May 12, 2022Two bay area refineries green lighted for the switch to biofuelContra Costa County approved the biofuel conversion of two petroleum refineries that will be among the highest capacity facilities in the world in a special meeting on May 3rd. …Biofuel Production6 min readBiofuel Production6 min read
Apr 23, 2022CPUC adopts a new plan to improve the grid for solar resources, batteries and electric vehiclesThe California Public Utilities Commission unanimously approved a four-year plan to improve integration of customer generated solar, energy storage, and electric cars into the state’s electrical grid. The Distributed Energy Resources Action Plan 2.0 lays out vision and action steps to accommodate current and increasing use of distributed energy resources…3 min read3 min read
Apr 23, 2022Planning Commission raises voluntary community benefit options in P66 biofuel conversionThe Contra Costa County Planning Commission discussed a community benefit of $0.25 per barrel refined for the proposed P66 biofuel conversion and then approved the project with only voluntary commitments. In a special meeting on March 30th to certify the Final Environmental Impact Report for the Phillips 66 (P66) Biofuel…P667 min readP667 min read
Mar 29, 2022Planning Commission approves Marathon refinery biodiesel conversion despite complaints of odor and environmental concernsThe Contra Costa County Planning Commission unanimously approved a plan to convert the Marathon Refinery in Martinez to process biofuels. In a special meeting last night the Planning Commission saw a brief presentation on the project’s Environmental Impact Review (EIR) and heard public comment on the final version of the…Martinez Refinery6 min readMartinez Refinery6 min read
Mar 16, 2021Pop-up clinic provides doses of one-shot vaccine in People’s ParkFolks lined up to receive vaccinations in People’s Park last Thursday at a temporary clinic that was set up by Lifelong Medical. …Peoples Park5 min readPeoples Park5 min read
Mar 13, 2021Alternative community health project takes shape in West Oakland as artists and healers build a “cob” kitchen and clinic to support encampmentFrom January 2021 Two community organizations formed by Bay Area residents as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic are working together to build a kitchen and a health clinic at an encampment on a stretch of Caltrans land off of Wood St. in West Oakland. …Cob On Wood14 min readCob On Wood14 min read
Jul 19, 2019Checking back in with East bay urban farming on social mediaI had imagined sharing designs or visualizations of what functional integrated agriculture might look like. When I was looking for pictures to share, what I found was a lot of high-rises with plants. I was thinking more about regional integration of orchards, field crops and intensive production along with grazing…Agriculture5 min readAgriculture5 min read
Jul 1, 2019On The Shelf at Berkeley's Independent BookstoresExploring the history of Berkeley’s Independent Bookstores, and the mystery behind how they continue to be so successful. Lucas Buckman grew up in Pegasus Books. His earliest memories include wandering among the aisles of the store, peering up at the inaccessible top shelves and wondering what stories awaited him. He…Books5 min readBooks5 min read
Jun 24, 2019How to beautify a phone boothOnce a romantic icon, the phone booth has become nothing more than the empty hull of a legacy infrastructure looming on street corners, outside of liquor stores, and in forgotten hallways like a silent reaper reminding us that every romance must end — only to be born anew…1 min read1 min read
