Oct 17, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues EPA Issues Policy Guidance to Help Prevent Catastrophic Wildfires, Promote Use of Prescribed Fires for Mitigation Efforts

On October 16, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued policy guidance directing regional offices to

Oct 17, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues Update on Federal Government Shutdown

The federal government shutdown continues with no agreement in sight. On Thursday this week, the Senate once again did not advance the House-passed stopgap funding bill. The House remains out of session

Oct 17, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   Weekly News Clips Weekly News Clips - The Barbed Wire - October 17, 2025

RCRC press releases and related news clips about RCRC and our member counties. Please note that a subscription may be required to read some external publications.

Oct 10, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal issues Federal Government Shutdown Update

The federal government remains shut down with no agreement in sight. The Senate has yet to advance a stopgap funding bill. Without a significant change in stance from either party, and with no compromise on the horizon, the upper chamber is expected to continue voting on the same Continuing Resolutions. Thus far

Oct 10, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   Bill of the Week   |   Federal Advocacy Bill of the Week: BECCS Advancement Commission Act of 2025 (H.R. 5597)

Last week, RCRC expressed support for a bipartisan bill co-sponsored by U.S. Representative Jim Costa (CA-21, D-Fresno) and Representative Blake Moore (UT-1), which would create a commission to provide recommendations to help advance Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) technologies

Oct 10, 2025

Barbed Wire Governor Signs Measure Eroding Local Control Over Small Geothermal Projects

On October 6, Governor Newsom signed AB 531 (Rogers, D-Santa Rosa), which expands the California Energy Commission’s (CEC) AB 205 opt-in-permitting program to include smaller geothermal energy projects under 50MW.  In doing so, the law allows project developers to bypass local permitting processes

Oct 10, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   CalRecycle RCRC Submits Comments on CalRecycle’s Draft SB 54 Single Use Packaging Regulations

On October 7, RCRC submitted comments on CalRecycle’s latest draft regulations seeking to implement the SB 54 single use packaging law

Oct 10, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   CPUC CPUC Proposes to End Crucial Wildfire Risk Reduction Program at the End of 2025

On September 18, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued a Proposed Decision that would effectively end the state’s BioMAT program on December 31, 2025. RCRC has long-supported biomass energy generation and extension of the BioMAT program’s sunset date

Oct 10, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   CPUC CPUC Advances Proceeding on Communications Emergency Preparedness and Network Resiliency Program

Last week, RCRC joined a new rulemaking at the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to examine the telecommunications emergency preparedness and network resiliency program. This existing program includes

Oct 10, 2025

Barbed Wire   |   federal appointments U.S. Senate Confirms En Bloc Nominees, Including Busterud (EPA) and Boren (USDA)

On October 7, the U.S. Senate confirmed a package of en bloc nominations by a vote of 51–47. The bloc of over 100 nominees included