Back in 2015, California’s dry earth was crunching under a fourth year of drought. Then-gov. Jerry Brown ordered an unprecedented 25% reduction in home water use. Farmers, who use the most water, volunteered to avoid deeper, mandatory cuts.
Brown also set a goal for the state to get half of its energy from renewable sources, with climate change bearing down.
kAm*6E H96? y@C52? w2CC:D 2?5 #@3:? #2; H6?E<:?8 @? 5@@CD H:E9 2? :562 E92E 255C6DD6D 3@E9 H2E6C =@DD 2?5 4=:>2E6 A@==FE:@? — :?DE2==:?8 D@=2C A2?6=D @G6C :CC:82E:@? 42?2=D — E96J 4@F=5?VE 86E 2?J@?6 E@4@>>:E]k^Am
kAmu2DE 7@CH2C5 6:89E J62CD](:E9 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E]4@^Ap5E8#g#(wQm56G2DE2E:?8 962Ek^2m[ C64@C53C62<:?8 H:=57:C6[ =@@>:?8 4C:D:D @? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^4@=@C25@C:G6C2C:K@?242=:7@C?:2?6G2525C@F89E4=:>2E6492?86gd3734eb374edh_e`b33`cabcf6`2_`cQmE96 r@=@C25@ #:G6 Ck^2m[ 2 8C@H:?8 4@>>:E>6?E E@ 7:89E:?8 4=:>2E6 492?86[ 2?5 2 =:EE=6 3:E @7 >@G6>6?E3F:=5:?8[ E96:C 4@>A2?J $@=2C pBF2vC:5 2?5 A2CE?6CD 2C6 AC6A2C:?8 E@ 3C62< 8C@F?5 @? E96 7:CDE D@=2C4@G6C65 42?2= AC@;64E :? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D]k^Am
kAm“p== @7 E96D6 4@>:?8 E@86E96C 2E E9:D >@>6?E[Q w2CC:D D2:5] xD E96C6 2 >@C6 AC6DD:?8 DDF6 : E92E H6 4@F=5 2AA=J @FC E:>6 E@nQk^Am
kAm%96 :562 :DD:>A=6i :?DE2== D@=2C A2?6=D @G6C 42?2=D 😕 DF??J[ H2E6CD42C46 C68:@?D H96C6 E96J C65F46 6G2A@C2E:@? 2?5 >2<6 6=64EC:4:EJ]k^Am
kAmp k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?2EFC6]4@>^2CE:4=6D^Dc`ghb_a`__ehbgQmDEF5Jk^2m 3J E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 r2=:7@C?:2|6C465 8:G6D 2 3@@DE E@ E96 :5 62[ 6DE:>2E:?8 E92E eb 3:==:@? 82==@?D @7 H2E6C 4@F=5 36 D2G65 3J 4@G6C:?8 r2=:7@C?:2VD c[___ >:=6D @7 42?2=D] #6D62C496CD 36=:6G6 E92E >F49 :?DE2==65 D@=2C H@F=5 2=D@ 86?6C2E6 2 D:8?:7:42?E 2>@F?E @7 6=64EC:4:EJ]k^Am
