: Installing more than 600 additional sectionalizing devices in 2020 capable of re-directing power and limiting the size of outages. PG&E also analyzed its grid configuration to ensure as few customers as possible are impacted by future PSPS events.
– Substation microgrids: PG&E’s substation microgrid solution is intended to reduce the impact of transmission-level PSPS events, which is when PG&E must turn off power to higher-voltage transmission lines for safety. Transmission-level shutoffs generally impact a larger number of customers—some in areas that are not directly experiencing the severe weather conditions related to a PSPS event. More than sixty existing substations – including five within Lake County – are now prepared to use mobile generators when needed to help keep power on for safe-to-energize customers nearby. PG&E identified these substations as having a higher likelihood of experiencing future PSPS events based on historical weather data and past PSPS events.
Learn more about PG&E’s wildfire safety efforts by visiting www.pge.com/wildfiresafety.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – High winds overnight led to downed trees and power poles around Lake County and fanned small vegetation fires that firefighters were able to contain.
The heavy winds impacting the county started Monday night and by 2 a.m. Tuesday the National Weather Service had issued a wind advisory for Lake County.
The advisory remains in effect until 10 p.m. Tuesday above 1,500 feet in elevation, with northeast winds of between 20 and 30 miles per hour and gusts of up to 60 miles per hour in the forecast.
As winds increased late Monday night, power lines were reported down on Lakeshore Drive between Pomo Road and Huntingdon Avenue in Clearlake.
The Clearlake Police Department put out a Nixle alert at 11:12 p.m. saying that Lakeshore Drive was closed in both directions and to avoid the area.
On the Northshore, firefighters responded to a report of a residential structure fire on Widgeon Way in Clearlake Oaks just before midnight.
Radio traffic indicated that firefighters initially were challenged in getting water connections at the site, and that all of the home’s residents got out and were uninjured.
At 12:20 a.m., there was a report of lines down in the area of the 8500 block of Bottle Rock Road in Kelseyville.
Shortly after 12:45 a.m., a fire was reported on Stone Drive that was burning at least one vehicle and threatening structures.
Just after 1:30 a.m., there was a report of a tree into power lines at 2550 Soda Bay Road, and about 10 minutes later a call came in reporting smoke and flames in the hills behind Country Club Mobile Home Park in Lucerne.
Firefighters were able to access the fire just before 2:45 a.m. on the Jones Ranch in Lucerne, based on radio traffic. A battalion chief had been unable to reach it from Bartlett Springs Road due to large trees that had fallen and were blocking the road.
The fire could be seen from other parts of the town as the wind hit it, causing it to flare up over a ridge.
It was reported to be three-quarters of an acre, burning in brush.
Issues with downed poles continued into the early morning, as firefighters reported finding five utility poles down on Highland Springs Road in Lakeport just after 2 a.m., which led to a closure of that road at the intersection with Highway 29, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Highlands Springs Road was expected to reopen shortly before 4 a.m., the CHP reported.
Another report of a downed utility line came in just after 3 a.m. in the area of Spurr Street and Bryce Court in Lakeport.
Pacific Gas and Electric’s online outage map showed several small power outages in Lakeport and Kelseyville overnight.
One outage began at 10:38 p.m. and impacted 22 customers, while 90 more were without power as of 10:47 p.m. At 1:43 a.m. 305 more customers in Kelseyville lost power.
The company did not have estimated times of restoration as of 3 a.m. Tuesday.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A Santa Rosa man has been arrested for a Saturday crash involving an off-highway vehicle at Indian Valley Reservoir that left a young woman dead.
The California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office said Juan Torres, 28, was arrested for driving under the influence during the Saturday afternoon crash that killed 19-year-old Athena Karan, also of Santa Rosa.
The CHP said that at 4:33 p.m. Torres was driving his 2019 Honda Talon off-highway vehicle, or OHV, in the Indian Valley Reservoir area.
Riding with him was I. Rubio Velasquez, 22, of Santa Rosa, who was in the right seat, with Karan seated on her lap, the CHP said.
Torres was traveling in an easterly direction within the reservoir when he went over a large dip in the roadway, causing him to lose control of the vehicle, according to the report.
The CHP said the OHV subsequently rolled over, ejecting Karan, who sustained major injuries when she hit the ground and subsequently succumbed to her injuries at the scene.
Officer Greg Buchholz arrived on scene and determined that Torres, who suffered minor injuries, was operating the OHV while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage, the CHP said. Torres subsequently was placed under arrest and booked into the Lake County Jail.
The CHP said Velasquez sustained minor injuries and was transported by ambulance to Sutter Lakeside Hospital.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
The California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office said Juan Torres, 28, was arrested for driving under the influence during the Saturday afternoon crash that killed 19-year-old Athena Karan, also of Santa Rosa.
