scoops

Hallelujah

For the first time in history, it could be raining … housing? Fresh off the heels of San Luis Ranch gaining planning commission approval, the Avila Ranch community is set to work its way through the arduous entitlement process. Proposed as a net zero community on the South side of SLO off Buckley Road, this new neighborhood will include up to 720 units with the majority designed to be… let’s say “affordable” by SLO standards. But hey, with a town center, parks, trails, area road expansions, new bike lanes and open space, it’s no wonder Outside Magazine named SLO one of the best towns ever.

So what’s next? The ARC (that’s Architectural Review Commission for you plebes) will be reviewing the project at City Hall on  June 19, 5pm. Be there so your friends can have a place to live next year.

And install solar while you’re at it

The city of SLO has proclaimed June 20 Net Zero Energy Day. Inspiring SLO-cals to reduce their energy use could lead to some romantic candle-lit nights this Tuesday. Proactively addressing climate change is one of the city’s major goals, and Mayor Harmon aims to make SLO a Net Zero City while a tri-county commission studies Community Choice Energy. Poppin’ a bottle of local vino and whispering sweet nothings may use zero energy, but sure creates some sparks!

Farmworkers need housing, too

Last April an arson fire in Nipomo illuminated a larger problem of farm worker housing. Cali farmers have experienced labor shortages over the past several years caused by an aging local workforce and, let’s be honest, no white people willing to work in the fields. Temporary guest workers with H-2A visashelp fill that void but are expensive and require employers to provide temp-worker housing that’s at least as big as the closet you lived in sophomore year of college – super unfair. However this shakes out, communities like ours will play a big part in the future of agricultural labor.

No, not green beer, silly

Time to release your alter-eco-ego at the next SLO Green Drinks event on 6/21. ICYMI here…here…and here, climate action is a BFD in SLO and “net-zero carbon” is all the rage these days. So ECOSLO is here to revive this quarterly tree-hugger networking event from the international org to keep bringin’ you all the important info in a fun social way. Check it out and leave greener.

Coming for your groundwater debt

We were all stoked to see historic rains this winter – reservoirs filling up, tons of awesome flowers, drought over, amirite? But this week’s re-activation of a 1980’s Santa Barbara desalination plant is a reminder that one year of rain does not a drought end. Our Nacimiento, Whale Rock and Salinas reservoirs ain’t gonna cut it if low rainfall continues. Our backup supply, the groundwater basin, is “in debt” by about a half trillion gallons. Yep, TRILLION … and you thought you were in debt.  Speaking of, SB took on $70 mill of debt to modernize their plant, but at only $0.0083 wholesale cost per gallon (and retail 5x that), so this could work out great for them. Hmmm, maybe that’s why back in February, our State Rep Jordan Cunningham proposed bringing the Diablo desal plant idea back from the dead. Perhaps paired with the wind farm idea we covered last issue? Waiting with baited breath to see if that zombie gets any legs.

Paul Simon sure knows his sh*#

“Gliding down the highway, when in fact we’re slip slidin’ away.” Slips, slides and looong road closures are bringing headaches for Big Sur that even harmonizing to the sweet sounds of Simon can’t cure. Caltrans says Highway 1 will have closures up to a year, but fear not Big Sur lovers – there are still spots you can hang in Cali’s ultimate escape. With decreased through-traffic in these areas, our North Coast neighbors need all the lovin’ and tourism dollars we can send their way.

A hip, hop, hippie to the epi…curean

The first Sunday in June means it’s time for some old school rap, err, time for the annual Epicurean Delights, benefiting the crucial non-profit, CAPSLO. Us plebeians will get the rare chance to peruse the breathtaking grounds of the historic Chapman Estate in Shell Beach… the views alone are worth the price of admission. But if that doesn’t entice you, there will also be 6 musicians, 21 eateries, 31 wineries/breweries, and one jug of water. #MicDrop  Get yo’ tickets

How high can you get?

Turns out city government isn’t all bureaucratic bull. Nope, SLO City is actually encouraging you to put down the Frosted Flakes and take a hike. Because Tony the Tiger thinks going surfing with friends and hiking are grrreat. So take your boo to see Moo with a View or check out the other six local hiking hotspots not named Bishop Peak. Put on your fave hiking gear, snap that selfie and complete the city’s #pixonpeakschallenge before the free schwag is gone.

Replacing Diablo with offshore wind farms

Many panties (and boxers) are in a bunch over the impending closure of Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant. The Feds and our Board of Supes are getting serious about this major topic. Could 100 floating offshore wind turbines be the answer to our impending energy and economic woes? If concerns over technical challenges, shipping, whales, birds, and the feeshes can all be addressed, then the answer could be hells yesss. Thanks to advances in aero and materials engineering, it’s not so crazy to imagine using wind (not the stinky kind) to generate 1.21 gigawatts of power… great scott! Seriously, Marty, an installation that uses out-of-sight turbines to send power through existing power lines from Diablo Canyon and Morro Bay’s old power plant could replace over half of the 2.2GW we currently get from nuclear. It also pushes us closer to the state’s goal of 50% renewables by 2030. If Kansas (Kansas?!), Texas, Nebraska, Hawaii and Maryland can do it, than so can we!