kAmqFE E92EVD 2? 6DE:>2E6 — ?6:E96C:E[ ?@C @E96C A@E6?E:2= 36?67:ED 92G6 366? E6DE65 D4:6?E:7:42==J] %92EVD 23@FE E@ 492.86 H:E9 !C@;64E }6IFD 😕 r2=:7@C?:2VD r6?EC2= ‘2==6J]k^Am
kAmq&x{sx}v |~|t}%&|k^Am
kAm$@=2C @? 42?2=D 92D =@?8 366? 5:D4FDD65 2D 2EH@7@C@?6 D@=FE:@? 😕 r2=:7@C?:2[ H96C6 277@C523=6 =2?5 7@C 6?6C8J 56G6=@A>6?E 😀 2D D42C46 2D H2E6C] qFE E96 8C2?5 :562 H2D DE:== 2 9JA@E96E:42=]k^Am
kAmw2CC:D[ 2 7@C>6C C64@C5 =236= 6I64FE:G6[ 4@7@F?565 “#@4< E96 '@E6[” E96 G@E6C C68:DEC2E:@? AFD9 :? E96 62C=J `hh_D[ 2?5 #2; @C82?:K65 D@4:2==J C6DA@?D:3=6 2?5 DFDE2:?23:=:EJ 42>A2:8?D 7@C 3FD:?6DD6D] %96J 6H E92E A6@A=6 ?66565 2 ?F586 :562==J @?6 7C@> 2 ECFDE65 D@FC46]k^Am
kAm%96J E9@F89E C6D62C49 7C@> 2 C6AFE23=6 :?DE:EFE:@? >:89E 5 @ E96 EC:4<[ 2?5 8@E 7F?5:?8 7@C &r |6C465 E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?2EFC6]4@>^2CE:4=6D^Dc`ghb_a`__ehbgQmDEF5Jk^2m E96 :>A24E @7 D@=2C4@G6C6542?2=D 😕 r2=:7@C?:2]k^Am
kAm%96 DEF5JVD C6DF=ED 92G6 E2<6? @77]k^Am
kAm%96J C624965 v@G6C?@C v2G:? }@6HD>[ H9@ 42==65 (256 rC@H7@@E[ 9:D D64C6E2CJ @7 ?2EFC2= C6D@FC46D]k^Am
kAm “{6EVD 86E E9:D 😕 E96 8C@F?5 2?5 D66 H92EVD A@DD:3=6[” rC@H7@@E C642==65 E96 8@G6C?@C D2J:?8]k^Am
kAmpC@F?5 E96 D2>6 E:>6[ E96 %FC=@4< xCC:82E:@? s:DEC:4E[ 2? 6?E:EJ E92E 2=D@ AC@G:56D A@H6C[ C624965 @FE E@ &r |6C465] xE H2D =@@<:?8 E@ 3F:=5 2 D@=2C AC@;64E E@ 4@>A=JH:E9 E96 DE2E6VD :?4C62D65 8@2= @7 `__T C6?6H23=6 6?6C8J 3J a_cd]qFE =2?5 H2D G6CJ 6IA6?D:G6[ D@ 3F:=5:?8 2E@A 6I:DE:?8 :?7C2DECF4EFC6 H2D 2AA62=:?8] 96%? E96C6 H2D E96 AC@DA64E E92E D9256 7C@> A2?6=D >:89E C65F46 H665D 8C@H:?8 😕 E96 42?2=D — 2 AC@3=6> E92E 4@DED E9:D FE:=:EJ S` >:==:@? 2??F2==J]k^Am
kAm“&?E:= E9:D &r |6C465 A2A6C 42>6 @FE[ H6 ?6G6C C62==J D2H H92E E9@D6 4@36?67:ED H@F=5 36[” D2:5 y@D9 (6:>6C[ 6IE6C?2= 2772:CD >2?286C 7@C E96 5:DEC:4E] Qx7 D@>63@5J H2D 8@:?8 E@ A:=@E E9:D 4@?46AE[ H6 H2?E65 E@ >2<6 DFC6 :E H2D FD]“k^Am.”
