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By 05/19/2021
With a record-breaking drought in the works after three successive major wildfire seasons, we clearly need to be better prepared in 2021. Luckily, local institutions are stepping up to the plate. Although utilities such as PG&E have developed some temporary fixes like public safety power shutoffs, we need longer-term solutions. Relying upon traditional fossil fuel backup generators is a temporary stopgap that does not represent a viable solution for our future.
The better solution is microgrids, which can create small islands of power leveraging cleaner resources such as solar panels and batteries to keep power flowing for critical community assets when the larger grid goes down. I’ve studied the evolution of microgrids, which are now affordable and viable thanks to innovations from private sector financing, for over 10 years. New programs offered by MCE, formerly known as Marin Clean Energy, are having a major impact after a stumbling
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By 04/28/2021
A neighbor appealed the Bolinas Community Land Trust’s downtown affordable housing project last week, citing concerns with the buildings’ impact on his property. The land trust is digging in its heels ahead of a Board of Supervisors hearing anticipated in early June, and said the appeal would delay the project by several months.
The proposed eight-unit complex at 31 Wharf Road is large for Bolinas, but so is the need. The town is suffering from an affordable housing crisis, as teachers, firefighters, servers and other workers are pushed out by high rents. The Marin County Planning Commission approved the project’s design review, use permit and coastal permit by a 5-1 vote on April 12 after hearing from more than 150 members of the public. Most commenters voiced the need for affordable housing, but some argued against the size and design, including Roland Crotts, who owns the home next door. Mr. Crotts said the buildings would loom
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By 04/14/2021
An eight-unit affordable housing complex planned for downtown Bolinas has received permits from the Marin County Planning Commission, which issued the approval despite pushback from community members primarily concerned with the project’s size.
In a 5:1 vote, commissioners on Monday approved the coastal permit, use permit and design review requested by Bolinas Community Land Trust. The proposed development at 31 Wharf Road includes two complexes comprised of four 1,350-square-foot, three-bedroom units, four 945-square-foot, two-bedroom units and two commercial spaces at street level. The housing will be dedicated to those who qualify as low and very low-income. Although some public commenters expressed discontent with the design, the majority voiced the strong need for affordable housing in Bolinas.
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