The Walden West Outdoor School in Saratoga could temporarily relocate to Cupertino next school year after uncertainty about the science camp’s future — and criticism of the Santa Clara County Office of Education over poor planning. Superintendent of Schools David Toston’s office initially roused uproar over plans to close the camp for two years for...
San Jose rolls out the welcome mat at Arena Green
For more than a year, a small army of city workers and volunteers — backed by both public and private funding — have been working to renovate Arena Green Park along the Guadalupe River. Now, with several major projects completed, San Jose leaders are trying to get the word out that this long-underused park is...
New South Bay power substation to be built at existing site
Environmental advocates are claiming victory in a two-year fight to keep an energy substation away from wildlife corridors in the stretches of open space south of San Jose known as Coyote Valley. The California Public Utilities Commission voted unanimously March 19 to allow LS Power Grid California to construct a transmission line and terminals at...
Silicon Valley tax would raise funds to protect open space
Santa Clara County residents will vote on yet another tax measure this year — but instead of hospitals, they’ll be asked to help expand public access and protect wildlife along Silicon Valley’s sweeping foothills, woodlands and grasslands. Voters in June will be asked to accept a tax of two cents per square foot of building...
Wildlife corridors planned in South County’s Coyote Valley
A land preservation nonprofit and a public transit agency in Santa Clara County are creating wildlife crossings to protect animals and motorists along Coyote Valley’s busiest corridor. In response to wildlife-vehicle collisions, Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST), in partnership with VTA, is constructing underpasses for animals at key points along Highway 101, Monterey Road and...
San Jose falling behind on key climate target
Halfway through the decade and the clock continues to tick down on San Jose’s ambitious climate target of reaching carbon neutrality by 2030. The road to success is looking steeper than ever. The City Council has formally acknowledged the city is not on track to hit the climate milestone. The admission came as part of...
San Jose climate goals pivot from leaf blowers
San Jose residents have been clamoring for a ban on gas-powered leaf blowers for years, complaining about their noise and pollution. In response, the City Council began reviewing a proposal to encourage the use of electric leaf blowers through a subsidy program. The city is moving forward with a green subsidy more than a year and...
San Jose residents to get rebates on energy bill
Customers with San Jose Clean Energy, the city’s primary energy provider, are set to get a break on their energy bill come January. With the company’s reserves flush with cash, it has announced a plan to distribute $25 million in rebates to about 330,000 of its customers. “Energy costs were lower than expected in 2025,...
San Jose river trail use up after homeless sweeps
More San Jose residents are utilizing a local recreational trail following a city ban on homeless camps in the area. That’s according to city data and environmental advocates, who also say more wildlife is returning since no encampment zones took effect last year. San Jose has worked to clear homeless people living near rivers and...
Controversial Santa Clara County dam expansion scrapped
One of Valley Water’s most controversial and costly projects has been shelved indefinitely. The water district’s board of directors unanimously voted Tuesday to suspend the Pacheco Dam expansion project after eight years, which would have brought the dam’s water capacity from 5,500 acre feet of water to 140,000 acre feet of water. Directors cited the...