kAm%96 DE2E6 4@>>:EE65 Sa_ >:==:@? 😕 AF3=:4 7F?5D[ EFC?:?8 E96 A:=@E :?E@ 2 E9C66A2CEJ 4@==23@C2E:@? 2>@?8 E96 AC:G2E6[ AF3=:4 2?5 24256>:4 D64E@CD] p3@FE `]e >:=6D Wa]e <:=@>6E6CDX @7 42?2=D36EH66? a_ 2?5 “_ 766E H:56 H:== 36 4@G6C65 H:E9 D@=2C A2?6=D 36EH66? 7:G6 2?5 `d 766E @77 E96 8C@F?5]k^Am
kAm%96 &r |6C465 E62> H:== DEF5J :>A24ED C2?8:?8 7C@> 6G2A@C2E:@? E@H2E6CBF2=:EJ[ D2:5 qC2?5: |4zF:?[ =625 C6D62C496C @? E96 DEF5J]k^Am
kAm”(6 ?665 E@ 86E E@ E96 962CE @7 E9@D6 BF6DE:@?D 367@C6 H6 >2<6 2?J C64@>>6?52E:@?D 23@FE 9@HE@ 5@E9:D >@C6 H:56=J[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm{t$$~}${tp#}ts pq#~psk^Am
kAmr2=:7@C?:2 :D?VE 7:CDE H:E9 E9:D E649?@=@8J]x?5:2 A:@?66C65 :E @? @?6 @7 E96 =2C86DE :CC:82E:@? AC@;64ED 😕 E96 H@C=5]%96 $2C52C $2C@G2C 52> 2?5 42?2= AC@;64E 3C:?8D H2E6C E@9F?5C65D @7 E9@FD2?5D @7 G:==286D 😕 E96 5CJ[ 2C:5 C68:@?D @7 H6DE6C? x?5:2’D vF;2C2E DE2E6]k^Am
kAm%96?49:67 >:?:DE6C @7 vF;2C2E DE2E6[ }2C6?5C2 |@5:[ ?@H E96 4@F?ECJ’D AC:>6 >:?:DE6C[ :?2F8FC2E65 :E 😕 a_`a H:E9 >F49 72?72C6] $F? t5:D@?[ E96 6?8:?66C:?8 7:C>[ AC@>:D65 `h[___ <> W“[g__ >:=6DX @7 D@=2C 42?2=D] qFE @?=J 2 92?57F= @7 D>2==6C AC@;64ED 92G6 8@?6 FA D:?46]%96 7:C> 7:=65 7@C 32?
kAm “%96 42A:E2= 4@DED 2C6 C62==J 9:89[ 2?5 >2:?E6?2?46 😀 2? :DDF6[” D2:5 y2J5:A !2C>2C 2? 6?8:?66C 😕 vF;2C2E H9@ @G6CD66D D6G6C2= D>2== D@=2C 42?2= AC@;64ED]k^Am
kAm(:E9 2>A=6 2C:5 =2?5[ 8C@F?532D65 D@=2C >2<6D >@C6 D6?D6 E96C6 64@?@>:42==J[ 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmr=F?
kAmq24 < :? r2=:7@C?:2[w2CC:DE@@[w2CC:DE@@< ?@E6 @7 x?5:2VD 6IA6C:6?46[ 2?5 3682? 2 D62C49 7@C 2 36EE6C D@=FE:@?] %96 AC@;64E E96C6 H:== FD6 36EE6C >2E6C:2=D 2?5 D:E 9:896C]k^Am
kAm}t)% $%t!$k^Am
kAm!C@;64E }6IFD >2J ?@E 36 2=@?6 7@C =@?8]%96 v:=2 #:G6C x?5:2? r@>>F?:EJ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]2K46?EC2=]4@>^DE@CJ^?6HD^=@42=^2C:K@?26?G:C@?>6?E^a_ab^_c^_e^8:=2C:G6CEC:3686EDabb>:==:@?H2E 6C4@?D6CG2E:@?:?7C2DECF4EFC6^f__g`b`h__f^QmC646:G65 7F?5:?8k^2m 7C@> E96 q:A2CE:D2? x?7C2DECF4EFC6 {2H E@ :?DE2== D@=2C @? E96:C 42?2=D:? 2? 677@CE E@ D2G6 H2E6C E@ 62D6 DEC6DD @? E96 r@=@C25@#:G6C]p?5 @?6 @7 pC:K@?2VD =2C86DE H2E6C 2?5 A@H6C FE:=:E:6D[ E96 $2=E #:G6C !C@;64E[ 😀 DEF5J:?8 E96 E649?@=@8J 2=@?8D:56 pC:K@?2 $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ]k^Am
kAm$E:==[ C2A:5 492?86 :D?’E 6I24E=J 6>3C2465 😕 E96 H@C=5 @7 H2E6C :?7C2DECF4EFC6[ D2:5 #6AC6D6?E2E:G6 y2C65 wF77>2?[ sr2=:7]k^Am
