MBCA joined the Center for Biological Diversity and a concerned Panorama Heights neighbor in filing an appeal of the Planning Commission's October 8 approval of...

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In a modest but meaningful step forward for home solar in California, Governor Newsom signed SB 868, a bill that will permit California residents to install small plug-in solar panels on porches, fences, or balconies. By powering a few appliances with the small panels, residents can use solar to reduce their electric bills without public utility involvement. Panels that legally qualify for installation are expected to be on store shelves...

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.In the most recent action related to the proposed Lovemore housing development in Joshua Tree, a Superior Court Judge released a decision on the petition filed against the project in May 2025 by Joshua Tree Village Neighbors (JTVN). While not supporting all allegations of the petition, the decision agreed there were problems with water issues, especially wastewater and storm runoff.  The project developers then responded with a Recirculated Initial Study...

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The San Bernardino County Supervisors meeting on August 18 drew a large number of commenters on item 76: "Conduct a public hearing to consider the proposed ordinance to repeal and reenact local surface mining and land reclamation regulations." Commenters expressed strong concerns that through the proposed changes, the County was handing over environmental review to the recently greatly weakened federal environmental review process. After the comment period, Chair Dawn Rowe...

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MBCA was among seven organizations sending a qualified statement of support for AB 53, a bill intending to provide a pathway for the transfer of public lands in California to original tribal stewardship for conservation purposes. The letter requests that the bill be reintroduced in the next legislative session to provide time to elaborate and clarify the complex conditions of land transfer for best possible outcomes. There is little time...

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With a focus on health concerns in addition to support for other commenters' concerns with tourism, MBCA sent a comment letter opposing the Supervisors' August 18 impending vote to approve a recommendation that would remove the county from the permitting of mining operations with federal approval. Federal environmental guidelines have been changed to reduce effective review. The specific concern addressed is fine particles of the radioactive element Thorium unearthed in...

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