November 18,2015-
Gas Prices Down More Than $1 Since Summer.
Tulare stations are selling gas at $2.23 today according to Gas Buddy, the lowest in the state. Statewide gas is selling for an average of $2.77, down more than a dollar from this summer’s high, at $3.88 average. IN SLO city Costco is selling regular for $2.69.
California oil prices are also at multi-year lows with Kern crude selling for $37.94 a barrel.
Rio Bravo Poso Power Plant Shuts Down
Rio Bravo Poso power plant near Bakersfield has shut down according to the Valley Air District. The company’s owner is selling emission credits for the closure. The plant used coal and petroleum coke to power its steam generating co generation plant for enhanced oil recovery in oil fields. The plant sold its electricity to PG&E in summer months.But the company told the district it was no longer profitable to run the facility, in operation since 1989. Owner IHI Power has several similar plants in the state. Rio Bravo Poso was listed as the “dirtiest power plant” in Kern County based on emissions per megawatt in a 2014 report. PG&E is switching to renewables for summer power as many fossil fueled “peaker” units are losing contracts. In 2012 the company said they were going to convert Rio Bravo from coal to biomass.
Grapevine Could Get Indian Casino
The Sierra Club reports that The U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) has accepted a proposal from the Tejon Indian Tribe for a land use
project at the base of the Grapevine. It is titled the “Tejon Tribe Proposed Trust Acquisition and Casino Project.” The land is currently in ag use. The BIA has 45 days from the close of Scoping (from Sept.. 14, 2015) until they publish a Draft Environmental Statement. That is the next step and that should be in the spring of 2016 within 45 days from the close of Scoping.The notice on www.tejoneis.com states that the proposal is for approximately 306 acres of fee land in trust by the United States upon which the Tribe would could construct a gaming facility.
Another south valley casino is bound to impact the Tule Indians’ Eagle Mountain business.
Prison Newspaper Sues Tulare County
Prison Legal News who mails their publication to prisoners at Bob Wiley Detention facility says Tulare County has prohibited delivery to the prisoners according to a lawsuit filed recently by the paper.The action violates the prisoners free speech protection they claim.The claim asserts the county for more than 2 years through October 2015 did not allow the paper to reach prisoners even though other publications were allowed.