A recent proposal to construct solar panels on a grassy mound at Sutter’s Landing Park has sparked opposition from environmental advocates concerned about the project’s impact on birds of prey who use the mound, formerly a landfill, as a feeding site. The City of Sacramento Parks Commission held a March 3 hearing on the proposal. Nonprofit group Friends of the Swainson’s Hawk used the hearing to express their concerns and lobby against the construction of solar panels in the park. “The landfill provides a rare protective, grassy environment where prey are abundant,” said Judith Lamare, president of Friends of the Swainson’s Hawk. “There are a lot of people who have spoken up with issues

Sacramento Residents have an opportunity to make their region a national leader for green technology development, according to author and activist Van Jones, who received a standing ovation for his speech at Mayor Kevin Johnson's second public meeting for Greenwise Sacramento. "The kind of environmental solutions that make sense for Sacramento make sense for America," Jones said. Over 400 area residents attended the Tuesday afternoon meeting to listen to the former special adviser to the Obama administration. He said that he has travelled all over the country for green events, and he was impressed with Sacramento’s. "Usually (a city) will have the mayor, they'll have a press conference

Art met environmentalism Thursday at the Crest Theater when the first annual "Wild and Scenic Environmental Film Festival" made a one-night stop. This version of the "Wild and Scenic" is an extension of the original film festival that is in its eighth year in Nevada City. The event is sponsored by the South Yuba River Citizens League. The condensed festival in Sacramento also was sponsored by the S.O.S. Cranes, Habitat 2020, the Environmental Council of Sacramento (ECOS) and several other local environmental activist groups. It was made possible by a grant from Patagonia as well as donations from other organizations, including Clif Bar, Tom's of Maine, Osprey Packs and Sierra Nevada Brewi