Living Under Smoky Skies—Understanding the Challenges Posed by Wildfire Smoke in California

Nov 14, 2022 - This trend has also been documented in the larger western region. For example, one 2021 estimate found that wildfires account for up to half of small particulate matter in parts of the Western United States, compared to less than 20 percent a decade ago.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4644

The 2023-24 California Spending Plan: Resources and Environmental Protection

Oct 16, 2023 - The 2023‑24 budget package provides a total of $19.2 billion from various fund sources—the General Fund, bond funds, a number of special funds, and federal funds—for programs administered by the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) and Environmental Protection Agency. This is a net decrease of $15.5 billion (45 percent) compared to 2022‑23 estimated levels.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4807

Climate Change Impacts Across California - Crosscutting Issues

Apr 5, 2022 - In recent years, smoke from wildfires has grown substantially and has been a major contributor to air pollution in the western United States —making up roughly half of small particulate matter in some regions, compared to less than 20 percent a decade ago.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4575

Assessing California’s Climate Policies—Residential Electricity Rates in California

Jan 7, 2025 - For example, in August 2020, California and other western states experienced a heat wave for several consecutive days, which triggered the California Independent System Operator to implement rotating power outages that affected hundreds of thousands of electricity customers across the state.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4950