March 12, 2021
Anthony Rendon, D-Paramount, stands with his wife, Annie Lam, while he is acknowledged by fellow members of the Assembly before he is sworn in as the new Assembly speaker on Monday, March 7, 2016 in Sacramento, Calif. Credit: Randy Pench/The Sacramento Bee
This article was reported in partnership with The Sacramento Bee.
In the years since Anthony Rendon rose to power as speaker of the California Assembly, nonprofits associated with his wife, Annie Lam, have received more than $500,000 in donations and event sponsorships from dozens of companies with business before the Legislature.
Nonprofits are not required to publicly disclose their donors. But since 2016, when Rendon ascended to the speakership, five nonprofits where Lam is employed have received donations or sponsorships from more than 50 entities, according to public records, promotional flyers and interviews.
Name droppers: Davisites named to state commissions
Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed
Darcie Houck, 51, of Davis, to the California Public Utilities Commission. Houck has served as chief counsel for the California Energy Commission since 2019.
She was an administrative law judge at the California Public Utilities Commission from 2016 to 2019, a partner at Fredericks Peebles & Morgan from 2005 to 2016 and staff counsel and policy adviser at the California Energy Commission from 2000 to 2005. Houck is a member of the California Indian Law Association, California Lawyers Association, Schwartz-Levi Inn of Court, Women Lead and the Association of Women in Water, Energy, and Environment. Houck earned law degree from the UC Davis School of Law and a master’s degree in community development from UCD.
How Your Water Heater Can Be a Secret Weapon in the Climate Change Fight By Todd Woody | February 11, 2021
Nearly every home has a water heater, but people tend not to think about it until the shock of a cold shower signals its failure. To regulators, though, the ubiquitous household appliance is increasingly top of mind for the role it could play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and weaning the power grid from fossil fuels
High-tech electric water heaters can double as thermal batteries, storing excess production from wind and solar generators. In California, officials aim to install them in place of millions of gas water heaters throughout the state.
California to Establish Home And Community Hardening Standards for Insurance
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara on Monday announced a new partnership between the California Department of Insurance and Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Administration to establish statewide standards for home and community hardening aimed at reducing wildfire risk, protecting lives and property and making insurance available and affordable to residents and businesses.
The partnership includes the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research and the California Public Utilities Commission.
While California has existing wildfire building standards for new development as established by Calfire, the new partnership consisting of state wildfire, catastrophe, and insurance experts will establish consistent standards based in fire science, and apply to retrofits for older existing homes to help them see
Filing provides achievements to date and adjustments to reduce the risk of fire ignitions caused by utility infrastructure
Grid upgrades will lead to reduction and frequency of Public Safety Power. | February 11, 2021