The CHP said that at 4:33 p.m. Torres was driving his 2019 Honda Talon off-highway vehicle, or OHV, in the Indian Valley Reservoir area.
Riding with him was I. Rubio Velasquez, 22, of Santa Rosa, who was in the right seat, with Karan seated on her lap, the CHP said.
Torres was traveling in an easterly direction within the reservoir when he went over a large dip in the roadway, causing him to lose control of the vehicle, according to the report.
The CHP said the OHV subsequently rolled over, ejecting Karan, who sustained major injuries when she hit the ground and subsequently succumbed to her injuries at the scene.
Officer Greg Buchholz arrived on scene and determined that Torres, who suffered minor injuries, was operating the OHV while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage, the CHP said. Torres subsequently was placed under arrest and booked into the Lake County Jail.
The CHP said Velasquez sustained minor injuries and was transported by ambulance to Sutter Lakeside Hospital.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – As part of a statewide effort to address climate change, the Scotts Valley Energy Co. – a business enterprise of the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians – was awarded a Tribal Government Challenge Planning Grant to create a bioenergy feasibility toolkit to assist other tribes and businesses in determining energy resiliency needs and provide another tool for wildfire mitigation efforts.
The Scotts Valley Energy Co., or SVEC, is bringing the first bioenergy/biochar production facility to its tribal lands in Lake County, said Tribal Chairman Shawn Davis.
Davis said the facility will utilize waste woody biomass mitigated from high fire threat areas or previously burned areas to create sustainable, clean electricity as well as produce biochar – a soil amendment used in agricultural production to improve soil moisture and nutrient retention lessening the amounts of water and fertilizer used which in turn will help better protect the environment.
“Additionally, this new technology – which produces no smoke or particulates, can help lessen the amount of open-pile burning that currently occurs on agricultural and forested lands releasing carbon and smoke,” said Davis.
The grant award in the amount of $248,000 will allow SVEC to create a feasibility toolkit that will allow tribes and other large businesses to determine energy usage, resource availability, micro-grid options, biomass fuel requirements and more.
“California recognizes the leadership of tribes in advancing strong clean air standards as well as
ambitious climate and energy goals,” said Christina Snider, tribal advisor to Gov. Gavin Newsom. “These grants provide opportunities to focus on new Tribal climate and energy planning activities.”
Funded by the California Energy Commission, or CEC, and administered in partnership with the California Strategic Growth Council, or SGC, the program focuses on the unique needs of tribal governments and the valuable ongoing role tribes serve in helping the state achieve its climate goals.
“The CEC is proud to provide funding to support Tribal climate leadership through this unique initiative,” said CEC Commissioner Karen Douglas. “These tribally-driven projects will bring important research and technological gains while helping ensure all communities benefit from access to the state’s clean energy investments.”
The grants range from $215,000 to $250,000 and support planning for a variety of climate change and clean energy projects, including energy storage, renewables, biomass, and community and energy resilience to climate impacts.
“The California Strategic Growth Council Team looks forward to building relationships and collaborating with the Tribal Government Challenge grantees to ensure projects advance Tribes’ goals and priorities around climate change, energy, and resilience,” said Louise Bedsworth, SGC’s executive director. “We commend all of the applicants for submitting thoughtful proposals and are eager to support the awardees as they begin their planning processes.”
“With over 100 federally recognized Tribes in Northern California, all of which live under the threat of catastrophic wildfire and the need for reliable, clean, and sustainable energy, we see SVEC’s small-scale bioenergy/biochar production facilities as a possible key to solve many issues facing Indian Country today, said Thomas Jordan, CEO of SVEC. “We look forward to the opportunity to create a feasibility toolkit for other tribes to make informed energy decisions.”
In addition to the Scotts Valley Energy Co., another enterprise of the Scotts Valley Band of
Pomo Indians is The Clean Carbon Co., or T3, which will take in the biochar created by the SVEC facilities and process it into activated charcoal, thanks to a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This activated charcoal will be used in the production of much-needed N-95 respirators, and also can be used in drinking water filtration systems.
The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians said it takes the threat of hazardous fuels reduction to mitigate the threat of wildfires very seriously as the tribe – and all residents of the county – have seen more than 60 percent of Lake County landmass burn in catastrophic wildfires over the past six years.
Another way they are helping to address this issue is by co-creating the not for profit Tribal EcoRestoration Alliance, which is a cross-cultural, multi-organizational collaborative that works to revitalize ecology, economy, and culture through indigenous-led stewardship including restoration work that mitigates the impacts of climate change and reduces the risk of uncharacteristic wildfires and incorporates traditional ecological knowledge.
The Tribal Government Challenge Program is also supporting a Statewide Gap Analysis to provide an assessment of tribes’ clean energy and climate change adaptation and resilience priorities. The analysis is led by Glendora-based firm Prosper Sustainability along with a consulting team including tribal professionals, and women- and Native American-owned businesses, all with extensive experience working with California Native American Tribes.
