Letters
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- Written by: Jon Hochschartner
Any politician who cares one iota about animal welfare should support increased public funding for cultivated-meat research.
For those who don’t know, the revolutionary protein is grown from livestock cells, without slaughter.
I believe development of this technology is the most promising means of reducing nonhuman suffering and premature death.
While the private sector has made notable progress in advancing the field of cellular agriculture, significant hurdles remain. Perhaps the most important of these is reaching price parity with slaughtered options.
Our elected leaders can help advance this compassionate technology by backing further government investment in cultivated-meat research.
Jon Hochschartner lives in Granby, Connecticut.
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- Written by: Congressman Mike Thompson
This Memorial Day, our community gathered to honor the brave service members who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Just as important is our responsibility to be there for those who did come home.
Over the last few years, we’ve made real progress in honoring our veterans’ service. With bipartisan support, Congress passed the PACT Act and the COMPACT Act — landmark laws that are finally delivering the care and benefits our veterans have earned.
From expanding coverage for toxic exposure to ensuring crisis support for those at risk of suicide, these laws are saving lives.
That’s why it is unfortunate that since the beginning of his presidency, Donald Trump has gone after veterans who transitioned from military service into critical jobs across our federal government.
The president has already fired more than 6,000 of these veteran workers and has begun firing 83,000 VA staff.
The media has reported that some of those fired worked for the veteran suicide hotline. Our veterans have a 57% higher risk of suicide than those who haven't served.
A veteran who visited my office in Washington, D.C. recently said that for a veteran in crisis, the person answering the phone at the VA might be just as important as a doctor.
It’s unconscionable that this administration is gutting services that literally save lives. The stakes are too high for our veterans right now.
If you or a veteran you know needs help accessing health care or other benefits, please contact my nearest office.
I promise to keep raising my voice in this fight for our veterans. Please keep raising yours.
Congressman Mike Thompson serves California’s Fourth Congressional District, which includes all or part of Lake, Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo counties.
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- Written by: Dave Canny
Pacific Gas and Electric mostly agrees with a recent guest opinion piece urging the removal of Scott Dam due to a better understanding of the seismic risks.
As described in our draft decommissioning plan, PG&E considers the expedited removal of the Scott Dam to be in the best interest of PG&E customers. It is also the most appropriate long-term mitigation to address the seismic risk.
In the meantime, PG&E has implemented interim measures to reduce near-term seismic risk — the most prominent being the restricted maximum reservoir storage elevation.
However, contrary to the opinion piece, PG&E’s decision not to seek a new license for the Potter Valley Project — a hydroelectric facility — is based on the fact the project is not economical for PG&E’s customers. PG&E can acquire energy from the market at much lower expense than producing it at the project’s Potter Valley hydroelectric powerhouse.
Economics drove the license surrender decision. Later, seismic studies were completed. The hazard risk is one of the key factors that led to the decommissioning plan for expedited removal of Scott Dam in the decommissioning plan and schedule.
Ultimately, the project not being economic means we made the decision in the best interest of our customers and their energy bills.
The Potter Valley Project was developed for power generation, but a byproduct of power production was water diverted from the Eel River to the Russian River watershed, which over time was utilized by communities in Mendocino, Sonoma and Marin counties.
PG&E recognizes the communities’ water concerns and continues to work with the Eel Russian Project Authority in their development of future water diversion infrastructure so water can continue to flow to the Russian River watershed.
What is often missing from recent news stories is that nearly 10 years ago, when PG&E determined it was no longer interested in continuing to operate the Potter Valley Project, we approached water users about taking on the facility. We did this because PG&E understood how the users had grown to depend on the water.
Eventually we issued a request for offers to any potential buyer. With no takers, in 2019 PG&E decided to withdraw its preliminary application for notice of intent to file an application for a new hydropower license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC.
The agency then initiated its “orphan process” which allowed another opportunity for interested parties to seek ownership by taking on the relicensing, but again none did. In response, FERC directed PG&E to develop a surrender application and decommissioning plan.
PG&E plans to engage a broad set of stakeholders in development of the details of the decommissioning plan. The filing of PG&E’s surrender application and decommissioning plan to FERC in July 2025 is not the end of the process.
While we have been already working with the Eel Russian Project Authority on their future diversion, PG&E’s filing of the surrender application and decommissioning plan is really the beginning of the regulatory proceeding and development of detailed management plans.
In 2023, seismic studies at Scott Dam completed by PG&E and its consultants raised some concerns. To mitigate potential risks, PG&E implemented a reservoir restriction of 10 feet below the usual maximum reservoir elevation.
To maintain this reservoir restriction PG&E is not closing the dam’s spillway gates. With the gates open, there is less water in the reservoir and less pressure on the dam, which leaves more capacity to resist damage from earthquake shaking.
Lastly, PG&E is not “abandoning” the project and remains committed to safely operating the facility until the eventual decommissioning, and to acting transparently and with integrity in engaging all interested parties throughout the process.
Dave Canny is vice president of PG&E’s North Coast Region and a resident of Marin County, California.
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- Written by: Carolynn Jarrett
Here’s how it works: At an end of the year assembly, fifth grade students, chosen by teachers and principals are recognized, given $25, and told that if they graduate from high school, they will receive $500. However, if they enroll at Woodland College with 12 units, they will receive $1000.
These students are not necessarily the top of the class but are those who might be facing challenges at home or who have potential but are not engaged. The Konocti District is discussing ways to support these students as they move from 6th to 12th grade
Each scholarship costs $700. The money is invested so that $1000 is available for each student upon graduation.
Because this program is new, this being its 4th year, and because it is funded solely by donations and small fundraisers, for the last 3 years, it has only been able to recognize one student per school in each of the Middletown and Konocti school districts. However, this year thanks to groups like the Lake County Retired Teachers Division #35 and Lakeshore Lionesses, as well as numerous private individuals, we have raised an additional $3500. This will add 5 more students to our roster.
But there are 7 elementary schools in south county! We need another $1400 to meet this year’s goal of adding at least one more student to each school site.
We strongly believe that this program, if vigorously implemented, has the capacity to decrease truancy, teen pregnancy, drug use, and delinquency. It gives students an achievable goal and then supports them in reaching that goal. It will have a positive impact not only on the student but our community at large.
Please join us in this effort by donating whatever you can. If you are interested in making a donation please go to www.yccdfoundation.org/lake-campus-fund-2. Thank you so much!
If you would like more information, or to schedule a presentation to have someone speak to your group about Adopt a Fifth Grader, please call Carolynn Jarrett at 707-994-2878.
Carolynn Jarrett lives in Clearlake, Calif.
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