Susan Meeker, Colusa County Sun Herald

Williams officials are looking to cash in on a California Energy Commission grant to help replace the aging heating and air conditioning unit at City Hall.

The City Council authorized City Administrator Chuck Bergson to apply for the $28,000 grant even though the city has not fully identified a funding plan for the remaining $112, 000 to do the work.

"There is no question that we need to replace it," Bergson said. "It will have to be done sooner or later."

James Leonard, Patterson Irrigator

Patterson hopes to go green in the New Year, thanks to a $111,000 federal stimulus grant that's expected to pay for new bulbs in street lights and traffic lights and make pumps more energy-efficient at two of its wells.

The city was notified earlier this year that it would be eligible for the money - which comes from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants - if it could present a plan that followed the grant's guidelines.

James Burger, Bakersfield Californian

The largest wind energy project in California's history got the go-ahead from Kern County supervisors Tuesday.

But they delayed a decision on the massive Alta-Oak Creek Mojave wind power project until late Tuesday evening to try and solve the concerns of a handful of residents in the remote mountain areas. Those people were worried about the potential dangers of the sky-scraping wind turbines.

James Burger, Bakersfield Californian

Kern County's reliable relationship with the sun has become an attractive lure for companies who want to convert sunlight to electricity here.

This year county planners will be able to process 12 photovoltaic solar power plant projects that, together, would cover thousands of acres of Kern County land.

Dylan Darling, Redding Record Searchlight

A state power official is set to talk Tuesday about possible clean energy opportunities for Tehama County.

Panama Bartholomy, adviser to the California Energy Commission's chair, will speak at a special session of the Tehama County Board of Supervisors. The session will be at 1:30 p.m. in the board's chambers at 727 Oak St. in Red Bluff.

Kim Murphy, Los Angeles Times

In a new report on efforts by U.S. cities to outdo the federal government on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels admits that even the early strides made by Seattle -- reducing the city's 1990 carbon footprint by 8% in 2005 -- don't allow the city to rest on its laurels. Today's gains could be tomorrow's losses. Real measures to slow the warming of the planet will take patience, persistence and a determination to press on despite setbacks.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced a funding opportunity for up to $10.5 million to increase the ability of local governments to accelerate solar energy adoption and workforce development. Funding for the five-year awards is subject to annual appropriations.

Through this new funding opportunity, DOE will provide local governments across the U.S. with useful, timely information on increasing solar energy use.