Lauren Sommer

Lauren Sommer appears in the following:

California Prepares For An Eclipse Of Its Solar Power

Friday, August 18, 2017

On a sunny day, California gets up to 40 percent of its energy from solar power. Monday's total eclipse isn't just a scientific spectacle, it's a major concern for the state's power grid.

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Where Levees Fail In California, Nature Can Step In To Nurture Rivers

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

After devastating floods, California is looking to spend billions on dams and levees. Some are calling for a new approach to flood control, one that mimics nature instead of trying to contain it.

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California Officials Pledge Not To Roll Back Fuel Efficiency Standards

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

California officials have said they will not back off the fuel efficiency standards established under Obama, despite the Trump administration's plan to revisit those standards.

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With Climate Change, California Is Likely To See More Extreme Flooding

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Dams and levees across California are straining to handle winter storms. The state's water system was designed a century ago, before climate change was an issue. Now, the system is being rethought.

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California Eyes Climate Leadership Role, But Trump's EPA Holds A Key On Cars

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

California Gov. Jerry Brown is vowing to lead the nation on climate change, as the Trump administration pulls back. But Trump's EPA could get in California's way over tougher car rules.

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Forest Service Tries A Different Approach On Whether To Let Fires Burn

Thursday, January 05, 2017

Scientists say more low-intensity wildfires are needed to clear out overgrown forests to help prevent bigger fires. Deciding where and when to let fires burn is tricky.

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High Demand, Low Supply: Colorado River Water Crisis Hits Across The West

Friday, December 30, 2016

After years of drought and dropping water levels, the Colorado River is reaching a crisis point. Communities at each end of the river are looking at a variety of measures, from storage to sharing.

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In The Battle To Save Frogs, Scientists Fight Fungus With Fungus

Saturday, September 10, 2016

A deadly fungus is devastating frog populations around the world. In California, scientists are racing to find a way to immunize one species, mountain yellow-legged frogs, against the fungus.

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Planning For The Future Of A Park Where The Trees Have One Name

Tuesday, August 02, 2016

In California's Joshua Tree National Park, scientists say the quirky trees are in trouble. The National Park Service is looking for ways to save them for future visitors to experience.

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California To Close State's Last Nuclear Power Plant

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

California's last nuclear power plant will close by 2025 under a proposal announced Tuesday. Safety concerns are the main reason, but the Diablo Canyon plant produces enough power for 1.7 million homes. There's now a plan to replace the energy with renewables.

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Who's In Charge? Getting Western States To Agree On Sharing Renewable Energy

Monday, June 06, 2016

California has so much solar energy that some days, there's too much. One solution is to join forces across state borders. But in the West, that's sparking some not-so-neighborly opposition.

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Proposed Property Tax To Fight Climate Change Criticized As Unfair

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Voters in the San Francisco Bay Area will vote in June on a proposed property tax which would be used to restore wetlands to protect against rising sea levels. The tax is not based on property value.

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A Rare Look Inside The 'Gigafactory' Tesla Hopes Will Revolutionize Energy Use

Monday, April 18, 2016

Tesla is building what it says is the world's largest battery factory. The scale is expected to drive down the cost of electric cars and batteries that homeowners can use to store surplus solar power.

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Solar And Wind Energy May Be Nice, But How Can We Store It?

Tuesday, April 05, 2016

Renewable energy is taking off across the nation, but storing the energy is still a problem that is challenging companies to innovate, with solutions ranging from molten salt to ice.

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As Renewables Boom, Companies Explore Energy Storage Technology

Monday, April 04, 2016

Batteries can store energy for later, but companies are looking for cheaper alternatives. Three reporters examine technologies that employ air, salt and ice.

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In California, Dealing With A Drought And Preparing For A Flood

Friday, March 18, 2016

Why are some California reservoirs releasing water even though the state is going through an extreme drought? Turns out it's to prevent an even bigger disaster. But the strategy may change soon.

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Like Night And Day: How Two States' Utilities Approach Solar

Friday, January 01, 2016

As homeowners embrace solar, utilities are making less money, and that's shaking up their business model. Companies in California and Georgia are handling the growth in dramatically different ways.

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California, An Environmental Leader, Eyes A Key Role In Climate Talks

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

World leaders are set to meet in Paris, trying to agree on how to combat climate change. Also attending will be California Gov. Jerry Brown, who is spearheading his own international climate movement.

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Why A Neurotoxin Is Closing Crab Season In California

Saturday, November 07, 2015

State officials have closed both recreational and commercial fishing for Dungeness and rock crab on the California coast north of Santa Barbara to the Oregon border, due to a large algae bloom that's making the crab unsafe for consumption.

The bloom, created by an organism called Pseudo-nitzschia, produces a neurotoxin ...

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California Cities Face Hidden Downside Of Water Conservation: Lost Revenue

Monday, September 28, 2015

Californians have really stepped up water conservation due to the drought. Some cities are selling almost half as much water as they normally do. But there's a big downside for water ...

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