MBCA has joined over 120 environmental, consumer, low-income, tenants’ rights, and clean energy organizations to support legislation that would address both energy insecurity and air pollution problems in California. The legislation introduced by Senator Wiener (SB 868) would allow Californians to install portable solar generation devices known as "balcony solar" without having to connect with public utilities (as is currently the law). These small plug-in units can provide enough electricity to power a few appliances and lights in homes and apartments. Read the June 3rd coalition letter to Assemblymember Petri-Norris, Chair of the Committee on Utilities and Energy, for more information.  The bill was passed to the Assembly Appropriations Committee on June 15.  Increasing access to solar energy for consumers is another step away from reliance on fossil fuel energy in California. 

The Initial Study for this proposal to create twelve 5-acre Rural Living-zoned lots in the Pioneertown area contains many conflicts with the County Wide Plan that are outlined in MBCA’s comment letter to Land Use Services. MBCA objects to the County's support of a  Mitigated Negative Declaration for the project and urges a full Environmental Impact Report be completed. MBCA's comment letter and appendices describe a number of critical oversights and lack of reference to key environmental concerns. Issues include: Project location within the Pipes Canyon Area of Environmental Concern (ACEC), fragmentation of wildlife habitat linkage, the Sentinel Landscape supporting military bases, scenic characteristics, dust affecting air quality, dark sky concerns and especially water availability and wastewater treatment issues. (“The IS incorrectly states the site is within the Morongo Valley Groundwater Basin. The site is within the Ames Valley Basin.”) The letter also notes the demonstrated need for affordable housing in the Morongo Basin, rather than 5-acre upscale homes. 

Click on the photo to enjoy MBCA's latest engaging video of a local residential landscape filled with desert native plant beauty and skillful water management.  

MBCA and the Joshua Tree Foundation for Arts & Ecology invited local environmental and conservation educators - individuals and organizations - to meet for information sharing and planning future collaborations emphasizing  youth education. Pat Flanagan of MBCA presented an EcoMap curriculum as a tool to explore environmental data. More than a dozen participants then presented overviews of their educational programs and tools, including:

• Copper Mountain College
• Educators from La Contenta Middle School and Joshua Tree Elementary School.
• Friends of Big Morongo Canyon
• Harrison House Music Arts & Ecology
• Hi-Desert Nature Museum
• Joshua Tree National Park
• Joshua Tree National Park Association (including the new DiscoverJTREE program)
• Journalist Hilary Sloane (read her blog post on this event)
• MBCA's Eighth Grade Field Trips program
• Mojave Desert Land Trust
• Sky’s the Limit
• The Wildlands Conservancy

Participants plan to collaborate and hope to expand eco-education in the Morongo Basin. 

MBCA has submitted to the San Bernardino County Planning Commission a letter of opposition to a proposed 5-acre self-storage project in Lucerne Valley's commercial core. Among concerns are the inappropriate use of land zoned for high-priority local services, the lack of related employment opportunities, and pedestrian safety issues. The project is in opposition to this rural and economically disadvantaged community's stated vision and interest.

MBCA is delighted to announce the awarding of $1000 Scholarships to two Yucca Valley High School seniors.

MBCA's Conservation Scholarship is the continuation of our commitment to educate the next generation of conservation-conscious citizens. Kaleb Mix of Yucca Valley High School is the recipient, planning to enroll in an environmental studies program at the University of California at Santa Barbara.

The Women's STEAM Scholarship (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) is provided anonymously by two generations of women who held careers in STEAM fields. Alyssa Abell of Yucca Valley High School is this year’s recipient. The scholarship will help fund her study at University of California, Riverside, in Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology.

MBCA congratulates Kaleb and Alyssa and wishes them success in reaching their higher education goals.

An app called SeeClickFix is now available for residents of unincorporated areas of San Bernardino County to report Public Works issues such as weed abatement needs, flooding, potholes, or graffiti in public locations. The app is available for free download on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Residents can also access a desktop version and view service area maps by visiting the Public Works website at https://dpw.sbcounty.gov/.
 

In a coalition with over 210 public health, environmental, and environmental justice organizations, MBCA has signed a letter to members of the California legislature with deep concern about the proposed fall ballot initiative 25-0023A1. Proposed by the California Chamber of Commerce in November 2025, it has been cleared for circulation and is in the petition signature collection phase (due June 24). The coalition letter asks all state legislators to publicly oppose the initiative. It would “fundamentally undermine the public health and environmental protections provided under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), upon which our state has relied for over half a century. ” Below are the six main points of concern. Detailed explanations can be found in the letter.

1. Reverses CEQA's Foundational Principle to Protect the Environment and Overrides Other Laws
2. Applies to a Sweeping Range of Consequential Projects
3. Undermines Recent Legislative Efforts
4. Strips Agencies of Tools to Protect Communities and the Environment
5. Increases Agencies’ Litigation Exposure While Undercutting CEQA’s Enforcement
6. Shifts Long-Term Costs onto Public Agencies and Taxpayers

Although the House and Senate Congressional resolutions S.J.Res.109 and H.J.Res.151 deal specifically with overturning the management plan for Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah, the implications for public lands everywhere would be dire. MBCA has sent letters to Representative Obernolte, Senator Padilla, and Senator Schiff asking them to oppose the House and Senate resolutions directing the cancellation of the management plan. A key message to Representative Obernolte is "For a district like ours, where tourism and small business activities are closely tied to public lands, this kind of policy uncertainty has direct economic consequences." To the Senators, the message concludes by thanking them for their continued service and commitment to safeguarding public lands and environmental decision-making.

The California Energy Commission, the state's primary energy agency, has launched a website intended to keep Californians up to date on the state's progress toward 100% clean energy. California's Clean Energy Journey highlights topics such as innovation, transportation, efficiency, and equity and tribal partnerships. Content incudes graphs, charts, and videos about various projects and goals.