Ecotopia

Our guest was Eric Nilssen (along with co-host Susan Tchudi), who discussed “smart growth” in ourtown from their perspectives as members of Smart Growth Advocates (sgachico.net). Susan reviewed the history of SGA and Eric described his experiences as a member of Chico’s ad hoc committee on Growth and Development. They gave their views of how changing patterns of development in Chico could result in well-planned infill, new affordable homes and apartments, and neighborhoods designed for a range of people, closely linked, with shopping, parks, and gardens nearby.

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In this program we be talked about biomass and biochar with Thor Bailey, a Chico resident who has 42 years of experience working with green technologies and biomass energy. Thor discussed a number of issues swirling around biomass technology: what it provides, how the systems work, and some of the history of biomass projects in California.

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Our guests were Susan Schrader and Emily McCabe. Emily is a Durham native. Emily grew up in Durham, studied Society and Environment at UC Berkeley, interned for environmental nonprofits in college, and is now a California Climate Action Corps fellow at the Butte Environmental Council. 

Susan is a local domestic well user and environmentalist who is monitoring activities in our region due to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (including the newly formed Tuscan Water District). She has become engaged because she realizes that everything in our community relies on groundwater. 

They spoke with us about the nature of aquifers and the size of the Tuscan aquifer which serves our area. They they explained the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, which California has created to do what its title implies: protecting groundwater from overuse. Next, they explained the specifics of the Vina Sub-Basin GSE and advocated for greater input and power from small farmers and domestic well user. Click on the link below to listen to this excellent interview.

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