The Daily Catch: Bay Area headlines

• Feds eliminate funds for California high speed rail
  By Alison Hawkes 

  04/13/2011

  As Congress took an ax to many federal programs this past week, high-speed rail made the list. Federal officials stripped all funding — $2.5 billion — for California’s bullet train project. California needs at least $14 billion from Uncle Sam to complete the more than 500 mile line and can’t even lay the first tracks without some aid. California rail officials think they’ll get a chunk of the money Florida abandoned earlier this year for high-speed rail, but without federal aid California will have to look to the private sector, state and local governments, or put the project on hold. [...]

• KQED interviews Wayne Pacelle about his book “The Bond”
  By Victoria Schlesinger 

  04/12/2011

  The president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, Wayne Pacelle, was interviewed on KQED’s Forum this morning about his new book on the relationship between animals and people, titled “The Bond.” There were some interesting caller questions about everything from Michael Vick and Bay Area leash laws to foie gras and the difference between the national and local humane societies. [Hear more - KQED Forum]

• Bay Area most prepared in nation for climate change
  By Victoria Schlesinger 

  04/12/2011

  According to a new report by the National Center for Atmospheric Research, California cities are the most prepared nationwide to handle the changes wrought by global warming. The Bay Area, and specifically San Mateo County, are moving ahead with “vulnerability assessments,” putting them at the front of the pack on climate change adaptation in the U.S. [Read more - KQED Climate Watch]

• Highest gas prices in the nation don’t stop Bay Area drivers
  By Victoria Schlesinger 

  04/12/2011

  Bay Area drivers are paying an average of $4.22 per gallon of gas, the most expensive in the country, but that has not reduced traffic, say bridge toll officials. [Read more - The Bay Citizen]

• BrightSource gets $1.6 to finish largest solar thermal project in the world
  By Victoria Schlesinger 

  04/12/2011

  Oakland-based solar company, BrightSource Energy, announced that it has finalized $1.6 billion in loans to finish its 392 MW solar project in the Mojave Desert. Some $168 million of that comes from Google. Upon completion the Ivanpah project in San Bernardino County would be the largest solar thermal project in the world. [Read more - San Jose Mercury News]

• San Francisco Board of Sups discussing controversial leash laws today
  By Victoria Schlesinger 

  04/12/2011

  After the tsunami in Japan closed many of the Bay Area’s coastal national parks, causing dog owners to cluster at the few remaining open beaches, San Francisco Board Supervisor Scott Wiener said at a committee hearing that it was a preview of life to come should new leash laws go into effect. Today the National Park Service’s proposed restriction on off-leash dogs will be reviewed by the full board. [Read more - SF Appeal]

• Mega companies that are influencing clean energy
  By Victoria Schlesinger 

  04/11/2011

  In some cases big companies can do as much, or more, than government to propel us into a green energy future. Greentech media looks at ten giant conglomerates that are changing the market, including the Bay Area’s very own Netflix. Who would have thought that downloading movies could be our eco-salvation. [Read more - Greentech Media]

• Aging oil and gas wells could contaminate drinking water
  By Victoria Schlesinger 

  04/11/2011

  A topnotch piece of journalism about the threat old oil and gas wells pose to the nation’s drinking water is well worth the read. A 2008 report by the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission found nearly 60,000 “orphan wells” that need to be plugged. While the story focuses on Pennsylvania, you’ll recall that the Bay Area’s Solano County is awash in aging gas wells. [Read more - Scientific American]

• Journalist Charles Fishman talks about water on KQED
  By Victoria Schlesinger 

  04/11/2011

  Investigative journalist Charles Fishman will speak with NPR’s Terry Gross today about his new book The Big Thirst, which looks at our relationship to water and how it’s going to change in the coming decades. Fishman is best known for his book The Wal-Mart Effect. The interview airs at 1pm and 7pm on KQED. [Read more - KQED Fresh Air]

• Goose stepping takes on a whole new meaning in regional parks
  By Victoria Schlesinger 

  04/11/2011

  Now that we’re all flocking to our nearest park to spread out a blanket and soak up the Spring weather, we’re reminded of the Canadian Goose problem and the unsettling fact that an adult goose can produce between 1 and 2 pounds of droppings a day. The Mercury News has an interesting run down on ways regional parks are trying to contain the problem.  [Read more - San Jose Mercury News]

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