Employment Training Panel approves $775K for Sacramento-area employers
The program is funded by the Employment Training Panel tax paid by California employers and focuses on companies facing out-of-state and international competition.
Sacramento Business Journal article

Yuba County tops nation in 'underwater' loans
The report said 60.3 percent of the county's 10,558 mortgage borrowers owed more in February than their homes were worth.
Sacramento Bee article

Huge new power line project planned for north state
The plan is part of a $1.5 billion, 600-mile transmission line project stretching from Lassen County near the Nevada border and south through the Central Valley.
Redding Record Searchlight article

City eyes draconian cuts
The city of Woodland has identified potential spending cuts ranging from $5.4 million to almost $7 million to balance an estimated $6.3 million deficit in the upcoming budget year.
Woodland Daily Democrat article

Solar panel theft may shut down observatory
The observatory in upper Bidwell Park is off the grid, and may soon be out of commission due to the theft of solar panels that provide all its operating power.
Chico Enterprise Record article

Redding businesses using state Work Sharing plan
Affected workers collect a percentage of their unemployment benefits - if the workweek is cut from five days to four days, it would be 20 percent - for the day they don't work.
Redding Record Searchlight article

46 vehicle fuel cell sites would cost $180 million
The West Sacramento-based California Fuel Cell Partnership has released a plan to meet the fuel needs of 4,300 fuel cell passenger vehicles and 20 fuel cell buses by 2014.
Sacramento Bee article

ARB sets aside mandate for 'cool paint' on cars
By reflecting the sun's heat, cool paints would help to keep passengers cooler, cutting air conditioning load and improving fuel efficiency.
Sacramento Bee article

Anderson schools trying to cut energy use
The system could cut the district's energy consumption by as much as 25 percent and save the district as much as $20,000 a year, said Wes Smith, Cascade's superintendent.
Anderson Valley Post article

Evergreen 6 Academy gets a little greener
By traveling in a caravan of vegetable oil-powered vehicles, cooking their food in solar ovens and planting thousands of trees, the 25 volunteers of Common Vision taught students about sustainability.
Paradise Post article

Chico State students push for buying local to fill food-service needs
The effort comes from the course Environmental Thought and Action. Each spring, students from the class generate a student ballot initiative.
Chico Enterprise Record article

Area grower planting seed for Marysville farmers market
Jeanette Rice, who owns a small family orchard in Arboga, has seen the growth first-hand, and she thinks Marysville may be finally ready to embrace a long-term market of its own.
Marsyville Appeal Democrat article

Folsom opens new bridge with fanfare
The new 1,000-foot bridge – a $139 million project – each day will carry 22,000 cars across the American River and along a new two-mile road connecting East Natoma Street to Folsom-Auburn Road.
Sacramento Bee article

April 3, 2009 9am- 4pm
Green Home Energy Upgrades Introduction- FREE PG&E TRAINING
1644 Main Avenue Sacramento, CA
Link

April 17- 18, 2009
Shasta College Sustainability Conference- FREE!
Shasta College Main Campus Room 806
Redding, CA
Link

April 6, 2009 8:30am- 12pm
Workshop: Creating a Budget to Guide You
Butte College's Training Place Chico, CA
Link

April 18, 2009 10am- 3pm
Placer County Celebrate the Earth Festival- FREE!
Mahany Regional Park Roseville, CA
Link

April 7, 2009 10am- 3pm
SB 375 Regional Targets Advisory Committee Public Meeting- FREE!
CA EPA Headquarters Sacramento, CA
Link

April 22, 2009 6pm- 9pm
Green Plumbing Workshop
1504 Market St. Redding, CA
Link

April 8, 2009 6pm- 9pm
HVAC and Duct Systems Workshop
1504 Market St. Redding, CA
Link

April 25, 2009 10am- 3pm
Redding Earth Day & Whole Earth Festival- FREE!
Redding City Hall and Sculpture Park
Link

April 8, 2009 6:30pm- 8:30pm
Farming Roundtable: Economical Farming on Small Parcels- FREE!
Chico Grange Hall 2775 Nord Ave
Link

April 26, 2009 11am- 6pm
Sacramento Earth Day- FREE!
Southside Park Sacramento, CA
Link

April 15, 2009 6:30pm-8:30pm
Farming Roundtable: Funding Opportunities to Protect Local Food Production- FREE!
Chico Grange Hall 2775 Nord Ave
Link

If you have an event that could be included here, please email Lindsay@greatvalley.org with the information. Thank you!

The Great Valley Center is a non-advocacy organization. This newsletter is to be used for informational purposes only. Unless specifically noted, the Great Valley Center Energy Program does not officially endorse or support views that may be expressed in the newsletter or linked articles. If you want to print a story, please do so now before the link expires.