February 9, 2024

RCRC Delegation Visits Washington D.C

This week, RCRC delegates, including RCRC Chair, Monterey County Supervisor Chris Lopez; RCRC 1st Vice Chair, Modoc County Supervisor Geri Byrne; RCRC Immediate Past Chair, Butte County Supervisor Doug Teeter; and RCRC Board Members Sierra County Supervisor Lee Adams, and Napa County Supervisor Anne Cottrell, are engaged in productive discussions in Washington D.C. as they meet with Congress Members and Federal Agency leaders on Capitol Hill, to raise awareness of challenges and opportunities in California's rural communities.


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Bill of the Week: Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program Establishment Act (Padilla)


RCRC has expressed support for the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program Establishment Act, recently introduced by U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, which would establish a national, low-income water assistance program.  


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RCRC Opposes AT&T Application to Discontinue Landline Service and Abandon “Carrier of Last Resort” Responsibility

This week, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) began a series of public hearings to receive customer input regarding AT&T’s pending Application to discontinue copper landline phone service. 


RCRC opposes AT&T’s Application and is a formal party to this proceeding. Several rural counties have already joined in the opposition, providing comment letters to the CPUC. RCRC encourages impacted counties to submit comments. Read More

RCRC and CSAC to Join Panel for California Energy Commission Workshop on Battery Storage Projects

On February 23rd, the California Energy Commission (CEC) is hosting a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Workshop, focusing on large-scale, stand-alone lithium-ion BESS systems serving the electric grid. Read More

DOI Launches Pilot Program to Strengthen Local Governments’ Wildfire Response

On February 6th, the Department of the Interior (DOI) launched a pilot program to strengthen local governments’ wildfire response by converting vehicles to wildland fire engines. This program – funded with an initial $5 million investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – will help small, remote emergency response agencies quickly expand their wildfire response capacity as they continue to face the impacts of climate change, drought, and intensifying wildfires. Read More

Bulletin Board

Announcements regarding hearings, grants, and public comment notices of importance to California's rural counties. View the Bulletin Board Here

Weekly News Clips

RCRC press releases and related news clips about RCRC and our member counties. Please note that a subscription may be required to read some external publications.

Still love your landline? Phone service providers are getting closer to phasing it out

-CNN Business

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has scheduled three in-person meetings and virtual public forums to provide AT&T customers the opportunity to engage in discussions regarding the potential discontinuation of copper landline phone service throughout the state. RCRC President and CEO Patrick Blacklock is quoted regarding RCRC’s serious concerns with AT&T’s application.

New California Senate leader says his priorities are climate change, homelessness and opioid crises

-Assocated Press


RCRC Board Chair and Monterey County Supervisor Chris Lopez was highlighted in a recent article discussing California Senator Mike McGuire and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, emphasizing the significance of having lawmakers from rural areas lead both chambers of the Legislature.

California’s trees are dying in droves. Tahoe is at the epicenter

-San Francisco Chronicle


California’s forests continue to see mass die-offs of trees as a result of too little water, insect infestation and disease. But last year’s wet winter provided at least some relief, new federal data shows. Roughly 28.8 million trees died statewide in 2023, according to the U.S. Forest Service’s annual aerial survey. The central Sierra Nevada, including the Lake Tahoe basin, and the state’s far north experienced the brunt of the mortality.

Legislative Update

Capitol

Click "Read More" to access information related to the current status of legislation impacting California's rural counties. Read More

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