Tribal Government Challenge Planning Grant awardees include:
• The Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians (Lake County)
• The Karuk Tribe (Siskiyou County)
• The Kashia Band of Pomo Indians (Sonoma County)
• The Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California (Lake County)
• The Pit River Tribe (Shasta, Siskiyou, Modoc, and Lassen Counties)
• The Pala Band of Mission Indians, the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians, and the San Pasqual Band
of Mission Indians (San Diego County)
• The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians (Lake County)
• The Tule River Tribe (Tulare County)
The Scotts Valley Energy Co., or SVEC, is bringing the first bioenergy/biochar production facility to its tribal lands in Lake County, said Tribal Chairman Shawn Davis.
Davis said the facility will utilize waste woody biomass mitigated from high fire threat areas or previously burned areas to create sustainable, clean electricity as well as produce biochar – a soil amendment used in agricultural production to improve soil moisture and nutrient retention lessening the amounts of water and fertilizer used which in turn will help better protect the environment.
“Additionally, this new technology – which produces no smoke or particulates, can help lessen the amount of open-pile burning that currently occurs on agricultural and forested lands releasing carbon and smoke,” said Davis.
The grant award in the amount of $248,000 will allow SVEC to create a feasibility toolkit that will allow tribes and other large businesses to determine energy usage, resource availability, micro-grid options, biomass fuel requirements and more.
“California recognizes the leadership of tribes in advancing strong clean air standards as well as
ambitious climate and energy goals,” said Christina Snider, tribal advisor to Gov. Gavin Newsom. “These grants provide opportunities to focus on new Tribal climate and energy planning activities.”
Funded by the California Energy Commission, or CEC, and administered in partnership with the California Strategic Growth Council, or SGC, the program focuses on the unique needs of tribal governments and the valuable ongoing role tribes serve in helping the state achieve its climate goals.
“The CEC is proud to provide funding to support Tribal climate leadership through this unique initiative,” said CEC Commissioner Karen Douglas. “These tribally-driven projects will bring important research and technological gains while helping ensure all communities benefit from access to the state’s clean energy investments.”
The grants range from $215,000 to $250,000 and support planning for a variety of climate change and clean energy projects, including energy storage, renewables, biomass, and community and energy resilience to climate impacts.
“The California Strategic Growth Council Team looks forward to building relationships and collaborating with the Tribal Government Challenge grantees to ensure projects advance Tribes’ goals and priorities around climate change, energy, and resilience,” said Louise Bedsworth, SGC’s executive director. “We commend all of the applicants for submitting thoughtful proposals and are eager to support the awardees as they begin their planning processes.”
“With over 100 federally recognized Tribes in Northern California, all of which live under the threat of catastrophic wildfire and the need for reliable, clean, and sustainable energy, we see SVEC’s small-scale bioenergy/biochar production facilities as a possible key to solve many issues facing Indian Country today, said Thomas Jordan, CEO of SVEC. “We look forward to the opportunity to create a feasibility toolkit for other tribes to make informed energy decisions.”
In addition to the Scotts Valley Energy Co., another enterprise of the Scotts Valley Band of
Pomo Indians is The Clean Carbon Co., or T3, which will take in the biochar created by the SVEC facilities and process it into activated charcoal, thanks to a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This activated charcoal will be used in the production of much-needed N-95 respirators, and also can be used in drinking water filtration systems.
The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians said it takes the threat of hazardous fuels reduction to mitigate the threat of wildfires very seriously as the tribe – and all residents of the county – have seen more than 60 percent of Lake County landmass burn in catastrophic wildfires over the past six years.
Another way they are helping to address this issue is by co-creating the not for profit Tribal EcoRestoration Alliance, which is a cross-cultural, multi-organizational collaborative that works to revitalize ecology, economy, and culture through indigenous-led stewardship including restoration work that mitigates the impacts of climate change and reduces the risk of uncharacteristic wildfires and incorporates traditional ecological knowledge.
The Tribal Government Challenge Program is also supporting a Statewide Gap Analysis to provide an assessment of tribes’ clean energy and climate change adaptation and resilience priorities. The analysis is led by Glendora-based firm Prosper Sustainability along with a consulting team including tribal professionals, and women- and Native American-owned businesses, all with extensive experience working with California Native American Tribes.
Tribal Government Challenge Planning Grant awardees include:
• The Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians (Lake County)
• The Karuk Tribe (Siskiyou County)
• The Kashia Band of Pomo Indians (Sonoma County)
• The Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California (Lake County)
• The Pit River Tribe (Shasta, Siskiyou, Modoc, and Lassen Counties)
• The Pala Band of Mission Indians, the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians, and the San Pasqual Band
of Mission Indians (San Diego County)
• The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians (Lake County)
• The Tule River Tribe (Tulare County)