kAm”xE’D 2? @DD:7:65 32DE:@? @7 DE@58J @=5 6?8:?66CD[” 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmwF77>2? 92D 366? E2=<:?8 FA E96 E649?@=@8J 7@C 2=>@DE 2 564256[ 2?5 D2:5 96 7:?5D 7@=
kAmw6 AFD965 2 Sad >:==:@? AC@G:D:@? E9C@F89 =2DE J62CVD k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4@?8C6DD]8@G^3:==^“fE94@?8C6DD^9@FD63:==^dbfe^E6IEvtiTa_6?FDQmx?7=2E:@? #65F4E:@? p4Ek^2m E@ 7F?5 2 A:=@E AC@;64E 7@C E96 qFC62F @7 #64=2>2E:@?]!C@;64E D:E6D 7@C E92E @?6 2C6 4FCC6?E=J 36:?8 6G2=F2E65]k^Am
kAmp?5 2 8C@FA @7 >@C6 E92? `__4=:>2E6 25G@424J 8C@FAD[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 r6?E6C 7@C q:@=@8:42= s:G6CD:EJ 2?5 vC66?A6246[ 92G6 ?@H D6?E 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]3:@=@8:42=5:G6CD:EJ]@C8^AC@8C2>D^6?6C8J;FDE:46^A57D^vC@FA{6EE6CE@qFC62F@7#64=2>2E:@?@?$@=2Cr2?2=x?:E:2E:G6]A57Qm=6EE6C k^2m E@ x?E6C:@C $64C6E2CJ s63 w22=2?5 2?5 qFC62F r@>>:DD:@?6C r2>:==6 %@FE@? FC8:?8 E96> “E@ 2446=6C2E6 E96 H:56DAC625 56A=@J>6?E @7 D@=2C A9@E@G@=E2:4 6?6C8J DJDE6>DQ 23@G6 E96 qFC62F’D 42?2=D 2.5 2BF65F4ED]r@G6C: ?8 2== g[___ >:=6D @7 qFC62F@H?65 42?2=D 2?5 2BF65F4ED 4@F=5 “86?6C2E6 @G6C ad 8:82H2EED @7 C6?6H23=6 6?6C8J — 6?@F89 E@ A@H6C ?62C=J a_ >:==:@? 9@>6D — 2?5 C65F46 H2E6C 6G2A@C2E:@? 3J E6?D @7 3:==:@?D @7 82==@?D]“k^Am.”
kAmr@G6C:?8 6G6CJ 42?2= H@F=5 36:562=[ wF77>2? D2:5[ 3FE DE2CE:?8 H:E9 E96 r2=:7@C?:2 pBF65F4E 2?5 E96 s6=E2 |6?5@E2 42?2=[ Q:E’D 2 C62==J 4@>A6==:?8 42D6[Q 96 D2:5] EVD 23@FE E:>6 E92E H6 DE2CE65 5@:?8 E9:D]“k^Am
k9C^m
kAm%9:D DE@CJ H2D 7:CDE AF3=:D965 @? yF=J a_[ a_ab 2?5 H2D FA52E65 @? yF=J a`[ a_ab E@ 4@CC64E E96 6CC@?6@FD DE2E6>6?E E92E A2?6=D @G6C r2=:7@C?:2’D 42?2=D 4@F=5 AC@G:56 `b 8:82H2EED @7 A@H6C[ 6?@F89 E@ DFAA=J E96 4:EJ @7 {@D p?86=6D 7C@> y2?F2CJ E9C@F89 ~4E@36C] %96 AC@A6C E6C> @7 <62DFC6>6?EH@F=5 92G6 366? 8:82H2EE9@FCD C2E96C E92? 8:82H2EED[ 3FE 255:E:@?2==J[ C6D62C496CD ?@H D2J E96 E@E2= 2>@F?E @7 6?6C8J E92E H@F=5 36 86?6C2E65 92D ?@E J6E 366? D4:6?E:7:42==J 6DE:>2E65]k^Am
k9C^m
kAmpC2DF C6A@CE65 7C@> q6?82=FCF[ x?5:2]k^Am
kAm000 %96 pDD@4:2E65 C646:G6D @4:2E65 ! C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C 2== 4@?E6?E]u@C 2== @7 p!’D 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 4@G6C286[ G:D:E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^9F3^4=:>2E62?56?G:C@?>6?EQm9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^9F3^4=:>2E62?56?G:C@?>6?Ek^2mk^Am
.